The Taphouse Avondale is a laid-back local bar on Great North Road in Avondale, Auckland, where tap beer is the undisputed specialty of the house. Whether you are popping in for a quick after-work pint or settling in for the evening, there is a wide range of fine brews to work through — and the welcome is the same whichever stool you pick.
It is not just about the beer, either. Entertainment runs the full gamut: karaoke and live bands keep the room lively, pool tables host the friendly grudge matches, and 18 gaming machines and a TAB betting pod cater to anyone feeling lucky. Sports fans are well looked after too, with games shown across multiple screens.
Planning something bigger? The venue takes the hassle out of birthdays, work parties and family get-togethers, with a great space for events and drink and food options tailored to suit your function's style and budget. Whatever your taste, whatever the occasion, you will always be welcome at The Taphouse Avondale.
The Taphouse Avondale does not try to be anything it is not. Sitting on Great North Road in the heart of Avondale, it is exactly what its own tagline promises: your laid-back local bar. There is no pretension here — just a warm room, a well-stocked tap and a steady line-up of things to do. As the team themselves put it, come on in, take a load off, and enjoy one of the many fine brews; whatever your taste and whatever the occasion, you will always be welcome.
Tap beer is the specialty of the house, and the name on the door makes no apologies for it. The bar pours many fine brews, so whether you are settling in for a slow afternoon or kicking off a big Friday night, the tap range is the reason to pull up a stool. It is what the regulars come back for, and the first thing newcomers notice.
Beer is not the whole story, though. There is food on offer as well — the venue keeps its current food and drink menus on its website's Menus page — so you can line the stomach before the night gets going.
What sets The Taphouse apart from your average corner bar is how much there is to do once you are inside. Karaoke brings out the inner performer in everyone, while live bands give the room a proper soundtrack — the venue's What's On page is the place to check what is coming up. If you would rather do than watch, there are pool tables for a friendly grudge match that can last all night.
Feeling lucky? The floor has 18 gaming machines, and a TAB betting pod means you can back a winner without leaving your local. Sports fans are looked after too: games are shown across multiple screens, so on any given night a good chunk of the room will be glued to whichever match is on. It is the kind of line-up that means no two visits need to look the same — one night it is a quiet pint, the next it is karaoke, the pool table and a bet on the races.
Functions are a quiet strength here. Birthdays, work parties and family get-togethers are all regular fare, and the team's pitch is simple: let The Taphouse Avondale take all the hassle out of your next social or business function. There is a great space for events, and drink and food options can be tailored to suit your function's style and budget.
Organising is refreshingly low-friction. Enquiries go straight to the venue manager by phone or email, and there is a function enquiry form on the website if you would rather spell things out in writing. Send through your date, your numbers and a rough idea of what you are after, and they will come back with options to match.
The Taphouse opens at midday every day of the week, but closing times vary by night, with the lights staying on latest on Friday and Saturday, when things wrap up at 12:30am. Early in the week the doors close sooner — Sunday and Monday at 9pm, Tuesday through Thursday at 10pm — so it pays to check before planning a late one.
You will find the bar at 2017-2021 Great North Road, Avondale. The team answer the phone on (09) 828 7481 and keep on top of email at [email protected]. Regulars should also look into the venue's Supporters Club, which rewards the people who keep coming back.
However you spend your time there — tapping along to a band, sinking the eight ball, cheering on your team or simply working through those fine brews — The Taphouse Avondale does what the best locals do: it makes room for you.