Paper Moon

About Paper Moon

Established in 1979, Paper Moon has long served as a welcoming cafe, bar, and restaurant in the heart of Mairangi Bay on Auckland's North Shore. Located just a short stroll from the beach along Beach Road, it operates as an all-day dining destination, seamlessly shifting from morning coffee and breakfast through to lunch, dinner, and late afternoon drinks.

The kitchen takes pride in a broad menu of contemporary cafe classics and refined evening mains, from award-winning breakfasts to hearty steaks, fresh seafood, and their celebrated Beef Wellington. Trained baristas pour Allpress coffee throughout the day, while an extensive drinks menu offers local New Zealand wines, beers on tap, classic and house cocktails, smoothies, and non-alcoholic options.

Paper Moon pairs its vibrant seaside atmosphere with an open-door policy for community life. Outdoor seating comes equipped with water bowls for visiting four-legged companions, while grab-and-go Kapiti ice creams cater to those heading down to the sand. With regular daily specials, happy hour offerings, and space for functions, it remains a beloved seaside local for gathering, dining, and unwinding.

Paper Moon: Mairangi Bay’s Coastal Classic for Breakfast, Dinner, and Everything In Between

Serving the seaside suburb of Mairangi Bay since 1979, Paper Moon has cemented its status as one of the North Shore’s most dependable neighbourhood dining institutions. Set along Beach Road just steps from the sand, this multi-faceted venue brings together a relaxed seaside cafe, an evening bistro, and a lively bar under one roof. Whether stopping by for an early morning flat white before a coastal walk or settling in for an evening of shared plates and hearty mains, the room hums with effortless community warmth.

The restaurant's enduring popularity stems from a kitchen that approaches contemporary cafe fare and evening dining with equal care. Morning diners will find thoughtful twists on morning staples, notably their Beans and Bacon breakfast—an inventive creation featuring spicy chorizo, angel hair potato, tomato relish, and poached eggs that previously earned the title of Watties New Zealand Cafe of the Year. Sweet options like the loaded French toast, adorned with berries, honeycomb, and nut clusters, sit comfortably alongside lighter, produce-forward dishes like smashed avocado and kumara rosti.

Coastal Lunches and Evening Dining

As the midday hours roll in, the menu pivots effortlessly toward substantial lunch dishes, fresh salads, and burgers. The kitchen prepares everything from house-made salt and pepper squid to confit duck leg, fresh snapper, and aged scotch fillet steaks. Casual beachgoers regularly drop in for hearty Cajun chicken burgers or beer-battered fish and chips, while diners looking for a leisurely lunch can linger over garlic prawn spaghetti or grilled salmon over prawn risotto.

Come evening, Paper Moon steps into its role as a full-service neighbourhood bistro. The dinner menu highlights comforting, classic European-influenced cooking anchored by quality New Zealand produce. The undisputed centrepiece of the evening service is the kitchen's signature Beef Wellington. Served medium rare, tender eye fillet is wrapped with brie cheese and an earthy spinach mushroom duxelles, complemented by roasted potatoes, baby carrots, and a rich port wine jus. Paired with aged eye fillets, slow-cooked pork belly, or tender roasted lamb racks, dinner offers an upscale yet unpretentious experience suited for everything from family milestones to mid-week date nights.

Drinks, Dogs, and Beachside Treats

Beyond its dining room, Paper Moon is well loved as a neighbourhood social hub. The bar pours Allpress coffee crafted by experienced baristas in the morning, shifting into craft beers, cocktails, and regional wines as the day progresses. Their daily Happy Hour runs from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM every afternoon, complemented by an appetizer menu that includes harissa beef tacos, half-moon buns, chicken wings, and generous charcuterie and grazing boards.

True to its seaside location, Paper Moon maintains a welcoming attitude toward coastal life. Outdoor tables feature dedicated water bowls for four-legged family members, with staff well known for greeting visiting dogs with genuine enthusiasm. For visitors continuing along the waterfront, the counter offers takeaway Kapiti ice creams, providing an easy and sweet accompaniment to a sunset stroll along Mairangi Bay beach.

Signature items

• Beef Wellington
• Beans & Bacon
• Paper Moon French Toast
• 21 Days Aged Eye Fillet Steak
• Paper Moon Lamb Rack
• Chocolate Bomb

Menu

Lunch

• Paper Moon Chicken Salad — Grilled chicken, avocado, green salad, mango mayo, and crispy noodles.
• Salt & Pepper Squid Salad — House-made squid tossed with fresh green salad.
• Cajun Chicken Burger — Brie, bacon, lettuce, chipotle, tomato relish, and aioli served with fries.
• Beef & Cheddar Burger — Caramelised onions, lettuce, tomato, aioli, relish, and chipotle served with fries.
• Crispy Confit Duck Leg — Served with potato gratin, green beans, orange beef jus, and cherry tomato.
• Slow Braised Beef Cheek — Braised beef cheek served with creamy mashed potato, green peas, and baby carrots.
• Scotch Fillet — Served with chargrilled broccolini, baby carrots, mushroom sauce, and wedges.
• Garlic Prawn Spaghetti — King prawn, tomato, parsley, garlic, and chilli.
• Crispy Beer Battered Fish & Chips — Snapper served with green peas, fries, green salad, and tartare sauce.
• Grilled Fish in Lemon Butter Sauce — Choice of salmon or snapper served with prawn risotto and sauteed vegetables.

Sides

• Mixed Leafy Greens — Fresh seasonal mixed salad leaves.
• Sauteed Seasonal Vegetables — Medley of lightly sauteed seasonal vegetables.
• Kumara Chips & House Made Aioli — Crispy kumara chips served with house aioli.
• Creamy Mash Potato & Gravy — Smooth mashed potato topped with rich gravy.
• Gourmet Roasted Potatoes — Oven-roasted gourmet baby potatoes.
• Straight Cut Crispy Fries — Crispy straight-cut hot potato fries.
• Curly Fries with Smoked Paprika Aioli — Seasoned curly fries served with smoked paprika aioli.
• Potato Wedges & Sour Cream — Golden potato wedges served with sour cream.

Salads

• Caesar Salad — Romaine lettuce, cherry tomato, croutons, crispy bacon, and parmesan.
• Nicoise Salad — Rare tuna, green beans, boiled egg, gourmet potatoes, and tomato.

Dessert

• Chocolate Bomb — Ruby or dark chocolate bomb with berry gelato, crushed nuts, plum coulis, honeycomb, oreo crumbs, vanilla ice cream, and hot chocolate sauce.
• Tiramisu — Tia Maria mousse, biscuit, espresso anglaise, white chocolate shard, oreo crumbs, and vanilla ice cream.
• New York Cheese Cake — Served with passion fruit, berries, vanilla ice cream, and whipped cream.
• Chocolate Lava Cake — Belgian chocolate cake with molten center, vanilla ice cream, and cream.
• Gelato Party — Chocolate gelato, mixed berry gelato, lemon sorbet, vanilla gelato, and biscuit crumbs.

Beverages

• Allpress Coffee — Short black, long black, americano, flat white, cappuccino, latte, and mochaccino.
• Tea Selection — English breakfast, earl grey, peppermint, citron green, raspberry, paris, japanese sencha, and chamomile.
• House Cocktails — Selection including Espresso Martini, Aperol Spritz, Between The Sheets, Bliss On The Beach, and Illusion.
• Mocktails — Fruju Freeze, Pacific Queen, Virgin Mary, and Virgin Pina Colada.
• Tap Beers & Ciders — Pours including Stella Artois, Speights, Steinlager Tokyo Dry, Macs Gold, Panhead Pale Ale, and Macs Cloudy Apple Cider.
• Wine Selection — Curated New Zealand and international sparkling, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, pinot gris, rose, pinot noir, and red varietals.
• Smoothies & Shakes — Traditional milkshakes and fruit smoothies including Blueberry Banana, Tropical, and Mango.

Breakfast

• Paper Moon French Toast — Served with berries, bacon, mixed honeycomb, mixed nut cluster, ice cream, plum coulis, and fruit.
• Smashed Avocado — Sourdough, dukkah, feta cheese, hummus, melody tomato, beetroot yoghurt, and poached egg.
• Egg Benedict — Ciabatta, spinach, poached eggs, angel hair potato, and hollandaise with choice of bacon, mushroom, or salmon.
• Eggs on Toast — Multigrain bread, vine tomato, extra virgin olive oil, and balsamic reduction.
• Beans & Bacon — Spicy chorizo, tomato relish, angel hair potato, poached egg, sourdough, and hollandaise.
• Creamy Mushroom — Potato hash, spicy chorizo, parmesan cheese, fresh herbs, and creamy sauce served on ciabatta.
• Mother Earth — Avocado, mushroom, carrots, halloumi, hummus, dukkah, capsicum jam, and poached eggs on sourdough.
• Full Moon — Bacon, kransky sausages, eggs, potato hash, mushroom, vine tomato, and ciabatta.
• Salmon Omelette — Egg, salmon, capers, cream cheese, spicy chorizo, and tomato.
• Kumara Rosti — Mushroom, poached eggs, almonds, lemon oil, and broccoli.

Appetizers

• Garlic Bread — Mozzarella, garlic butter, parsley, and basil dip.
• Harissa Beef Taco — Harissa eye fillet, coleslaw, and tartare sauce.
• Crispy Chicken Bites — Chicken thigh, sweet and sour sauce, and sesame seeds.
• Half Moon Buns — Two-piece pork belly or beef buns with pickled vegetables and hoisin sauce.
• Paper Moon Cheese Board — Cured meats, blue cheese, brie, aged cheddar, crackers, dips, pickles, and olives.
• Grazing Board — Salt & pepper squid, crispy chicken, prawn cutlets, and samosas.
• Salt & Pepper Calamari — House-made squid served with salad mix and house-made aioli.
• Avocado & Prawn Bruschetta — Toasted sourdough topped with avocado, prawns, and fresh basil.
• Smoked Salmon with Avocado Salsa and Prawns — Smoked salmon served with fresh avocado, prawns, and diced tomato.
• BBQ Pork Ribs — Tender pork ribs coated in barbecue sauce.
• Crispy Chicken Wings — Six pieces of crispy seasoned chicken wings.

Dinner Mains

• Paper Moon Lamb Rack — Served with potato gratin, green beans, baby carrots, and mint jus.
• Slow Cooked Pork Belly — Apple beetroot, mashed potato, balsamic reduction, port wine jus, and pickles.
• 21 Days Aged Eye Fillet Steak — 180g eye fillet with potato gratin, chargrilled broccolini, baby carrots, parsnip puree, and red peppercorn jus.
• Beef Wellington — Eye fillet steak served medium rare with brie cheese, spinach mushroom duxelles, beetroot, roast potatoes, baby carrots, and port wine jus.
• Parmesan Crusted Snapper — Marinated feta and pears, salsa verde, kumara wedges, and fresh basil.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Paper Moon located?

Paper Moon is situated at 437 Beach Road in Mairangi Bay, Auckland, just a short walk from Mairangi Bay beach.

What are Paper Moon's opening hours?

The venue is open seven days a week, Monday through Sunday, from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

When is Happy Hour held?

Happy Hour runs daily every afternoon from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, with all-day Happy Hour available on Saturdays.

Are dogs welcome at Paper Moon?

Yes, dogs are warmly welcomed in the outdoor dining area, where staff provide water bowls for four-legged guests.

Do they serve coffee to takeaway for beach walks?

Yes, Paper Moon serves Allpress espresso coffee and takeout Kapiti ice cream, perfect for a walk down to the nearby beach.

What weekly dining specials do they run?

Daily specials include a free drink with dinner mains on Monday, half-price second mains on Tuesday, cocktail specials Wednesday, free fries deals Thursday, date night set menus Friday, all-day Happy Hour Saturday, and kids eat free deals on Sunday.

Tips

• {"body":"Paper Moon sits just down the road from Mairangi Bay beach; grab a takeaway coffee or Kapiti ice cream from the counter to take down to the shoreline.","title":"Pair with a Beach Stroll"}
• {"body":"The restaurant runs structured daily deals throughout the week, ranging from Monday dinner drink pairings and Tuesday mains specials to Sunday kids deals.","title":"Take Advantage of Daily Specials"}
• {"body":"If you are walking your dog along Beach Road, outdoor seating offers water bowls and dog-friendly service outside.","title":"Bring Your Dog Along"}
• {"body":"Happy hour runs every single day from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, extending all day long on Saturdays.","title":"Check the Happy Hour Timing"}

Good to know

• {"pets":"Dog-friendly outdoor seating with water bowls provided by staff.","family":"Kids eat free specials available on Sunday nights with dinner mains; kids fluffy drinks and fluffy options on offer.","dietary":"Vegetarian and gluten-free items available, including the Mother Earth vegetarian breakfast and dedicated cheese boards."}