Ampersand Eatery is an all-day eatery inside Orakei Bay Village, serving delicious seasonal dishes in a warm, open, light-filled space. It's built to work at any hour: morning coffee, a relaxed lunch, casual weekend brunch or weeknight dinner — the team calls it your local destination for any occasion. Based in Auckland with an abundance of seasonal ingredients on the doorstep, the kitchen transforms them into simple, creative dishes, presenting the thought and attention to detail that comes from years of experience.
The setting is a large part of the appeal. A lofty-industrial interior created by award-winning designers Ctrl-Space is big, lively and open — tranquil and light-filled in the mornings, buzzing through weekends and evenings. The all-weather, open-air heated terrace frames the natural beauty of Hobson Bay right on the doorstep, a view the team describes as seriously soothing.
Coffee gets unusual care here: the Coffee Alley serves specialist blends and single origin coffee roasted on site by Espresso Workshop, in small batches for freshness, with different brewing methods and coffee tasting options to explore. In the kitchen, dishes lean on seasonal New Zealand produce — smart and exciting but also welcoming and honest — while the drinks list is sharp and ever-changing, full of interesting producers and varieties to match your meal.
Beyond the daytime, dinner service runs Friday and Saturday from 5pm to 8:30pm (Wednesday and Thursday evenings take a winter-season break until the end of August), moving from small plates to hearty main courses. Ampersand also offers bespoke catering and functions for corporate gatherings and private celebrations, plus special events like a curated High Tea of elegant bites and sweet treats.
On the edge of Hobson Bay, inside Orakei Bay Village, Ampersand Eatery runs on a simple idea: one warm, open, light-filled room that works at any hour. Come for a morning flat white, linger over a relaxed lunch, settle into a casual weekend brunch or stay for dinner. With Auckland's seasonal ingredients practically on the doorstep, the kitchen transforms what's fresh into simple, creative dishes, plated with the thought and attention to detail that comes from years of experience.
Ampersand describes itself as a dawn-till-dusk destination, and the menu follows the sun. Mornings belong to specialty coffee and all-day breakfast; weekends bring a casual brunch menu made to please everyone, including a good variety of gluten-free and dairy-free options. Lunch is a relaxed, seasonal affair.
As day turns to night, the mood shifts. The dinner menu moves from small plates to hearty main courses — a relaxed, flavour-packed experience that's a little different from the daytime vibe, all about good company and great vibes. Dinner service runs from 5pm to 8:30pm on Friday and Saturday, with the full new dinner menus available. During the winter season, Wednesday and Thursday evening service takes a short break until the end of August.
The space is part of the draw. Created by award-winning designers Ctrl-Space, the lofty-industrial interior is big, lively and open — tranquil and light-filled in the mornings, buzzing through weekends and evenings. Step out to the all-weather, open-air heated terrace and the astounding natural beauty of Hobson Bay is right there, a view the team describes as seriously soothing. It's a setting that suits a quick coffee just as well as a long dinner.
Coffee is treated with unusual care. The Coffee Alley serves specialist blends and single origin coffee from Espresso Workshop, roasted on site in small batches for consistency and freshness, starting with the best quality beans available. Different brewing methods are paired with different roasts so each cup reflects the quality and complexity of flavour in the beans. Curious drinkers can order coffee tasting options alongside brunch, and the specialist baristas are happy to talk through at-home brewing equipment — you'll, as they put it, be a pro in no time.
In the kitchen, the cooking leans on the beauty of seasonal produce and products from New Zealand. Dishes are designed to be smart and exciting but also welcoming and honest, served by an attentive team. Behind the bar, the drinks list is sharp and ever-changing, offering interesting producers and varieties, with matches chosen to celebrate the flavours on the plate. The promise is simple: you're in the hands of a team that really knows food, wine and coffee.
Ampersand also caters. A bespoke catering and functions service now covers the area, from corporate gatherings to private celebrations, with a wide variety of choices crafted from fresh, homemade ingredients and a focus on quality, flavour and presentation — whether it's a refined brunch, a sophisticated evening event or casual shared dining. Keep an eye out for seasonal events too, like the beautifully curated High Tea of elegant bites and sweet treats the team creates for occasions such as Mother's Day.
Whether it's your local for any occasion or a reason to cross town, you're welcome to bring family and friends, relax and replenish at any time of day — and reservations are available for those who like their table guaranteed.