Signal Hill Restaurant

About Signal Hill Restaurant

Signal Hill is a modern bar and eatery set inside one of Devonport's most iconic buildings — the historic homestead at 24 Victoria Road, beneath the mountain it's named after. Here, classic New Zealand fare meets an extensive drinks list, served from 11.30am until late, every day of the year except Christmas Day.

The building is a destination in itself. Part of it dates to around 1846, when early North Shore settler William Oliver built what is now the oldest existing house in Devonport — and Oliver was the first person laid to rest at Signal Hill, the landmark we know today as Mt Victoria. Through Devonport's transformation from the isolated settlement of Flagstaff into a busy naval base and commercial centre, the house stood at the heart of it all, collecting more than a century's worth of tales of pioneers, politics and even scandal.

Lovingly brought back to life, the homestead now welcomes locals and visitors to connect over great food and share their own stories over a glass with family and friends. The kitchen turns out a seasonal menu of small and large plates — from raw fish and mushroom doughnuts to 18-hour braised wagyu beef short rib and beer battered market fish — backed by a long list of tap and bottled beers, wine and more. Reserve a table indoors or out, scan the QR code to view and order from your phone, or book the historic William Oliver Room for a larger gathering.

Signal Hill Devonport: Classic New Zealand Fare in Devonport's Oldest Homestead

Signal Hill is a modern bar and eatery in one of Devonport's most iconic buildings — the homestead at 24 Victoria Road, sitting beneath the very mountain it's named after. Here, classic New Zealand fare meets an extensive drinks list, served from 11.30am until late, every day of the year bar one.

A house 169 years in the making

The building itself is the headliner. Part of it was originally built around 1846 by William Oliver, one of the earliest settlers on the North Shore and the first person laid to rest at Signal Hill — the landmark we now know as Mt Victoria. In those days Devonport was still called Flagstaff, an isolated 'island' that would transform into a heaving commercial centre and busy naval base. Through decades of change, war campaigns and commercial development, 24 Victoria Road stood at the heart of it all. As the oldest existing house in Devonport, it carries more than a century's worth of intrigue — tales, as the team puts it, of pioneers, politics and even scandal.

Rather than let the landmark slip away, its current custodians have lovingly brought it back to life as a welcoming bar and restaurant, preserving a piece of history while writing its next chapter. The ambition is simple: a space where locals and visitors can connect, enjoy great food and share their own tales over a glass with family and friends.

What to eat

The kitchen leans into classic New Zealand flavours with a modern hand. Start small with raw fish dressed with chilli, coconut, coriander and garlic, house-cured charcuterie, or the mushroom doughnuts with pickled mushroom and whipped feta. There are chicken wings in buffalo or maple soy, wagyu beef nuggets with aged cheddar and pickle, lamb rissoles with bread sauce, and a simple cheese plate.

Mains cover the bases from land to sea. Seafood fans can choose between pan seared market fish with beurre blanc or beer battered market fish with fries and tartare, plus a market fish linguini in pinot gris garlic cream. Heartier plates include the 18-hour braised wagyu beef short rib, braised lamb shank with merlot jus, pan seared duck with confit leg and white bean ragu, and a citrus and chilli manuka honey glazed pork collar. Lighter options run to pumpkin and leek tortellini, pan roasted chicken escalope and a triple pattie beef burger. Save room for dessert — the affogato, triple chocolate brownie and blueberry and apple crumble all do the job, with sides of triple cooked potatoes and shoestring fries alongside.

Drinks and the William Oliver Room

The bar is a destination in its own right, with an extensive drinks list spanning tap and bottled beer — from Lion Red and Steinlager through Emerson's pilsners and hazy IPAs, with solid zero- and low-alcohol choices — plus wine by the glass and bottle. Menus and ordering are available by scanning a QR code at the table.

Groups get a special option: the historic William Oliver Room, named for the house's builder, can be booked for larger gatherings.

Plan your visit

Signal Hill opens 11.30am until late, every day, closing only on Christmas Day. Reservations are recommended for the indoor and outdoor dining areas, though a few tables are kept free daily for walk-in guests. A 15% surcharge applies on public holidays and a 2% surcharge on PayWave and credit card payments, and anyone with allergies or dietary requirements is asked to flag it with their server. Phone (09) 445 0193 or email info@signalhill.co.nz to get in touch.

Signature items

• 18 Hour Braised Wagyu Beef Short Rib
• Braised Lamb Shank
• Manuka Honey Glazed Pork Collar
• Beer Battered Market Fish
• Pan Seared Duck
• Mushroom Doughnuts

Menu

Wine

• Long Gully Chenin Blanc by Mt Difficulty — Central Otago aromatic; 150ml, 250ml or by the bottle

Bread

• Rye Sourdough Bread — Maple butter, Himalayan salt

Mains

• Pan Seared Market Fish — Mushrooms, fennel & apple salad, beurre blanc
• Beer Battered Market Fish — Fries, tartare, lemon, salad
• Market Fish Linguini — Pinot gris garlic cream, fennel, lemon, parsley, parmesan
• Braised Lamb Shank — Hazelnut & flax seed dukkah, mash, mirepoix, merlot jus
• Manuka Honey Glazed Pork Collar — Citrus & chilli glaze, coconut & kumara puree, pork fat braised cabbage
• 18 Hour Braised Wagyu Beef Short Rib — Mash, mushroom & chorizo ragu, braised onions
• Pan Seared Duck — Seared breast, confit leg & white bean ragu, pumpkin puree, grilled silverbeet, bone jus
• Pan Roasted Chicken Escalope — Creamed leeks, duck fat potatoes, mustard jus
• Pumpkin & Leek Tortellini — Coconut feta, kumara puree, seeds
• Triple Pattie Beef Burger — Four cheeses, burger sauce, relish, pickles, fries

Sides

• Triple Cooked Potatoes — Truffle creme, parmesan
• Shoestring Fries — Salt, ketchup, aioli
• Greens — Confit garlic, chilli oil

Desserts

• Affogato — Vanilla ice cream and espresso; add Kahlua, Baileys, Amaretto or Frangelico
• Brownie — Triple dark chocolate, chocolate ice cream, chocolate cremoux, chocolate sauce
• Trio of Ice Creams — With cookie crumble
• Crumble — Stewed blueberries & apples, vanilla ice cream, custard, white chocolate crumble

Small Plates

• Raw Fish — Chilli, coconut, coriander and garlic
• Chicken Wings — Buffalo or maple soy
• Charcuterie — House cured meats, gooseberry, walnuts, toast
• Mushroom Doughnuts — Pickled mushroom, whipped feta, basil
• Wagyu Beef Nuggets — Aged cheddar, pickle, aioli
• Cheese Plate — Two cheeses, toast, fruit
• Lamb Rissoles — Bread sauce, herbs

Beer — On Tap

• Lion Red — On tap, by the glass or jug
• Speight's Summit Ultra Low Carb — On tap, by the glass or jug
• Steinlager Tokyo Dry — On tap, by the glass or jug
• Steinlager Classic — On tap, by the glass or jug
• Mac's Cloudy Apple Cider — Cider on tap, by the glass or jug
• Stella — On tap, by the glass or jug
• Emerson's Pilsner — On tap, by the glass or jug
• Catalina Lager — On tap, by the glass or jug
• Kirin Ichiban — On tap, by the glass or jug
• Little Creatures Pale Ale — On tap, by the glass or jug
• Kirin Hyoketsu Lemon — On tap, by the glass or jug
• Panhead Supercharger — On tap, by the glass or jug
• Panhead Rat Rod — On tap, by the glass or jug
• Emerson's Day Tripper Hazy IPA — On tap, by the glass or jug

Bottled & Low-Alcohol Beer

• Speight's Summit Zero — Zero-alcohol bottled beer
• Steinlager Zero — Zero-alcohol bottled beer
• Corona Zero — Zero-alcohol bottled beer
• Emerson's Little Bird — Alcohol free IPA
• Speight's Mid — Mid-strength bottled beer, 2.5%
• Steinlager Light — Low-alcohol bottled beer, 2.5%
• Corona — Bottled beer
• Guinness — Canned stout, 440ml

Frequently asked questions

Where is Signal Hill located?

24 Victoria Road, Devonport, Auckland 0624 — beneath Mt Victoria, the landmark historically known as Signal Hill.

What are Signal Hill's opening hours?

Open 11.30am until late, every day. The only day it closes is Christmas Day.

Do I need a reservation?

Reservations are taken for the indoor and outdoor dining areas, but a few tables are kept free every day for walk-in guests. If the online form doesn't show a time that suits, call (09) 445 0193.

What kind of food does Signal Hill serve?

Classic New Zealand fare — small and large plates from raw fish and mushroom doughnuts to wagyu short rib and beer battered market fish — with menus refreshed seasonally. Ask your server about allergies or dietary requirements.

Can I order from my phone?

Yes. Scan the QR code at the table to view and order the food and beverage offering from your smartphone.

Are there surcharges to know about?

A 15% surcharge applies on all public holidays, and a 2% surcharge applies to PayWave and credit card payments.

Can we book for a large group?

Yes, larger groups are able to book the historic William Oliver Room.

Tips

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Good to know

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