The Auction House Cafe & Bar sits at 20 Don Street in Invercargill, but the ground beneath it carries far more history than its 2018 opening suggests. For 151 years this was the home of Todds Auction, a firm begun in 1865 selling livestock and horses and passed down through four generations. It held its final auction on 27 February 2016, and two years later the site was reborn as a cozy cafe and bar that pays deliberate homage to everything that came before it.
The heritage isn't just a story on a wall. Elements of the original building have been retained and repurposed — most charmingly, the centre planter box is encased in wood from the original auction house stage. It's exactly the kind of detail regulars love pointing out to first-time visitors.
In the kitchen, the philosophy is market-fresh ingredients, honest cooking and an enjoyable atmosphere. Every dish is made in-house by a team of talented chefs, with a menu built on fresh, seasonal ingredients that caters to all types of dietary requirements. The offering spans breakfast, crafted for guests young and old; a handcrafted cabinet selection curated with taste buds in mind; a chef-driven lunch of simple, seasonal dishes served straight from the kitchen; and a wide drinks selection — with help on hand if you're not sure what to pair with your meal.
Loved by locals and travelling foodies alike, The Auction House lives by a simple motto: 'Happiness is great food and great company.' Reservations can be made by phone or email, and an Auction House App is available for both App Store and Google Play.
The Auction House Cafe & Bar sits at 20 Don Street in Invercargill, but the ground it stands on carries far more history than its 2018 opening suggests. For 151 years, this was the home of Todds Auction, a business begun in 1865 selling livestock and horses and passed down through four generations. The firm held its last auction on 27 February 2016, and two years later the site was reborn as a cozy cafe and bar that pays deliberate homage to everything that came before it.
Walk in and you'll notice the details. Rather than stripping the old building bare, the team retained and repurposed elements of the original structure — most charmingly, the centre planter box is encased in wood salvaged from the original auction house stage. It's a small touch, but it anchors the room in a century and a half of Southland stories, and it's exactly the kind of thing regulars point out to first-time visitors.
The kitchen philosophy is simple: market-fresh ingredients, honest cooking and an enjoyable atmosphere. Every dish on the menu is made in-house by a team of talented chefs, built around fresh, seasonal ingredients and combinations the team describes as some of the most delicious around.
Breakfast is carefully crafted to meet the needs of guests young and old, and the kitchen is happy to cater to different dietary requirements — worth mentioning when you book. The cabinet is the temptation zone: a delicious, handcrafted selection carefully curated with your taste buds in mind, ideal if you're passing through and just want a treat. Lunch shifts to a chef-driven menu that highlights seasonal ingredients in simple, handcrafted dishes served straight from the kitchen.
The drinks side is treated as seriously as the food. The bar keeps a wide selection, and if you're unsure what to pair with your meal, help is on hand to steer you towards the perfect addition to your dining experience. It's a cafe and bar in equal measure — as suited to a long breakfast as it is to settling in with company.
The mood of the place is captured by the motto hanging over it: 'Happiness is great food and great company.' Locals have embraced The Auction House since day one, and travelling foodies make the detour to Don Street too — a telling combination for a city the size of Invercargill.
Reservations are welcome and encouraged. You can get in touch by phone on (03) 214 1914 or by emailing hello@theauctionhouse.co.nz to secure a table. There's also an Auction House App available on both the App Store and Google Play, and you can follow the cafe on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
Whether you come for the history, the seasonal cooking or simply a handcrafted something from the cabinet, The Auction House manages to feel both rooted and fresh — a former auction yard given a second life as one of Invercargill's most welcoming tables.