Mix'd Cocktail Bar is Napier's newest cocktail bar, sitting literally right on the beach at Ahuriri with the ocean at its doorstep. The pitch is simple: delicious cocktails, fresh food and unforgettable ocean views, with the sun and the sound of the sea as the backdrop. Doors are open seven days from 11am, and both booked tables and walk-ins are welcome — it's a strictly R18 venue.
Behind the bar, the team takes drinks seriously without taking themselves too seriously. Manager Ben Baldwin holds a WSET Level 3 Award in Spirits and has curated a lineup that pairs unexpected surprises with classic New Zealand and international whiskey, bourbon and gin, while head mixologist and manager Jess Maunder — UK-trained, and blending traditional culinary ingredients with contemporary trends — happily goes off-piste with innovative signature cocktails. Beyond the cocktails there's an extensive wine, beer and spirits list.
The kitchen is led by head chef Andrea Munoz, who grew up in South America where food was a love language. Now a Napier local, she cooks with fresh Hawke's Bay ingredients and plenty of reference to the ocean right outside, turning out small bites and shared platters designed to be enjoyed with friends.
There are bars with a sea view, and then there is Mix'd Cocktail Bar — quite literally right on the beach at Ahuriri, Napier, with the ocean at its doorstep and the sound of the waves as the house soundtrack. It bills itself as Napier's hottest new cocktail bar by the sea, and the setting makes a convincing case: sun, salt air and water stretching out beyond the windows.
The formula here is simple and appealing: delicious cocktails, fresh food and unforgettable ocean views, served from 11am, seven days a week. Book a table if you like — an online booking system makes that easy — or simply walk in; walk-ins are always welcome. The pace is unhurried, a place to soak up the sun and the sound of the sea rather than tick boxes. One thing to note before you round up the group: Mix'd is strictly R18.
What sets the bar apart is the depth of expertise behind it. This is a venue run by people who genuinely know their drinks, and who treat the bar as much as a classroom as a place to relax.
Manager Ben Baldwin holds the WSET Level 3 Award in Spirits, a serious credential in the drinks world, and has used it to curate a spirits lineup that features unexpected surprises alongside classic New Zealand and international brands of whiskey, bourbon, gin and other spirits. He is, by his own description, in his happy place when helping customers experiment and learn about spirit production techniques and the factors that influence style and taste — so if you've ever wondered why one gin reads citrus and another reads spice, ask him.
Head mixologist and manager Jess Maunder brings her own pedigree. Her hospitality journey began at just 14, and extensive training in the UK shaped a distinctive approach that blends traditional culinary ingredients with contemporary trends. Recognised early for a keen palate, she likes to push the boundaries of conventional cocktail making. She has a penchant for going off-piste with her cocktails, following her instincts, innovating, and encouraging guests to try flavours they might never have picked for themselves.
The food side is led by head chef Andrea Munoz, for whom cooking has always been about connection. Food was a love language in her South American childhood, where family gatherings were filled with delicious dishes, laughter and aroma. Now a Napier local, she sources fresh Hawke's Bay ingredients with plenty of reference to the ocean right at Mix'd's doorstep.
Expect small bites and shared platters designed to be enjoyed with friends rather than a rigid starter-main-dessert format. Andrea believes food invites togetherness, and she takes joy in creating a sense of belonging by cooking for the bar's visitors — exactly the right energy for a beachside bar where plates land in the middle of the table and conversation follows.
While bespoke cocktails are the headline act, Mix'd carries an extensive wine, beer and spirits list, so the non-cocktail drinker in your group is well looked after. If you're the kind of drinker who likes to understand what's in the glass, the team is happy to talk through production techniques, styles and flavours. Between the curated back bar and the kitchen's fresh, locally sourced cooking, it works as easily for a long lunch as for an evening drink.
Vouchers are available online, making it a straightforward gift for anyone who deserves a sundowner by the sea.
Mix'd Cocktail Bar is at 4 Hardinge Road, Ahuriri, Napier, in Hawke's Bay. It opens seven days from 11am, takes bookings online and welcomes walk-ins, and operates strictly as an R18 venue. Whether you come for an innovative cocktail, a shared platter or simply to sit beside the ocean with a glass of wine, the brief is the same: settle in, and let the sea do the rest.