Agave Bistro & Drinkery

About Agave Bistro & Drinkery

Agave Bistro & Drinkery brings vibrant Mexican-inspired dining and craft cocktail culture to Mount Maunganui. Situated along Maunganui Road, this lively neighbourhood establishment pairs an energetic bistro atmosphere with an expansive drinkery, hosting regular live entertainment from Thursday jam nights and Friday happy hours to Saturday DJ sessions.

The kitchen crafts contemporary Latin American and coastal Mexican dishes, centering around fresh ceviches, tostadas, shareable large plates, and a signature Taco Tuesday. Vegan options are readily accommodated across most offerings, ensuring broad appeal for gatherings of all styles.

At the bar, Agave shines with an extensive selection of curated tequilas and artisanal mezcals available by the pour or tasting flight. Guests can also explore inventive house-crafted signature cocktails, refreshed classic libations, bespoke spritzes, regional wines, and house-made sodas.

Agave Bistro & Drinkery: Mexican-Inspired Dining and Agave Spirits in Mount Maunganui

Located at 4/169 Maunganui Road in Mount Maunganui, Agave Bistro & Drinkery brings together authentic Mexican culinary traditions, coastal seafood, and an extensive bar program dedicated to artisanal spirits. Operating in the heart of the Mount, the venue functions as both an inventive dining room and a late-night drinking destination, blending relaxed seaside dining with vibrant evening entertainment.

Coastal Plates and Shared Dishes

The bistro menu emphasizes fresh, Latin-inspired flavors with a strong focus on seafood and grilled meats. Guests can start with small plates such as the Tostada Enamorada featuring crispy tortilla topped with tuna, capers, radish, and culichi mayo, or the Ceviche de Acapulco made with citrus-cured prawns, white fish, cocktelera sauce, olives, and oranges. Other popular starters include smoked cheddar jalapeño croquettes, char-grilled beef and bacon skewers with chimichurri, and house-made corn chips with a rotating dip of the day.

For larger shared meals, the kitchen prepares dishes like Arroz a la Tumbada—a hearty seafood rice with prawns, octopus, and mussels in a tomato-based recaudo rojo lifted by lemon kosho. Seafood lovers can order the market fish grilled over a hibachi grill, accompanied by a mezcal and mushroom sauce, grilled cabbage, capers, artichokes, and paprika oil. For pairs, the signature Carne Asada platter presents a 200g scotch fillet alongside mild and spicy chorizo, baked potato, martajada sauce, chimichurri, and house-made "Bolillo" bread served with matcha whipped butter.

Dedicated Taco Evenings and Sweets

A central feature of the weekly schedule is Taco Tuesday, serving individual tacos during both lunch and dinner services. The taco selection highlights classic street flavors, offering fillings such as slow-cooked Pork Carnitas, Beef, Prawn Gobernador, and Fish Tempura. Desserts continue the balance of comfort and tradition, featuring a rich Chocolate Volcan paired with Fiordilatte ice cream and a classic Vanilla Flan served with poached seasonal fruit and burnt honey.

Specialized Drinkery, Tastings, and Entertainment

Beyond dining, the drinkery stands out for its deep curation of Mexican agave spirits. Visitors can explore dedicated tasting flights for both tequila and mezcal, sampling varieties from renowned producers such as Del Maguey, Alipus, Los Danzantes, Cenote, and Gracias a Dios, including wild agaves like Tepeztate and Cupreata.

The cocktail menu offers both inventive signatures and revisited classics. Noteworthy creations include the Mango Django with chilli vodka and chimichurri, Katia's Daiquiri with pineapple and coconut rum, the smoky Agave Negroni, and the Smoked Lemon Pie topped with burnt smoked meringue. For those preferring non-alcoholic choices, house-crafted sodas include thyme lemonade, chamomile lemonade, sparkling iced tea, and hibiscus soda, alongside Illy coffee. The venue transitions into a nightlife spot through themed weekly events, including Thursday jam nights, Friday Happy Hour, and Saturday late-night DJ sessions.

Signature items

• Arroz A La Tumbada
• Ceviche De Acapulco
• Tostada Enamorada
• Carne Asada for 2
• Smoked Lemon Pie
• Agave Negroni

Menu

Beer

• Guest Tap — Rotating guest beer tap
• Menabrea Bionda — Italian premium blonde lager
• Mermaid Mirth APA — American pale ale
• Golden Hour XPA — Extra pale ale
• Shortboard IPA 2.5% — Low alcohol IPA
• Menabrea 0% — Zero alcohol lager

Wine

• Ca' Di Rajo Prosecco — Italian sparkling wine
• Charles Orban Blanc De Noir — Champagne
• Nonna Silvana Pinot Grigio — Veneto, Italy
• I Mori Chardonnay — Sicily, Italy
• Auntsfield Sauvignon Blanc — New Zealand white wine
• Pipoli Aglianico Rosato — Campania, Italy rosé
• Rosetti Sangiovese Blend — Toscana 2023, Italy
• The Loner Pinot Noir — Central Otago 2022, New Zealand
• Pipoli Aglianico — Campania 2021, Italy

Tacos

• Pork Carnitas — Taco with slow-cooked pork carnitas
• Beef Taco — Taco with seasoned beef filling
• Prawn Gobernador — Taco with succulent prawns
• Fish Tempura Taco — Crispy tempura-battered fish taco

Mezcal

• Del Maguey Vida — Espadin mezcal
• Del Maguey Chichicapa — Espadin mezcal
• Gracias A Dios Espadin — Artisanal espadin mezcal
• Gracias A Dios Espadin Reposado — Reposado espadin mezcal
• Gracias A Dios Cupreata — Cupreata varietal mezcal
• Gracias A Dios Tepeztate — Wild tepeztate varietal mezcal
• Gracias A Dios Cuishe — Cuishe varietal mezcal
• Gracias A Dios Sierra Negra — Wild blend varietal mezcal
• Gracias A Dios Pechuga — Espadin distilled with fruits
• Alipus San Luis — Espadin mezcal
• Alipus San Andres — Espadin and bicuishe blend mezcal
• Alipus San Baltazar — Espadin mezcal
• Alipus San Juan — Espadin mezcal
• Alipus San Miguel — Espadin and arroqueño blend mezcal
• Don Amado Rustico — Espadin mezcal
• Los Danzantes — Espadin mezcal
• Los 7 Misterios Doba-Yej — Espadin mezcal
• Los 7 Misterios Ensamble — Espadin and mexicanito blend mezcal

Tequila

• Los Arcos Del Valle — Curated tequila pour
• Vendedor De Sueños — Curated tequila pour
• Tierra Noble Blanco — Blanco tequila
• Tierra Noble Reposado — Reposado tequila
• Cenote Blanco — Blanco tequila
• Cenote Reposado — Reposado tequila
• Arquitecto — Curated tequila pour
• Fortaleza Blanco — Artisanal blanco tequila

Desserts

• Chocolate Volcan — Fiordilatte ice cream
• Vanilla Flan — Poached seasonal fruit, burnt honey (GF)

Coffee & Tea

• Espresso — Illy espresso
• Long Black — Illy long black coffee
• Cappuccino / Flat White / Latte — Illy espresso with steamed milk
• Mocha / Hot Chocolate — Rich chocolate and coffee beverages
• English Breakfast Tea — Classic brewed black tea
• Chamomile Tea — Herbal chamomile tea
• Fresh Mint Tea — Fresh steeped mint leaves

Large Plates

• Arroz A La Tumbada — Prawn, octopus, mussels, recaudo rojo (tomato base), lemon kosho (GF)
• Market Fish — Grilled on hibachi, mezcal and mushroom sauce, grilled cabbage, capers, artichokes, paprika oil
• Carne Asada for 2 — Mild and spicy chorizo, 200g scotch fillet, baked potato, chimichurri, martajada sauce, homemade bread (GF)
• Special of the Week — Market special

Small Plates

• Tostada Enamorada — Crispy tortilla, tuna, capers, radish, culichi mayo (GF)
• Ceviche De Acapulco — Citrus cured prawns and white fish, cocktelera sauce, olives, oranges (GF, DF)
• Jalapeño Croquettes — Smoked cheddar cheese, jalapeno mayo
• Beef & Bacon Skewer — Char-grilled, chimichurri, tortilla (GF, DF)
• Home Made Corn Chips — Dip of the day (GF)
• Caesar Salad — Anchovy/parmesan dressing, mixed leaves, cashews, smoked cheese; optional prawns (GF)
• Fries — Served with chipotle mayo, jalapeno, truffle mayo, or loaded (GF, DF)
• Home Made Bread 'Bolillo' — Matcha whipped butter
• Roasted Seasonal Veggies — Garnishes and sauces chosen daily by the chef (GF)

Homemade Softs

• Ginger Beer — House-made ginger beer
• Hibiscus Soda — House-made floral soda
• Sparkling Iced Tea — Refreshing sparkling iced tea
• Fresh Lemonade — Traditional fresh lemonade
• Thyme Lemonade — Herb-infused lemonade
• Chamomile Lemonade — Floral herbal lemonade
• Coca Cola — Classic bottled soda
• Alchemy + Tonic — Artisan tonic
• Bisleri Tonic Water — Milano, Italy tonic water

Signature Cocktails

• The Cashews Cartel — Disaronno, Plantation Dark, T.F. Cacao, cashew orgeat, lemon, whites
• Shores Of Nayarit — Tequila, jalapeno Aperol, pink pepper, lemon, smoked salt, whites
• Gran Torino — Engine Gin, Cynar, lemon, sage cordial, mandarin bitter, tonic
• Mezcal Last Word — Mezcal, maraschino, fennel pollen liqueur, lime, house cherries
• Smoked Lemon Pie — Mezcal, limoncello, oleo, lemon, citrus salt, burnt smoked meringue
• El Silencio — Dirty mezcal martini twist with olive brine, olives, chili oil drops float
• Mango Django — Chilli vodka, mango liqueur, coriander, lemon, chimichurri, spicy salt
• Figs, White Chocolate, Rhubarb — White chocolate mezcal, fig infused Campari, rhubarb, lemon, soda
• Dreadlocks Morning — Tequila, coffee elixir, passion fruit, cacao blanc, Illy espresso
• Yours Truly, The Architect — Arquitecto tequila, Dolin dry, violette liqueur, prosecco, lemon essence
• Oaxaca Breeze — Seasonal gin sour
• Katia's Daiquiri — Pineapple rum, coconut rum, Campari, lime, passion fruit
• Summer Garden Night — Jalapeño tequila, basil liqueur, rosemary, lemon salt, cucumber air
• Agave Negroni — Agave gin, mezcal, Campari, sweet vermouth, Cynar, lemon
• Black Magic Woman — Gin, Lillet Blanc, Dom Benedictine, thyme, soda, black magic

Classic & Revisitations

• Amaretto Sour — Rum, amaretto, lemon, sugar, whites, orange juice
• Old Cuban — White rum, lime, sugar, mint, prosecco
• Paper Plane — Bourbon, Aperol, amaro, lemon
• Paloma — Tequila (or mezcal), saline solution, grapefruit soda
• Margarita — Tequila (or mezcal), clementine liqueur, lime, salt
• Tommy's Margarita — Tequila, agave syrup, lime
• Garibaldi — Tequila, Campari, orange, grapefruit
• Mai-Tai — White rum, dark rum, amaretto, cointreau, lime
• Penicillin — Bourbon, lemon, honey, ginger, peaty whisky float
• Oaxaca Old Fashioned — Tequila, mezcal, agave syrup, bitters, orange
• House Spritz — House signature aperitif spritz
• Mezcal Margaritas — Smoky margarita variant
• Tequila or Mezcal Tonic — Agave spirit with premium tonic

Tequila & Mezcal Flights

• Tequila Tasting Flight (3) — Selection of three tequilas
• Mezcal Tasting Flight (3) — Selection of three mezcals

Frequently asked questions

Where is Agave Bistro & Drinkery located?

The venue is located at 4/169 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui, Tauranga.

Does Agave Bistro offer options for vegans and dietary restrictions?

Yes, vegan options are offered for most dishes, and numerous menu items are clearly marked as gluten-free (GF) or dairy-free (DF).

When does Taco Tuesday take place?

Taco Tuesday runs every Tuesday from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm for lunch and 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm for dinner.

What entertainment events happen during the week?

The venue hosts Jam Nights on Thursdays from 8:00 pm, Happy Hour from 3:00 pm on Fridays, and live DJ sessions on Saturday nights.

Are there tasting options available for spirits?

Yes, Agave Bistro offers both 3-pour Tequila Tasting Flights ($35) and Mezcal Tasting Flights ($45).

How can I book a table or get in touch?

Reservations can be made online via their website, or you can call +64 7 222 1190 or email hello@agavebistro.co.nz.

Tips

• {"body":"Stop in on Tuesdays between 12:00 pm–3:00 pm or 5:00 pm–10:00 pm to sample tacos like Pork Carnitas, Prawn Gobernador, and Fish Tempura.","title":"Visit for Taco Tuesday"}
• {"body":"If you want to explore spirits beyond standard cocktails, order a tequila or mezcal flight to sample different regional varieties and agave expressions.","title":"Try an Agave Tasting Flight"}
• {"body":"Plan your evening around their weekly entertainment, which includes Thursday jam nights from 8:00 pm, Friday afternoon happy hours, and Saturday DJ sessions running late.","title":"Catch Live Music and DJ Sets"}

Good to know

• {"dietary":"Vegan options available for most dishes; gluten-free and dairy-free options noted across the menu."}