Botany Commons

Quick bites for lunch and comforting plates for lazy suppers, Botany Commons is East Auckland's unofficial social hub offering great food and endless boozy possibilities (thanks to their microbrewery). This fun-loving hive has something for everyone.

Famous for its communal vibe, catchy live music, and great food, laughter is never in short supply at this joint. If it's a rainy day (always a risk in AKL), their spacious gastropub is the perfect place to unwind under a bower of luscious, green foliage. Alternatively, you'll find that any afternoon spent in their sunny courtyard will inevitably turn into an all-day affair.

The food is a hearty celebration of informal dining and honest grub. Don your napkins for their cheesy/meaty/saucy pizzas or for an irresistibly juicy burger. For something more cutlery-orientated, their pub classics include pork schnitzel and fish and chips or splurge on something a bit more decadent with a New York cut peppered steak.

If you don't fancy nursing a food baby, sample their super fresh duck salad, and if you're avoiding the burgers, their big mac bowl is a deconstructed version without the extra calories. Succumb to the seductive brewery and have yourself a winning craftie – well deserved, we're sure!