Parāoa Brewing Co.

The Verdict

Hibiscus Coast dwellers and city-siders with a soft spot for a food-focused day trip, this one’s for you. There’s a new opening in town in Whangaparāoa and that’s the Parāoa Brewing Co. Ideal for all things eating, drinking, socialising, boogying and being merry, this spot on the skirts of Coast Plaza has a little something for everyone.

It’s part brewery, part bar, part eatery, live music venue—and an all-round stellar destination to let your hair down and fill your cup and belly up.

Walking into this sprawling, lively spot, you’ll be greeted by a bar in the middle of the space, with an impressively long line of brewed beers on tap. After all, as the name suggests, brewing just so happens to be the Parāoa Brewing Co’s jam. You’ll find all kinds of house beers, plus a rotating list of craft beers from other local brewing buddies like Sawmill, Behemoth as well as Siverdale’s Laughing Bones and Deep Creek. 

Speaking of delicious boozy delights, we can’t not mention their cocktails. Whether you like cocktails on the fruity and zesty side or prefer the rich, chocolatey cocktails that are akin to drinking a dessert, they’ve got a cocktail for absolutely every craving here—all for $15 a pop we might add. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the cocktails are of such a high calibre. After all, their mixologist, award-winning, Jeremy Nivern has been working his Midas touch on them. 

While it’s hard to pick a stand out, the Shamu cocktail made with gin, watermelon, kaffir lime and pink grapefruit is a showstopper—and makes a hard case for kaffir lime in sweet cocktails. The Moby Dick also gives the classic Espresso Martini a decadent whirl, blending spiced rum, Kahlua and a mix of vanilla and cinnamon.

Booze-free buddies are covered too, you’ll find one of the best non-alcoholic cocktails in Auckland here: the Humphrey the Humpback. It’s complete with a fruit mix of mango, passionfruit, lime and a dash of kombucha and, no exaggeration, tastes just like liquid gummy lollies. 

The left side of the space is dedicated to dining. And boy oh boy are there some goodies in store... Asian-fusion fare is what you’ll find on the menu here—in the form of full dishes, bar bites, sharing plates and some ultra decadent desserts. 

We’ve got to hand it to them: they’ve put some incredibly inventive spins on classic favourites that grace the small, sharing dishes menu—think elevated bar bites with a quirky, refreshing twist. There are impossibly succulent crispy lamb ribs with a pickled onion, garlicky and downright zesty spin. You’ll also find fried eggplant, burrata, ceviche, oysters with kawakawa oil, and popcorn cauliflower on the menu. Parāoa brewing co is also home to the best jalapeno poppers we’ve seen in a long time: they’re jam-packed with a gooey cream cheese, pack a nice punch and are oh-so-moreish. 

As for the mains? Well, there’s a little something to tickle every fancy. Or should we say big—the portions are generous in both size and flavour. Surf and turf with their Asian-fusion flavours reign supreme here: you’ll find a succulent pork belly, burgers, market fish with a dash of curry and scotch fillet, each complete with a dash of unique Asian-fusion garnishings.

Brought to the area by Zenice Gujarathi and with dishes by renowned chef Cameron Knox (Tok Tok, Mekong Baby), it comes as no surprise that the food takes classics and gives them a spin that’s as fun, lively, and easy-breezy as the space itself. 

When we say that it’s bringing the buzz to Whangaparāoa township, we mean it. You’ll find lively pool tables, a darts area, a huge stage for local live music and all kinds of places to eat drink and sip the day away.

Image credit: Parāoa Brewing Co