Address: Cnr Queen and York Sts, Riverhead, northwest Auckland
Open: Sunday 9am to late, Monday to Saturday, 11am to late
Ph: (09) 412 8902
Website: theriverhead.co.nz
It's always nice to see a bar being rescued from an ignominious end and the turnabout in the Riverhead is nothing short of spectacular.
What was once a grungy, gang-influenced fleapit - where you were more likely to wipe your feet upon leaving than arriving - is now an absolute gem of a place. It is on the shores of the Waitemata Harbour, where there has been a hotel for more than 150 years.
Revamped and restored to reflect the site's heritage, the Riverhead is split into two main parts: the Portage sports bar and the Landing restaurant and bar, although its crowning glory is the deck area overlooking the water.
Surrounded by stripped timber and blown-up snippets about the area taken from old newspapers, it's an easy place to forget about the world for a while and simply enjoy the atmosphere and the fare.
