Auckland’s waterfront is often mentioned as the place to go to get amongst the city’s social scene, but that has traditionally meant the Viaduct, or perhaps Wynyard Quarter.
It’s exciting to see that definition widening, with new arrival Bravo at Cracker Bay adding to the drawcards in a location a bit further around the water’s edge.
The spacious restaurant and bar is located in a corner of Westhaven Marina in a refurbished space that once was private venue Mantell’s On The Water. It bears little resemblance after a serious overhaul at the hands of developer Chris Meehan and his company Winton.
No strangers to an ambitious development, they are also the figures behind popular Arrowtown hospitality precinct Ayrburn. Meehan has now turned his hands to creating a new waterside hotspot in the big city.
Bravo is the first piece of new marina precinct Cracker Bay, making the most of the proximity to the water from the front doors on Westhaven Drive, through to the dockside bar leaners and lounging spaces on the patio. You can even pull up by boat, thanks to dedicated moorings out front.
It’s a clear boost for the wider area given Bravo’s offering stretches from morning coffee and pastries, to family lunches dockside, shared oysters and champagne at sunset, or late nights with cocktail in hand.
Seafood is a fitting focus of the menu but there’s also plenty of fresh, local produce alongside wines from Ayrburn.
The Bravo Seafood Tower is undoubtedly a showy highlight. It’s a generous platter for two to four guests includes market oysters, sashimi, chilled prawns, tuna tacos, prawn toast and calamari, with the option to add half a grilled crayfish.
Steak frites, beer battered fish, rigatoni alla vodka and a sharp Caesar, are also on offer along with rotisserie spiced chicken.
If time or tides have you on-the-go, delicious provisions you can take with you helps make the day run smoothly.
And just like Ayrburn, there are dedicated spaces such as a games room (there are vintage arcade machines, racing simulators and air hockey) to keep kids or the young-at-heart entertained so you can linger a little longer.
Bravo is at 9 Westhaven Drive, Westhaven, Auckland.
