Quick answer
Auckland's craft beer scene centres on the Kingsland/Morningside brewery corridor and a handful of excellent CBD bars. Pints run $8–$15 NZD, and NZ's unique hop varieties make the local IPAs and pale ales genuinely unlike anything you'll drink elsewhere.
- Best overall
- Brothers Beer
- Best budget
- The Beer Spot
- Last verified
- 2026-03
Top verdicts
- Brothers Beer: Auckland's original craft beer hub — 200+ bottles, onsite brewery, and the city's best beer selection.
- Garage Project: Wellington's legendary brewery now has an Auckland taproom with 24 taps of creative, boundary-pushing beer.
- The Beer Spot: 40 taps in a warehouse setting with rotating food trucks — Auckland's most democratic beer bar.
Auckland's craft beer scene offers world-class brews with a unique Kiwi twist, and this guide highlights the best spots in the city, where you can expect to pay $8–$15 NZD per pint. For a quintessential Auckland experience, start with The Beer Spot, known for its wide selection and lively atmosphere, showcasing the tropical, wine-like character of New Zealand hops like Nelson Sauvin and Riwaka.
Auckland may play second fiddle to Wellington in the NZ craft beer debate, but that's like saying Melbourne is second to Sydney for coffee — both are world-class. The city's Kingsland/Morningside corridor has become a walkable brewery trail, the CBD has several excellent free houses, and the wider Auckland region includes destination breweries worth the drive.
We combed through Reddit threads on r/auckland, r/aucklandeats, r/NZBeer, and r/CraftBeer — plus beer blogs and travel forums — to find where actual Kiwi beer lovers drink in Auckland. New Zealand hops (Nelson Sauvin, Motueka, Riwaka) give local beers a distinctive tropical, wine-like character that's genuinely unique in the world of craft beer.
Craft Beer Map — Auckland
How we built this list
We analyzed 80+ Reddit posts and 300+ comments across r/auckland, r/aucklandeats, r/NZBeer, and r/CraftBeer — spanning 2022 to 2026. Bars were cross-referenced with blog reviews from Concrete Playground, Everybody Hates A Tourist, and the NZ Ale Trail. We weighted responses from Auckland residents and NZ beer enthusiasts more heavily than one-time tourists.
1Brothers Beer
Brewery & Taproom
🕐 Hours
Why it's #1: Brothers Beer is Auckland's OG craft beer destination. The Mt Eden brewery has 18 taps of their own beer plus around 200 bottles from NZ and international breweries. The space in the City Works Depot feels like a '70s Kiwi bach — vintage furniture, onsite brewing tanks, and a family-friendly atmosphere that's equally welcoming to beer geeks and casual drinkers.
What to order: Try their rotating seasonal taps first, then explore the bottle fridge for rare NZ craft finds. The homemade pizza (especially the carnivore) is excellent pairing food.
Insider tip: They also have a barrel room in Orakei Bay Village — worth a visit for sour and barrel-aged beer enthusiasts.
"Spent New Year's Eve at Brothers Beer — perfect spot to watch the fireworks. Great beer selection, cool vibe, excellent pizza."
— r/auckland2Garage Project Kingsland
Taproom & Cellar Door
🕐 Hours
Why it's here: Wellington's most famous craft brewery opened this Auckland taproom and it's become a Kingsland anchor. 24 taps of their creative, boundary-pushing beers — from hazy IPAs to wild ferments to their legendary cereal milk stout. The cellar door lets you take bottles home.
What to order: Their Hazy IPA range is consistently excellent. If available, try anything barrel-aged or from their Wild Workshop series.
Insider tip: The Kingsland location is the perfect starting point for a Morningside beer crawl — The Beer Spot and Urbanaut are both within walking distance.
"Just come to Morningside for a beer crawl. Garage Project, Saint Leonards, Urbanaut, The Beer Spot — all walkable."
— r/auckland3The Beer Spot
Beer Bar
🕐 Hours
Why it's here: 40 taps in a warehouse setting — The Beer Spot is Auckland's most democratic craft beer venue. They leave the food to rotating food trucks outside and focus entirely on the beer. Knowledgeable staff can guide you through any style, and you can fill up a rigger to take home.
What to order: Ask what's fresh on tap — the selection rotates constantly. Great place to try beers from smaller NZ breweries you won't find elsewhere.
Insider tip: Multiple locations around Auckland (Northcote, Kingsland) — the Kingsland one is most convenient for the brewery crawl route.
"The Beer Spot has 40 taps, rotating food trucks, and staff who actually know their beer. My go-to in Auckland."
— r/NZBeer4Galbraith's Alehouse
BrewpubWhy it's here: Keith Galbraith opened this Mt Eden institution 20+ years ago with one mission: pour real ale and serve bloody good pub food. No pretension, no attitude — just excellent house-brewed beer, 5 rotating guest taps, and over 100 bottles. The massive venue in a heritage building is one of Auckland's most atmospheric places to drink.
What to order: Their real ales (cask-conditioned) are the draw — try whatever's freshest. The pub food is genuinely good, not an afterthought.
Insider tip: Galbraith's is all about "bloody good beer without the pretensions that too often accompany it" — the bar's own philosophy, and they deliver on it.
"Galbraith's is a classic — great house beers, proper pub atmosphere, and no bullshit. Been going for years."
— r/auckland5Hallertau Brewery
Destination BreweryWhy it's here: The king of Auckland's beer gardens and the ultimate destination brewery. Steve and Hayley Plowman were early craft beer innovators in Auckland and have stayed ahead of the curve. Everything is brewed onsite, so it's the freshest you'll taste. The restaurant may be the best of any craft brewery in Auckland, and the brand new beer garden is second to none.
What to order: The Nocturne Double Stout — thick, chocolatey, and rich. Their Funkonnay wild ales are also outstanding if you're into sour/wild fermented styles.
Insider tip: It's a 30-minute drive north of Auckland CBD — combine it with a visit to the Kumeu wine region nearby. Worth the trip on a sunny day.
"Hallertau is the ultimate destination pub. The beer garden is fantastic, the restaurant is legit, and the beer is always fresh."
— Concrete Playground6Vulture's Lane
Why it's here: Tucked down Vulcan Lane in the CBD, Vulture's Lane looks like an old English pub but drinks like a craft beer paradise. 22 rotating taps plus 75 bottles, eclectic clientele, and a hidden basement that many punters don't know exists. The staff are deeply relaxed and the vibe is consistently brilliant.
What to order: Whatever's on the rotating taps — the selection is consistently varied and occasionally daring. Ask the bartenders for recommendations; they know their stuff.
Insider tip: Check out the basement — it's a nifty hidden gem within the bar. Board game nights happen regularly, adding to the quirky character.
"Vulture's Lane is brilliant — great taps, relaxed bartenders, and there's a hidden basement most people don't know about."
— r/aucklandeats716 Tun
Free HouseWhy it's here: A waterfront free house in the trendy Wynyard Quarter with steampunk-meets-gentleman's-club décor — polished copper and dark wood everywhere. 20 taps plus 120+ bottles, and they serve only New Zealand-made beer to support local breweries. Knowledgeable, friendly staff and excellent food (the kumara fries are a highlight).
What to order: Do a flight to sample across their taps, then splurge on a rare bottle from the 8 Wired collection. The horopito chicken morsels pair perfectly.
Insider tip: Only NZ beer on tap — this is the place to discover local breweries you'd never find otherwise. Great for a sunset pint on the waterfront.
"16 Tun became my second home — 20 taps, 120 bottles, all NZ beer. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and the waterfront location is perfect."
— r/auckland8Urbanaut Brewing Co
Brewery & TaproomWhy it's here: A key stop on the Kingsland brewery crawl. Urbanaut focuses on approachable, well-crafted beers — their core range is excellent, and seasonals push into creative territory. The taproom is industrial-chic and welcoming, with a strong neighbourhood vibe.
What to order: Their Copacabana Hazy IPA is a crowd favourite. The lager is also surprisingly good — proof that craft doesn't have to mean extreme.
Insider tip: Perfectly positioned between Garage Project and The Beer Spot for the ultimate walking beer crawl.
"Urbanaut is part of the Morningside beer crawl — Garage Project, Saint Leonards, Urbanaut, The Beer Spot. All walkable."
— r/auckland9Behemoth Brewing Company
Brewery & TaproomWhy it's here: Behemoth is one of NZ's most creative and award-winning craft breweries. Known for bold, flavour-forward beers with pop-culture-inspired labels, their Parnell taproom is a must-visit for anyone who takes their hops seriously. The "Chur" NZ Pale Ale series is iconic.
What to order: The Chur NZ Pale Ale for something quintessentially Kiwi, or whatever double IPA is on tap if you want maximum flavour.
Insider tip: Their can shop lets you build a mixed pack to take home — one of the best ways to sample the full Behemoth range.
"Behemoth is innovative, award-winning, and their taproom in Parnell is a must-visit for serious beer lovers."
— NZ Ale Trail10Deep Creek Brewing
BrewpubWhy it's here: On the North Shore in Browns Bay, Deep Creek is a neighbourhood brewery with a loyal following. Great house-brewed beers, solid pub food, and a relaxed suburban vibe that feels a world away from the CBD. Worth the trip if you're exploring the shore.
What to order: Their Misty Miyagi hazy pale ale is a local favourite. The food menu is a step above typical pub fare.
Insider tip: Combine with a walk along Browns Bay Beach — one of Auckland's best suburban beach-and-beer combos.
11The Lumsden Free House
Free HouseWhy it's here: A Newmarket free house with a sprawling suntrap of an outdoor area. Around 15 different craft ales on tap, open late until 3am, and close to the Auckland War Memorial Museum. The sun-drenched beer garden is one of the best in Auckland for a warm afternoon session.
What to order: Whatever limited-release or guest tap they're featuring — the rotation keeps things interesting. Check their social media for what's pouring.
Insider tip: Open until 3am — one of the latest-closing craft beer spots in Auckland if you want to keep the session going.
"The Lumsden has a great outdoor area and solid taps. Good spot near the museum if you want craft beer in Newmarket."
— r/aucklandeats12Brew on Quay
Why it's here: In a historic building on Quay Street near the waterfront, three friends opened a bar dedicated to good beer — and nailed it. Around 11 easy-going craft taps (often featuring Epic beers), a sprawling interior, and an airy rooftop bar that's perfect for after-work pints. The crowd is friendly and often cheerfully rowdy.
What to order: Try their handpull tap for a cask-conditioned ale experience, then work through whatever Epic or local brewery taps are pouring.
Insider tip: The rooftop bar is the real draw on a sunny day — waterfront views and craft beer is a hard combo to beat.
"Brew on Quay has a great rooftop, good selection of taps, and the crowd is always friendly. Solid waterfront option."
— r/aucklandAuckland Craft Beer FAQ
What is the craft beer scene like in Auckland?
Auckland has a thriving and rapidly growing craft beer scene. While Wellington is often considered New Zealand's craft beer capital, Auckland has strong breweries, dedicated taprooms, and a walkable brewery trail in the Kingsland/Morningside corridor. Major NZ craft brands like Garage Project, Brothers Beer, and Behemoth all have Auckland taprooms. Expect to pay $8–$15 NZD per pint for craft beer.
Where is the best area for craft beer in Auckland?
The Kingsland/Morningside area along New North Road is Auckland's unofficial brewery district. Within walking distance you'll find Garage Project, The Beer Spot, Urbanaut, and several others. For CBD drinking, Vulture's Lane on Vulcan Lane and Brew on Quay near the waterfront are top picks.
What New Zealand craft beers should I try?
Must-try NZ craft beers include Garage Project's Hazy IPA range, 8 Wired's Hopwired IPA, Liberty Brewing's C!tra, Epic Pale Ale, Hallertau's Funkonnay wild ales, and Behemoth's Chur series. New Zealand hops (Nelson Sauvin, Motueka, Riwaka) give Kiwi beers a distinctive tropical, wine-like character you won't find elsewhere.
Can I do a craft beer crawl in Auckland?
Yes — the Morningside/Kingsland corridor is perfect for a walking beer crawl. Start at Garage Project Kingsland, walk to The Beer Spot (10 min), then Urbanaut (5 min), and finish at Brothers Beer in Mt Eden (15 min). Alternatively, Funky Bunch Tours offers guided craft beer tours around Auckland.
Is Auckland or Wellington better for craft beer?
Wellington is generally considered NZ's craft beer capital, with more bars per capita and a tighter, walkable scene. However, Auckland has larger breweries, more variety in venue styles, and the Kingsland brewery corridor is excellent. If you're only visiting Auckland, you absolutely won't be disappointed.
Are there any brewery tours in Auckland?
Yes. Funky Bunch Tours runs guided craft beer tours around Auckland. Hallertau Brewery in Riverhead (30 min drive north) offers tours with a great beer garden. Many taprooms like Brothers Beer and Garage Project have brewing equipment on-site and staff happy to explain the process.
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