Eden Cloakroom

Nestled among Mt Eden village's legendary cafes and restaurants is the Eden Cloakroom, a stylish and cosy venue where you'll find uniquely kiwi-named drinks like the 'Waitakere Daiquiri', the 'Tiki Tour' and the 'North Island Iced Tea'.

It also boasts a seriously impressive wine list that's bound to have something for every taste, from Chardonnay to Riesling or Gewurztraminer to Brut.

Some pubs can be imposing or intimidating, but the Eden Cloakroom is more inviting than anything else. We arrived on a Friday night to the general hum of chatter mixed with classic rock tunes and quickly blended in with the masses, who were clearly enjoying themselves.

The staff are friendly without being overintrusive, and the eagle-eyed waitress was kind enough to point out an evacuating table that we quickly made a beeline for. Because trust me, real estate is at a premium here, and you'll need to fight for a table or seat!



About half of the space consists of the outdoors courtyard - perfect for soaking up the sun while doing a spot of people-watching. Did I mention how amazing the décor is - all wood, bronze and gold (VERY classy) with quaint stained-glass doors?

There's no greasy pub fare to be found here; go for some of the small platters to share or something more substantial from the main menu. We were tempted by the salmon salad and garlic prawns, but eventually decided on the grilled tuna and rib eye - which were both absolutely delicious, with the steak seared to perfection.

All in all, it's a fantastic place to kick back and relax after a long day at work, or given it's location, ideal for taking a breather after exploring the shopping strip.