Overview
Not quite breakfast, not quite lunch; brunch is the hybrid meal when drinking before noon becomes totally acceptable. It's also the irresistible sponge soaking up that first home deposit (here's looking at you, smashed avo). The most popular meal of the day has now been enhanced with a swarm of bottomless dining sessions across Auckland. Here's where to have your fill, and seconds, and thirds, and so on.
THE LULA INN, VIADUCT HARBOUR
South Pacific eatery The Lula Inn is the unofficial birthplace of bottomless brunch in Auckland, kicking off the trend in 2018 with endless pours of bubbly and cocktails. Every Saturday and Sunday from 9am–1pm, brunch-goers at the waterfront establishment are given a two-hour window to enjoy unlimited prosecco, mimosas, bloody marys and pineapple mocktails while they inhale the likes of beans on toast, corn hash and banana bread. The deal will set you back $47.50 and is limited to groups of 12 people. Head down on Thursday from 5pm and you'll be treated to bottomless beer, bubbles and dumplings.
WU & YOU, MOUNT EDEN
Rather than be restricted to the weekend, Mount Eden eatery Wu & You's bottomless deal is available every day it's open. The sessions begin at either 11am or 1:30pm and have a two-hour maximum stay. From the $59.90 menu you can choose one item from the restaurant's Asian-inspired menu, including four kinds of bao and burgers, green papaya salad, glazed pork belly and beef rendang. To wash it all down, the bar serves up bottomless mimosas, prosecco, peach bombs and virgin cocktails.
EAT DRINK LAUGH, GREY LYNN
Grey Lynn neighbourhood spot Eat Drink Laugh is perfect for larger groups thanks to its open dining room and cushy booths. The bottomless deal is only available Saturdays and Sundays when booking and will set you back $65 per person. For that you'll get your choice of meal from the special menu — from your full English brekkie to salad bowls and brioche burgers — and a generous selection of drinks. Mimosas, prosecco and red and white wine sangria will freshen up your first meal of the day, while the spiced vodka bloody marys will serve as the perfect hair of the dog.
Celebrating a special occasion? Opt for the Veuve Clicquot luxe lunch. For $149 per head you'll get bottomless sharing platters and champagne cocktails. Cheers to that!
31 BAR & EATERY, PONSONBY
How about some Indian-inspired fare to kick off your morning? Every Saturday from 11.30am, Ponsonby's 31 Bar & Eatery runs its dedicated bottomless service. For $59 per person you can have your pick of two meals from the food menu as well as bottomless beverages. That means the likes of paneer tikka masala wraps, chilli eggplant, loaded fries and fried chicken wings. And throw out preconceived notions of early morning drops — here, your mimosas and prosecco are joined by tap beer, house wines, lassi cocktails and even the bar's take on a negroni.
PILKINGTONS, AUCKLAND CBD
At Auckland CBD restaurant Pilkingtons you can sit down for a sophisticated long lunch with bottomless wine. Together with local brand Invivo & Co, the Shortland Street eatery serves up unlimited vino with lunch every Saturday across two hours. There are two sittings to choose from — 12.30pm and 1pm — which include bread and whipped butter for the table, your choice of main from three options, plus bottomless Tokyo Dry tap beer, vodka cocktails, sauvignon blanc and pinot gris. Tickets will set you back $65 per person, but it is worth it for one of the best boozy bottomless brunches in Auckland.
THE GRANGE, TAKAPUNA
Found inside Takapuna's Smales Farm, The Grange is another spot soothing daytime hunger pains with a bottomless lunch package. Book into the restaurant every Saturday afternoon to enjoy two hours of Squealing Pig wines, Peroni beer or sangria, with your choice of main and a shared charcuterie platter. Each session runs for two hours and costs $69 per person.
In compliance with the Alcohol Act 2012, each venue reserves the right to stop serving diners if intoxicated. Guests will not be served more than one beverage at a time and all table members must take part in the bottomless package.