Overview
Introducing your newest after-work watering hole: Norma Taps. Nestled in the former Brother's Brewery space at City Works Depot, this brand-new venture was created by the bright minds of Honest and Passa Passa, promising an excellent eating and drinking experience.
Honest is a sustainable, plastic-free rum company run by two childhood friends who decided to try making their own rum in lockdown. A couple of years on from this initial experimentation, these two Kiwis have not only created their own rum, but their own brand.
Honest's rums will make up a chunk of Norma Taps' drink offerings, with six cocktails on tap, all batched on site. Also on offer will be a rotation of seven New Zealand beer and wine taps and one juice tap provided by the Chia Sisters. There will also be a changing non-alcoholic cocktail available at the bar.
After you've tried all the taps, you might need some food — and that's where Passa Passa comes in. The travelling food truck is known for producing authentic Italian fare, with its Norma Taps menu being no exception. The menu will chop and change with the seasons, but currently features a range of pizzetas, burrata with roast cherry tomatoes and a summery watermelon salad.
Saving the environment is at the forefront of everything that Honest does, including when it comes to Norma Taps. This is why you won't see a single-use bottle at the pub.
You will, however, see a vinyl record player, complete with a lengthy record collection soundtracking your drinking and dining sessions.
Adding to the eco-conscious streak, the space uses what it already has — high ceilings, dark woods — and enhances it, adding deep green velvet and leather to pull it all together.
While Norma Taps is operating as a pop–up, we have some good news — it'll be at City Works for the next 12 months, so you will have plenty of time to try out all its taps.
Norma Taps is now open and can be found at 90 Wellesley Street, Shed 3, City Works Depot, Auckland. The bar is open 11.30am–10pm Monday–Wednesday, 11.30am–late Thursday–Saturday and 11.30am–6pm Sunday. Head to the venue's Instagram for more info.