Just weeks after opening, Bravo has joined Auckland’s waterfront lineup with a bang
Since Cracker Bay’s announcement, it seems like the entirety of Auckland has waited with bated breath to see just what would come first. It’s an address surely traversed by hundreds, if not thousands of people each day, and something grand was needed to become the cornerstone of the complex.
That’s where Bravo enters the playing field. Opening late last month, the all day establishment already feels like an old faithful, somewhere one could easily spend their day, morning to night, for any kind of occasion. Owner Chris Meehan says that this was always the intention. ‘Auckland’s waterfront tends to sit at either end of the spectrum—either quite formal, or very casual. What felt missing was a place with real energy and quality that didn’t require an occasion. Somewhere you could come for a long lunch, meet friends for drinks, bring clients, or just drop in after a walk along the marina.’ As such, Bravo was designed to sit comfortably in that space. It’s elevated without being intimidating. You can share a seafood tower on the deck, grab rotisserie chicken and a bottle of wine to take back onto the boat, or stay for dinner as the harbour lights come on.
Beyond the food itself—which we can confirm is definitely delicious—Chris thinks that there’s plenty to be excited about here. ‘You’ve got the deck right that extends right up to the edge of the water, people arriving by boat, the dining room humming, and a games room with vintage arcade machines and racing simulators bringing a completely different kind of energy.’ A space with this level of thought means different groups can overlap with ease: corporate lunches, friends meeting for drinks, families coming off the water—when all those layers are working together, the venue really comes alive.
But it’s no surprise, not really. After all, the team behind this new precinct have a reputation that precedes them: Otago’s beloved Ayrburn. And from what we’ve heard, and what Chris tells us, Bravo—in all its brilliance—really is just the beginning.
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