The open air beer garden at the Elephant Wrestler pub at 138 Hurstmere Road in Takapuna. Photo / Janna Dixon
Address: 138 Hurstmere Rd, Takapuna
Rating:
First drinks: We took a seat in the outdoor area and were instantly greeted by a waitress wearing an Hawaiian shirt. We started with refreshing drinks: a strawberry-lime Rekorderlig for my friend and a rosebud cocktail for myself. The strong concoction boasted Absolut Citron, Cointreau, lime and grapefruit juice. We
also ordered a plate of prawns at the same time, which were delivered to our table in less than four minutes, with the drinks arriving mere seconds later. The service was extremely efficient considering they'd hosted a Christmas party only hours earlier, which explained the balloons decorating our table.
The vibe is: Typically cruisy Sunday afternoon in the sun. Most people look like they've just walked up from Takapuna Beach, sporting jandals, singlets and a few sandy, bare feet.
It smells of: Nothing in particular. We chose to sit outside, where you get the occasional whiff of salty sea air.
On the stereo: There was a DJ manning some decks facing out into the outdoor area. The beats were a poppy mix of Michael Jackson remixes, Bruno Mars and other recent hits. It was probably a tad too loud for a casual Sunday afternoon, leaving us shouting at each other across the table.
