You know that specific feeling when you walk into a bar and it just feels correct? No pretension. No over-the-top neon signs trying too hard for an Instagram post. Just good lighting and the smell of meatballs. That’s basically the vibe at Bedford Soda and Liquor Takapuna. It’s been a staple of the North Shore’s Eat Street (Hurstmere Road) for a long time now, and honestly, it’s one of the few places that survived the fickle nature of Auckland’s hospitality scene without losing its soul.
It's Brooklyn in the 1920s. Sorta.
The whole concept is unapologetically inspired by the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in New York. We’re talking leather booths, subway tiles, and a bar back that looks like it belongs in a black-and-white movie. Most people head to Takapuna for the beach, which is fine, but Bedford is the reason you stay once the sun goes down and the sea breeze starts getting a bit too nippy.
What Actually Makes Bedford Soda and Liquor Takapuna Work?
It isn't just the decor. Plenty of places have nice tiles.
The magic sauce—literally—is the meatballs. Most bars treat food as an afterthought, something to soak up the gin so you don't fall over. At Bedford, the meatballs are the main event. You choose your meat (beef, chicken, pork, or veggie), you choose your sauce, and you choose what it sits on. It's simple. It’s customizable. It’s also surprisingly hard to find a place that does a "build your own" meatball slider that doesn't taste like cardboard. These don't.
The Cocktail Game is Legit
The "Soda" part of the name isn't just for show. They take their craft sodas seriously, mixing them with house-made syrups that make standard Coke or Sprite feel like a personal insult.
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If you’re looking for a recommendation, the Bedford Iced Tea usually does the trick, but it’s the seasonal rotations that keep the regulars coming back. They do these massive, oversized cocktails served in pitchers or spheres that look like they should come with a warning label. It's fun. It's festive. It's exactly what you want when you're out with a group of friends on a Friday night and the North Shore energy is peaking.
The bartenders here actually know what they’re doing. You’ve probably been to bars where you ask for a classic Negroni and the person behind the counter looks at you like you’ve asked them to solve a differential equation. Not here. They understand balance. They understand ice. They understand that a cocktail is an experience, not just a glass of liquid.
The Eat Street Ecosystem
Location matters. Being tucked into the Fortieth & Cassia precinct gives Bedford this weirdly intimate yet open-air feel. You can sit "outside" while still being protected from the Auckland rain, which, let's face it, happens every twenty minutes.
It’s a neighborhood spot. You see locals who have been coming here since the doors first opened, mixed with tourists who wandered up from the sand looking for a cold beer. There’s a lack of snobbery that is refreshing. You can wear your fancy leather boots or your jandals, and nobody is going to give you a second look. That’s the Takapuna way.
Dealing with the Noise
One thing to be aware of: it gets loud.
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If you're planning a quiet, romantic first date where you want to whisper sweet nothings about your philosophy on life, maybe pick a Tuesday at 4:00 PM. On a Saturday night? The music is pumping, the cocktail shakers are rattling, and the chatter of fifty people eating sliders creates a wall of sound. It’s energetic. It’s vibrant. But it is definitely not a library.
Breaking Down the Menu (The Non-Boring Way)
Most people get overwhelmed by the "choose your own adventure" style of the meatball menu. Here is the move: get the beef meatballs with the traditional tomato sauce on mash. It sounds basic. It is basic. But it’s also the ultimate comfort food.
If you want to get weird with it, the pesto or the spicy gravy options are solid, but the kitchen usually shines when they stick to the classics. The sliders are perfect for sharing, though "sharing" usually ends up with one person eating three and the other person wondering where their life went wrong.
- The Beef: Hearty, well-seasoned, doesn't crumble the second your fork touches it.
- The Veggie: Actually has flavor. It isn't just a mashed-up bean patty.
- The Sides: The polenta fries are non-negotiable. Don't skip them.
Why it Beats the CBD Bars
Crossing the bridge is a hassle. Everyone knows it.
The beauty of Bedford Soda and Liquor Takapuna is that it provides a "city" experience without the nightmare of finding parking in Britomart. You get the high-end mixology, the curated menu, and the cool atmosphere, but you're five minutes away from a walk on the beach.
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There’s a certain grit to the place that feels authentic. In a world of "concept bars" that feel like they were designed by a corporate committee, Bedford feels like it has a personality. It’s a bit rough around the edges in the best way possible. It feels lived in.
The Practical Reality of Visiting
Parking in Takapuna is a nightmare. There, I said it.
If you’re heading to Bedford, don't even bother trying to park on Hurstmere Road. Look for the parking buildings nearby or the side streets closer to the lake. Better yet, just Uber. You're going to want to try more than one of those cocktails anyway.
The staff are generally great, though when the place is slammed, expect a bit of a wait. That’s just the reality of a popular spot. They don’t rush you out the door the second you finish your last bite, which is a rare courtesy in modern hospitality. You can actually sit and talk. You can linger.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Visit
- Book Ahead for Groups: If you have more than four people, don't just show up on a Friday night. Use their online booking system or give them a call. The booths fill up fast.
- Try the Flight: If you can't decide on a meatball, ask if they can do a mix. Usually, they’re pretty chill about letting you experiment with the sauces.
- Check the Happy Hour: They often have specials on certain nights of the week. It’s worth checking their social media before you head in to see if you can snag a deal on sliders or house sodas.
- The "Hidden" Combo: Pair the spicy pork balls with a cool, citrus-based craft soda. The contrast between the heat of the meat and the crispness of the soda is peak Bedford.
- Timing the Beach: Go for a walk at Takapuna Beach about an hour before sunset, then walk the five minutes up to Bedford. It’s the perfect transition from "nature" mode to "nightlife" mode.
Bedford Soda and Liquor Takapuna remains a cornerstone of the Shore for a reason. It doesn't try to be everything to everyone; it just does meatballs and drinks really, really well. In a city that is constantly chasing the next shiny trend, there is something deeply respectable about a place that just sticks to its guns and keeps the quality high.