Swashbucklers Restaurant & Bar
342 reviews
#80 of 2,238 Restaurants in Auckland Central$$ - $$$, Seafood, New Zealand, Vegetarian friendly+64 9-307 5979+ Add websiteImprove this listing
Hours
Sun
11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Mon
11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Tue
11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Wed
11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Thu
11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Fri
11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Sat
11:00 am - 11:00 pm
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
4.0
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
Learn More
PRICE RANGE
$14.00 – $63.00
CUISINES
Seafood, New Zealand
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options
meals, features
Can a gluten free person get a good meal at this restaurant?
Details
About
Sitting adjacent to the Waitemata Harbour( Auckland), Swashbucklers has been Auckland's pre eminent seafood restaurant for 20 years.Indoor and outdoor dining. Casual relaxed environment for dining or for bar snacks or drinks in the famous/ unique Boatshed BAR
PRICE RANGE
$14.00 – $63.00
CUISINES
Seafood, New Zealand
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, After-hours
FEATURES
Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Free off-street parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, American Express, Mastercard, Visa, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
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4.0
342 reviews
Excellent
173
Very good
113
Average
27
Poor
17
Terrible
12
Harry7264
Auckland Central179 contributions
Oct 2020 • none
Haven't been here for a while but after last nights meal I am asking myself why not.
Food and service were excellent and for a fish restaurant the steak was excellent. Very fresh oysters, wonderful calamari, melt in your mouth eye fillet, scampi - great. Not only all of the things you want in a dining experience but pricing is very fair.
Great atmosphere and fun staff. Can't wait to be back.
Written 21 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
amillionlights8
Memphis54 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
Went here based off of reviews, and wasn't disappointed. Solor traveler, was glad they had a spare table, as it was quite busy! My server recommended a great wine, and there was so much food, I couldn't even finish. Great atmosphere, loved it.
Written 13 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan6966
Auckland58 contributions
Jan 2023 • couples
My wife and I decided to go to go to this restaurant today for lunch.
We had a great lunch.
I ordered scallops in a moray sauce as an entree and snapper pan fried as a main course.
My wife ordered a seafood platter for one, which was huge and she could hardly finish it.
My scallops moray was wonderfull and my snapper was pan fried and delightful.
I can highly recommend this seafood restaurant.
You should book it first or be early. We arrived at 12-30pm, it opens at 12, we didn’t have a booking so we had to eat in the bar.
Rustic setting, lots of old memorabilia, and great seafood.
Written 10 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
debra l
3 contributions
Aug 2021 • friends
Today five of us went for lunch. Four ordered the seafood chowder. Unfortunately today's chowder was laced with garlic and rather disappointing. None of us ate more than half. When we told the duty manager the chowder was not up to standard he became very defensive he replied no one else has complained and did I at least enjoy the bread!!!
Written 2 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karin325
Frankfurt166 contributions
Jan 2020 • couples
We wanted to have a simple seafood platter and the online pictures of the restaurant were very promising. We liked the location with fun decorations. The food disappointed. Large portions with way too much garlic in everything. That makes my appetite go away.
Not pricey, but also not worth more money.
Written 29 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lee-Ann M
Rotorua117 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
We were a group of 6 and had made a booking. The table was awful in that it was right in the doorway of the main area that connects the diners, kitchen and bar. They wont take bookings for outside tables and when we asked to move the manager told us we had been given the table of last resort as they were at thier limits when the booking was made. May have been better to have said they just had nothing else available!. The food was just ok, I appreciated them crumbing my fish despite that not being a normal option. The table was sticky and the ladies bathroom could do with a clean in some corners and behind things. This is located on the edge of Wynyard Quarter and there are plenty of other options rather than what was a sub standard experience.
Written 19 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Angela S
1 contribution
Jul 2020 • family
After not been to Swashbucklers for years we thought to go have a nice family lunch and catch up there today Friday 24th July.
We had such a good catch up and lunch and we had 3 kids with us a 4year 1.5year old and a 1year old and 9 Adults.
As we were about to get up and leave this man asked us if our kids made this sauce stain on the couch near us the Sauce stain looked old and very dry.
We didn’t quite get what he was trying to Say so asked him again as it didn’t seem right he said that our kids have no respect and that we didn’t have any respect for the property and that we shouldn’t let our kids treat the place with no respect, as a place as we remember I always thought it was a family friendly place ,well it wasn’t at all.
It wasn’t very nice to be told that as we have been brought up to be Respectful.
His name was Paul and he came across very aggressive towards us and accusing us of something that we didn’t do, he belittled us and as my sister noticed he waited till my husband and brother weren’t in the room to have a go at us women and the children.
He didn’t care that the kids were there with us and acted the way he did.
It’s very sad as the staff didn’t do anything to make sure we were all ok or offer us any kind of support from what happened.
We were pretty much told to leave after spending so much money there.
Apparently this man Paul is the owner of the restaurant, we don’t fault the food... we fault the disrespectful man, you should never treat, customers in that manner and he didn’t care that he accused us of something we didn’t even do.
Sauce stain or not, he shouldn’t treat any Customer/females/Children like that.
We will never go back there ever..!!!!
Written 23 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen L
13 contributions
Jan 2024 • couples
We went to celebrate Valentines Day and often dine at Swashbucklers. Disappointed the menu had changed dramatically, very limited choice of menu. Hubby chose seafood platter, the presentation was terrible a lot of salmon just in a 'blob' to beef up the appearance of the dish. Asked for another drink waited and waited until he finally got up to enquire with the waitress who was too busy drying utensils chatting with her colleagues. The drink was at the bar waiting to be brought around to our table. I had to wait for another 10+mins before my hapuka meal was served. I think the presentation was terrible and the fish in my opinion 'frozen' not fresh fillets. I asked the waiter had the menu changed and she replied "yes as we have a couple of chefs 'in training' at the moment and menu will change later." On the whole a bad experience not the norm standard. Won't be coming back - shame as we enjoyed our previous dining there, won't be recommending this restaurant to family and friends.
Written 16 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
noonie
London126 contributions
Aug 2022 • family
Our slightly frazzled (jet lagged) family were very well looked after by the lovely team from start to finish. We booked by email months earlier as we had heard great things and were thrilled with the meal.
We had oysters, shrimp cocktail, John dory and snapper and the overall freshness, quality and flavour of the meal was sensational. Having been very fortunate to travel the world we can safely say this was the best seafood we have ever had. Our kids picked from their own neat little menu and we couldn't help trying their fettuccine, which was gorgeous.
A real little gem if a place with character, purpose and a lot of heart. Lots of locals who clearly are in the know. Given the difficulties that restaurants face these days, usually staff shortages, I can't begin to imagine how hard this can be to maintain standards....but they sure do.
It takes a little bit of navigation to find it, but that's part of the appeal.
Many thanks and best wishes for the future.
Written 24 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jill Jones
Kerikeri467 contributions
Nov 2020 • none
As usual this time of year the family met and ate at Swashbucklers.
About 15 of us....all eating and sharing food and good humour.
After disastrous chowders throughout our trip through Hawkes Bay and Tauranga we struck the usual gold with Swashies chowder.
The real thing. You can see the seafood before you taste it, plenty of it with a huge variety. And most of all it’s gorgeous!
Written 24 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GaryandLesleyTravel
Auckland Central7796 contributions
Jan 2021 • couples
Regular visitors to this great restaurant and the reason for that is the quality of the seafood, the attentive service & the setting with its combination of inside and outside options. The restaurant caters for groups and families. Popular all year round so reservations are recommended. The John Dory and Snapper in plain butter is fantastic It's all about the wonderful NZ seafood.
Written 2 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RetzApia
Auckland Central31 contributions
Oct 2022 • couples
Beautiful location right next to the beach, so beautiful at night with the bridge changing color. If you’re a sea food lovers like us this is the place to go but saying that if you’re a steak lover as well the perfect steak you can have it there as well. The service is good we were looked after by Jess she’s awesome she’s lovely Thank you Jess. Thank you to the chef for my steak cooked to perfection ( I love medium rare) but I don’t get a perfect one all the time but last night was the perfect one. I recommend this restaurant to families friends also work functions cos I see there’s a bar on the other side of the restaurant. It’s so beautiful at night. We really enjoyed our dinner last night.
Written 22 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LeanneB
Christchurch80 contributions
Jul 2022 • none
We struggled to find somewhere to eat in the CBD until we found his place online. They were jam packed and had a function on too but they managed to fit our family in and so pleased they did.
It has a mostly sea orientated menu but we found something for each of the family (which is rare) and it was worth the walk. The kids menu had a range of options to please all of them, and the steak meal my husband and I had was AMAZING. Best steak I have had in years and they even accommodated our sauce preference on the steak (making it for us). Would have no doubt in going back here next time we visit Auckland.
Written 8 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MHarding25
Henderson142 contributions
Dec 2021 • none
We had a pleasant meal at Swashbucklers, however the restaurant had been talked up to me so unfortunately I was expecting more. The oysters were ok, the whitebait fritter more omelette than fritter and the pannacotta was more like jelly. All the other members of our group thought their meals were very good, so maybe I just made bad choices.
The service was faultless.
Written 17 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Max G
Los Angeles974 contributions
Mar 2023 • none
If you like fresh seafood, you’ll like Swashbuckler’s. My wife and I went for dinner. Both of us had a different catch of the day. The fish was well prepared and delicious.
Beware that trying to book a table can be very difficult. The restaurant’s website will not confirm a reservation, but will send you an email if it is accepted. And instructions on the website to call the restaurant will result in you not being able to reach anyone. They don’t answer their phones.
Written 11 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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