The former Grafton Library makes a gorgeous pub full of character. My partner loved his craft beer "DOUBLE DRY HOPPED HAZY HAZY PALE ALE", describes it was wet and tangy lol. I usually drink Sol, Corona or white wine. The Bar staff recommended for I try "HEIDELBERGER PREMIUM GERMAN PILSNER" and found it very tasty! read more

When talking with beer people about the Auckland Beer Mile, one place listed rarely came up as recommended but it ended up being one of the best dining and beer experiences of my entire trip. Galbraith's Alehouse is a brewery, pub, and restaurant all wrapped up into one. It's on Mt. Eden and just a quick walk from many other excellent beer places - don't skip this one. The exterior looks like a historic meeting house; inside feels like an English pub with high ceilings, wood door and glass windows, carpet, and a big old bar. On entering to the left is the bar and restaurant area, to the right is the working brewery, restrooms, and quieter tables for those interested in conversation over whatever is playing on TV. The night I came I was so excited to see their tap list of their own beers, all with a traditional focus on British styles and serving methods. They had two tasting trays listed, one all their hand pull cask styles, and one of their more popular contemporary styles like IPAs on draft. For those from the USA reading, hand pull casks are served more close to room temperature using gravity or muscle power to pump the beer, it's not the effervescent beer you're used to but the soft mouthfeel imparts different flavors. I absolutely loved getting to try four different styles all done in this method. The staff here were extremely friendly, happy to explain their beer and business, and always checking on me. I sat at the bar as that night a World Cup match was on and it was loud and exciting inside. I ordered their shepherd's pie which was one of the best meals I ate on my entire trip - especially soul warming on a cold and rainy evening outside. Following my meal and cask ales, I ordered the contemporary flight and loved all those beers as well. Everything was well made and delicious. I also appreciated not being chased out immediately after they closed - a few people like me quietly finished our drinks before heading out. If you're in Auckland for beer or exploring the Beer Mile, this is a must-visit place; come hungry and thirsty. read more

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Nice place! They focus on hand-pulled, cask-conditioned ales. I've had a tasting flight of four and all are very good. Dinner seems to be a special (not on the regular menu): a Parmesan and herb crusted pork schnitzel with an apple slaw, mustard seeded mashed potatoes and a mushroom sauce. Also very tasty. And warm and comfortable after a cold, damp rugby match. A sure winner. Service was also very good: helpful, to the point. All good all around. read more

Overrated versus the competition. Big space with bar in the back. As with nearly every restaurant in New Zealand (except for fine dining) you order at the bar, they give you a number and bring out your food. It was uncomfortably warm inside so we had it outdoors even though it was a tad chilly. We sat outside and upstairs to avoid the folks smoking cigs by the fireplace. We ordered calamari to start and a beef pot pie. The calamari was a tad greasy (oil temp too low?) and they had a heavy (hard) breading and the cilantro dipping sauce not to our liking. The beef pie was a wide bowl with basically a slightly oily stew underneath topped with puff pastry crust. It looked great and had good flavor but was a bit too greasy. Probably would only return with a crowd. read more

Galbraith's Alehouse - Calamari rings, beef pie - Breweries Near Me - Auckland, AUK

Proper old-school English pub setup, complete with pump taps. I feel like I've walked into an old movie about the plains of Africa. Really cool pub!! read more

Galbraith's Alehouse - The bar at Galbraith's... proper old-school set up, complete with pump-handle taps. - Breweries Near Me - Auckland, AUK

Before you ask 'but why are you reviewing a British ale house, Craft Jesus?' It's because they have a Crafty tap list up on the right of the bar. Now that that's all clear, I will mention in my magnanimous way that if real ale is your gig, this is as good a brew pub as it gets, and not just outside Britain. Anyways, back to Craft. So I used to sit at the end of the bar (naturally directly under the Craft board) and there was a true Craft dude who'd come back from LA tending and after downing a few Liberty Citra DIPAs, I'm entering a Zen-like Craft state and I take the opportunity to bask in my surroundings. And I see the turned wood shaker styling furniture EVERYWHERE. But that's ok, I'll just stare down at the beautiful glass of DIPA and then Oh my Craft, THE CARPET. Yes folks, not only does this pub brew authentic British ale they have truly terrifying CARPET. Even if you think you're strong enough, walk quickly to the bar keeping your eyes on the Craft list. Don't look down, for the love of Craft. Pricing is the NZ standard 'where did my savings go?' At least most of the pours are a pint My Craft Jesus rating 'a Craft must fight THE CARPET' 34 IBU read more

Galbraith's Alehouse - The Craft board - Breweries Near Me - Auckland, AUK

Glorious old dame of a pub - but its niche is being eaten up by all the new craft beer breweries around Auckland. I love looking into the brewing room, and sitting in the front room to watch the old journalists file in on a Friday night. The place holds sweet events for community and social groups, and the pub that feeling of being at the centre of a lot of people's lives. I love the vibe. Unfortunately the Galbraiths beer just doesn't float my boat. The imported English hand-pulls are great, but the local brewed stuff isn't as exciting as the concentrated weirdness of New Zealand brewers like Hot Water Beach and Liberty down the road at the Lumsden in Newmarket or Brothers in City Works. read more

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Galbraith's is a 'proper' pub in every sense of the word. Proper in that it's a real alehouse, with a variety of beers on tap, several of which it brews itself. And proper in the sense of formal, upper-class British stuffiness, all high ceilings and polished wood. That's maybe a slightly unfair interpretation, but it's the impression I always get when I go into Galbraith's. It makes me feel a bit shabby and working class, but I'm sure that's not their intention. Regardless of my reaction the beer is interesting and the food is very good (although leaning towards the pricier side of a pub meal). As you go in you can look through a window and see the beer being brewed, by which I mean you can look through a window and see a very large copper pot thing. read more

Galbraith's Alehouse - Galbraith's from Mt Eden Road - Breweries Near Me - Auckland, AUK

Like good beer? Sick of the same old tap beers you get at all other pubs? Then Galbraith's ale house is the place to experiment and try something new. They have such a massive selection of boutique beers both from their own brewery and other locations around New Zealand. If you come at the right time, you can even watch the brewing process in action. It's a really cool idea to have the vats visible from certain places locations in the pub. The building itself is large and old (I think it's an old post office or something), but when it gets busy it can still be quite hard to find a free table. The food and the beers are quite pricey, but delicious. I definitely recommend checking this place out. read more

Galbraith's Alehouse - Breweries Near Me - Auckland, AUK

Located in the old Grafton Library, Galbraith's opened in 1996 and is a classic pub and alehouse. Very laid back in style, Galbraith's is all about good hearty food and providing patrons with good quality beers brewed on site. There are still photos around the pub of the original library, and these combined with the patterned carpet, long wooden tables and friendly bar staff gives Galbraith's a real family-friendly atmosphere. Considering it is owned by the Galbraith family, this comfortable homely vibe is only fitting. I have been going to Galbraith's since I was a kid with my family, and more recently to meet my dad there for a drink and a catch up. ' Prices are really reasonable and the size of the meals is pretty impressive. Galbraith's is definitely somewhere where you get your money's worth! I recommend their St Benedicts Pie. In winter it is the perfect hearty dinner; the tender steak, mushrooms, herbs and ale make for a flavoursome dish and it washes down brilliantly with a pint! Tip: Located right next to a pay and display carpark, parking is handy but make sure you have coins on you. read more

Galbraith's Alehouse - Breweries Near Me - Auckland, AUK

I haven't eaten any food at Galbraiths, so I'll leave that out of this. Though in saying that, I've been there while friends have eaten, and they've had a bloody great time. Anyway. I like the beer at Galbraiths. It's cool to go to a place and be kind of overwhelmed by the variety of beer. I like to try a new one every visit. Better yet, they have a wide assortment on tap, which is cool, because as much as it's all well and good to drink beer from a bottle, it's a lot better to drink out of a cup in my opinion. They put the cricket on when it's happening, too. So that's obviously a bloody good thing. read more

Galbraith's Alehouse - Breweries Near Me - Auckland, AUK

Came here the other night for a pint of beer and some food. I got a pint of the Czech style Pilsner and I enjoyed it. It was quite refreshing, light, and not too hoppy (I'm not a fan of hoppy beers). Also ordered some food: Rosemary Polenta Fries to share and a burger with fries. The burger was pretty good, cooked medium well on a sesame bun. The fries are thin and crispy. The rosemary polenta fries were also quite delicious, and I would highly recommend them if you like eating crispy polenta. Overall I think I will be back. The alehouse has a nice old timey authentic feel. I think next time I would like to try their pie (I saw people eating it around me and it looked huge!) and some more beer. read more

How does the legendary Galbraiths only average 3.5 stars? Do people just not get this place? History: Keith Galbraith was doing craft beer here before most of New Zealand knew what it was. The legendary late Michael Jackson (not that one...) loved this place. Now I know you can't just coast on your laurels, but really, nothing has changed in terms of atmosphere or quality. The food and beer are top notch. The staff are fun and friendly. The place is cosy and welcoming. The prices are... Auckland prices. But not bad for that. Get in here! Mine's a pint of Bob's. read more

If you're after a "classic" pub, then here is the spot. Food is done well. Good solid pub food. Although it is a bit on the pricey side. They brew on site, and are mostly in the traditional English style, and mostly on handpump. There is a great section of the pub where you look into the brewery and can see the action. A fantastic guest tap section as well, with great details of what's on offer on the wall. Pretty solid bottled beer selection in the fridges behind the bar too. Many different types of seating areas, indoor, outdoor (covered/uncovered). Also some great spots never to the fire for those cold winter nights. read more

It was alright... but I can't see why the hype... Travelling from Adelaide to here and... it was underwhelming Service: polite, slightly engaging and a funky place to be, so it seemed. Food: nice... passed as pub food but over priced. read more

Friendly staff, comfortable decor, and good beer. The food takes a really long time to arrive though the bartenders did let us know this in advance. read more

My first time here, and have not yet tried the food. I have been by many times, but never went in. I can see why people like it for a lazy afternoon hang. It's pretty big with multiple rooms so it doesn't get too noisy. It's super cozy and warm in the winter. There is a sizable back patio beer garden that would be excellent on a sunny afternoon. The beer selection is huge, and they're happy to give you a taste if you're unsure. I went with the seasonal tap option, a medium bodied apricotty Pilsner. Very nice! I actually met some friends here to mess around with our ukuleles. The room out the back overlooking their brewery was perfect for this. We didn't bother anyone, and there was no other music playing so we weren't competing. Nice atmosphere on a Saturday afternoon. Not too busy, casual family scene. Next time 'round I'll check out the food. Looks like pretty standard pub fare. read more

I love Galbraith's. Admittedly, I've had several friends working behind the bar over the years, but before craft beer became cool Galbraith's was serving up small batch brews and interesting flavours from around the world. With a warm and cosy atmosphere by the fire in Winter or a sunny, relaxed afternoon on the rooftop in summer, Galbraith's has year round covered. The service is relaxed and friendly, knowledgeable and passionate about the beers, particularly those that are brewed on site (the brewery is behind plate glass so viewable to visitors). The menu is contemporary with a nod to British pub classics and changes to reflect the season. On my last visit I had the scotch egg which was HUGE and the fish and chips which was fresh, not oily at all and had some wonderful hand-cut chips and a wee portion of mushy peas on the side. It's unpretentious, inexpensive and welcoming and is the perfect spot for a quick bite or an all afternoon-into-evening session. read more

Yeah maybe it's a terrible idea to go to an Alehouse when you're not really the biggest beer drinker, but yeah I did it and you know what? It was okay. They've got beverages other than beer, but I feel like you would have to really like and want beer to take advantage of the place's full potential. Food was surprisingly okay, very pub-style but better than most. Hearty and shit. It's warm in there too, so you kind of feel all cosy and like you're hanging out in someone's lounge which can only be a good thing. Someone's semi-fancy lounge. It's kind of fancy for a pub. I reckon it'd be a good place to meet a group of friends for Sunday afternoon drinks and fries or something. In fact, I might just do that. read more

Ahh Galbraith's. I heard mum talk about this before I actually went myself - her and her teacher mates used to pop in. It sounded a bit meh, but somehow I ended up here before a concert across the road last week and it was awesome. Sure, i was pretty drunk by the time we arrived, but it was still fun! It was super busy this night and the vibe was cool. The beer selection is pretty amazing, and they brew a number of their own onsite. I ordered a vodka, soda lime - blasphemy right? But they didn't even raise an eyebrow or anything! Some of the people I was with got some pub food and it looked really good, they also said it was yum. The portion size is really big and the prices are reasonable. I got some fries and aioli, possibly the best partnership in the world. And they were great. Fun times. I can tell it will work just as well in the day time. read more

Had a pleasant meal in here with three fellow diners. Enjoyed the view of the on site brewery, nice to see how made on a local scale. The hardest thing was choosing which beer to accompany my wild boar burger ! Beware that the alehouse gets very busy if the local venue is hosting a gig read more

Galbraiths used to be my local and is an absolute favourite pub of mine in Auckland. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, with old wooden tables and wood paneling. I also love how they have a window that looks into their brewery. I'm not much of a beer drinker (they are renowned for their beers) but their wine selection is superb and I've always enjoyed their food. My only criticism is that it is a pricey place to go out for a meal, not that the food isn't worth the price they ask for (in some circumstances it is), but $9.90 for a tiny bucket of thick cut fries with some store bought ketchup is a tiny bit overboard imho. However for a catch up with friends while enjoying their beer garden or especially relaxing in front of their open fire in winter with a glass of red wine, then it is highly recommended. read more

Awesome pub with really great food selections. My local Kiwi friend brought me here and its a favorite spot of mine now!

Stopped in here after arriving a little late in the day to our hotel at 7pm and after a particularly rainy walk around town ended up here for a beer. A really good, strong Belgian beer at that! It was worth the walk in the rain! We also shared a scotch egg. I'm no expert on scotch eggs but as far a scotch eggs go this one was pretty good. It had all the right flavors and textures. Needless to say we'll probably be making our way back here again before we leave in a few days. read more

Galbraith's Alehouse - Scotch egg! - Breweries Near Me - Auckland, AUK

We retreated to the brewery seeking refuge from a fierce, winter storm. It was a long and wearisome journey from the pizzeria across the street, but the winds blew in our favour and we reached the ale house with only minor tread wear on our shoes. I had the fish and chips. YES! I had the fish and chips after pizza. It was good. I wasn't born with this physique after all. The beer was good. The fish and chips was better... And surprisingly light for a fried dish. read more

Nice selection of beers, many brewed on site, some cask conditioned. Good food. Nice, warm open atmosphere. A beer garden. Friendly and attentive staff. read more

Avoid the manager: he's snarky! God forbid you want to taste a few beers or change something on a food order (complicated requests like swapping shoestring chips for regular chips). My husband and I love the food and especially the beer but man, we got tired of the run-ins with this guy. Figured out he didn't work Tuesdays so that's when we'd go. I even tweeted about his crappy attitude once and got some cut-and-paste response like "Thank you for coming to Galbraith's." Ha! Still, we couldn't stay away completely as it's a great place to go for a roast and a beer, especially in winter. And the rest of the staff are great. read more

Went there craving a good pub meal, great beer, and an easy Friday night. I got all three in one go at Galbraith's. Really recommend doing the beer sampler as there are just too many choices to pick one or two. The menu isn't super creative but does try to offer some variety and changing items (the goat curry looked superb). My partner's fish n' chips hit the mark but my burger was a overcooked though the chips were fab. The only disappointing aspect was although the bartender knew heaps about the beers on tap, he absolutely knew nothing about their extensive whiskey/scotch selection. Also, I reckon a bit of classic rock would go a long way. read more

One of the few brewpubs in AKL. Quality ales and a great selection of other craft brews from around NZ.

I hate the pub scene and there's no way you'll drag me into one - unless of course, it's in a historical building and you mention the fact that they brew a damn fine stout! I had a glass of the Rurik on tap - a rich dark velvety brown stout that tastes like espresso, chocolate and liquorice!!! This stuff is sexy as hell! Neera, you can shout me a stout, anytime! :p read more

This place does such a good stew! We were regulars here over the last winter because of it and I think we probably will again this year. Yum. They also stock Timmermans which is a flavoured Belgian Beer and comes in flavours like; strawberry, fraise, peach and cherry and they're really yummy but pretty pricey at around $14 a pop. They also do a good old Sunday roast which is very popular and they have off-street parking which is pretty rare on Symonds Street. All in all it's one of those places you go to warm up on a cold day and eat some good hearty food along with a beer or two. read more

Great Sunday pub lunch venue - good hearty meals - can recommend the pie and the sausage and mass - Sunday roast beef looked over cooked for my liking - staff are friendly and seems really good groups and they take bookings read more

Galbraith's is an Auckland classic and one of the first pubs to brew their own beer at their establishment. An excellent location in Mt. Eden it's great for pre-show drinks if heading across the street to The PowerStation. Food is your normal kiwi tucker and what you would expect in modern pub fare. Reliable, filling, but probably nothing sensational. Nothing wrong with that, but that is what to expect. As a beer afficionado I have to say that Galbraith's Ale's are decent and of a more traditional English style, but they are not stunning beers in the sense of what we are seeing in the micro-brew scene. Fortunately, the folks at Galbraith's realize this and so there is usually a good microbrew on-tap and an above average selection of bottled quality beers. A very popular joint and if you are looking for a table and food you definitely want to get in early or call and ask for a reservation! read more