It’s no secret that the Channel Mag and Benefitz team loves Smales Farm. With the development of the B:Hive and the addition of the hospitality precinct in recent years, it’s become a place we frequent. We enjoy the hospo offerings – all of them – The Grange, Fantail & Turtle, Ripe Deli, &Sushi, Goodness Gracious and Shake Out. Recently, I’ve discovered their new offering, ‘Gather’, a brand-new architecturally designed glasshouse eatery opened by the team behind Ripe Deli.
What a fantastic addition. Gather has its home in a purpose-built glasshouse building located between the B:Hive HQ and B:Hive+ near the pedestrian crossing and Shorecare. It’s been impressively designed by Izzard Design studio, featuring a recycled French brick exterior and expansive red scoria glass windows. The interior design is by Jonathan Goss and Amy Melchior, who’ve created a beautiful, inviting space with handcrafted details and natural textures. It will win awards!
Long-time Ripe team members Gemma Heffernan (general manager) and Patrick Schmitt (executive chef) are leading the venture.
Ripe has a strong reputation for its culinary delights. The food you’ll discover at Gather follows Ripe's signature style – seasonal, nourishing, and flavour-packed, complemented by Ozone coffee. The eatery is fully licenced, offering curated local wines and beers alongside the food menu. Gather offers a sit-down dining experience where customers can relax and connect. It’s open weekdays for breakfast and lunch, and weekends for brunch.
I’ve dined twice at Gather recently for brunch while out walking the dog with family. I love that Gather is dog-friendly, with four-legged friends welcome in the wonderful arbour of the eatery. On my first visit, I had their eggs on toast. These are ‘dippy eggs’ (soldiers) with smoked butter, house pickles with house-made focaccia bread (or seedy rye). Yum! Trip two, I decided on the Farm Big Breakfast Plate – two eggs, merguez sausage, bacon, harissa portobello mushroom, baked beans, sauerkraut, smoked butter, breads… a sizeable breakfast for champions!
There’s something for everyone on the Gather menu. Make that menus, as there are three – breakfast (7am - 11.30am, Mon-Fri), lunch (from 11.30am, Mon-Fri) and brunch (8am-3pm, Sat-Sun). Or you might choose a savoury or sweet scone, seasonal fruit or their breakfast butty that changes daily. They are also planning to open soon for afternoon/early evening drinks and nibbles a couple of evenings a week, so watch this space.
As you would expect from a Ripe-inspired eatery, every morning there is fresh baking – breads, tarts, little sweets, cookies and more!
So, there it is, folks… Gather – a must try at Smales Farm. It’s such a fabulous venue where they are keen to host private and fully catered events such as Christmas parties, business events/launches or celebrations. As the eatery is not open evenings, they are able to host late afternoon and evening events. Simply email Gemma Heffernan, details below.
Gather Eatery @ Smales Farm
78-94 Taharoto Road, Takapuna
09 212 4466.
Open weekdays 7am until 3pm, and weekends 8am until 3pm.
Email bookings@gathereatery.co.nz or email Gemma for catering and events gemma@gathereatery.co.nz.
