Father’s Day is coming up on Sunday 6 September, which gives you just enough time to pretend you’ve had Dad’s day planned for weeks.
Whether your Dad is happiest with a great steak and a cold beer, wants to get out and do something, could seriously use an hour to relax, or is notoriously difficult to buy for, Takapuna has plenty of ways to make a day of it.
Here are a few of our picks for celebrating Dad, Grandad, stepdad, or whichever great father figure in your life, deserves a bit of spoiling this Father’s Day.
Start the day with Brunch
If Dad is firmly in the coffee first, conversation second camp, brunch is always a good place to start.
For a relaxed morning catch-up, try Street Organics, Honey Cafe, Leaf & Loaf Cafe & Salad Bar, Centro or Seven Hills Cafe — all good options for settling in over breakfast, brunch and a decent coffee.
You’ll also find Majestic Tea Bar inside Shore City, or stop by Steads Coffee on Hurstmere Road if the plan is more along the lines of excellent coffee, something to eat and then getting on with the rest of your Dad date.
And if breakfast somehow turns into lunch? That sounds like a successful Sunday to us.
Feed Dad properly
If you’re planning your day around lunch or dinner — Takapuna gives you plenty to work with.
For waterfront dining, Regatta Bar & Eatery is hard to beat, while Rosie’s Red-Hot Cantina next door has tacos, quesadillas, nachos, margaritas and plenty of other reasons to stay a while.
For the Dad who takes meat very seriously, there’s Moo Moo Smokehouse & Grill, or head to El Humero for Colombian-style barbecue cooked over charcoal and fire.
Cousin Scott’s is another easy Dad-friendly option for a casual meal for the sports-Dad, while St Marée is a great pick if you’re after something a little more relaxed and European-inspired.
Some newer Dad-approved stops for some good food would have to be Goldie’s Bar & Yard – Southern-inspired food, drinks and a honky-tonk feel found on Hurstmere Road, while Mussel and Chip is serving up New Zealand green-lipped mussels in just about every form you’d hope for — including alongside a very necessary serve of chips.
Whatever Dad’s favourite food happens to be, there’s a good chance you’ll find it within a few blocks here. Just remember that Father’s Day is one of those Sundays when “we’ll just see where we end up” can become “why didn’t we book a table?”
Need more ideas or options on where to take Dad for a coffee, a treat or a meal this Father’s Day? Check out our full list of all the amazing places to eat and drink in Takapuna here! (and don’t forget to call ahead and book – places are going to be busy!)
Make him work for his lunch
If your Dad would rather do something than spend the whole day sitting around a table, add a little friendly competition.
Thrillzone on Hurstmere Road has plenty to choose from, including multiplayer VR, virtual-reality escape rooms and free-roaming VR adventures. In other words, a very good opportunity to find out whether Dad is actually as competitive as he claims not to be.
Or put the family problem-solving skills to the test at Escape HQ on Lake Road. There are four immersive escape rooms to tackle, including an option where two teams can race head-to-head, plus an outdoor escape game around Takapuna.
For something considerably less demanding, you could always catch a movie at Takapuna Beachside Cinemas, in the big blue building on Anzac Street.
And, of course, Takapuna Beach itself costs precisely nothing. Take a ball down, challenge Dad to a game of beach cricket, go for a walk along the sand, then head to Takapuna Beach Cafe afterwards for coffee or gelato.
The casual Dad-date
Father’s Day doesn’t have to mean a formal lunch, a set menu or a carefully scheduled itinerary.
One of the nicest options is simply to come into Takapuna and see where the day takes you.
Start with something casual from Dokidoki Japanese Eatery, Wok’n Noodle or grab some old-school Chinese takeaway from Flying Horse Takapuna and take it somewhere with a view.
Then there’s dessert — because we’re not monsters.
Stop by Glory Patisserie for something sweet, or head to JoyLato — Handcrafted Gelato & Desserts for gelato before wandering down towards the beach.
If the afternoon calls for a drink, finish up with Dad at Taylors On Hurstmere or Strand Wine Bar.
No big plan. No rushing around. Just pick a few places you both like, wander between them, have something good to eat and spend some actual time together.
Sometimes that’s the whole point.
Give Dad an excuse to switch off
Not every Dad wants another shirt — some would probably rather have an hour where nobody needs anything from them.
O-Studio Takapuna offers plenty of ways to take the hint, with massage, float therapy and recovery options available from its Takapuna studio.
Or try one of Takapuna’s newer wellness arrivals, Redroom Takapuna on Hurstmere Road. The studio combines movement and recovery, with heated Pilates alongside private infrared saunas and ice baths.
Ideal for gym Dads, active Dads, stressed Dads — or the Dad who insists he’s perfectly fine while making a noise every time he gets up from a chair.
Gifts he’ll actually use
If your Dad does appreciate a good present, Takapuna has plenty of those too.
Life For Men is a longstanding Takapuna menswear favourite, while Barkers and Farmers Shore City give you plenty more options for menswear, fragrance, grooming, accessories and all the usual Father’s Day suspects.
For something a little different, Wally on Hurstmere Road is worth a look for contemporary menswear and accessories.
And if the best present you can give Dad is convincing him that, yes, it really is time for a haircut, Fine Line Barbershop is another newer addition to Hurstmere Road.
Socks and undies remain entirely acceptable, by the way. Dads keep wearing them, so somebody has to keep buying them.
Shopping for Dad at Shore City could win you something too
There’s an extra little incentive to do your Father’s Day shopping at Shore City this year.
Spend $50 or more at any Shore City retailer between 14 August and 5 September and you can enter the draw to win a $300 Shore City Gift Card. Which means you can buy Dad his present and potentially win yourself another shopping trip.
We see no downside.
Or keep it really simple, and spend some time in Takapuna
Grab Dad’s favourite takeaway, pick up a coffee, head down to Takapuna Beach or find a sunny spot beside Lake Pupuke, and spend a couple of hours together.
It doesn’t have to be elaborate.
Whether you’re treating him to brunch, feeding him properly, battling him in virtual reality, locking him in an escape room — lovingly, of course — taking him shopping or simply sitting beside the beach with something good to eat, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Dad right here in Takapuna.