Biker Friendly Cafe/Restaurant/Pubs

**Jackal** · 4th July 2010, 17:23

Just sitting down having a well earned whiskey after a great weekend of bike riding weather for mid-winter. After giving my better half some bike riding tips (she has decided to learn to ride at the tender age of.......well in her naughty forties.......) we went out to the Chequed Flag, S.H.1 Rangatata. Never been there before as we haven't been in Mid-Canterbury that long. The place is set up for bikers. There would have been a dozen bikes there, all parked on the lawn. The owners have set the place up with a motorbike theme and it was great. Food was good and reasonably priced. Place was warm and owners very friendly. Although my Guzzi was the only non-american bike there we were made to feel very welcome and not out of place. Got me to thinking how many biker friendly places are out there. So Kiwibikers, what are your favorite biker friendly pubs and eateries. Take into account food, prices, owners, atmosphere, parking.

**pritch** · 4th July 2010, 19:45

Not a favourite, I've only been there once, but the Okoroire Hotel has/had a bar out back called the The Bike Shed. It seemed a reasonably popular destination for Waikato riders. Apparently it has the added advantage of a hot pool but I didn't check that out.

**scumdog** · 4th July 2010, 20:27

Yep Chequered Flag is pretty biker frinedly alright - also pro hot-rods and classics too.

Trouble is: it's about a 4hrs+ ride to there for my coffee.

**Milts** · 4th July 2010, 21:08

Originally Posted by scumdog

yep chequered flag is pretty biker frinedly alright - also pro hot-rods and classics too.

best part is, it's about a 4hrs+ ride to there for my coffee.

Fix'd for you

**Old Steve** · 4th July 2010, 21:23

Browny's Cafe and Bar, about six km south of Katikati on SH2. Great for a ride out from Tauranga, met some Rotorua bikers there once. Bikers especially welcomed.

Browny is a biker himself, he raced and was a mechanic on the circuit in Europe and raced in Western Australia, he's got some machines and photos on display in the cafe. When you ride in the gate make an immediate right hander off the entrance to the shingled car park onto the grass up the side of the building, all the bikes park there close to the outside tables.

C'mon, support a fellow biker, it's less than 200 km from Auckland. Down in the morning, lunch, then amble home in the afternoon. Even closer to Hamilton.

**zeocen** · 4th July 2010, 21:39

Two Turtles and a Grumpy Fish in Maraetai in Auckland is definitely biker friendly and hands down some of the best food I've had in a long time.
My fiance and I are regulars, the coffee is great, the food is great and the best part is that the chef is a rider himself so he's always coming out and talking to people about their bikes and shoots the breeze with everyone.

A great little place next to the seaside with a husband and wife run shop - super friendly and love bikers!

Did I mention the food?
Yeah, it's good.

**Bren** · 4th July 2010, 21:39

Sparkies Bar is a good spot in the Manawatu, in fact it has a sign outside saying something like "bikes only past this point"...problem is the roads to get there are farkin boring....It is located just off SH1 in the Himutangi (between Foxton and Bulls)....
Also Sparkies is another bar thats good for the hot rod scene too

**AllanB** · 4th July 2010, 21:44

Little River Cafe - great food and coffee. Bike friendly - and just as well as it's at the foot of (or end of, depending on your direction!) the Akaroa hills. A good dozen or more lined up there yesterday when I arrived - all with the same idea - suns out (finally) time to ride!

**2wheeldrifter** · 4th July 2010, 22:42

Yep the Bike shed very very popular......

http://www.thebikeshed.net.nz/about.php

Ned's place at Whakamaru for beer and nice pizza's... http://www.zenbu.co.nz/entry/1138879-neds-place

The Bullring main rd SH1
http://www.pukekoandbull.co.nz/ The Tok Random Riders wil hold there porker run prize giving here this year, as they have done before.

All good food and BEER!

**dogsnbikes** · 4th July 2010, 22:56

Ther are two places on the Pohangina loop 1st is "Pilgrims rest" aprrox 35ks from Ashhurst heading out to and up Pohangina valley east road,the views are great the owners are even better,menu is normaly lite ploughmans lunch or scones and whipped cream and jam,they offer soft drinks, hot chocolate, coffee and pots of tea, you need too be careful if sitting by the open window,as chicken thier pet stag will pay you a visit,the old guy will talk and tell you his stories and is a keen biker and has been known to lay a bristish flag on your trumpy if its too sunny .......great place for a short ride for your cuppa tea

the second place is the Apiti taven approx 55ks from Ashhurst heading out to and up Pohangina valley east road ,pleanty of riders out that way and ofeten see vintage cars and bikes alike head out there on weekend rallies,plenty or parking and for what you pay for the food will have you going back the hosts Bruce and June are most excellent host and have been known to lean there trailer or car to go resuce a crippled rider....
Always a story at the pub to hear and the locals are a super bunch too and often wave to riders as they go by

Reccomend to spend time at both places

**JMemonic** · 5th July 2010, 00:17

Chequered flag is great spot, they opened early on the Friday of the Brass for bikes heading down and really do make you feel welcome, how much longer this is going to be the place it we cant be sure.

http://www.harcourts.co.nz/Property/...reet-Rangitata

**Nasty** · 5th July 2010, 09:00

Wild oats in Caterton ... even have a helmit cleaning station .

**wysper** · 5th July 2010, 09:26

Originally Posted by Nasty

Wild oats in Caterton ... even have a helmit cleaning station .

Is it like those golf ball cleaners on golf courses... put your helmet in and pump a handle up and down... could be interesting if you had to leave your helmet on!!