AGNES

About this place

AGNÈS is a neighbourhood cafe, wine bar and bistro at 98 Hinemoa Street, Birkenhead, on Auckland's North Shore. It occupies a heritage building that was formerly a Hellaby's butchery, and the fit-out has kept the original tiles and marble intact, with the counter reinstated. The result is a room with genuine period character rather than a themed recreation.

### Food and drink

The kitchen takes its cue from European bistros, with an emphasis on simple, seasonal cooking. Alongside a core menu, AGNÈS runs a daily specials menu that changes regularly and is posted on the specials board in the restaurant and on the venue's Instagram each morning. Dishes reported in press coverage include a house-made pork shoulder sausage served with mash and jus, sardines on toast with tomato-chilli butter and pickles, baked Camembert with roasted grapes, cornichons and walnuts, ricotta dumplings, mussel gratin and hanger steak with café de Paris butter. Brunch runs to sticky toffee pancakes with dates, caramel and crème fraîche.

The wine list is deliberately tightly edited rather than encyclopaedic, mixing familiar names with less obvious alternatives. The marble counter is set up for aperitifs.

### The people behind it

AGNÈS is run by hospitality operators Fran and Aaron Mazza-Carson, whose previous Auckland projects include Hello Friends & Allies, Winona Forever, Sugar at Chelsea Bay, Queenies, ADA and Pie Rolla's. Head chef is Alfie Ingham, who has worked in New Zealand, Australia, the UK and France. Fran designed the interiors, drawing on her Italian heritage.

The venue has been covered by Denizen, Urban List and Viva (NZ Herald), where Jesse Mulligan reviewed it as part of Birkenhead's recent run of openings.

### Spaces and group use

There are two distinct areas: a relaxed, family-friendly front room, and a more intimate, softly lit bistro at the back. The back room suits smaller group bookings and quieter dinners.

AGNÈS does not publish function packages, private-hire terms or seated capacities, so it should be treated as a restaurant that can take group bookings rather than a dedicated events venue. Organisers considering it for a small team dinner or client lunch should enquire directly.

Open seven days: Monday and Tuesday 8am–3pm, Wednesday to Saturday 8am–10pm, and Sunday 8am–3pm. The venue holds a Google rating of 4.4.