Cable Bay Vineyards

Amazing location, great atmosphere and views… Service however is nothing to be desired, pretentious staff who don’t seem to have any care in the world or understand the concept of time and serving in a timely manner. Our group was also questioned whether we understood that a bottle of Taittinger was $ 145 like we were not in a position to afford it!

I’ve heard lovely things about this place, but we certainly didn’t experience it. We were seated quickly, but that was about it. We enjoyed the scenery and selected our food, and just… looked around.
I was making eye contact with waitresses who would then look away and straightened the already straight silverware on the tables marked «Reserved.» Yes, we were sweaty from hiking, but they couldn’t have even brought us water?
I was making eye contact with the chef working in the open grill area in the back constantly, and even he didn’t say anything to a waitress. I said, «Excuse me? Miss?» loud enough to a waitress who was near me, but she acted like she didn’t hear me and walked away.
After 20 minutes of that, my friend and I got up, and I went over to the waitresses whom I called to earlier. I told her that I was very disappointed with the service even after hearing so many great things. She acted (but not well) surprised and asked where we were sitting. We pointed to the CENTRAL AREA down the steps. I mean, come on, there were 4 other customers in the place who were all served. She asked us to stay and said she would personally take care of us, but I didn’t want to give this place our money. Plus, she wasn’t sincere at all in her apology.
If I could give them zero stars I would.

We had a great time at cable bay vineyards. The wine tasting is done inside and is $ 10 for 5 tastings. The real treat is the view from cable bay. If you have a chance have a seat outside and share a cheese plate or some fries. The staff is friendly and its a very relaxed vibe. The scenery is beautiful and a great place to stop if you’re on waiheke island.

Fantastic bay view, great food, we bathed in the sunshine and enjoyed the food. What a good day!

Cable Bay vineyards is one of the places to visit on the beautiful island of Waiheke.
The view is by far the most wanted reason why to visit this place. The restaurant overlooks the hillside and the beautiful bay which definitely makes it postcard photo approved. They have beanbags on their lawn to sit on and relax to enjoy their wine and view. Luckily we visited this place on a fine sunny Friday afternoon. It was so breathtaking that I didn’t want to leave the area and almost forgot about my poor broken ankle in a cast.
The outdoor restaurant was the second most wanted reason to visit Cable Bay. The decors and settings with the coordinated island music made the restaurant so hip and serene. It was definitely a dream home away from home scene. I came here with my family and enjoyed pretty much a little of everything on the menu. The dishes were freshly made to order and tasty to food pair. We ordered fries, lettuce wraps, pizza, salmon, and the combo platter that has everything from sausages, breads, and figs. We also shared two bottles of the rose. It was quite nice since it was pretty hot that day and our food was light. Also we had a battle between who wanted red and wanted white. So we settled with the rose, which I consider an «in between» of everyone’s taste bud. To top off the restaurant, the service was sweet. Although our server was very busy we still had enough attention we needed.
Unfortunately this review would have to end with a sorrow because I wish their wine selections at the cellar is superb. The wine isn’t great at all. Sadly, this is suppose to be a winery and the restaurant and view should be the bonus. The wines they had to taste are too new starting from 2014. Their whites are not from Cable Bay and their reds are transported from the south islands even though they manufacture on the island of Waiheke. It was so sad we didn’t order anything from our tasting but only the rose we drank during lunch.
To top off the sadness, the pricing wasn’t something to match their value of wine. You’re basically paying for their location and view. Sorry CABLE BAY! I promise to write a 5 star view when your wine selections and pricing matches to their true value. LOVE YA!

The setting here is beautiful. Overlooking the hillside and the bay was just stunning. It was walkable from the marina where you get off the Ferry as well. My husband and I did a tasting here and really enjoyed it. $ 10 for 5 tastings. Our favorites were the syrah and the merlot /​malbec blend.
What I didn’t like about this place however is that they don’t make all of their wines. They grow some of their grapes in Marlborough which seems odd. Secondly, you can’t buy a bottle of their wine and drink it on the property. This is because they want you to overpay for the wine in their restaurant. A bottle costs about $ 40 NZD, but they have the nerve to charge $ 17 for a single glass in the restaurant. That is a rip off. I’d recommend coming here for tastings if you are in the area but I’d eat and drink somewhere else.

Amazing, we were seen immediately, seated and had water within a minute. Drink orders were taken once we had water and we had both drinks and food within 10 minutes. Very impressed by the attentive service !!

GREAT Wine Cellar With Some Terrific choices. Our hostess (nicky) was very good at explaining the different wines. Also appreciated that she raised the decibel level of her voice (new Zealanders are quite soft spoken as opposed to loudmouth Americans). Food smelled awesome. I wish I had some but the wine took precedent.

The day we visited was a cold winter Wednesday for lunch. It meant only the Verandah, the more casual dining option, was available but it suited us nicely. The menu has mezze plates for sharing and 3 mains. We each took a main; the pizza and the lamb skewers with a bulgar salad. Both were sensational, wonderful flavours and nicely presented.

First the view. Stunning. If you eat on the terrace, mainly snacks and tapas, but definitely worth it the slow cooked lamb is yummy and the pumpkins hummus wow… could have 2. Wine is of course up the standard. Definitely a nice wineyard to go for a chilling Sunday or whatever day brunch

Cable Bay Winery, is just one of the beautiful places to visit on Waiheke Island. If your stuck for transport Cable Bay is one of the closer wineries from the ferry station, and is in walking distance.
We came for a girls lunch to try something different and spoil ourselves with the amazing summer weather. There are 2 options with Cable Bay, book in for a nice lunch, or turn up and enjoy the casual outdoor seating with a more laid back menu. Seats are taken up quickly on the sheltered patio but we actually enjoyed eating picnic style on the bean bags and rug.
The scenery is definitely one of the main reasons you want to come here. You’re surrounded in a beautiful vineyard and can look back on to the harbour. The service were decently competent. We were constantly checked on. We shared a bottle of Pinot Gris and it was a great compliment with the tapas menu. Im not sure if they were really busy or just forgot our meal but the cheese platter came out efficiently and then the rest of the dishes came out over an hour later which is a bit unacceptable. The ceviche was refreshing and I would recommend ordering something light in such warm weather. We thought the pizza was a bit average and looked like everything had been just thrown together without any thought or love. The halloumi and kale was cut unevenly and not evenly spread on the pizza. However the charcuterie board was great and served with a really delicious porcini butter.
A few hits and misses but for the great view and a fun day out, I would recommend Cable Bay and if you’re are wine connoisseur, jump on the hop on/​hop off bus for a tour around the surrounding vineyards.
Rating
Food: 8.5÷10
Service: 8.5÷10
Value for Money: Good
12 Nick Johnstone Drive, Oneroa, Waiheke Island
Opening Hours:
Summer — Lunch 12pm-​Onwards, Dinner 6pm-​Onwards Daily

I quite enjoyed sitting at Cable Bay sampling wine and looking out over the ocean. You have the option of sampling at the cellar door or out on the patio, but with tables looking down a big rolling green hill to the water below, why would you choose to stay inside?. Children love running around on the grass and I imagine on a warm day it would be nice to lie out on a picnic blanket there.

Cable Bay was just amazing! Very busy when we were there but the staff superbly handled all.
We didn’t get to do the tasting we had scheduled. A shame. But the lunch was excellent. We were a larger group so they had a fixed menu, but i gotta say their fixed menu rivaled just about anyone else’s full menu! No kidding. Starters, Mains and Desserts.
Most of our group had the fresh catch — monkfish i believe. No complaints and nothing left on the plates! I had the Scottish Angus on fresh greens with chips. It was perfectly prepared and presented!
Shoulda snapped a pic. Sorry about that.
I started with Cable Bay’s Pinot Gris but shifted to their cab. Not disappointed with either. Both were very good. Would have gotten a bottle of each if we’d gotten to do some cellar tasting and a chance to buy!
Lots of folks with kids here and on the beautiful lawns looking out to the ocean. I love all that … Makes me homesick for my fam. They’d love this.
Great food and stunning views. OBTW the wine is pretty choice too.

A great vineyard and restaurant set in the west coast of Waiheke. The most amazing views– absolutely in love with view out where you could just see the Sky tower peaking, as well as the sparkling Hauraki Gulf ocean. Perfect excuse to sit for snacks or a meal or spend the whole day there on their hill. If you want a vineyard wedding, they do ‘em– and I’d recommend their beautiful island spot.
They have both indoor and outdoor seating for their Verandah and Dining room– so suitable for any weather or season. I loved the outdoor crisp white arched ceiling– which looked like waves of the ocean or wine barrels. They have two levels of seating as well as an open kitchen in one corner. Enjoyed their comfortable couch like wall of seating that outlined the square outdoor dining room and they have proper dining chairs around the tables as well. Waiters everywhere– handy if you are sitting on one of the beanbags outside the official dining space to order to your heart’s content.
We went to their cellar door first for wine tasting– which was in a secluded room to the side– with a window into their working winery with their huge barrels and other equipment. Afterwards we went outside and ordered small plates to share– Roast pumpkin hummus, dukkah, flatbread– a big fan of the hummus and dukkah, such a great, moreish dip. Paprika prawns with spring onion pieces, grilled lemon to squeeze & focaccia to finish. Not sure what they did to their shoestring fries but it was out of this world– maybe was their herb salt and/​or aioli combination. Could have inhaled a whole lot more of their fries. Friends agreed they were good fries.
Had a bit of a tour around their grapevines– where there was also another neat view onto the ocean. Must see this award winning Cable Bay vineyard! Even if you’re not a fan of wine, it’s worth it just for the stunning location and backdrop.

A weekend away from Auckland to Waiheke Island seems so far away and exhausting at that… how wrong could I be.
Only thirty minutes from Auckland by ferry and when we arrived on Waiheke Island ready to check out the island and soak up everything it had to offer, I was immediately surprised at how all the locals are really friendly. You could tell everyone knew everyone as they all greeted each other by their first names and some even had conversations about local happenings.
We were booked in for Dinner at Cable Bay restaurant that night, and throughout the day the locals were impressed when I mentioned that’s where I was heading, one even told me it was THE best place to go. High expectations of awesomeness have now been reached by that comment.
Upon arrival we were greeted by their Sign «CableBay Vineyard», opening the very large wooden doors into a very big welcoming room started to make the hairs on my neck stick up. We first went into the wine bar to try some authentic Waiheke Island Wine, as they say. When in Rome, do what the Romans do.
After drinking our wines, overlooking the scenery by this time it was dark, but you could still make out Auckland with all the night lights. A truly awesome sight. We were taken to our table right next to the window and not too far from the roaring fire-​place. Double Bonus.
The menu looked like you would expect from a very upmarket restaurant of this caliber. A series of Starters, Entrées and Mains. I immediately had the trouble of deciding what to order, because in fact I could have ordered one of everything, it was that dangerous. We decided to have opposite mains so that we could share and get the best of both worlds.
On her side, she ordered the Angus Beef and I ordered the Free Range Pork, our waiter inquired whether we wanted any sides to go with our choices, we politely declined and he left us be. The only times he returned was when our wine glass was nearing empty. Such a good experience to have when the waiter notices your glass going dry and tops it up with your choice bottle of wine.
After about forty minutes, our mains had arrived and the presentation was amazing. Only bettered still by the first taste you get as you deconstruct your meal and separate out the components and have a mouthful of each, followed by a mouthful of them all combined.
My free range pork equally looked visually inspiring and mouthful of explosions in taste. There is no doubt in my mind this is worth every cent of the price on the menu.
After dinner we made our way back to the wine bar, which was all closed off but we were told we could sit outside and walk around if need be and that’s exactly what we did. What a perfect way to finish off your evening in such a beautiful and quiet place.
I cannot wait to come back here again, this time during the day to look at the view over the harbour.
I therefore provide the following ratings;
Food ⁵⁄₅ — Top Quality from a Metro Top 50 Restaurant
Service ⁵⁄₅ — Warming & Friendly
Price ³⁄₅ At $ 45 per main, $ 54 per bottle of wine, and deserts — This is one saved for a very special occasion.
Atmosphere −4÷5 — Even at night, the views over the harbour looking at the city lights is breath-​taking
Overall 4.5÷5 — Well deserved place at Metro’s Top 50 Restaurant & I can’t wait to come back.

Wow the views of cable bay are stunning.
Cable bay was the last stop on our waiheke wine tour, on the hopper, and the cheese board with honey and preserves was the perfect afternoon snack before walking down the hill to meet the ferry back to auckland.
We where lucky to be treated to live music.
Staff where friendly and happy to set out a blanket or been bags on the lawn.
Left with the impression that cable bay is the hip trendy place on waiheke.

Wine supers, staff is knowledgeable and welcoming. I could spend a week here and lower my blood pressure in the process. Great place to reflect and think.
Really enjoyed Jenny our server, who made us feel at home. Wish I could Afford to live here

Great scenery, breathtaking views. Good wine as well! The Pinot I had was out of this world!

We went to cable bay after we had visited Mudbrick and i have to say in comparison cable bay is slightly lacking. Just been honest, and of course each to their own!
The view from cable bay is stunning!
As expected the wine was gorgeous, i had the 2013 Pinot Gris. Definitely worth a try if you like Gris.
We didn’t eat anything here but the menu looked yummy.
For me Cable Bay lacked personality, i felt it needed to get a little more ‘feeling and soul’ to it.
No complaints though, lets be honest everywhere on Waiheke is gorgeous.

A girlfriend and I decided to go on a Waiheke adventure today, and boy oh boy did we have a WONDERFUL day! We made our way to Cable Bay, and WOW! We were both blown away! Views? Stunning! Food? Fantastic! Wine? Sensational!
I would rate Cable Bay a 10 out of 10!
It’s a beautiful get away from the hussle and bussle of the city. Only 35min away on the ferry and 10min up from the wharf, Cable Bay really is quite conveniently placed.
We were comfortably seated in the ‘wine bar’ outdoor area. We did five wine tastings for $ 8, had a lovely cheese board, and enjoyed a glass of rose and bubbles whilst overlooking the extraordinary view of Auckland harbour. It was truly a magical day!