Eat & Sleep in West Lynn

Experience local charm

I recently had some relatives visit from the UK and, unfortunately, we simply didn’t have the space at home to put them up, so we needed to find somewhere comfortable for them to stay. They were not really into rolling out the sleeping bags and dossing in a backpackers so I wanted to find something with a bit of luxury that still retained some of the local charm.

Henry’s sits on the corner of Peel Street and Warnock Street not far from the West Lynn shops (which incidentally, has some great little boutique shops). The front of the house looks like any other Auckland villa with white-washed walls and an attractive, sub-tropical garden but once inside, the rear of the house reveals a spectacular view across Auckland Harbour from a large deck that overhangs the sloping back garden.

Our visitors stayed in the downstairs suite which has two rooms; one lounge and one bedroom, each with its own bathroom. The rooms were tidy, and fresh juice, muesli and bread (for toasting) was brought each morning, along with the usual coffee and choice of teas. All that sounds pretty standard for a room priced at around $200 per night but what makes Henry’s so memorable are the hosts: Henry himself, and his wife Anne. They are a wonderfully laid back couple who keep a great house and make their guests feel right at home. Not only did they make our visitors’ stay a very special one but they even generously gave us some delicious preserves and pickles made from produce grown right there in their garden – and we didn’t even stay there! We continue to enjoy Henry’s hospitality even now.

Not far away is one of my favourite little restaurants, Delicious. A certain responsibility goes with a name like that but they never fail to deliver. You can’t book in advance and it’s popularity locally means that is usually pretty full from 7pm onwards but there is a small bar downstairs where you can bide your time over a glass of wine – believe me the wait is worth it – and if the bar’s a bit cramped you can always nip over the road for a drink at Gypsy Tea Room until things quieten down. There are tables upstairs and down, though I recommend the upstairs if you’re after a more exclusive experience.

Once seated, Delicious offers a well-considered menu of Italian (mainly pasta) dishes at very reasonable prices – around $25-30 for a main – which all sound fantastic. I tried one of the more unusual dishes on our last visit – pappardelle pasta with hare – which was amazing, but there are plenty of variations on more familiar themes. It is perhaps that familiarity, and attractive pricing, which makes Delicious a popular choice with families as well, there is definitely something for everyone on their menu.

Editorial by Jooles Clements