Went to Chapel Bar and Bistro last Wednesday for dinner, after a recommendation from a friend, and was extremely happy that we did. I had the Wakanui Scotch, which was cooked perfectly and my wife had the Snapper, with a lemon-grass Salsa which she devoured. Overall we were really impressed with the food and we will definitely be back.

had only been to chapel on Sunday afternoons and they are always heaving - so was keen to give it a go last Friday on a cold Ponsonby night.
First thing that struck me was just how dead it was - really surprised by the lack of numbers at the bar - just seemed to be no vibe at all.
Ordered 3 heinekens and 3 shots - if memory serves me right I was charged $70 or so for the privilege...admittedly I was worse for wear by this stage but still - $70 pingas - geez!
Maybe I should stick to visiting Chapel on the weekends

Awesome food - great value for money. And the best hospitability you could ask for in a bar/restaurant!My partner and I decided to go to Chapel on a Friday night after work, after having bought one of the daily deals voucher online. I rang to book and as it was a Friday night, the guy (David) said it was full but I told him I'll be happy to wait at the bar until a table is free. We had our drinks at the bar and he kept an eye out on one of the tables for us and the amazing thing is, when those guys left, even though a big group came to take it David actually went over to tell them that the table has been reserved for us (just two people!)My partner and I was quite impressed with such hospitability - the fact that it was a busy Friday night and all. And what better is the food - I had the steak and he had the beef burger and not only were the portions pretty big, it was really really good!Chapel Bar is a definite must-go if you're looking for a great feed in a bar atmosphere. Thanks David

Sunday afternoon, sun still out, drink in hand and good tunes in the background - it must be Chapel. Chapel is my favourite Ponsonby venue and always been consistently good. Looking forward to my next visit.

This place is just another of ponsonbys top quality venues for drinks on a Friday after work, or anytime for that matter. The platters are nice and the atmosphere is great. It is not a huge hike from town, and its close to other bars should you want to push on.

December 2007

Chapel is fantastic! The staff are really friendly and genuine and give great service and the food is yum yum yum! I dined at Chapel before Christmas and was really impressed with the whole experience. Having had drinks there a number of times this time we decided to stay for dinner and I'm oh so glad we did! The spicy chicken wings off the tapas menu were delicious! Just the right amount of hot with a lovely tangy blue cheese sauce to dip the wings into! Mmmmmm! The Chapel platter has to be the best around. Overflowing with fresh oysters, mussels, salmon, meats, cheeses, breads, dips, olives and tapas, it's definitely one to try. Having indulged on those two dishes we didn't have much more room so we tried one of their Italian style pizzas which were delicious with a lovely crispy base and just the right amount of topping, we had the Salmon pizza which had capers and creme fraiche on it - Yum! No room for dessert but they looked delicious. Chapel you made our night, Keep up the good work, we'll definitiely be back!!

Completely disagree with your reviewer's comments about Chapel in Ponsonby. A bunch of us went to this bar on Tuesday and it was awesome.


A good variety of ages, people (and dress sense). Had a mighty fine night ... only annoying thing was an extremely long wait for tapas.


Still, the place was busy without being crammed with a bunch of rowdy people. It's a stylish bar with a decent wine list and a relaxed vibe. I'll be back!

Saturday evening, a friend's birthday and we were very well looked after. The decor is interesting, you like it or you don't; some said it works, others weren't so sure.


The place was full throughout the evening, with a pleasent crowd after good food and/or good wine. We received good service, the staff just letting you know they were there if you needed them.


To me, the most important thing for an evening out is to feel comfortable. This is something Chapel achieves well.


Chapel is an easy mix of people with a comfortable atmosphere and good service.
A great place to start your evening in Ponsonby.