Waterfront restaurants have a rhythm. Their location, combined with sunshine and cocktails, can ultimately result in guests lingering longer to make the most of the experience. At Bravo at Cracker Bay, Barbara Pittams is the one keeping that idea moving smoothly. As Venue Manager of one of Auckland’s largest new dining destinations, she oversees a venue that shifts constantly throughout the day, from long lunches to packed evening services, each corner of the restaurant and outdoor terraces carrying its own atmosphere and pace.
Her career in hospitality began more than two decades ago after relocating to Melbourne following what she describes as a major life moment. Initially intending only to travel, Pittams instead found herself seduced by Melbourne’s restaurant and bar culture, eventually discovering her footing behind the bar at Monties, where hospitality quickly evolved from a job into a vocation. The city’s fast-paced dining scene would go on to shape much of her career, particularly managing large-scale venues along Southbank and the Yarra River, experiences that sharpened both her operational confidence and her appetite for the theatre of service.
Today, many of those learnings inform her work at Bravo at Cracker Bay, where the scale and complexity of the venue demand both precision and personality. Pittams credits hospitality figure Kieran Turnbull as a long-standing mentor whose leadership and approach to the industry continue to influence her own. What she loves most, however, is the unpredictability of restaurant life itself. No two days are ever quite the same, and amid the pace, pressure and organised chaos, it is the friendships forged on the floor that continue to anchor her to the industry.
After Hours — Barbara Pittams
Venue Manager, Bravo at Cracker Bay
When I do get the chance to switch off, I can’t go past good Italian food. Bossi is my regular go-to, and I always order the gnocchi. It’s comforting, unfussy and exactly the kind of meal I crave after a busy service.
One dish I keep returning for is the duck liver parfait at Origine. Rich, indulgent and impossible to resist.
In terms of scale and overall experience, Ayrburn remains one of the most impressive hospitality destinations in the country. The ambition behind it, the atmosphere, and the way the precinct has been brought together is very special. Closer to home, sitting on the terrace couches at Bravo is my favourite spot, looking at the view, soaking up the sun and watching people do the same, basking the afternoon away.
Barbara’s Recommendations
