Opening this week, Grey Lynn Firehouse brings a contemporary neighbourhood pub to Grey Lynn, housed within a restored heritage fire station.
Housed within a carefully restored two-storey heritage fire station, the project marks the latest chapter from hospitality duo Luke Jones and Dave Lincoln of Honest, Norma Taps and Roundhouse Drinks Dept. Working with Studio Tatami, the brief was not to overwrite history, but to work in conversation with it — allowing the building’s former life to quietly inform its next.
That sensitivity is felt immediately. Hand-sanded timber floors sit beneath deep maroon ceilings; two working fireplaces anchor the space with a reassuring sense of permanence. A pair of bars — one on each level — provide both functional clarity and social gravity. Upstairs, a rooftop deck captures the last of the day’s light, poised to become a coveted perch as summer unfolds.
Warm timbers, soft creams, chocolate accents and layered burgundies form a restrained palette that shifts subtly from floor to floor. Downstairs embraces the familiarity of the pub — generous, tactile, relaxed — while upstairs moves toward something more refined, without ever losing connection to the building’s bones.
Throughout, the design maintains a careful balance between robustness and warmth, honouring the fire station’s civic past while introducing a new sense of hospitality-led intimacy.
The offering follows suit. Downstairs leans into classic pub rhythms: ten taps including Guinness, cocktails courtesy of Roundhouse, and elevated interpretations of familiar favourites — think chicken parmigiana and fish and chips. Sundays see the return of the traditional roast.
Upstairs, under the direction of chef Kererū Wilson (formerly of Depot and Cazador), the mood shifts. A seasonal, organic-led menu brings a lighter touch and a more intimate dining experience, crafted to complement the calmer atmosphere of the upper level.
Grey Lynn Firehouse is located at 1 Williamson Ave, Grey Lynn.
