Popular Auckland restaurants have turned the Government's required social distancing practices into an opportunity for innovation.
Two bustling Auckland CBD venues have taken the alert level restrictions as an opportunity to reinvent their customers' dining experiences.
Miann's Chocolate Factory as well as Good George's North Wharf restaurant, have set up glass greenhouses to ensure diners can enjoy their meals at a safe distance from each other.
With the help of a local glasshouse company, Winter Gardenz, the venues were able to have the new features installed within 24 hours with staff working through the night.
Good George co-founder Jason Macklow saw the opportunity as a way to keep supporting other local businesses during the fallout of the pandemic.
"It's a focus on Kiwi-owned, Kiwi-made prouducts. It's a conscious decision that's bringing out real positives," he told 1 NEWS.
For Macklow, Level 2's restart has prompted the community to band together, which in turn is helping to "bring out the best in people."
At the normally quite "cozy" chocolate factory, three glasshouses have allowed Miann's owner Brian Campbell to keep up with business while still social distancing.
The Government's social distancing regulations would mean the store would otherwise be limited to just eight people due to its size.
That's a stark contrast to thye normal peak hours where Campbell says he'd be serving "three or four times that".
Glasshouses have given the dessert bar a new lease on life, allowing them to repurpose the outside courtyard and street seating which would typically be too cold during the winter months.
"We had to figure out a way to sitting more people as outside was not really an option because it's cold," Campbell says.
Both places were inspired by a Dutch art centre which made headlines for its innovative solution for social distancing.
The new installations have not only provided a solution to their seating issues but it's also helping to generate views for the restaurants online.
"On social it's got a huge amount of interest. We will definitely keep them in the courtyard, see how they go in summer," says Mr Campbell.
Good George may look to increase the number of glasshouses up from the five currently installed, with a potential to keep them in the longer term due to their popularity.
For now, both owners are focused on ensuring the safety of customers as they gladly welcome them back in.
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