Clare van den Berg has become one of Auckland's most successful restauranteurs, with eateries such as Odettes and Daphnes in Ponsonby.
Having completed a Bachelor of Performing Arts degree in Auckland straight after high school, Clare van den Berg moved to London for five years.
During her time overseas, van den Berg worked for BBH, an advertising agency, before moving to various production companies, primarily assisting directors and traveling with them on TV Commercials. Following this, she dabbled in animation for a couple of years and directed a few of her own projects.
Being visually creative, her various roles have created the perfect foundation for van den Berg’s passion for interior design, which she has pursued alongside hospitality. Along with her husband, Joost, she opened her first cafe, Zus & Zo in 2010. Its Herne Bay location made it an instant hit with customers and led the couple to further their portfolio. Since then, the couple have opened Zomer in Takapuna, Odettes Eatery, Hugos Bistro, and most recently, Daphnes in Ponsonby.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to incorporate my love for interior design into all the projects we've created together,” said van den Berg.
The biggest advice that van den Berg was to not sweat the small stuff, and that tomorrow is another day. She also has been told to stop writing lists.
Aside from her husband, who has been her partner in both life and work for the past 15 years, she has a few people in her life who have been crucial to her growth.
Her mum, Anna, was a huge influence to her.
“She understood me like no one else, and I trusted her with every creative decision. We had an unspoken understanding.”
She described her Dad as being a straight shooter and a numbers guy. She said she could always count on him for honesty and clarity.
Van den Berg said her dear friend, Anna Casselberg, was her creative muse.
“She was always in tune with the latest in music, design, fashion, and travel—her sense of style was unparalleled, and she was simply fabulous.”
The changes within the hospitality industry have been vast since van den Berg joined. She said there has been an explosion of new places to visit, of which there are now more than ever.
“I could never keep track of all the new openings. It's always been a competitive environment, but now, with everyone becoming a reviewer—not just professional critics—there’s even more pressure to stay ahead,” she said.
“The industry is tougher now; it’s about constantly reinventing, re-establishing, and keeping things fresh.”
In the future, Clare van den Berg would like to see more collaboration between restaurants and their communities. Since the pandemic, the landscape has changed, and van den Berg said it was important to come together, support one another, and share the love for local restaurants.
“There are some incredible people in the Ponsonby community who are leading the way in this, and it’s truly exciting to see and be part of,” she said.
The highlight of her career so far has been taking pride in the spaces that she and her husband have created together. She said each one has been a reflection of both their visions and the inspirations they have gathered along the way.
She said travel has been a significant part of her creative journey, and that she has loved infusing those experiences into her work in New Zealand.
Van den Berg’s children, Harvey and Marni, have continued to be a constant driving force of motivation.
“We're deeply motivated to create the best life possible for them. Alongside this, I’ve learned to trust my instincts and stay vigilant. Over time, working with such a diverse range of people and personalities has made this even more important.”
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