Auckland Destinations

Amano

Any member of the Savor group has got to be a sure bet, and this waterfront eatery certainly is. Both the Britomart venue and the all-day, largely Italian menu measure up – and the service doesn’t let them down. Agreeably suited to groups both large and petite.

Andiamo

This eponymous spot serves nearly every pizza permutation you could possibly think of (there are even two sweet ones). And it has a lush garden setting. Sides, salads and meat or fish mains round it out nicely. Go from noon until nighttime, seven days a week. 

Atelier

Get along to this cosy, chic K’Rd establishment tout suite for oysters, charcuterie and vegetarian small plates all given the modern Gallic treatment. The atmosphere is convivial and the drinks menu is immense, so stay a while to soak it all up. There’s even a cheese board that partners Kiwi and French favourites.

Azabu

Behind that nondescript blue wall with a handwritten scrawl street-side is a room full of energy and equally lively flavours. The Japanese-Peruvian menu caters to many tastes and is one built for sharing. Azabi’s raw bar is a significant key feature.

Bar Céleste

It calls itself a wine bar and neo-bistro. We say it’s truly smashing (consider the Smashburger and fries on its ever-changing, truly seasonal menu). The owners have stamped their ample Parisian and local experience on this, their latest lovely venture.

Beau

Only the strongest survive on this patch, and Beau rightfully takes its place as a much-loved Three Lamps heavyweight. The customer always comes first, the menu is forever fresh and constantly changing, the wine list truly impressive. Community at its heart – we like.

Bossi

Authentic Italian with a contemporary twist is how the food is described but it’s also the welcome from the friendly team that is genuine. Pull up a seat at the marble bar for an aperitivo and then choose from traditional favourites executed superbly. Vegans and the ‘bambini’ are also catered for.

Bracu

It doesn’t get much more Mediterranean than this. Set among 70 hectares of olive trees in the rolling Bombay Hills, you’ll find a commitment to relaxed fine-dining. They use locally-sourced and estate-grown ingredients, as showcased in the five-course dégustation menu: an offer you can’t refuse.

Bunga Raya

The surrounds may be modest but this place punches well above its weight in the kitchen. Few can achieve the flavour heights that this West Auckland shopping centre spot delivers with its kari kepala ikan (fish head curry). Enticing spices and flavours galore.

Cafe Hanoi

During its lengthy restaurant life in Britomart, Cafe Hanoi has weathered a change of address and some subtle menu shifts, too. But it’s never shifted its focus from true Vietnamese food with a French focus. Tofu so good it will convert any meat-eater.

Candela

Don’t miss the empanadas at this lively bar meets tapas-style eatery: the flaky pastry is heavenly and the slow-cooked meaty fillings taste like comfort. If you’re a fan of Spanish wines, this is your happy place. Iberian-inspired sharing plates will transport you bite-by-bite.

Casita Miro

There’s a Mediterranean mood to the food at this vineyard restaurant where the emphasis is on shared dining and the vibe is social and casual. With the freshest ingredients sourced on the island, wines from Miro vineyard and a selection of Spanish sherries to try, this is long-lunch territory. Salud!

Cibo

Familiarity breeds content at this stalwart venue where an elegant, confident menu has kept this restaurant’s name on locals’ lips for decades. Some items have become legendary. Try the silky duck parfait for starters or, if you need to dine and dash, the banh mi is street food made sublime.

Coco’s Cantina

The street activity is as lively as the surrounds within Coco’s. The ethos is seasonal, rustic food and locally-sourced ingredients. A mainly Mediterranean menu is delivered in fun, fast, friendly fashion. To dine at this teenaged address is pure theatre. The wines are worthy, too.

Copia

We love it when a restaurant includes produce from its own on-site garden and greenhouse. We love it equally when the menu shouts ‘modern New Zealand food and wine’. This is Copia: a former garden centre with views over Hobson Bay. An Orakei oasis.

Cotto

Cotto has assumed elder statesman status on this street of fame. The restaurant is famous, they say, for their “affordable, decadent, homemade pasta”. We say, “Try the spinach, goats cheese and sage dumplings as an exercise in excellence”. You’ll be back for more.

Duo Eatery

It used to be said that pickings were slim on the North Shore. Duo has bridged that gap. Sarah and Jordan MacDonald shifted Shoreside after admirable stints at Culprit, Lowbrow and Fed Deli. They now continue their winning ways here on Hinemoa St. Welcome.

East

East is east and west is west – and here the twain shall meet. Tucked away in the city, this predominantly vegan, gluten-free, modern-Asian eatery packs a whacking taste punch for all palates. An extensive organic and vegan wine list features local and Italian vintages.

Ebisu

Named after the Japanese god of fishing and commerce, Ebisu is another Savor Group member that delivers heavenly modern Japanese cuisine within the Britomart precinct. You can’t go past the chef’s surprise of omakase sashimi – and that’s just for starters.

Farina

This place is as much about the people as it is about the food – and both are exceptionally good. Partners in life and business, Sergio Maglione (chef) and Eleonora Barberis (restaurant manager) deliver genuine Italian deliciousness in lively, lovely surrounds. Go. You’ll feel like family.

Federal Delicatessen

Al Brown’s brains are behind this SkyCity business, and that’s got to be a very good thing. His take on an old-school Jewish NYC delicatessen is as deliciously casual as can be. You can’t go past the bagels. Or the salmon latkes for that matter.

Fish

You don’t get more seaside than this – perched over the gorgeous Waitematā harbour – but drag yourself away from the jaw-dropping views to luxuriate in a fine-dining menu of ethically caught seafood and prime New Zealand produce. Culinary director Des Harris’ kitchen team also fulfils the Hilton hotel’s room service menu, for which it has just been named Cuisine’s top Hotel Room Service of the Year 2023/2024.

Gao

Creative plating makes a meal at this Asian-fusion establishment an artful experience where visual satisfaction is equalled by the flavour hits from a far-ranging menu. Steak tartare through plump dumplings, fried chicken and crispy pork ribs – all morsels are made for sharing. Or order two (one for me, one for you).

Gemmayze St

Traditional Lebanese dishes shine at this address overlooking Myers Park. The seven-year-old St Kevins Arcade stalwart delivers big on Middle Eastern foods without fuss or fanfare. Complex flavours, warm attention, a great place for groups..

Gganbu

Korean to the core, this cool kid on the block turns to an expected line-up – think spicy, crispy chicken, pork backbone soup and beef bulgogi – made using fresh, healthy ingredients and time. The team has brought an everso-slightly offbeat brand of fun to the venue and the menu. Angry pork ribs anyone?

Gochu

Commercial Bay spoils you for choice when you’re hungry but this eatery is a sure bet among all the contenders. Fabulous wraparound views of the ferry building and waterfront provide the perfect setting for a kaleidoscopic taste adventure. Gochu delivers way beyond Korean classics.

Gojo Ethiopian Eatery

Introducing injera: a staple, sour flatbread central to Ethiopian cuisine which doubles as a utensil. Such treats and insights you will find in this suburban location where Fetehalow Zomo and Fantaye Aga pay painstaking and delicious homage to their homeland. Meat, vegan; it’s all good.

Harbourside Ocean Bar Grill

After 35 years in business, this (literal) harbourside institution knows its stuff. Despite its name and piscine association (the creamed North Island pāua toastie has to be a classic), it’s big on land-based dishes, too. Now owned by the Good Group; you’re in good hands.

Huami

Behold the big red doors behind which you’ll be privy to the delights of one of Auckland’s best Chinese restaurants and bars. Traditional signature dishes are offered among more modern takes on Asian-fusion cuisine. A dictionary-sized drinks list demands experimentation.

Ima Cuisine

In a place that specialises in “the cuisine of the sun”, we can bask in owner Yael Shochat’s Mediterranean, largely plant-based diet from her Israeli homeland. It’s a true labour of love: all food is made fresh from scratch, daily and on-site. Solar power to the fore.

Ki Māha

A stone’s throw from the beach, Ki Māha is more than a destination. Sustainably harvested seafood, ethically farmed meats and locally sourced seasonal fruit and vegetables are served in a pavilion-style setting: an over-seas experience of inviting proportions. Try the crayfish choux, do.

Kingsland Social

The UK’s Time Out magazine recently named Kingsland one of the coolest suburbs in the world, so where better to hang out for breakfast..or brunch…or lunch and watch the world go by? Like the locale, you’ll find nothing too pretentious on the menu – just well-done bistro food, and they don’t skimp on the portions.

La Fuente

If you’re looking for Aotearoa’s best selection of artisanal mezcal, you’ll find it down this laneway. The spirit is celebrated here in fine style and plays a starring role alongside Mexican-inspired bar bites so you can snack and chat before a show or after work. Mezcal truffles are a sweet ending.

Lokanta

Some people go for the legendary hand-cut chips and a drink alone. They’ll inevitably stay for the east Mediterranean mains. Run by seasoned hospo pros who know all about simple, honest goodness in comforting, welcoming surrounds. You’ll feel like a local, even if you’re not.

Madame George

Take a side-trip to Peru? We don’t mind if we do – especially when the welcome is so generous-hearted and the tapas selection has the South American vibrancy (in colour and flavour) inherent in its DNA. Cocktails are laced with Latino good vibes, too. Pisco sours and spicy margaritas get the party started.

Milenta

The traditional flavours of South America are made vivid in this sharply styled eatery where a seat on the balcony is best and dishes are prepared over wood coals in an alfresco kitchen. As you’d imagine, there’s plenty for meat lovers to salivate over, but there are also vegetarian options. The drinks list has a global flavour.

Morell

Lucky locals who live near this neighbourhood establishment get to enjoy the simple pleasures of food made with quality ingredients and a warm welcome, inspired by the tradition of manaakitanga. The menu has influences of the owners’ Māori and Italian heritage and the crayfish and cocktail specials are worth looking out for.

MoVida

Cousin to the iconic Melbourne-based restaurant, this tapas bar is a magnet for foodies who come to enjoy dishes that made the original great – and try some locally imagined sharing plates. With a view of the harbour and the buzz of the city, the backdrop is as show-stopping as the fare.

Nanam

From a 4sqm food stall to a Royal Oak eatery, and now Hurstmere Rd, this is a story of simplicity and creativity. Their taco pao showcases the Filipino flavours which owners/chefs/partners Andrew Soriano and Jessabel Granada are famous for. Filipino finesse.

Ockhee

The heart and Seoul of Korean food beats strongly in Ponsonby. Chef Lisa Lee labours long over her dishes delivering sweet, savoury, salty, spicy perfection – viz the six-hour, slow-cooked beef. Or what about the potato jeon favourite? Natural wines feature big on the drinks list.

Omni

A small but perfectly formed, Japanese-inspired menu is cooked over white charcoal and the delicious morsels that emerge from the kitchen are often simple, sometimes smoky but always spot on. The decor has a pared-back precision that elevates the ingredient-driven plates and the wines, mainly organic and bio-dynamic, are beautifully curated.

Onemata

Be it moana (sea) or whenua (land), here you’ll find only the finest local produce. That’s amplified by the international experience of the kitchen staff at the Park Hyatt – head chef Rob Hope-Ede and executive pastry chef Callum Liddicoat included. A carefully crafted menu celebrates homegrown.

Ooh-Fa

The (predominantly pizza) menu is small. The venue is small; the wine list, too. But, ooh-fabulosity reigns big time here on Dominion Road. We’ve heard of chefs who’ve ordered every pizza option – sourdough based, every one – and then gone back for seconds.

Pasta & Cuore

Carbohydrate comfort abounds in this restaurant and pastificio that sits behind a small storefront in the Mt Eden village. Owner and chef Stefania Ugolini brings her Bologna background to this kitchen with uncompromising fastidiousness. You, dear diner, can only reap the rewards of her hands-on attention.

Pici

In keeping with the petite proportions of the venue, the menu is on the minuscule side. That illustrates attention to quality over quantity at this pasta and wine bar. Try the signature pici cacio e pepe; stay for the cheesecake. Pici is brim-full of flavour, enthusiasm – and punters.

Pocha

Cornflake-coated chicken is a best seller at this fun Korean restaurant where happiness is infused into every bite. The place has been serving up the goods for 15 years, so the cheerfulness must be catching. Creative street-food in a sociable atmosphere. Can’t go wrong.

Pōni

An elegant, contemporary fit-out, a waterfront location and an Asian-inspired all-day menu collide to make this Commercial Bay eatery a venue for all occasions. Whether it’s a bowl of Dan Dan ramen for lunch, a snack and a drink at the bar or an all-in-to-your-elbows experience like the lamb ribs, it’s here for you to curate.

Ponsonby Road Bistro

A place where you really can make a meal of it (no 90-min sittings here). PRB is now reaching double digits in age and we salute its stylish seniority. This is global bistro fare at its best. A fave? Char-grilled steak with delightfully chunky chips.

Sails

A mass of masts surrounds you at this Westhaven waterside base. The sea theme carries through to the menu, but is bolstered by meat mentions, too. A capacious wine list, listed by region and varietal, is another plus at this long-held site.

Smoko Room

An independent brewery restaurant promising “generous hospitality [and] food with gumption” is just the ticket. The menu reflects the owners’ mission to protect and preserve shared resources of land, sea, soil and water. Pātiki, pork ribs – and beers (perforce). Perfectly lovely on Leigh.

Spiga

A thoroughly modern interpretation of serious Italian stuff. Start with as many starters and snacks as you can. Keep a place for pizza, and perhaps some pasta. We have chef Fabrizio (Fab) Napolitano and Kiwi wife Taryne to thank for all this fabulosity.

Sri Pinang

Who needs a website when word of mouth and customer loyalty means you’re always full? That’s thanks to co-owner Angie Siew’s spot-on hospitality, while in the kitchen her husband, Kun Kaw, delivers on the greatest Malaysian taste. Low prices; top job.

Tantalus Estate

The look might be European but the menu is unapologetically local. Executive chef Gideon Landman heads this handsome family-owned vineyard restaurant. Trust in him completely and settle in for the six-course set menu that draws inspiration from the magnificent estate.

The Blue Breeze Inn

Busy, zesty, cool and vibrant. That’s not just the dining space we’re talking about, it’s the tastes from the kitchen. Chef Che Barrington is all about herbs, broths and bases. Not to mention magical ‘do-not-miss’ dumplings. Happy 10th birthday BBI.

The Butcher Baker

A destination eatery with a focus on old-fashioned artisans, farmers and local producers who work in harmony with the environment to supply the ingredients that make it into dishes which speak a local language. Craft brews and natural wines toast the tastes of the season.

The Farmers Daughter

Farm to fork; ocean to table. What more could you want in this stunning Matakana setting? Sited on the causeway overlooking the Omaha estuary, this is the definitive brunch and lunch spot, seven days a week. They do weddings and events, too.

The Oyster Inn

Beachside bistro, long-loved by locals, now owned by Josh Emett. Need we say more? Head chef Jamie Hogg-Wharekawa delivers on Josh-designed dishes such as the seafood tower special. It starts – natch – with natural oysters. It stops with a fish sausage roll. It has everything in between.

The Shed at Te Motu

They invite us to enjoy their relaxed, modern-rustic atmosphere, nestled in the very vines that produce their award-winning reds. That’s very persuasive. And these pioneers of the Waiheke wine movement have an on-site garden. Gnocchi, nose-to-tail cuts, dry-aged fish. It’s waiting for you.

The Sugar Club

High times can indeed be had 53 storeys up at the top of the Sky Tower. Plant-based menus feature prominently; so too do kai moana and pasture-to-plate dishes. The Sugar Club is, appositely, clubby. Its seriously inventive cocktail menu forms part of an in-depth drinks list.

Tokki

Next-level Korean cuisine where the offerings go way beyond street-food staples. Handmade flat noodles are a standout but there are so many taste adventures to explore you’ll need more than one visit. After dessert, listen out for the crystal tinkle of the whisky trolley.

Uncle Man’s

Sit kitchen-side to watch the balletic performance of roti being rolled. Sit street-side to capture the K. Rd action. Make sure you get some dahl, and some mee goreng, too. A true illustration of the ‘cheap and cheerful’ cliché. Mamak marvellousness.

Vic Road Kitchen

Take a trip to the Mediterranean where the fish is as fresh as the seabreeze, there are meat dishes that punch robust flavour onto the plate and the vegetarian options are vibrant and moreish. The menu changes frequently and the wine list is curated from their own extensive cellar.

Wakuwaku

A gem that presents an elegant fusion of popular Japanese dishes with a contemporary Kiwi spin. You’ll find sashimi and nigiri, as well as izakaya snacks. Toast the scrumptiousness with a premium sake or craft beer. Wakuwaku means ‘pleasing’ or ‘thrilling’ – this certainly is.

White + Wong’s

East meets West in a waterside setting. That means classic street foods plus innovative local tweaks, served up on the Viaduct Basin. W + W is a zingy place to be for lunch, dinner, drinks, snacks – maybe the whole wondrous lot. Another great Good Group find.

We’d love to know about your favourite spots.
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