Auckland you beauty!

Whether you’re after cocktails with a view or a late-night burger fix, these are the zones that serve it right.

Auckland is packed with flavour — but where you choose to eat and drink totally shapes your experience. From gritty and eclectic to slick and sky-high, each neighbourhood has its own vibe, local legends, and can’t-miss moments. Here’s my personal guide to where to eat & drink in Auckland, what to expect, and why each district deserves a spot on your radar.

Interior of a restaurant or cafe with a large glass window showing a sunset over a body of water, with buildings to the left and three wooden sculptures outside. Two people are sitting at the table, with sunlight casting shadows inside.

Britomart & Commercial Bay

The business end of town, but don’t sleep on the food. These 2 districts (although they are right next door to each other) are packed with big-name chefs, impressive hospitality talent, and restaurants that show off Auckland to visitors and locals alike. Think: skyline views, slick interiors, and some of the city’s most refined plates.

    • Queen’s Rooftop – A total showstopper. The sweeping views of Auckland are incredible, and the sunet - unmatched. The kind of spot you take out-of-towners to make their jaws drop

      NB: It’s pricy, not to say it isn’t worth it though! #viewtax

    • Ahi – Ben Bayly’s take on modern New Zealand cuisine is nothing short of exquisite. This place is a love letter to Aotearoa — thoughtful, elegant, and packed with flavour. Chris and his FOH team know service, it’s always impeccable.

    • Alma – Spanish-inspired tapas and some of the best cocktails in town. Order anything, oh and grab a spot outside — it’ll be a vibe.

    • Amano – A total all-rounder. Breakfast, lunch or dinner — they nail it every time. I'm a sucker for their wine-by-the-carafe and that free-flowing olive oil on the table. Consistency is queen here, and Amano wears the crown.

    • Ebisu – Luxe Japanese with a moody, special-occasion feel. One of my all-time faves when I want a sushi splurge or something special for a night out.

Chan Can Eat: Nic Chan - A woman with long brown hair and red lipstick, smiling and holding a glass of champagne toward the camera at an outdoor restaurant or cafe.

The Viaduct

Set on the harbour, the Viaduct is the heartbeat of Auckland’s nightlife and event scene, but don’t you dare skip it’s cuisine! The Viaduct is vibrant, high-energy, and packed with everything from bars to refined dining. The views of the Waitematā are unbeatable - you’'ll find me at the viaduct all summer long.

    • Soul Bar & Bistro – Hospitality royalty. Impeccable food, flawless service, and a vibing terrace that always delivers. If you could eat here morning, noon, and night — you would.

      Hot tip: Their events are next-level. If you haven’t been to one yet… you must.

    • HQ – Thee place for Bluff oysters (when in season), $10 margs are bangin, and $50 bottles of Marlborough Mumm before sunset. Loud, proud, and always a vibe — especially when Lenny’s on the deck with the 80’s/90s bangers.

    • Bivacco – Their set menus are perfect for group catch-ups, and aperitivo hour absolutely slaps — especially with their slick members-only perks.

    • Esther – Mediterranean magic on every plate. The team here are absolute legends — polished, warm, and masters of their craft. The vibe is so European, and the cuisine? Equally to die for.

    • Oyster & Chop – Go from 3–5pm and thank me later. $2 oysters on the terrace with a rotating happy hour drink list — this is the Viaduct’s best-no so well-kept secret.

    • Somm – Wine flights that feel like a cheat code to classy drinking. Explore regional pours, pair them with something tasty, and do happy hour the grown-up way.

    • White + Wong’s – A go-to for groups. Their set menus are generous, punchy, and crowd-pleasing — bold pan-Asian flavours with something for everyone.

K'road, the most colourful street in Auckland. Vibrant, fun, full of life. At Coco's Cantina.

(Karangahape Road)

K’ Road is the soul of the city’s hospitality scene. It’s a cultural melting pot of vibrant, independent bars and restaurants run by people who put their heart into everything they serve. Expect flavour, fire, and stories behind the food. It’s authentic, colourful, gritty in the best way, and full of hidden gems.

K’Road

    • Coco’s Cantina – Italian inspired with serious soul, THEE best people watching and vibe on the strip + great specials & all-day Tuesday mate’s rates.

    • Otto – Italian inspired. FAB set menu. Cozy feel, yet humming with patrons.

    • Picci – Handmade pasta, rustic charm, a go-to for carb lovers. Seasonally driven.

    • Bar Magda – Modern Filipino, creative and absolutely delicious.

      Hot Hack: One of my all time fave restaurants.

    • Tempero – South American–inspired, bold, authentic, warm and hearty.

    • White Lady – The OG food truck, the absolute GOAT of late-night dining.

      Hot tip: Get a cheese toasty with onions, you won’t regret it, except for the next day when you’ll want another. Soz, not soz.

People dining at an indoor restaurant with a large window, exposing the interior decorated with red lighting, tables, and hanging lights.

Ponsonby

Ponsonby’s had a glow-up. A full-blown food and drink destination — with happy hours, weekend activations, late night’s hustling again and there’s spots you’ll want to stay all night for. The energy is back, and so is the buzz.

    • Farina – A long-time staple since 2014, now recently refreshed and (still) absolutely banging. With Sergio Maglione at the helm (who’s been producing hits since way back), this spot just keeps getting better. Rustic, refined, and unapologetically Italian.

    • Inca – Peruvian-Japanese fusion (Nikkei cuisine) that nails the balance of flavour and fire. Don’t miss the bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers grilled over the open flame — a standout droll-invoking dish.

    • Hotel Ponsonby – The food’s great, but what has my heart is their coconut marg that got me through lockdown. For that alone, I’ll be loyal forever. (Also: the courtyard? A dream in summer)

    • Ponsonby Central – The heart of the precinct and still one of my favourite destinations for casual eats and good energy. I’ve been a fan since Burger Burger first set up shop in 2014 (RIP to that OG location), but the vibe has only grown. You’ll now find an incredible showcase of local eateries, from internationally award winning pizza to cheeseburger bao buns, to dessert that looks too good to eat - it has EVERYTHING.

    • Mekong Baby - My favourite restaurant in the city in 2014. It went a little downhill - but 11 years later, WOW - it has been restored to its former glory and I couldn’t be happier. Delicious, approachable, vietnamese & southeast asian cuisine.

    • Island Gelato Co. – Hands down my favourite gelateria of all time. Their award-winning flavours are next level — and my boy Freddie agrees. He’s here for the free pup cream (and won’t accept anything less now). Me? I’m a Pic’s Peanut Butter ride-or-die.

    Some notable stand-outs & cheap eats

    • Pizza Monkey – Tucked away with humble surrounds (think: a bougie food court), but the pizza? Unreal. Huge flavour, no frills, and still only around $7 a slice. Try a few — they’re all fire.

    • Ponsonby International Food Court – Upstairs and always buzzing. Sole operators slinging every type of Southeast and East Asian cuisine: These all of the ‘ese’ Chinese, Vietnamese, Indonesian (phenetically not an ese), Japanese and more. Fast, authentic, and never boring.

    Also worth noting:
    There are so many other incredible bars and restaurants in Ponsonby, and I wish I could list them all — but this is just a small hit list of my current faves. If you’re after something else or want a recommendation for a particular vibe, just flick me a message, I’ll point you to what’s good - I got you!

TAKE ME BACK TO THE GUIDES