Auckland Restaurants, Find the Best Restaurants in Auckland, North Island

It may seem like an oxymoron, but it took a rugby ball to kick Auckland off into a new stratosphere of dining—the Rugby World Cup put the host city u... Read More

It may seem like an oxymoron, but it took a rugby ball to kick Auckland off into a new stratosphere of dining—the Rugby World Cup put the host city under the spotlight in 2011. Since then, the field has broadened, continued to flex new culinary muscle and refine its restaurant offerings, which have never been better. The central city has also grown up and matured with interesting restaurants, cafes, bakeries, bistros, fine-dining establishments, and more. While historic High Street and its central-city surrounds have always had their charms, Fort Street, Fort Lane, and the Britomart precinct have developed as foodie havens and are home to some of New Zealand’s best restaurants. New Zealand doesn’t do celebrity chefs to the magnitude of other countries, but there’s a generous handful of locals who influence the dining sphere with their restaurants. Peter Gordon has huge influence in London with the Providores and Tapa Room, but he returns home regularly to oversee his two offerings, the Sugar Club and Bellota. There’s also much-loved Al Brown, with his clutch of restaurants and the generous smile and warmth that have made him a hit for TV.

When AA Gill visited New Zealand in 2011, he noted the country’s twin obsessions—flat whites and rugby. He wasn’t far off the mark; the fixation with coffee has fuelled a highly competitive café culture. With the number of roasters disproportionate to the population, everyone has their favourite. This has also ensured the food delivered alongside your macchiato is excellent. Innovative, interesting, sustaining, and often sustainable, Auckland café food is easily among the best in the world.

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Baduzzi
Connecticut expatriate Michael Dearth has a great reputation in Auckland's culinary scene, and for good reason—he made a name for himself at fine-dining... Read More
Blue Breeze Inn
Mark Wallbank’s passion for Asian flavors shines at Blue Breeze, which sits on a corner of hip Ponsonby Rd. Wallbank is behind a clutch of the city’s... Read More
Depot
Probably New Zealand’s most beloved chef, Al Brown is warm and welcoming—and his restaurants are imbued with these magical attributes as well, a good... Read More
Ebisu
In a former waterfront warehouse complete with kauri pillars and roughed-up concrete, Ebisu has become a fixture for its very fine take on clever,... Read More
Kokako
New Zealanders are obsessed with their coffee—they’ll discuss it more readily than they’ll ever broach a conversation about politics. And while the... Read More
Little & Friday
Decadent, divine, and quite possibly keeping the country’s dairy industry afloat with the kitchen’s demand for the creamiest butter for their meltingly... Read More
Little Bird
Little Bird Unbakery was the game-changer that kickstarted the local raw-food movement. Starting out in warehouse garage, the brand’s explosive success... Read More
Merediths
Michael Meredith opened his tasting-menu-only restaurant nine years ago. The chef has long been ahead of the curve—bearing bold tattoos before they... Read More
Milse
Exquisitely crafted sweets and desserts are created and served in equally sublime surrounds at Milse, a must-visit for any patry lover. Enter this... Read More
Oaken
This new Britomart eatery has spectacular furnishings by Nat Cheshire (a design hero to those in the know) and Nick McCaw, with exposed beams, handmade... Read More
Odettes
Prepare to be wowed by the beautiful decor as well as the food—everything here is perfectly executed. The third café opened by husband-and-wife team... Read More
Ortolana
Ortolana was onto sophisticated garden-to-table fare long before it became a full-blown trend. With their chef Jo Pearson, café innovators Scott Brown... Read More
Takapuna Beach Cafe
Owned by style shapers, the Hip Group, this chic café just north of the Harbour Bridge is the ideal spot to watch seaside Auckland come to life.... Read More
The French Cafe
There are very good reasons why the French Café continues to win awards and the hearts of diners. Consistently elegant and refined, this temple to... Read More
The Sugar Club
With sky-high views overlooking the harbour and sparkly city, the Sugar Club could run the risk of being a special-occasion-only dining experience. But... Read More