Posted by New Zealand’s largest metropolis, Auckland is blessed with natural beauty in its waterways, beaches and prominent hills dotted throughout the city. These attributes mean that it’s an easy place to stay active, though there’s also a very developed food and kiwi arts culture providing plenty of indoor attractions to counter all the exercise!
The city centre itself is no different from many other big cities, however it’s the vibrant waterfront that catches the most attention, stretching from the Britomart precinct, past Princes Wharf across to Viaduct Harbour and onto the emerging Wynyard Quarter. This area is perfect for an easy walk or a relaxed meal by the water, drinking in Auckland’s nautical vibe.
For restaurants and bars in the city, Britomart and nearby spots like Vulcan Lane offer the best choice of interesting and quality venues, but committed foodies will probably find themselves drawn to Karangahape Rd and Ponsonby.
Once grungy (well still grungy, but less so these days!) Karangahape Rd, known simply as ‘K-Road’ by the locals, is home to some of the most emerging and exciting restaurants in Auckland, though its late night venues still hold fort. Chic Ponsonby Rd is more refined and sedate, though don’t take that to mean boring, as its cute wine bars and charming bistros are guaranteed to please.
Whether you’re coming to Auckland to meet, eat, drink, swim, sail or just walk, this multicultural city is going to capture you with its friendly kiwi charm.
This Guide to Auckland was updated in December 2025.
Just Coffee…
Chuffed Coffee | 43 High St, Auckland
Slide down a narrow corridor off High St and you’ll happen upon Chuffed, a cutesy little coffee spot and café. Although it’s small, it certainly has a bold personality, with lots of colour and a dedicated hipster following. The coffee is excellent and there’s a breakfast menu that offers up all the usual staples, plus some smashing new hits as well. Chuffed
Altezano Brothers Snickel Lane | 5 Commerce St, Auckland
This local success story was founded by two Latin American born brothers who wanted to share their passion for great coffee in their new homeland. With a roastery in Mt Eden and a couple of espresso bars around Auckland, they source some of their beans direct from the growers and turn out an excellent cup of coffee at this hole in the wall style store. Only open weekdays. Altezano Brothers Snickel Lane
Atomic Coffee Roasters | 30 Gaunt St, Wynyard Quarter
A small, high-quality local coffee roastery that’s been around since 1992, their Wynyard Quarter outpost is housed in the foyer of an office building, so it’s a small but well formed nook that is perfect for a quick coffee hit. Only open weekdays. Atomic Coffee Roasters
eighthirty ponsonby | Ponsonby Central, 6 Brown St, Ponsonby
A local roastery that’s now supplying their first-rate coffee to a bunch of Auckland’s best cafes, you’ll find their own little red and white coffee stand tucked away at the rear of Ponsonby Central where they just serve coffee, nothing but just good coffee. eighthirty ponsonby
Archie | 159 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby
Archie is an unassuming coffee spot that shares its premises with a men’s clothing store, it’s essentially just a small counter, a handful of tables and some seating in the tiny alleyway that runs down the side of the store. The team here are easy going and friendly, hence their popularity with locals who drop by for excellent Atomic coffee and simple breakfasts. Archie
Breakfast & Brunch…
Williams | 85 Daldy St, Wynyard Quarter
One of the dining highlights on the Wynyard Quarter, Williams is a family owned labour of love housed in an understated industrial style space. Their focus is on great quality food and excellent coffee, the short but fabulous breakfast menu is Middle Eastern inspired and offers one of the more interesting takes on breakfast/brunch in Auckland. Williams
Amano | 66-68 Tyler St, Britomart
Amano in the heart of the Britomart precinct delivers Italian-leaning fare with flair. The short breakfast menu mixes unique dishes with simple favourites like avocado and poached eggs. Rich options include a standout prosciutto and chilli on smashed potato, with fresh juices, shrubs (kombucha), breakfast cocktails to wash down your fare. Thoughtful little touches abound, like sea salt, a pepper grinder, and olive oil all arriving before the meal. After the breakfast rush it morphs into a lively dining room for lunch and dinner. Set in a huge historic warehouse with an open kitchen and adjoining bakery, it’s rusticity at its best and always buzzing. Amano
MELBA Vulcan | 33 Vulcan Lane, Auckland
This endearing Vulcan Lane bolthole has been a stayer since 1995, its popularity spurring sister cafes in other parts of town. With an intimate dining room or alfresco laneway seating to choose from, this is the place for comfortable brunch fare that offers just enough flair to keep things interesting, without taking you too far from your comfort zone. Their coffee is excellent too. MELBA Vulcan
The Store | 5B Gore St, Britomart
A welcome brunching spot in the heart of the Britomart, the dining here is mainly alfresco style, with a short but interesting breaky menu of sweet and savoury treats, and fast on-point service. The pastries and breads are freshly baked just across the square at sister-venue Amano Bakery. The Store
Daily Bread | 15 Galway St, Britomart
For a quick and convenient breakfast stop, this small local bakery chain has a very ‘Soho’ style outlet in Britomart, housed in a loft-style space with soaring ceilings and dining spaces split over several levels – it’s always bustling and lively. There is a short but quite inventive selection of breakfast staples, like salmon gravlax or a breakfast bun with a hash brown added, whilst the muesli comes with rose water labneh. There’s also pastries, pies and sandwiches to sate one’s appetite. Daily Bread
Lunch & Dinner…
Onslow | 9 Princes St, Auckland
Well known Kiwi chef Josh Emett champions fine local produce to create enticing fare that is worthy of a special night out. Housed in the former headquarters of the Fonterra Dairy Group, the thoroughly modern and stylish space at the rear of the complex is a surprising contrast to its heritage facade. The skilled service team move effortlessly through the busy dining room, offering deft touches such as a salmon plate prepared tableside. The starters menu leans more towards seafood, when you progress to the mains the options become more broader. Onslow
Gilt Brasserie | 2 Chancery St, Auckland
Josh Emett’s follow up venue to Onslow, Gilt is beautifully set in the former Chancery Chambers building, the dining room has an air of casual elegance, with various dining zones creating a series of intimate spaces and the team provides on-point service that rarely wavers. The menu pays homage to classic European brasserie’s, with contemporary touches – every dish is a hit and perfectly balanced in flavours and portions. The wine list is finely curated, offering a wonderful selection of mainly old-world styles. Gilt Brasserie
Cassia | 5 Fort Lane, Auckland
Descending into a subterranean space that thanks to its sexy fitout and lighting, feels much smaller than it is, you’ll be engulfed by the spicy aromas coming from Cassia’s open kitchen. The menu of thoroughly contemporary Indian fare is concise and deftly divided into bites / smalls / share / sides. Dining here will take you on a journey through the sub-continent, showcasing bold flavours and finite presentation of each dish. There’s a well thought out wine list of both Kiwi and international wines, to make this an even more special dining experience. Cassia
Kingi | 29 Galway St, Britomart
Within the Hotel Britomart complex, Kingi’s mission is to deliver local, sustainable seafood with a touch of flair. Sustainability is embedded into the ethos here – including listing where the key ingredients for each menu item come from. The design of the multiple dining rooms featuring stripped back walls, whimsical light features, a reclaimed timber bar top and a rustic-luxe feel. If you are not up for a full meal, there’s plenty on the menu to snack (don’t go past the mussels) and sip on, especially if you are perched at the aforementioned bar. The wine list heavily promotes New Zealand wines. Kingi
Advieh | 1 Queen St, Auckland
Advieh, nestled beneath the InterContinental Hotel, offers a fresh take on hotel dining. Chef Gareth Stewart crafts contemporary Middle Eastern dishes with a focus on grilled meats, fish, and delightful sides like thick hand-cut chips. Other highlights include exquisite local cheeses, creative cocktails (some served in minute size, which is perfect for a pre-dinner tipple) and a strong NZ wine selection. The L-shaped space features a bar and dining area with pleasant views of Queens Wharf. Perfect for full meals or snack-style dining and drinking. Advieh
Ortolana | 31 Tyler St, Britomart
Meaning ‘market gardener’ in Italian, the menu at Ortolana certainly pays homage to its name, featuring an interesting mix of seasonal ingredients in each dish, but at the same time there’s a simplicity in the way it all lands together on the plate. The dining room and open kitchen are housed in a chic glass pavilion, though there’s also alfresco seating in a pretty courtyard setting as well. One of Auckland’s most popular dining spots, it’s suitably always busy. Ortolana
Pici | St Kevin’s Arcade, 183 Karangahape Rd, K-Road
Perched just inside St Kevin’s Arcade entrance, Pici is a little gem with the confidence to be just what it wants to be. The food is simply wonderful, a small regularly changing selection of delicate antipasto (if you get to enjoy the shaved Porchetta before it sells out, you will leave very happy) and a choice of silky, handmade pasta with the most delicious of sauces. They don’t overcomplicate each dish, it’s all about incredible flavours and hearty fare. The wine list is not overly long either, so decisions are easy and rewarding. The cosy dining space includes bar seating where you can watch the tiny kitchen in action, plus the cutest little loft area above, and tables spilling out into the arcade. Do book ahead as it’s not surprising how popular Pici has become. Pici
Bedford Soda & Liquor | 3 Richmond Rd, Ponsonby
A slice of NYC in the buzzing Ponsonby Central complex, Bedford has an inviting, stylish interior and a relaxed outdoor dining space. The cocktails pay homage to American classics through the ages, whilst the beers are all from craft breweries. The star of the menu are the meatballs, including meatball sliders, but there are plenty of other American favourites to indulge in, like mac ‘n’ cheese and tater tots. Large and buzzy, it’s a family friendly venue, but equally as comfortable for an adults night out. Bedford Soda & Liquor
The Blue Breeze Inn | 146 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby
This contemporary Chinese restaurant is a little bit rock & roll, with a funky fitout, loud music and bright young staff, where the drinks are treated as importantly as the food (with an international wine list, crafty cocktails and a healthy rum selection too). The starter menu has a hearty choice of dumplings, with both expected and unexpected filling combinations, whilst the mains move into more traditional Chinese territory with a twist or two. Some dishes are quite generous on the spice factor. The Blue Breeze Inn
Drinks…
Little Culprit | Cnr Wyndham & Queen Sts, Auckland
Across the road from its mothership restaurant, Culprit, this bar is small by name and small by nature. Thick velvet curtains shield the outside world from the compact, stylish space, with a front bar where you can sit and chat with the bartenders or an almost secretive den-like back room. They take their cocktails rather seriously here, though there’s a just-as-interesting wine list too, and delicious bites from the restaurant menu if you so desire. Little Culprit
Mo’s | 15 Federal St, Auckland
Mo’s is one of those bars that’s so tiny, it’s inevitable you’ll make new friends during a pit stop here. This intimate, eminently comfortable bar sits on a corner in a rather quiet part of downtown, so it’s easy to slip in and enjoy a sly drink or two. There’s nothing pretentious on offer, just timeless cocktails, mainstream beers, soulful tunes and good conversation. Mo’s
Truth or Dare Bar | Snickel Lane, 23 Commerce St, Auckland
Truth or Dare is a 2025 newcomer tucked into Snickel Lane, the bar itself is a cute and cosy spot with moody, sexy decor and thoughtful sustainable touches in the decor. It seats only a handful on a L-shaped banquette, with overflow seating in the arcade. The cocktail list is inventive with no-nonsense descriptions, the wine list small but spot on, and snacks and tapas round out a menu where timeless classics meet modern mixology. Truth or Dare Bar
Caretaker | Downstairs, 40 Customs St, Britomart
It’s akin to a treasure hunt finding the entrance to Caretaker, but well worth the effort. Once you descend into the basement, push past the rickety door and you’ll find yourself in a warm haven of vintage style, good conversation and top notch drinks. With a NYC speakeasy style vibe, they take their cocktail making seriously here, with infinite detail paid to every element that makes a great drink. But take care, Caretaker is an easy place to lose yourself for longer than you’d planned! Caretaker
Queens Rooftop & Wine Shop | Level 21, 1 Queen St, Auckland
Perched on the 21st floor of the Commercial Bay complex, this stylish bar offers stunning views of Waitemata Harbour, from the harbour bridge to the docks and across to the North Shore. Its spacious outdoor deck is wind-protected, and the refined interiors strike a perfect balance of elegance and charm. A concise cocktail list reinvents the classics, while non-drinkers enjoy refreshing options like the Strangelove drinks range. The wine list impresses with over 30 by-the-glass choices, emphasizing antipodean selections. Seasonal, sustainable food complements the drinks list. Queens Rooftop & Wine Shop
Deadshot | 45 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby
From the same team at Britomart’s uber cool The Caretaker, the same passion for inventive cocktail making pervades at Deadshot. The room is dark, warm and totally cocooning, with rustic timber booths and the backbar made up of antique cabinets and drawers. There’s no cocktail list here, the engaging bar team will talk through your likes and desires, then whip up a classic cocktail with a twist to surprise you. Laidback retro tunes are the perfect soundtrack to accompany this sweet drinking den. Deadshot
Clipper | 175 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby
Inspired by the golden age of travel and the prohibition era, the name and décor accents come from the old Pan Am Clippers which were the entrée to exotic trips aboard for privileged Americans. It’s an adorable place, seating only about 20 people, though that’s all you’ll want in here, as it allows the super passionate bar team to take their time walking you through the menu. They treat their cocktail making with panache, delivering a short but well formed list, with rum drinks a highlight. For non cocktail drinkers, they also offer up a Vermouth menu, there’s just one beer on tap, and wine is limited to a choice of just one white, rose or red. Clipper
Annabel’s | 277 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby
A touch of Paris in Ponsonby, Annabel’s is a button hole sized space with one long bar and a banquette on the opposite wall (though there is seating out the front). It’s all dark timber, leather banquettes and low lighting, providing the ideal mood for sipping on a lovely vino or two. The wine offering provides a short but immensely interesting choice by the glass, it’s very Euro centric, and there’s classic cocktails if you need something stronger. The menu features bread, meats and cheeses, with a small offering of rustic chef’s dishes. Annabel’s
Beau | 265 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby
A few minutes’ walk from Annabel’s, Beau is your equally as friendly neighbourhood wine bar offering more than enough reasons to linger over a glass or two. The Kiwi and Euro centric wine list runs to pages and pages, there’s a solid selection by the glass and special gems written up on the mirror. The share food is classic European inspired fare, beginning with cheese and charcuterie and moving onto more substantial raw and cooked dishes. Just about everything is very good here! Beau
Must Do…
The White Lady | Cnr Commerce & Fort Sts, Auckland
Around since 1948, The White Lady is a legendary burger truck that appears in downtown Auckland after dark, the burgers are authentic and simply awesome – whilst there are many varieties, the basic ‘straight up’ burger is enough to impress mightily, with some hot chips as a side of course. The secret to success here is top-quality NZ meat and produce – as the sign proclaims, “Nothing fancy! Nothing fake! Just real quality ingredients”. Open 24-hours on weekends, after a big night on the town, many Aucklanders have made a stop here on their way home over the years! The White Lady
Waiheke Island | Hauraki Gulf
Just a 40 minute ferry trip from downtown Auckland, you’ll land on Waiheke Island, home to stunning beaches, rolling hills, sublime eating and around 30 premium wineries. It’s a large island, almost 20km in length, so arrange your itinerary and on-island transport in advance so you can move from winery to winery with ease. Many of the wineries are still family owned and it shows in the passion and attention to detail in every aspect of their operation, from the wine making to the architecture & design, to the fabulous onsite restaurants. A few that you really should have on your list to drop into include Cable Bay Vineyards, Mudbrick, Te Motu and Casita Miro.
Where to Stay…
Many of Auckland’s most popular hotels are on or near the water, with the more established properties generally located lower downtown around Queens and Princes Wharf, whilst Viaduct Harbour and the Wynyard Quarter have seen a raft of newer and more interesting hotels arrive in recent years. The city centre is also home to a handful of good quality hotels if you are in town on business and need a more ‘corporate’ location.
If you’re visiting more for the dining and nightlife, you may be wise to opt for somewhere closer to K-Road or Ponsonby, there are a couple of boutique hotels in this area such as the very chic Hotel Fitzroy
Hotel DeBrett | 2 High St, Auckland
This art deco gem of just 25 rooms is situated in the buzzing heart of the city, with the waterfront, Britomart and Queen St all within a short walk. The charming rooms are ultra comfortable, featuring mid century furnishings and New Zealand art works, some come with deep bathtubs and all have thoughtfully stocked minibars. Oodles of Auckland’s better restaurants and bars are in the surrounding streets, and De Brett’s Housebar is an almost secretive drinking den on the first floor that you’ll love coming home to each night for a nightcap or three. Hotel DeBrett
voco Auckland City Centre | 13 Wyndham St, Auckland
From IHG’s emerging lifestyle chain, this high rise hotel opened in 2022 and has rooms on floors 21 to 37, so expect some pleasing views from the floor to ceiling windows. With comfortable and contemporary styling, the rooms are not overly large but have been designed to be very functional for their size. There’s a bar on level 38 and if you want the same central CBD location for a smaller price, the Holiday Inn Express occupies the lower floors of the same building . voco Auckland City Centre
QT Auckland | 4 Viaduct Harbour Ave, Viaduct Harbour
The Auckland outpost of this Australian lifestyle hotel chain is located just a few blocks from the waterfront of Viaduct Harbour, within a short stroll of the city centre. It’s a relatively small hotel and offers a cosy charm blended with avante-garde interiors and a fun service sensibility. The ground floor is home to a buzzy restaurant, whilst the rooftop bar offers pleasant harbour views and a relaxed spot for a sundowner or two. QT Auckland
InterContinental Auckland | 1 Queen St, Auckland
Opened in 2024, the InterContinental is a stunning addition to the city’s luxury hotel scene. Located in the Commercial Bay complex opposite Queens Wharf, it offers seamless access to most of Auckland’s attractions and the business district. The smart, sophisticated rooms have abundant natural light, though the entry-level rooms are a compact size – and it’s certainly worth paying the upgrade for a harbour view room. Inhouse restaurant, Advieh, impresses with delicious contemporary Middle Eastern fare. InterContinental Auckland
Travelodge Auckland Wynyard Quarter | 110 Pakenham St West, Wynyard Quarter
Debuting in 2020, this ‘fancy’ Travelodge ticks a lot of boxes – the rooms are rather spacious for the price, they are simply but stylishly decorated with fabulous beds and really good showers too, and some have pleasant views of Viaduct Harbour or the city skyline. It’s in a convenient location, with the city centre a 15 minute walk away, or 25 minutes walk to charming Ponsonby Rd. Travelodge Auckland Wynyard Quarter
Featured Photo: ‘Harbour Life’ – Viaduct Harbour
Travis. 