Is Auckland New Zealand’s new cuisine capital?
Kai cuisine, Asian fusion and award-winning chefs make up metropolis dining.
Auckland’s food story begins in the North with specialty artisan food markets in Matakana, then moves west through to Kumeu, extends across the Waitemata Harbour to the award-winning wineries in Waiheke, then heads south to Clevedon, before finishing just beyond the Bombay Hills.
This subtropical isthmus city sees fine dining sit harmoniously alongside contemporary fusion menus, craft beer breweries, Pasfika and Māori kai cuisine and street food that rivals the most exciting menus in the world.
One thing connects them and that’s every chef’s passion for celebrating the best of New Zealand’s locally sourced fresh foods and flavours.
Award winning fine dining
Auckland boasts more award-winning restaurants than could possibly be visited in one trip.
The infamous degustation tasting menu at multiple-award winning restaurant Sid at the French Café on Symonds Street is a bucket list must for serious foodies. Ponsonby’s Sidart and Britomart’s Cassia, created by dynamic foodie duo Sid and Chand Sahrawat, bring the best of Auckland’s freshest seasonal produce elevated with vibrant, innovative Indian flavours in boundary-pushing dishes that are experimental chemistry and surprising artistry on a plate. Ultimate meat-lover destination Sean Connelly’s The Grill serves up highest quality meats using refined ageing and cooking methods that celebrate simple, bold flavours. From wagyu, to steak tartare and parfait; internationally renowned chef Connelly and his team know their meat.
Multiple winery destinations
Waimauku’s The Hunting Lodge located in Auckland’s picturesque north west offers a cellar door and lawn bar with its own locally produced wines and craft beers from Liberty Brewing. They also have a surf and turf restaurant menu, boasting a local’s night Wednesday, with a weekly changing menu curated by awardwinning former Clooney chef, Des Harris. Waiheke Island is Auckland’s not-so-secret getaway and includes wineries Cable Bay, offering an unrivalled sunset view over the city, and the panoramic views of Mudbrick Vineyard. The Mudbrick restaurant begs sampling the degustation menu over a long lunch.
Brick Bay Wines’ The Glass House restaurant, in the spectacular Matakana wine region, sits cantilevered above its own lake. Diners can enjoy a stroll through the Brick Bay Sculpture Trail boasting more than 50 sculptures by renowned New Zealand artists.
Kai cuisine
Auckland’s exhilarating Pasifika Festival, held annually in March, is the ultimate food fare for Pacific Island street food. Diners can follow local favourites Ulutoa and Sons located in Otahuhu and Avondale with Pasifka’s best sweets; fa’ausi, a sweet taro in caramelised sugar, coconut masi biscuits and a pineapple pai fala pie. Sanbell’s Kitchen in Mt Roskill make claim to “the best oka in the city”. Popular Tanz Ktchn is a food market regular at Papatoetoe, Pakuranga and Sylvia Park, and is famed for Cook Islands favourites like chop suey. The Hāngi Shop in Otahuhu brings freshly harvested local market garden produce and traditional and contemporary cooking together on a plate with boil up, hāngi and hāngi meats in toasted sandwiches.
Contemporary fusion dining
Blue Breeze Inn is a Ponsonby Road dining experience that has amassed a loyal following. The always vibing Tiki bar serves shared dishes that celebrate Chef Che Barrington’s love of bold and spicy Chinese flavours, with Peking Duck the sought after Sunday special.
Just around the corner on Karangahape Road, southern Indian street food takes the stage in cosy Satya Chai Lounge. Sharing plates use speciality imported, very fresh spices to create distinctive flavours that wow the palate. Cazador located halfway down Dominion Road is destination dining worth the jaunt. Chef Dariush Lolaiy hunts and butchers much of the menu’s meats, which are creatively cooked with a medley of spices from Persia, the Mediterranean and Mexico. Enjoy these flavours in a convivial atmosphere in the restaurant started by Lolaiy’s parents in the 1980’s.