Must-see restaurants in Auckland Region

  • Top Choice
    Tantalus Estate

    Up a winding driveway framed by grapevines, Waiheke's newest vineyard restaurant and tasting room channels an Iberian ambience, but the savvy and diverse…

  • Top Choice
    Saan

    Hot in both senses of the word, this super-fashionable restaurant focuses on the fiery cuisine of the Isaan and Lanna regions of northern Thailand. The…

  • Top Choice
    Sidart

    No one in Auckland produces creative degustations quite like Sid Sahrawat. It's food as both art and science but, more importantly, food to fire up the…

  • Top Choice
    Nanam

    Modern Filipino food is the star at Nanam in the North Shore suburb of Takapuna. Dine on innovative updates of traditional Filipino food that made UK chef…

  • Top Choice
    Gerome

    Greek cuisine is rare in Auckland, but Gerome's modern interpretation of traditional Hellenic flavours make it one of Auckland's best restaurants…

  • Top Choice
    Giapo

    That there are queues outside this boutique ice-cream shop even in the middle of winter says a lot about the magical confections that it conjures up…

  • Top Choice
    Gemmayze St

    Located amid the restored heritage architecture of St Kevin's Arcade, Gemmayze St presents a stylish update on Lebanese cuisine. Mint, orange blossom and…

  • Top Choice
    Cazador

    The Persian heritage of the Lolaiy family combines with game meat and foraged ingredients at Cazador. Decor such as stuffed animal heads is largely…

  • Top Choice
    Azabu

    Nikkei cuisine, an exciting blend of Japanese and Peruvian influences, is the focus at Azabu. Amid a dramatic interior enlivened by striking images of…

  • Top Choice
    Three Seven Two

    Referencing the first three digits of Waiheke phone numbers, Three Seven Two's oceanfront location includes an outdoor deck and a shaded rear courtyard…

  • Top Choice
    Cassia

    Occupying a moodily lit basement, Cassia serves modern Indian food with punch and panache. Start with a pani puri, a bite-sized crispy shell bursting with…

  • Top Choice
    Pasture

    Pasture is unlike any other dining experience in the city. You'll need to book a few months ahead – the compact space has just two seatings per night and…

  • Top Choice
    French Cafe

    The French Cafe has been rated one of Auckland’s top restaurants for more than 30 years. Now helmed by one of Auckland's finest chefs, Sid Sahrawat, there…

  • Amano

    Rustic Italian influences underpin this bistro-bakery in a repurposed warehouse in Auckland's Britomart precinct, but there's real culinary savvy evident…

  • Cocoro

    Japanese elegance infuses everything at this excellent restaurant, from the soft lighting and chic decor to the delicate flavours of the artistically…

  • My Fat Puku

    Decent pies, big breakfasts and salads combine with good coffee and locally brewed beer at this spot with lots of outdoor seating and funky Kiwiana decor…

  • Apero

    Housemade terrines, sausages and charcuterie are the culinary stars at Apero, another Karangahape Rd establishment offering the perfect blend of eating…

  • Williams Eatery

    Serving the residential precinct emerging around the Wynyard Quarter, Williams Eatery's always-excellent coffee partners with hotcakes and mandarin curd…

  • Lokanta

    Featuring the cuisine of the eastern Mediterranean, unpretentious Lokanta is a laid-back alternative to the trendier eateries along nearby Ponsonby Rd…

  • Ponsonby Central

    Restaurants, cafes, bars and gourmet food shops fill this upmarket former warehouse space offering everything from Auckland's best pizza and Argentinian…