Auckland City Guide
Your guide to what’s good in Auckland right now
Auckland is the perfect gateway for exploring the rest of New Zealand.
A compact, harbour-wrapped city with a genuinely strong dining scene.
A place where mornings start with good strong flat white and end by the water, with coastlines and island escapes never far away.
Summer is when Auckland is at its best, with Waiheke Island’s vineyards in full swing and nearby coastal pockets like Matakana and Piha coming to life over sun-soaked weekends.
We’ve compiled local recommendations, lists, reviews and tips below to help you hunt down the best of Auckland City.
Big Ideas, Real Impact.
Auckland’s Best New Restaurants
Whether you’re after a quick street-side laksa and a beer at 9pm or a long wine-fuelled degustation, Auckland’s newest openings cover both ends of the spectrum.
These are the restaurants worth booking this winter.
Auckland’s Suitest Hotel Stays
Auckland’s hotel scene has stepped up in recent years, with a handful of new properties that deliver on design, location, and experience.
Read our edit of the stays worth booking. Whether you’re visiting for a quick city vacation or using Auckland as your jumping-off point.
A little further a field
Auckland’s Best Day Trips
When the city starts to feel small, it’s a short drive to black-sand beaches, countryside markets, and some of the country’s best golf courses.
Where to eat stay and Play in Auckland | A 3 Day Itinerary
Three days, no wasted time. Good coffee, even better wine, this is a local’s guide to Auckland at is peak.
Waiheke Island Dining Guide
You’re here for the wine, obviously, but these are the tables you’ll want to book between tastings.
Where to Stay
InterContinental Auckland Review
Right by the water in Commercial Bay, this is as central as it gets. Clean, modern rooms and easy access to the city’s best dining make it a strong all-rounder, especially if you want to be within reach of Waiheke Island.
Reviews & Guides
We’ve eaten, slept, and sipped our way through Auckland City to find out what’s good, and where to skip.
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![QT Hotel Review]()
QT Auckland Hotel Review
Pooch packages, a rooftop bar with some serious views, and a very good breakfast menu put QT's Auckland hotel high on our radar.
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![Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour Review]()
Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour Review
Set right on Auckland's viaduct, Sofitel is one of the easiest places to stay if you want water views and space to unwind. Larger rooms, balconies, and a quieter feel than most city hotels.
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![Origine Restaurant Review]()
Is this Auckland's Best Authentic French Restaurant?
A good French restaurant lives and dies by its starters. Bread, butter, pâté, something rich and slightly indulgent to open the evening. Origine clearly understands this.
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![Park Hyatt Auckland Review]()
Park Hyatt Auckland Review
One of the best hotels in Auckland, Park Hyatt sits in a prime Wynyard Quarter location, with one of the city’s standout gyms and a hydrotherapy suite that might have you reconsidering your plans for the day.
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![Cassia Restaurant Review]()
Cassia Restaurant Review
Cassia has spent years appearing on the Metro Top 50 Restaurants, but awards alone do not explain its reputation.
Plenty of restaurants collect trophies and slowly lose their edge. Cassia has somehow avoided that fate.
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![Masu Restaurant Review]()
Masu Restaurant Review
Located on Auckland’s busy Federal Street inside SkyCity, MASU has been quietly doing its thing since 2014.
No gimmicks, no theatrics, just serious attention to craft and a kitchen that runs with almost surgical precision.
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![Alma Restaurant Review]()
Alma Restaurant Review
Right in the heart of Britomart, Alma is a sun-soaked, tightly packed dining room serving bold Andalusian flavours that pack a punch.
The Auckland
Edit
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For saunas and a cold plunge, Hana in Parnell is a must. Better yet, splurge and book into the hydrotherapy suite at Park Hyatt Auckland. Himalayan salt-lined sauna, yes please.
If you’re staying on top of your routine during a quick stopover, Red Room Wellness Studio is the go-to. A high-end hot Pilates with red light panels to help you recover (and fix your post-flight skin in the process).
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Aucklanders take coffee seriously, and these are the spots that get it right.
Red Rabbit Coffee Co. and Mibo are solid go-tos. Order a classic flat white. Don’t skip the pistachio croissant at Mibo. Over in Britomart, Ortolana pairs strong long blacks with very good scrambled eggs, in a standout setting.
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Start slow, coffee first, then ease into a sauna and hydrotherapy session at Park Hyatt Auckland. From there, head into Britomart for a long lunch at Kingi and a wander through the shops.
Spend the afternoon at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, then reset before dinner. Book a table at Ahi, one of the city’s best, before finishing the night with drinks at Queens Rooftop Bar.
It’s a full day, but a very good one.
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Faradays is the go-to for international labels, with Celine and Loewe, tucked neatly at the bottom of Parnell. Over in Britomart, you’ll find some of New Zealand’s best-known designers, including Deadly Ponies, Karen Walker, and WORLD.
Next door, Commercial Bay pulls everything together with international designers like Sandro, amongst renowned local brands like Wynn Hamlyn and cashmere label Elle & Riley.
Auckland’s best bars, vineyards & breweries
Here for a good time not a long timeHere for a good time not a long timeHere for a good time not a long time-
One of the best ways to see Auckland is from a rooftop, Negroni in hand, harbour views in front of you.
You’ll find Queens Rooftop Bar tucked behind a wine shop in Commercial Bay, while The Churchill, on Albert Street, is a must for gin lovers. For something a little more lively, the rooftop at QT Auckland is made for Friday night cocktails that tend to roll on.
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Head to Waiheke's Mudbrick Vineyard for a slow, sun-soaked lunch, while Tantalus Estate is a little more modern with a dining room that’s just as good as the wine.
Over at Casita Miro, you'll find a relaxed atmosphere and Spanish influenced food & wine. If you’re heading north, Brick Bay Wines & Sculpture Trail makes a strong case for turning a tasting into an afternoon, with an art trail and a cheese platter that’s hard to rush.
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Auckland’s brewery scene is as relaxed as its people. good beer, rustic spaces, and usually a solid soundtrack in the background.
Sawmill Brewery is a clear favourite, set just out of the city, serving up freshly brewed beer with tasty, comforting food. Hallertau Brewery is made for a long weekends, think a garden full of games, woodfired pizza, and plenty for large groups. Closer to the city, Brothers Beer brings a slightly gritty, inner-city vibe, with consistently good beer and a loyal post-work crowd.
Out on Waiheke, The Heke Kitchen, serves up generous, moreish dishes, and even a driving range if the afternoon calls for it.