Luxury Escapes Guide to Auckland

Arrayed amid laneways in a renovated warehouse space, Ponsonby Central is one of Auckland’s most versatile eating and drinking destinations. Eighteen different outlets include regional Chinese cuisine with a tiki-bar ambience, rotisserie chicken paired with excellent salads, and global street food with Turkish, Venezuelan or southeast Asian influences. Factor in organic gelato, authentic Neapolitan pizza and a craft-beer bar with 24 specialist taps, and Ponsonby Central is a one-stop hub for Auckland foodies from breakfast until late at night.

Equal parts culinary genius and creative mad-scientist, desserts artisan Giapo Grazioli is on a single-minded mission to redefine exactly what ice-cream can be. Forget any preconceptions of mere gelato or sorbet. Giapo and his wife Annarosa create surprising flavour combinations using New Zealand fruit and ingredients, often served in innovative shapes and designs like an apple pie- or Yorkshire pudding-flavoured cone. Trust us, it works. For the full Giapo experience, book ahead for a personalised behind-the-scenes class and the opportunity to create your own flavour sensation.

Sophistication tinged with a relaxed Kiwi vibe underpins the excellent service at the Grove, one of Auckland’s most consistent fine-dining experiences since 2004. Four- to seven-course degustation menus harness French culinary nous, and most ingredients are sourced from New Zealand growers and farmers. Seasonal dishes could include Cloudy Bay tua tuas (New Zealand clams) with sorrel, beetroot and smoked butter, or North Island venison with coffee and buttercup pumpkin. Look forward to one of Auckland’s best wine lists, and a stylish central location near bijou St Patrick’s Square.

Ignore the sign on the wall that says ‘West Lynn Organic Meats’. That’s old news, and now this corner location in the central suburb of West Lynn is Auckland’s best neighbourhood bar. Owner Mike Howie is a big music buff, and entertainment in the compact space includes vintage vinyl and occasional live gigs from some of NZ’s best musicians. Relax into the easygoing Latin American ambience, ideally equipped with a glass of sangria, pint of craft beer, or damn fine cocktail.

With room for just six diners, booking ahead – ideally a few months earlier – is absolutely essential for Auckland’s most distinctive dining experience. There are just two sittings per night and diners have the opportunity to be up close and personal with chef Ed Verner as he creates seasonal multi-course menus utilising foraging, fermentation and wood-fired cooking. Adjoined to the restaurant, Boxer is an innovative bar combining tasting flights of seasonal cocktails, shared plates and a minimalist Japanese design aesthetic. And yes, booking ahead for Boxer is also recommended.

Gochu builds on Auckland’s recent enthusiasm for modern Korean flavours. Expansive picture windows provide excellent views of ferries to-ing and fro-ing to the islands of Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf, while a youthful and energetic ambience is the background to dishes like grilled prawns with fennel, cucumber and Korean mustard, or lamb ribs with witloof kimchi and mushroom ketchup. Fans of authentic Korean heat should definitely order the fried chicken, especially the one listed as ‘…spicier, like, a lot spicier’ on the menu. An interesting drinks list includes soju cocktails and a good selection of natural wines.

Specialising in Nikkei cuisine, a Japanese-Peruvian hybrid pioneered in Lima, Azabu is an essential dining option along the Ponsonby Road restaurant strip. Big-format photographs of Tokyo street scenes enliven a moody and monochromatic interior, while standout plates include Azabu’s signature dish of crunchy tostadas topped with tuna sashimi, and delicate and smokey lamb cutlets served with an eggplant and coriander puree. The restaurant’s Rogi bar is a fine spot for sake or cocktails crafted with Latin American spirits including mezcal, pisco and cachaça.

Inspired by Paris’ neo-bistro movement, Bar Céleste is just one of the innovative restaurant-bar hybrids making Karangahape Road Auckland’s most exciting dining precinct. This translates into a relaxed ambience, innovative shared plates and a strong focus on an interesting drinks list. A concise beer selection includes food-friendly sour beers from Auckland’s Hallertau Brewery and one of the city’s best selections of on-trend natural and orange wines. Seasonal dishes could include seared octopus with a parsnip velouté sauce, and local Mahurangi oysters are served with delicious sourdough bread from ‘K Rd’ neighbours, Fort Greene.

Named after Beirut’s bustling nightlife district, Gemmayze Street is a dining standout amid the restored Art Deco ambience of Karangahape Road’s St Kevin’s Arcade. Tables are framed by the arcade’s high-ceilinged atrium and a stellar menu of shared plates focuses on modern interpretations of traditional Lebanese food. Silky dips of hummus and baba ghanoush segue to smokey chicken shish kebabs served with saffron rice, dates and walnuts, while unique cocktails feature Levantine ingredients including za’atar spice mixes, pomegranate and orange blossoms. Recommended for dessert are the deep-fried pistachio rolls with lemon curd and lemon sorbet.

Auckland’s island of wineries, vineyard restaurants and art galleries is only 45 minutes by passenger ferry from downtown’s Ferry Building, but arriving by seaplane is far more spectacular. Planes depart from Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter – itself a hub for good restaurants and bars – and options to enjoy Waiheke include landing at a remote bay for lunch and wine-tasting at Man O’War Vineyards. The Valhalla chardonnay is one of Waiheke’s finest wines and is best enjoyed with a cheese and charcuterie platter in the shade of the winery’s beachfront garden.

With three restaurants in the city – including the French Cafe and Cassia, Sid Sahrawat is one of Auckland’s best chefs, and the ultimate expression of his restless creativity can be found at Sidart in the central suburb of Ponsonby. Look forward to high-end culinary adventures blending Indian and global flavours, especially with the Discovery experience of seven courses combining ingredients like macadamia, finger limes, crab and green papaya. For groups of four, the exclusive Chef’s Table experience offers the chance to watch the dishes being prepared in the kitchen and be guided through the seven-course menu by the chefs.

Bordered by wild surf beaches and the forests of the Waitakere Ranges, the West Auckland wine region is easily accessible from downtown Auckland. Book a customised personal tour to combine the spectacular black sands of Piha and Karekare with visits to leading vineyards including Babich, Coopers Creek and West Brook. Adjacent to Coopers Creek, the Tasting Shed is worth a visit for its rustic chic décor and shared plates with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean influences. Craft beer fans should also incorporate a visit to the nearby Hallertau Brewery & Biergarten.

Immerse yourself in Auckland with Luxury Escapes’ hand-picked Experiences. We’ve curated a selection of cultural activities, adrenaline thrills, food adventures and luxury add-ons to help you discover your destination. These Experiences are bookable when you purchase your next escape. Simply select your travel dates and number of travellers for any package, and opt to tailor your escape by selecting the available Experiences.