22 Best Restaurants in Auckland, New Zealand

At this slightly renamed place that's not really a café and not strictly French, the new owners offer only an elegant five-course tasting menu that includes a vegetarian version. But don't be concerned: Sid and Chand Saharawat bring international flair to create superb dishes using the best seasonal produce. Bookings are essential as it is only open Thursday to Saturday for dinner and on Saturday for lunch. For the adventurous foodie, select Tuesdays are open for a "test kitchen" experience in partnership with an appliance company, though it's not cheap at $190 and extra for matched wine.

The sustainable, rustic, Italian-inspired food at this restaurant and bakery has won the approval of Aucklanders, who keep the wood-beamed, open space bustling from breakfast through lunch and dinner. It's in the heart of the city's commerce zone, so breakfast and lunch are packed with the suited set who are not too concerned about price, and dinner hours stay busy with a menu that offers chargrilled fish, slow-roasted lamb, and an array of salads and vegetables. The lengthy wine list has prices from moderate to expensive, but for a special occasion, who's counting?

When you're in the mood for superb, innovative food with flavors from around the globe, head to Cibo, whose name means "good food" in Italian; it's apt for this restaurant, which has been around since 1994. It's the one of the places visiting stars go to, in part for its superb and discreet service. This is a popular venue for weddings and important parties, so book well in advance.  

One of the area's most popular breakfast and lunch places, Dizengoff serves hearty Jewish (but not kosher) food to an eclectic clientele. The coffee is among the best around, and there is an ever-changing selection of New Zealand art. This place is always busy; avoid weekends unless you get here early for breakfast (no later than 8). The lemon poppy-seed muffins and coffee make an excellent take-out option along with the bagel filled with chicken and red cabbage.

This light-filled restaurant with floor-to-ceiling glass looks across the harbor to trendy Devonport and the Bayswater boat marina. The menu is based on high-quality, fresh local produce, particularly fish and meat cooked to perfection. Salads are made the minute before they are served. The windows are so big you might need your sunglasses on a bright day, and reservations are advised.

The fresh-baked treats, plumber's breakfast (a hearty plate of eggs, hash browns, sausage, bacon, mushrooms, and anything else the chef adds), and coffee make this bright, airy space a great place to grab something to go or to spend a morning. The atmosphere is friendly, with customers ranging from cyclists stopping for a caffeine fix to locals looking for a hearty breakfast or lunch.

Located in the buzzy heart of the Viaduct, Giraffe uses the best local foods with flair and fun. This modern space is open from breakfast until late, and whether you are a meat eater or a vegan, the hearty menu will leave you satisfied. The wine list is fantastic, and the atmosphere cosmopolitan and often very noisy.

Overlooking the water from the upper level of the restored Ferry Building, this seafood restaurant is an Auckland institution that draws foodies and families alike. It serves seasonal New Zealand seafood on a menu that references a number of cuisine styles, and the raw bar serves line-caught fish. Meat eaters can choose lamb, eye fillet (beef tenderloin), and perhaps Cervena (farmed venison). On warm nights, reserve a table outside on the balcony, where you can watch the ferries come and go.

This well-known vineyard produces a small portfolio of whites and reds, many of which never make it off the island, and the restaurant's menu emphasizes seasonal, sophisticated, high-quality food with global influences on two- or three-course fixed-price menus. The front terrace is the best spot to take in the harbor views. Many people like to arrive by helicopter. It's a popular spot for weddings, so it pays to reserve a table before heading there. Overnight accommodations are available both at the winery and nearby.

It's no mean feat being the longest-running restaurant in Ponsonby (it opened in 1986), where the locals and their guests are both fussy and loyal. The excellent, broad Italian menu includes wood-fired pizzas and good pasta, and the fish of the day, served in many ways, is worth trying. Prego is extremely noisy, so don't go there for an intimate chat, though you may find the courtyard quieter. It is always full; a wait is likely, but the expert staff will usher you to the bar. The wine list is comprehensive.

The à la carte and tasting menus at Sidart bring modern cooking to a whole new level. The chef, who has roots in Fiji, takes the finest local, seasonal ingredients and combines them in contemporary ways that will delight and astound the most jaded palate. Sweet and savory flavors are combined on beautiful plates with foam, or the finest jus.

There's always something to see at the Soul Bar & Bistro, which fronts the Viaduct Basin on the harbor. The menu is modern with a traditional twist and changes to match the season, but you will always find something appealing, whether your interest is in fresh fish, meat, or something from the plant family. On the terrace, you're close enough to the moorings to study the paintwork on the yachts, and at night, the bar and outside tables are packed with a polished and often noisy and high-spending crowd.

One of the best places on Ponsonby Road for people-watching is the outdoor tables at this former motorcycle shop with a minimalist concrete interior. The excellent food is largely Italian, and it's known for its thin-crust pizzas. With the eclectic clientele, the people-watching is just as good inside. The bar cranks up as the sun goes down. On weekend mornings, aspiring celebrities and the "love your work" set can be seen having a late breakfast in public.

Part of the Ponsonby Road old guard, this café has been serving its loyal customers since 1996. The menu offers breakfast staples like eggs and bacon, but you can also mix it up with coconut yogurt, muesli, and superb salads at lunchtime. A big central table brings together its diverse patrons, and separate tables are also available for those wanting a more private dining experience. The outside tables are busy in the morning when the gym and bicycle set are grazing post exercise.

One of High Street's best kept-secrets is this tiny café with a courtyard hidden down a corridor. Swing by for coffee or an herbal tea, a sweet treat, or other fare from small items to more substantial; you can start your day with eggs on toast or a croissant packed with ham and cheese. If you want more, go for the chicken burger or pappardelle.  Also on offer are boutique soft drinks.

This attractive, airy establishment with exposed brick walls, modern art, a beamed ceiling, and an open kitchen is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Its Mediterranean-influenced menu covers breakfast basics like eggs and granola as well as salads, and the relatively short but interesting dinner menu includes skewers and flatbreads. A fixed-price dinner option is available. Cocktails and a comprehensive wine list round out the offerings.

A corner on Devonport's main street is a good place to people-watch and rest after exploring, and iconic Manuka is a consistently good and relaxed spot with outdoor and indoor seating, wooden tables, and stacks of newspapers and magazines. Delicious wood-fired pizzas are available all day, with toppings ranging from classic pepperoni to smoked chicken, Brie, and roasted cashews, and the menu also offers pasta, fish, and meat options.  Weekend brunch is hectic when the locals turn out, but tables turn over quickly.

If you've had a busy day and want to roll on and be surrounded by animated diners, this casual place is for you. The food—the name means "Not Only Pizza"—can be ordered individually or with bowls to be shared by the table. Lunchtimes are busy when people head for a table in the Italian-style courtyard. There's always pizza with traditional toppings, and the green salad is excellent. Many people treat this as their local when they want more than takeout and less than fine dining..

Remedy is just that—the perfect answer for a fast pick-me-up. Good coffee and quick, made-to-order sandwiches are the ticket at this cozy spot with wooden tables and floors and art on the walls. It's crowded between 11:30 and 1:30,  and you will likely share a table with central city office workers, students, and arty types. It also offers a range of artisan soft drinks. 

The owners, who live in the city, wanted good coffee, artisan products, and flowers close by, so that was the genesis of Scarecrow in 2014 as a café that is also an everyday farmers market and a florist. The coffee in this high-ceilinged, light-wood-lined space is superb, and the food, as in many places in the city, is built on fresh local produce. After your excellent coffee and a pastry, you can pick up olive oil, honey, and cheese, and flowers if you are meeting up with friends. It's busy (especially at lunch), a bit noisy, and tables are available inside and out.  

A flight of dimly lighted stairs leads down to this buzzing, informal Japanese yakitori and sake bar; there's also sushi. The oblong bar is usually jammed with film-festival types, the young art and fashion crowd, or classical music lovers eating before a concert in the nearby Town Hall. Order small plates of Japanese food and choose from more than 20 types of sake by the glass.

Waiheke's longest-running restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, perches on Oneroa's main street, with large windows and an all-weather deck that take in the gorgeous bay views. The platters—Mediterranean, grilled (with Italian sausages and calamari), or seafood—are perennial favorites. It's popular in the busy summer months, so it pays to book ahead.