11 Best Restaurants in Auckland, New Zealand

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.