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Princes Wharf and adjoining Viaduct Quay, an easy stroll from the city's major thoroughfare, Queen Street, offer dozens of eateries in every style from cheap-and-cheerful to superposh. High Street, running parallel to Queen Street on the Albert Park side of town, is a busy café and restaurant strip. Vulcan Lane, between Queen and High streets, has some pleasant bars. Asian immigrants have created a market for a slew of cheap noodle and sushi bars throughout the inner city; the more crowded, the better.
Outside the city center, the top restaurant areas are a 10-minute bus or cab ride away on Ponsonby and Parnell roads. Dominion and Mt. Eden roads in the city, as well as Hurstmere Road in the seaside suburb of Takapuna (just over the Harbour Bridge) are also worth exploring with the creation of a dining precinct called The Commons. The mix is eclectic—Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, and Thai eateries sit alongside casual taverns, pizzerias, and high-end restaurants.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
