Auckland Travel Guide

New Zealand  #3 in Best Cheap Winter Vacations
Credit

Courtesy of Onfokus/iStock / Getty Images

What to Eat in Auckland

Kiwi cuisine is all about fresh, local fare. In Auckland, expect to find top-notch seafood, plenty of lamb and a handful of signature desserts. Local seafood offerings include green-lipped mussels, fish and chips, whitebait fritters and bluff oysters. You'll also find roast lamb on most Auckland menus. And for dessert, you can't go wrong with a scoop of hokey pokey (vanilla with pieces of honeycomb) ice cream or a slice of Pavlova (a meringue-based treat topped with fruit and named after Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova).

Everything from casual pubs to fine dining establishments can be found in Auckland. Specialty cuisines (think: Indian, Japanese and French) are also prevalent throughout the city. Kazuya Restaurant, The Grove Restaurant and One Tree Grill Restaurant are just a few traveler favorites for upscale meals, while eateries like Azabu and Ela Cuisine impress diners with their reasonably priced ethnic dishes. Other standout eateries – such as the Sky Tower's The Sugar Club, Depot Eatery and Oyster Bar, Best Ugly Bagels and Federal Delicatessen – are linked to celebrity chefs like Peter Gordon and Al Brown.

If you're 18 or older, save time to sample some of the City of Sails' world-renowned wine. Bordeaux-style red wine and chardonnay are the most commonly produced wines in Auckland's three wine regions: Waiheke Island, Matakana and Kumeu.

Find the Best Restaurants in Auckland

  • #1
    Fondou Cafe
    #1 of 2,551 Places to Eat in Auckland Central
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 5 based on 125 reviewsTripAdvisor (125)
    $ | Cafe, New Zealand
    157 Hobson Street Unit G17, Auckland City Hotel, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010 New Zealand
    Read More »
  • #2
    Paris Butter
    #2 of 2,551 Places to Eat in Auckland Central
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 417 reviewsTripAdvisor (417)
    $ - $$ | French, European, New Zealand
    166 Jervois Road Herne Bay, Auckland Central, Auckland 1011 New Zealand
    Read More »
  • #3
    The Grove
    #3 of 2,551 Places to Eat in Auckland Central
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 1583 reviewsTripAdvisor (1583)
    $$ | European, New Zealand
    St Patrick's Square, Wyndham St, Auckland Central, Auckland 1001 New Zealand
    Read More »
  • #4
    SidArt
    #4 of 2,551 Places to Eat in Auckland Central
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 5 based on 857 reviewsTripAdvisor (857)
    $$ | International, European, New Zealand
    Level 1 Lamps Plaza, 3 283 Ponsonby Road Ponsonby, Auckland Central, Auckland 1011 New Zealand
    Read More »
  • #5
    One Tree Grill
    #5 of 2,551 Places to Eat in Auckland Central
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 1310 reviewsTripAdvisor (1310)
    $$ | Steakhouse, European, New Zealand
    9 Pah Rd Epsom, Auckland Central, Auckland 1023 New Zealand
    Read More »
  • #6
    Kazuya
    #6 of 2,551 Places to Eat in Auckland Central
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 5 based on 393 reviewsTripAdvisor (393)
    $$ | International, Contemporary
    193 Symonds Street Eden Terrace, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010 New Zealand
    Read More »
  • #7
    Culprit.
    #7 of 2,551 Places to Eat in Auckland Central
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 287 reviewsTripAdvisor (287)
    $ - $$ | New Zealand, International, Contemporary
    12 Wyndham Street Level 1, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010 New Zealand
    Read More »
  • #8
    Le Bistro Des Gourmets
    #8 of 2,551 Places to Eat in Auckland Central
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 5 based on 70 reviewsTripAdvisor (70)
    $ - $$ | French, European
    237 Parnell Road, Auckland Central, Auckland 1052 New Zealand
    Read More »
  • #9
    Ela Cuisine
    #9 of 2,551 Places to Eat in Auckland Central
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 595 reviewsTripAdvisor (595)
    $ - $$ | Seafood, Indian, Healthy
    41 Elliott Street Shop M17, Elliott Stables, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010 New Zealand
    Read More »
  • #10
    Sid at The French Cafe
    #10 of 2,551 Places to Eat in Auckland Central
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 1288 reviewsTripAdvisor (1288)
    $$ | European, New Zealand, French
    210 Symonds Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010 New Zealand
    Read More »
  • #1
    Casita Miro
    #1 of 9 Places to Eat in Onetangi
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 1141 reviewsTripAdvisor (1141)
    $ - $$ | Mediterranean, European, Spanish, Wine Bar, New Zealand
    3 Brown Road, Onetangi, Auckland, Waiheke Island 1081 New Zealand
    Read More »
  • #11
    O'Connell St Bistro
    #11 of 2,551 Places to Eat in Auckland Central
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 444 reviewsTripAdvisor (444)
    $$ | New Zealand, European
    3 O'Connell Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010 New Zealand
    Read More »
  • #12
    Madriz Spanish Tapas Bar
    #12 of 2,551 Places to Eat in Auckland Central
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 146 reviewsTripAdvisor (146)
    $ - $$ | Mediterranean, Spanish, European
    Corner Fort Lane and Customs Street East, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010 New Zealand
    Read More »
  • #13
    Cooke's Restaurant & Bar
    #13 of 2,551 Places to Eat in Auckland Central
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 5 based on 97 reviewsTripAdvisor (97)
    $ - $$ | European
    58-60 Queen Street Hotel Grand Windsor MGallery by Sofitel, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010 New Zealand
    Read More »
  • #1
    Tokyo Bay
    #1 of 117 Places to Eat in Takapuna
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 329 reviewsTripAdvisor (329)
    $ - $$ | Seafood, Sushi, Japanese, Asian
    20 The Strand Takapuna Beach, Takapuna, Auckland 0622 New Zealand
    Read More »
  • #14
    Revive Vegan Cafe
    #14 of 2,551 Places to Eat in Auckland Central
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 168 reviewsTripAdvisor (168)
    $ | Fast Food, International, Healthy
    24 Wyndham Street 33 Lorne Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010 New Zealand
    Read More »
  • #15
    Clooney Restaurant
    #15 of 2,551 Places to Eat in Auckland Central
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 894 reviewsTripAdvisor (894)
    $$ | New Zealand
    33 Sale Street Freeman's Bay, Auckland Central, Auckland New Zealand
    Read More »
  • #2
    Tantalus Estate Restaurant
    #2 of 73 Places to Eat in Waiheke Island
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 110 reviewsTripAdvisor (110)
    $$ | European, New Zealand
    70 -72 Onetangi Road, Auckland, Waiheke Island 1971 New Zealand
    Read More »
  • #2
    Al Forno
    #2 of 117 Places to Eat in Takapuna
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 302 reviewsTripAdvisor (302)
    $ - $$ | Mediterranean, Italian, Pizza, European, Tuscan, Central-Italian
    34 Anzac Street, Takapuna, Auckland 0622 New Zealand
    Read More »
  • #16
    Sails Restaurant
    #16 of 2,551 Places to Eat in Auckland Central
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 443 reviewsTripAdvisor (443)
    $$ | Seafood, Grill, New Zealand
    103-113 Westhaven Drive - Westhaven Marina St Mary's Bay, Auckland Central, Auckland 1011 New Zealand
    Read More »

Explore More of Auckland

You might also like

Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe

#3 in Best Small Towns to Visit in the USA

Melbourne

Melbourne

#7 in Best Places to Visit in Australia and The Pacific

Queenstown

Queenstown

#14 in Best Places to Visit in Australia and The Pacific

Explore more vacations »

When purchasing from our site, we may earn commissions. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

Recommended

The Best Statue of Liberty Tours: What to Know Before You Go

Use these tips and advice to help plan your visit to the iconic national monument.

Lyn MettlerSeptember 17, 2019

The Best Graceland Tours: Tips for Visiting Graceland

Advice for making the most of your time at Elvis' famous home.

Gwen PratesiSeptember 16, 2019

The 15 Best Stonehenge Tours

Visit one of the world's most mysterious UNESCO World Heritage Sites with the help of a guide.

Kim Foley MacKinnonSeptember 13, 2019

Baby Travel Tips: Everything You Need to Know About Traveling with an Infant

Traveling with an infant isn't for the faint of heart.

Holly JohnsonSeptember 12, 2019

Pearl Harbor Tours: Tickets and Tips for Visiting

Visit the historic Hawaiian memorial with ease.

John RodwanSeptember 12, 2019

The 13 Best Places to See the Northern Lights

Check the aurora borealis off your bucket list.

Gwen PratesiSeptember 9, 2019

The 9 Best St. Augustine Ghost Tours

Learn about St. Augustine's haunted past with an expert guide.

Holly JohnsonSeptember 9, 2019

The 11 Best Hollywood Tours

Get to know the real Tinseltown with the help of a local.

Gwen PratesiSeptember 6, 2019

The 18 Best Miami Tours

Eat, walk or party your way through the Magic City on these top tours.

Lyn MettlerSeptember 5, 2019

The 15 Best Napa Valley Tours

Indulge in the region's best wines on these top-notch tours.

John RodwanSeptember 3, 2019