Auckland Restaurants

Eating out in Auckland used to be unexciting and usually meant ordering something plain like steak and chips followed by a pint at the local pub. Things have changed considerably, and now the city's cuisine is exciting and varied, with the emphasis on fresh and innovative dishes. There is no shortage of good restaurants in Auckland, and new places are continuously opening, the quality continuing to improve. Drinking wine with meals has also become popular, and you will have no problems finding a good vintage. 

You don't generally need to pre-book, and if you do, you rarely have to book far in advance. Tipping is perfectly normal, but is not a custom anywhere in New Zealand. Restaurants are classified as licensed or unlicensed, so it's worth checking before you go. Many operate a BYO (bring your own) policy if they are unlicensed. 

Parnell has a mixture of fine dining and cheaper places that cater mainly to the backpackers in the area. Newmarket is transforming itself into a good place to eat, with new and interesting restaurants opening all the time. Some of the best places in the city are in Ponsonby, Herne Bay and Grey Lynn. Style and presentation are just as important here, and prices are generally a little more expensive than elsewhere.

Following the development of the America's Cup village, the waterfront has seen an explosion of new eateries. However, if you're looking for a cheap option, then consider one of the many pubs in the city.

Local cuisine

The predominant cuisines are ethnic and Pacific Rim, the latter taking its influences from Europe, Polynesia, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. The best restaurants take the freshest, highest quality ingredients and imaginatively combine different elements of various cuisines. Complementing the food are several award-winning wines from over 80 local wineries. Several vineyards also have good, on-site, restaurants.