Auckland — Where We Ate & Drank
We tried 12 restaurants, bars, and cafés across Auckland—from Prego's Ponsonby patio to Jervois Steak House and the small-bar scene at Sly and Little Culprit.
Auckland in December was our jet-lagged landing into New Zealand summer: Prego's Ponsonby patio, Jervois steaks, and a small-bar scene (Sly, Little Culprit) that rewards the hunt. Waiheke's vineyards are a 40-minute ferry and a full day gone.
The city is a launchpad—but give it two proper nights before the road trip. We spent ours working through 6 restaurants, 5 bars, and a few standouts like Brave Pizza and The Broken Lantern that made the case for staying longer.
- We were there in December 2022
- Best months to visit: September–June
- 1 Top-500 bar
- Also covers Auckland CBD, Ponsonby
- Worth timing: Auckland Arts Festival (March)
Plan your Auckland days with these picks →