OK, so O'Sarracino does this UNREAL pasta with octopus, mussels, king prawns and fish! It has a wonderfully complimentary tomato sauce and then is baked in the oven with pizza dough on top! It doesn't seem to be on the menu anymore when I checked online but I think I might have to beg them for it next time I go.

Depot is a given when talking seafood. The oysters are divine and the snapper sliders entirely moreish and heavenly.

I have only been to Clooney once but it was a pretty unforgettable dining experience. The oysters were amazing and the fish I had was a revelation. We came here for a work lunch (law firm gig I had when I was a teenager) and I was blown away. I'm still not someone who eats at 5 star restaurants (like, ever) but Clooney showed me what I'm missing and I won't forget that.

De Post is an excellent date spot. Vibing, casual and has a nice well thought out menu to go with all the Belgian Beer. I can't say I have tried much of the menu however - I can't get past the mussels. Whether you order grilled or drowning in sauce these mussels are fresh, plump and lovely.

St Heliers Cafe and Bistro has the most amazing food, I can’t recommend it highly enough. Order the fresh fish, you won’t regret it! When can I go again?

My nickname might as well be the cookie monster - I am OBSESSED with homemade cookies. I don’t even like to bake, yet I will spend hours baking cookies when a craving strikes. That’s why Mrs. Higgins Cookies is basically the answer to my prayers. Delicious, freshly-baked, warm, chewy and ready-to-go, Mrs. Higgins serves up cookies that rival my grandma’s (yes, I said it!) There are tons of different flavours to choose from - my go to is the caramel chew… I’m salivating just talking about it!

This quriky café in Ponsonby has some of the most drool-worthy sweet treats in town. I used to work in Ponsonby and would go in there for lunch all the time. Despite my healthiest intentions - ordering salad and lemon water - I literally could not resist the treat cabinet on my way up to pay, often impulsively buying 4 or 5 different slices at the last minute when asked by the cashier if "that’s all for today?" I’m a sucker for a good lemon slice and Café Cezanne’s is top notch.

Okay, another cookie place, I know. But honestly! Two homemade cookie joints within a few minutes of one another (and walking distance from my apartment)? My diet never stood a chance. Moustache is more of an actual restaurant, rather than a "walk-through" like Mrs. Higgins. In addition to yummy, gooey, chocolate-chip perfection on a plate, they also serve homemade milkshakes. Milk and cookies just became an acceptable (and trendy) snack for grown-ups!

This warm and inviting bakery truly does give off a "grandma’s cottage" vibe - and the baked goods won’t disappoint. With an impressive display of cakes, cookies, slices, muffins and other sweet delights, you’ll struggle to choose just one thing (so why not try them all! I know I have). My personal favourites are the chocolate croissant cake and the lemon fudge slice. The cottage makes awesome cakes for special occasions too, as well as homemade salads, pies and breads.

I discovered the Little & Friday cook book first and fell in love. So you can imagine how ecstatic I was to learn that they have an actual shop in Newmarket where you can buy all of the amazing desserts from the book ready-made! It was like Christmas, my birthday and Halloween (an excuse to dress up and eat candy until you feel sick? Yes please) had all come at once. Heaven!

Best Ugly Bagels is a brand new bagel shop that offers you the option of either picking up a warm half dozen or grab a filled one on site. I opted for the TAB option - basil, avocado and tomato which was tasty and filled a lunch sized gap. I like what I see, and I’ll definitely be back when my Montreal bagel craving needs to be seen to.

Savour and Devour is the perfect spot to go to when hungover. The service is friendly, the food large and the coffee hot. We sat in the courtyard, nursed our sore heads and chatted away the morning. I had the salmon hash which was great and was just what I needed. 

After a big night out, like most people I guess, my body craves something a little bit greasy, large and filling. The nachos ($16) at Cafe Cezanne, pictured here, can be found on the lunch and dinner menu (generally if I’m nursing a sore head I’ll stay in bed as long as possible). The nachos, which are only challenged by those found at The Cavalier, are piled high with toppings, cheese and sour cream. The service is friendly and the coffee’s great. If you’re in the mood for something sweet, which I usually am, they also do an amazing selection of desserts and sweet treats. Just what the doctor ordered.

Santos can hold down the coffees. In fact I’ve never had a bad coffee there, perfect extraction and silky milk. I hadn’t ever eaten there before though so I figured it was about time to give the menu the once over. I opted for the haloumi salad which was delicious. I’m a big fan of the salty fried cheese and this was cooked to perfection. The light meal was just what I was after. I’m looking forward to exploring the rest of the menu to see what other delights I can discover.

Aside from perhaps the butter chicken pie from Mobil On the Run gas stations, The Fridge has hands down the best pies in Auckland. It’s a great spot to grab a pastry pocket of goodness and a coffee. My personal favourites are the mince, potatoe and cheese pie and the Morrocan lamb pies. The cabinet food is also great and the staff quirky. Don’t be flaky, get amongst.

awesome winter destination - open fire, great food and the bees are a buzz for kids :)

check out the museum and finish with a coffee at this great spot

unbeatable views, amazing food

Enjoy the hustle bustle of this popular cafe and awesome views of Rangitoto

country get away in the big smoke!

Great facilities to unwind either in the gym or the pool/sauna/steam room

Friendly staff, great food and coffee

Great small cinema with a good place to relax before and after a movie with a few drinks

Grab a treat and head to the beach

A great spot to grab a good beer

Pricey but worth the experience!

great dining experience!

Degustation Menu- a MUST have! Such a great evening!

We were awe struck at Bracu- the atmosphere, natural surroundings, amazing food and top class service- so much in fact we ended up having our wedding reception at the Bracu Pavillion!

Contemporary Japanese- awesome bustling environment, and some really memorable dishes

When presented with the sizeable menu at Non Solo Pizza, it's only natural to feel overwhelmed with so many tempting choices. Don't be. You really can't go wrong here, because all decisions will lead you down a path of deliciousness. On warm evenings, the outdoor garden can't be beat. It's the perfect spot for an after-work Peroni with friends and a tasty pizza fresh out of their wood-fired oven.

For a real-deal, authentic Italian experience, you can't go past Pane & Vino in Ponsonby. Owner Tito's passion and heritage can be experienced through the food here, in particular the regional dishes from Puglia. Pane & Vino is also a great spot for groups, and vegetarians will love the range of choices that cater to their herbivoristic tastes.

Baduzzi is a fantastic all-day eatery employing traditional Italian methods and flavours in a modern context. The polpette - meatballs - are a must-try here, and they come in a number of interesting varieties such as wagyu beef and wild deer. The handmade pasta is rolled fresh daily, and their take on the traditional Tiramisu is a structural delight. True high rollers (or salumi afficionados) can even purchase their own leg of proscuitto which will be kept in a temperature-controlled room for whenever you swing by for a slice!

The drive from central Auckland to The Refreshment Room in Titirangi takes about thirty minutes, a much quicker way to experience rustic Italian food than hopping on a plane to Rome! Located on the aptly-named Scenic Drive, The Refreshment Room provides hearty and delicious Italian fare created almost entirely from scratch, incorporating local and organic ingredients, and from their own vegetable garden. Taste the difference while taking in beautiful views over the Waitakere Ranges.

Seafood lovers rejoice, for the Neapolitan menu at O'Sarracino reflects the oceanic bounty of the Mediterranean. Slurp up a bowl of the Spaghetti with clams (spaghetti alle vongole), or tuck into Zuppa di Pesce Napoletana - traditional Neapolitan soup made with fresh fish, prawns, mussels, clams. squid, garlic and prawns. Is your mouth watering yet?

Best staff

Quirky and cool

Gorgeous atrium

Complimentary sparkling water

Cute and comfy

Great Flavours, Attentive Friendly Staff

Nice relaxed ambience and delicious food. Delicious great value Middle Eastern felaffel, served in authentic proper pita bread with salad, humus and tahini.

Delicious meals

Yummy!

Great quality burger

yum and kid friendly

happy for the kids to come along

quick service and kid friendly staff.

toys for the kids, and the lawn and steps keep them occupied too.

toys, colouring in, kids table. Great coffee and my son loves it too.

Delish brekkie, best cafe prices, friendly on-to-it service & mean soundz! Finally found my groove in Three Lamps end, Ponsonby. Meet Liekina :)

Faultless coffee & eggs bene

Relaxing atmosphere, caters for all tastes & types, decadent sweet selection

Cheap Malaysian!

Amazing Indian!

Fresh Burrito’s!

More cheap indian!

Great lunch and brekky deals!