Beautiful location at Te Whau Point on Waiheke with a top grade restaurant. If you can get one of the tables on the deck, the view is stunning. Try a bottle of their flagship drop -  The Point. 

Ok, this place isn't cheap by any measure, but you're paying for quality. The big sushi and sashimi platter is awesome, and they have some top end other options too. In my experience, service can be a little variable depending on which night you're in and how busy they are. It's in a good location, right next to the Britomart precinct and is justifiably popular.

Certainly one of the best restaurants in the country, The Grove offers sophisticated dining with understated elegance. Chef Benjamin Bayly has worked in some of the best Michelin-starred restaurants in London and France, and the experience shows. The wine list is first class and the staff are all very knowledgable - don't hesitate to ask for a recommendation, or go for the Chef's Tasting Menu with wine matching for the ultimate experience.

No comparison. The wagyu steak is fantastic. They also do good seafood too. So have both.

Certainly not the cheapest place to east in Auckland, but worth the price. A range of different kinds of food - the seafood bar is especially good. Make sure you try the desserts though, awesome!

Traditional British style pub with separate restaurant area. A good place to catch the rugby on the TV with a pint and also a good value place to bring the family for lunch on a Sunday. They have Fat Yak on tap - one of the few places I've found it in Auckland.

There is quite a large English expat community in the East Coast Bays, and unsurprisingly, there'a a fair few pubs. For a traditional taste of England, try out Speakers Corner in Browns Bay. There's traditional English ales on tap, and a range of great value pub food on offer.

A good rugby pub. Much frequented by media and advertising types, but don’t let that put you off. Kilkenny in tap. Roast carvery at lunchtime is good value and its going to be open in the morning for most of the All Blacks Rugby World Cup games so I'll see you there bright and early!.

Great place for a pint of Kilkenny or two. Food is good pub style stuff with large portions. Really popular in the summer with it’s big deck. Also offers free wifi.

The Shakespeare is one of Auckland's oldest pubs, and has been around on the corner of Wyndham and Albert Streets for over 100 years. As with a lot of ye olde pubs back in the mother country, the Shakespeare makes its own beer and offers rooms to rent at reasonable prices. This is a great place to come to catch the rugby - especially when it's one of the British sides playing. Be warned - it can get busy!

Lots of outdoor seating in the sun. Licensed so you can do beer, wine or cocktails. Open in the evenings also and the hot chocolates are great for the kids. Try the gelato bar in the summer.

They've just spent what looks like a fair amount of money completely renovating the cafe & restaurant and it looks great. They have a large cheese room (as you'd expect!) where you can also pick up some of their other products - like their awesome yoghurt. They also have a separate ice cream bar which will be great for the summer. The grounds are great for the kids, with a playground and lake with fountains. The food isn't cheap but is good quality.

Tucked away in a side street in Eden Terrace, this place is a good find. Even though it's small, the coffee is really good and service is always efficient and friendly. The food is top notch, and they can cater your office function or party too.

Ok, it's a big call, but I reckon Benediction has the best coffee in Auckland. Certainly the best in the neighbourhood. It's Allpress, which is a really good start, and it's just done...better. Worth a bit of a detour, this is one of my top places for business meetings over coffee. The food's good too, and they have some nice smoothie type things also.

If you're on the Shore, head down to Jam Organic Cafe in Takapuna for great organic coffee and treats which are baked in their on-site bakery. Great local atmosphere and the best service from the delightful Jules and co :-)

Sale Street is a great place to catch up for lunch - especially in the summer, as they have a decent sized garden. The bar menu is reasonably priced and portions are large - try the Sale St burger - pretty massive and comes with hand cut fries.

The Puhoi Pub is an Auckland institution. Located in the historical Puhoi village (very pretty), it's a very popular stop on the trip up North. You'll often find a bunch of  motorcycles outside, but don't worry - its more lifestyle bikers than Hells Angels! Food is very much what you'd expect from a country pub. A great place for a beer or two in the sun, especially if you're not the one doing the driving. As an alternative, you can tie up your kayak at the river over the road.

Tucked away off Hurstmere Road in Takapuna, The Commons has a great outdoor space to enjoy a beer, wine or a bite to eat. There are several different spaces for you to enjoy - whether you want formal dining or just a coffee. One of the best additions to the Shore in recent years, and a great place to go in the summer.

The Kings Arms is an Auckland drinking and live music institution. Whether you want to catch a band or have a few drinks with some mates in the large beer garden, this is a great place to come. Also has an on-site TAB (if you want some gambling to go with your alcohol). The beer garden and live music space can be hired out for private functions.

More of a garden bar than a beer garden, The Britomart Country Club brings a stylish take on drinking outside. The space is large and it right in the centre of all the action, in the Britomart dining precinct. A key advantage here is the weather-proof roof that protects you from the rain, while still making you feel that you're drinking outside.

If you want to start making your own home brew, this is a good place to start. They're tucked away in Albany and can be a little hard to find, but they have a good selection of brew pots, fermentation barrels, full grain crushed malts and a decent selection of cone hops. There's pretty much everything you need to get your brew on. They also sell stills should you want to start making spirits (which is perfectly legal in NZ - awesome!).

Tucked away in a back street in Penrose, Brewers Coop is one of the best places to get all your home brewing supplies. A large range of malts and hops, plus brewing equipment and all the little bits and pieces that you need. They're really helpful too, and if they don't have what you want, they'll tell you where you can get it.

Auckland has needed this for ages. Bring your own growler, or buy one on site. A great selection of unusual craft beers from all across NZ  and also abroad. They have a party keg hire service too. Fill your own on a Friday for perfect after work drinks that don't suck.

Ok, why would I come to a fire safety services business for home brew supplies? The answer is that this is pretty much the only place I've found that fills up CO2 cylinders for home brewing. Good value too.

A wide range of grains for beer making, plus a bunch of other stuff too. They have a small amount of equipment - plastic pails and fermenting barrels etc. But the main reason you come here is for the big bulk bins full of cereals, flours and grains - much cheaper than buying elsewhere.

A good rugby pub. Much frequented by media and advertising types, but don’t let that put you off. Kilkenny in tap. Roast carvery at lunchtime is good value and its going to be open in the morning for most of the All Blacks Rugby World Cup games so I'll see you there bright and early!.

Great location, good pub food and drinks not too expensive compared with other places in the Viaduct. Lots of screens to watch sport so will be a good choice for the Rugby World Cup.

Great place for a pint of Kilkenny or two. Food is good pub style stuff with large portions. Really popular in the summer with it’s big deck. Also offers free wifi.

I love this place for two very good reasons - they always have the bid sporting events on their numerous screens, plus they have a huge range of beers on tap. And good beers at that too - craft beers of all descriptions from New Zealand and overseas. Top location on the Viaduct too.

Traditional British style pub with separate restaurant area. A good place to catch the rugby on the TV with a pint and also a good value place to bring the family for lunch on a Sunday. They have Fat Yak on tap - one of the few places I've found it in Auckland.