Helene R.'s
Family friendly dining
- 111Bambina Cafe PonsonbyPonsonbyFor those days when Eggs Bene is just a little too much, the iconic Bistro Bambina on Ponsonby Road is my go to spot for some of the healthiest ways to kick off the day. Their bruschetta is always fresh and tasty and the breakfast salad a low carb feast for the taste buds. Great coffee is just an added extra!
- 28One of my favourite places to eat on any night of the week is Epsom dining icon Gee Gee’s. As well as great salad and seafood they have an amazing selection of what I like to call ‘comfort’ dishes on offer, with my pick being the hearty lasagne with a side of potatoes and a glass of Main Divide Pinot Noir. Gee Gee’s is also super close to the Lido cinema, making it a perfect spot for before or after a movie.
- 318Tokyo ClubPonsonbyAs well as serving up some rather delicious lunch and dinner options, the already-a-hit Tokyo Club in Ponsonby Central also serves up great sushi to go. Apparently the only sushi in Ponsonby prepared by a Japanese chef trained in the culinary art form, you’ll find it on the counter inside being constantly replenished during lunchtime hours. As well as all the favourites they have some great kid friendly sushi packs for sale too, so the whole family are good to go.
- 4110Mexico Auckland CentralAuckland CentralOne of our favourite places to wind up an evening out is Mexico in Britomart, where the service is always hot, the margaritas ice cold and the tacos always top notch. They are open til late and serve drinks as tasty as their food options, with particular must haves like the Mexico Fried Chicken, Three Cheese Quesadilla and Do It Yourself Guacamole usually still in stock even after a busy night. We love you Mexico!
- 5101Ponsonby International FoodcourtPonsonbyPonsonby Central may have some great foodie residents in the house, but for tastiness coupled with value - and speed - you can’t go past the original purveyor or amazing international cuisine at incredible prices. The Ponsonby International Food Court is pretty much always bustling with locals and visitors alike, and the fare is varied and delicious. We love the Vietnamese for its fresh spring rolls and lemongrass chicken, whilst the Massaman curry is the best tasting in town and the fresh juices from the fully licensed bar always appeal. You can’t visit Ponsonby without a trip to the Food Court and definitely won’t leave hungry.
Helene R.'s
Good places to start the summer wardrobe
- 19Miss CrabbPonsonbyI love designer Kristine Crabb of Miss Crabb fame for both her amazing personal style and her killer use of colour. You will always get a kick out of browsing her rainbow hued racks, and most likely leave with a beautiful new addition to your wardrobe that isn’t black! The store also stocks some of my other favourite labels, including the uniquely classic Penny Sage and Curio Noir candles.
- 25Kathryn Wilson BritomartAuckland CentralThe Kathryn Wilson store at Britomart is the flagship store of the local shoe designer of the same name, and the perfect place to view her beautiful collections in their entirety . The staff are amazingly friendly and the shoes are to die for, making it a must visit when you’re in the downtown district. Try and leave with just one pair, I dare you.
- 312TK Store PonsonbyPonsonbyWhen I go on the hunt for ‘that’ dress or ‘those’ pants (the females out there will know what I mean) one of the first places I look is TK Store on Brown Street. They constantly have new drops coming in of beautiful basics in unique fabrics and super flattering cuts, and their selection of imports is always gorgeous too. Oh, and they have some of the friendliest and most patient retail staff in town - bonus!
- 45TessutiHerne BayOne of my favourite homewares and gift stores in Auckland is Tessuti on Jervois Road. They stock all of the beautiful brands that I wish my home was filled with, including Missoni Home, Vida Stonewashed Linen and Herve Gambs. They also share their space with the wondrous Ingrid Starnes, so you can stock up on frocks whilst shopping for gifts. An amazing collaboration.
- 56Bendon Lingerie - NewmarketNewmarketThe huge Bendon store on Broadway in Newmarket is my favourite place to shop for lingerie by far. The selection is vast and the retail staff go above and beyond, and the changing rooms must be amongst the most spacious and glamorous in town. As well as the Bendon brands they stock a good selection of tights and shapewear too, so you’re all set for a night out.
Helene R.'s
Cheap & cheerful dining
- 18Love A Duck Restaurant - Mount EdenMount EdenIf you’re not a fan of Hong Kong-style duck already, then we defy you not to be after a trip to Dominion Road’s Love a Duck. Perfect as a lunch or dinner spot, their signature dish is half a roast duck with a side of choi sum. They also have a branch in Northcote.
- 28Eden Noodle RestaurantMount EdenEden Noodles on Dominion Rd serve up stellar noodles (naturally), soups and dumplings at insanely good prices. The dan dan mian (street peddler’s noodles) is a standout dish, the name referring to how the noodles were carried in the past i.e. the street peddler carried two pots, one on each end of a bamboo pole over his shoulder - one pot filled with noodles and the other with the sauce.
- 346Barilla DumplingsBalmoralA phenomenon so hot that it even had its own Twitter hashtag for a while, Barilla Dumpling turn out what are widely believed to be Auckland’s finest Sichuan dumplings. Reportedly over 37 varieties of dumplings at that, all from a petite premises on the legendary Dominion Road.
- 432Nishiki Japanese RestaurantFreemans BayNow open in Botany and the CBD, Nishiki is a great place for big, hungry groups and has a vast menu to cater to all tastes when it comes to Japanese (and occasionally, Korean) cuisine. Its central location and reputation for great service are an added bonus.
- 533Sri Pinang Malaysian RestaurantAuckland CentralSri Pinang can be found at the “wrong” end of iconic Karangahape Road, but don’t let that put you off a visit to this incredibly popular location serving up perfect Malaysian cuisine. Loyal customers have been coming back for years for a weekly fix of their beef rendang curry or nasi lemak with good reason.
Helene R.'s
What to do on a rainy day
- 1162Auckland Art GalleryAuckland CentralHeading into an Auckland winter means serious prep for ways to fill up rainy days, and one of the best and brightest is a visit to the still sparkling, recently renovated Auckland Art Gallery. They always have something new to look at and ponder thoughtfully, and when the tummy starts to rumble they offer some great food and coffee options. Best of all, the gallery is open seven days a week, so whenever the heavens open it’s ready and waiting for you.
- 27I had no idea that beauty spot Lucy & The Powder Room was open Sundays until I was offered an appointment there recently, and now I’ll never look back! Takapuna parking was plentiful and free, whilst the Powder Room itself was sun filled and serene and there was ample time for a little shopping both before and after. The best Sunday I have treated myself to in a long time, and suggest you do the same!
- 361Stardome Observatory & PlanetariumRoyal OakYou can visit the Stardome Observatory day or night, rain or shine to experience the wraparound sky and special effects of a planetarium. Each clear evening you may also see planets, double stars, glowing gas nebulae, or lunar craters through their amazing telescopes.
- 451Hot Yoga AucklandNewmarketIn my opinion winter weather in Auckland isn’t that conducive to outdoor fitness activities, so a favourite place to head when I need warming up is the Hot Yoga studio on Broadway. It is beautifully designed, sweet smelling and clean, unlike a few Bikram classes I have tried where the sweaty masses were a bit too much! They also have several styles of yoga to choose from in a heated room, including the super restorative yin that even has a candlelit session happening on Sundays in the late afternoon. Heavenly.
- 525Rialto Cinema NewmarketNewmarketWe love trips to the Rialto cinema complex in Newmarket, where the selection of films is always impeccable and the snacks top notch. It is the perfect place to spend a rainy winter weekend in particular, tub of Kapiti ice cream and glass of pinot noir in hand.
Helene R.'s
Best places to go organic, natural or free range
- 16The Waterview Coffee ProjectWaterviewThe Waterview Coffee Project is not your ordinary cafe - it is in a shipping container for starters! It was actually conceived as a way to get the suburb’s locals together and to keep them caffeinated, and has become a social hub since the moment it opened its doors. Barista Corey is one of the best in town too, so even if you’re not from Waterview I recommend a trip.
- 224Ceres FreshMarketPonsonbyCeres Market at Ponsonby Central is one of my favourite places to shop for fresh produce, especially as there is always something unique to take home and add to your pantry and their fresh squeezed juices are amongst the best in town. They also always have the likes of kale and kefir available to keep all the green foodies happy.
- 343Kokako Cafe & RoasteryGrey LynnKokako offers up some of the best brunch options in town, all vegetarian, some vegan and many gluten free. Meat lovers will barely know the difference though as the flavours are so fresh and tasty, and they even do kid sized portions if you’ve got small people on board. My fave is the organic hash (above) with the porridge coming a close second.
- 438Farro Fresh Constellation DriveMairangi BayThe meaty morsels on offer at FARRO Albany have to be amongst the best in town. Great specials and a dazzling array of sausages too… most definitely a meat lover’s dream and well worth a trip over the bridge.
- 525Gluten Free GrocerMt EdenThe Gluten Free Grocer on Mount Eden Road was a godsend for my gluten free and gluten intolerant friends from the moment it opened its doors. They supply bakery-type products to restaurants and cafes as well as in store, and their staff are a wealth of information if you’re new to gluten free life. Their prices are great too, and often way below the average supermarket.
Helene R.'s
Best accessory shopping in town
- 130The Department StoreTakapunaTakapuna’s The Department Store totally changed the face of the previously tired seaside suburb when it opened a few years ago, and it constantly offers some of the city’s best retail therapy. Recent arrivals include a careful edit of I Love Ugly, Sylvester and Ruby’s latest collections, as well as beautiful lingerie in The Dressing Room.
- 25TessutiHerne BayOne of my favourite homewares and gift stores in Auckland is Tessuti on Jervois Road. They stock all of the beautiful brands that I wish my home was filled with, including Missoni Home, Vida Stonewashed Linen and Herve Gambs. They also share their space with the wondrous Ingrid Starnes, so you can stock up on frocks whilst shopping for gifts. An amazing collaboration.
- 39Miss CrabbPonsonbyI love designer Kristine Crabb of Miss Crabb fame for both her amazing personal style and her killer use of colour. You will always get a kick out of browsing her rainbow hued racks, and most likely leave with a beautiful new addition to your wardrobe that isn’t black! The store also stocks some of my other favourite labels, including the uniquely classic Penny Sage and Curio Noir candles.
- 45Kathryn Wilson BritomartAuckland CentralThe Kathryn Wilson store at Britomart is the flagship store of the local shoe designer of the same name, and the perfect place to view her beautiful collections in their entirety . The staff are amazingly friendly and the shoes are to die for, making it a must visit when you’re in the downtown district. Try and leave with just one pair, I dare you.
- 59Superette PonsonbyPonsonbyAlways worthy of a visit, the Superette store on Ponsonby Road has the perfect edit right now of men’s and women’s winter clothes. Its racks are jam packed with high end street and casual labels like Bassike, Vanishing Elephant and Nudie jeans, as well as top notch sneakers and the Beau Coops shoe collection. If you’re on the other side of town their Newmarket store is also a great place to browse - and spend.