Britomart’s Ortolana is one of my new favourite places to eat, a European style bistro that has some of the freshest flavours on the block. They have a ‘garden to fork’ philosophy that means all food is locally sourced, and it shows in the amazing seasonal menu. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, so get in there if you can for any of the above. You won’t be disappointed!

Cable Bay Restaurant is at the heart of Cable Bay Vineyards. A major hit with both Waiheke locals and landlubbers from the moment it opened its doors, it has some of the island's best views from its picture windows and a spacious alfresco courtyard from which to graze on tapas and sip a glass or two of the local produce. I also recommend taking the time to check out some of the venue’s amazing art and sculpture on display.

For tapas style dining with a difference we love trips to Pintxos for some Basque Region specialties, not to mention the eclectic and super affordable wine list. A great way to while away an afternoon and well into the evening.

Ponsonby Road institution Santos serves up fresh salads, snacks, juices and reportedly the best Eggs Benedict in town, and is one of my picks for a great lunch spot on a sunny day. The courtyard is bathed in warmth almost all day long and the people watching isn’t bad either!

One of our favourite Sunday drives is to the historic Riverhead pub, which on a good day is just twenty minutes drive from the city. It is a comfortable cruise with beers, wines and stellar hot chips to reward the effort, or more bistro- type fare is available in their restaurant area. The car park is also a petrol head’s dream as it is usually packed tight with hot rods, bikes and muscle cars galore.

This place actually wins awards for their pies, which are always flavoursome, meaty, fresh and - if you’re not quick - sold out! They have great limited edition flavours on a regular basis and the staff are super friendly to boot.

The Grey Lynn branch of Farro Fresh is one of my favourite places to buy wine. They have an insanely good selection from all over the globe and the specials are always enticing - drop in and take the chance on something you’ve never tried before!

I love a cafe that thinks outside the square when it comes to brunch and lunch options, and Ponsonby Central’s Foxtrot Parlour does just that. They don’t get much better than pulled pork Banh Mi and amazing Empire Eggs, washed down with some of the sharpest coffee in town.

Dangerously close to my home and my office is Little Bread & Butter Bakery, where a lot of hard earned cash gets spent on fresh, fragrant and just plain delicious bread. They use certified organic ingredients and unbleached flours, and leave out additives, stabilisers and other nasties that you really don’t want on your kitchen table. Parking can be a bit dicey on a sunny day so if you don’t mind airflow detour, they have opened another branch behind Farro Fresh a little further down Richmond Road - turn left at the Mitre 10 and you’re there!

Vegetarian pies can be a disappointing thing - soggy, liquidy and generally lacking oomph. This place does them well though, with perfectly baked pastries and interesting flavour combos that will keep smiles on the faces of even the non-veggies out there.

In 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.

This place is my pick for stellar Pilates classes and now they have added some ballet barre to the mix. Great teacher and a killer workout.

If you haven’t experienced a yoga class with the extraordinary Nikki Ralston then you really haven’t lived. A brilliant alternative to the gym any day, her classes in The Ralston Method will stretch and strengthen your body and quieten your mind, with plenty of laughs in the process. She takes group and private classes from her Ponsonby studio the Urban Ashram, and also offers some of the best massages in town.

One of my favourite places to go that’s not too far from Auckland but pleasantly far enough that it feels like a holiday is Pakiri Beach. As well as the horse rides and surfing to occupy your time it is close enough to Leigh to grab coffee and pizza at the Sawmill, and if you come for a weekend then you can’t pass through the Matakana markets without making a stop.

This place is perfectly situated for those who work in the CBD and offers a huge range of classes lead by totally inspiring teachers. I love their Body Beautiful barre-style class in particular - the most fun you can have getting fit!

Ken Yakatori serves up fresh, fast and always extremely good Japanese food cooked yakatori style and is a favourite for before and after movie or show dinners. The gyoza also come highly recommended, along with the yummy green tea ice cream dessert.

Cocoro’s $85.00 per head dinner degustation menu gives you a great snapshot of their innovative modern Japanese menu, with creations like Teriyaki Canterbury quail and Tsukune free range chicken brochette with Japanese ratatouille. Cocoro is sister to popular Ponsonby eatery Soto, with the head chef from there, Makoto Tokuyama, now in residence at the Brown St location. The six-course degustation is called "omotenashi", and there is also a wine or sake pairing option available.

Constantly voted Auckland’s Best Sushi for a reason, Hana makes the freshest and most unique combos in town. A riot for your taste buds every time!

As 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.

Bian Sushi & Donburi on Symonds Street is constantly being voted in the top three in town when it comes to great sushi, and with good reason. Their offerings are always freshly prepared, affordable and just damn delicious, and the queues at lunchtime speak for themselves. They also create awesome party and catering platters that are always ready on time, and service comes with a smile.

Dangerously close to my home and my office is Little Bread & Butter Bakery, where a lot of hard earned cash gets spent on fresh, fragrant and just plain delicious bread. They use certified organic ingredients and unbleached flours, and leave out additives, stabilisers and other nasties that you really don’t want on your kitchen table. Parking can be a bit dicey on a sunny day so if you don’t mind airflow detour, they have opened another branch behind Farro Fresh a little further down Richmond Road - turn left at the Mitre 10 and you’re there!

The Grey Lynn branch of Farro Fresh is one of my favourite places to buy wine. They have an insanely good selection from all over the globe and the specials are always enticing - drop in and take the chance on something you’ve never tried before!

As well as having a stellar sandpit and top treats for adults, Catroux in Westmere has a great kids menu full of family-friendly treats like egg and soldiers at parent-friendly prices. Great coffee too!

I love a cafe that thinks outside the square when it comes to brunch and lunch options, and Ponsonby Central’s Foxtrot Parlour does just that. They don’t get much better than pulled pork Banh Mi and amazing Empire Eggs, washed down with some of the sharpest coffee in town.

Kokako 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.

The sister of Herne Bay favourite Zus & Zo, Zomer is a great spot to hit Pre or Post visits to Takapuna Beach. It has a similar menu to Zus with a few tweaks here and there, and the coffee is just superb. Their yellow and white striped awning just screams Summer (as does the name, which is the Dutch name for the sunny season) but we think it’s a top place to visit any time of year.

Takapuna’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.

The perfect place when you’ve got kids in tow as there is plenty of room to park and - just as good! - plenty of free parking in front of the cafe and on the street. They do a mean milkshake and their coffee is Supreme, whilst the in house reading material is always fresh and inspired.

We love this place at any time of day for takeaway coffee and gelato, hearty and healthy brunch options and even great fish and chips to go during the summer months.

Definitely a favourite spot when we’re in the mood for eating large and eating healthy, Jam has a fantastic chef, great menu items inspired by seasonal produce and excellent coffee. It’s a little hard to find if you’ve never been before but well worth the effort.