Helene R.'s
Best frock buying along the Ponsonby strip
- 12Workshop PonsonbyPonsonbyChoose from designers like Isabel Marant, Vanessa Bruno, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Workshop’s own Helen Cherry at the spacious Ponsonby location of this much loved New Zealand fashion name. We love their generously-sized changing rooms and ‘honest’ mirrors as well as the sheer wealth of choice on offer.
- 29Miss 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.
- 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!
- 49Juliette Hogan PonsonbyPonsonbyNew Zealand designer Juliette Hogan is a master of the feminine, creating beautiful and cool, super ladylike pieces that wear amazingly and never go out of style. Her signature prints are always something to get excited about each season, and she stocks a small selection of Kathryn Wilson footwear styles that complement her aesthetic perfectly.
- 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.
Helene R.'s
Pescatarian goodness: for lovers of the sea
- 121CocoroPonsonbyCocoro’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.
- 223Sidart RestaurantPonsonbyThe historic Three Lamps Plaza in Ponsonby is home to Sidart, an intimate dining space and the only restaurant in New Zealand to change its menu weekly. Every Tuesday the new menu is introduced and trialled by owner and chef Sid Sahrawat, and you can even book in for the test kitchen at $80.00 per head. From Wednesday to Saturday they offer 5 courses for $95 and 10 courses for $140, wine matches additional.
- 36Hana Sushi - Grey LynnGrey LynnConstantly 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!
- 415Auckland Fish MarketFreemans BayWhen fish is on the menu in our house there is only one place to go: the Auckland Fish Market. As well as an incredible array of fresh seafood they have a great food market packed with all sorts of treats and inspiring cooking ingredients, and if you can’t wait to get home they even sell perfectly prepared hot fish and chips to eat in or takeaway. And it’s close to Wynyard Quarter - a bonus for coffee lovers and little ones alike.
- 542MooChowChowPonsonbyThai restaurants are a dime a dozen in Auckland city, but not all are created equal. There are some places where the food to go is impeccable but the interior not too salubrious, but at MooChowChow on Ponsonby Road you’ll find the perfect mix. The menu is a riot of flavours and the cocktail offering even more so, and the atmosphere on a Friday and Saturday night is always buzzing. Even if you just swing by for a drink there is a great bar menu too, although I reckon you will find it hard to leave.
Helene R.'s
The best places to get a stellar steak
- 138Jervois Steakhouse & SaloonHerne BayThe name says it all in the case of this excellent eating house - they specialise in creating wondrous dishes using the finest cuts, all ready to be washed down by the perfect tipple. They know their meat and they serve it up accordingly - it is fresh, hearty and totally without compromise.
- 218The Grill by Sean ConnollyAuckland CentralAs well as being home to one of Auckland’s finest menus, Chef Sean Connelly’s restaurant The Grill takes pride in serving up fresh fare creating using some great local artisan brands. These include Harmony Piggery and the much loved Kokako coffee roasters, as well as Olaf’s Artisan Bakery and locally crafted tools like St Clair Copper Cookware. They also do one of the city’s best Sunday roasts, posher than most but absolutely delicious!
- 39O'Connell St BistroAuckland CentralAn intimate inner city venue that is serious about great food and incredible wine, this place is the best Downtown degustation spot by far. The cocktails aren’t bad either!
- 435ClooneyFreemans BayOne of my all time favourite restaurants to visit when there is something very special to celebrate is Clooney, which brings a little New York to Auckland and is packed with style and great food. Head chef Des Harris seems to garner one award after another with good reason, and there is even a private dining area if you like the idea of a secluded spot all your own. We love you Clooney!
- 578Prego RestaurantPonsonbyIn my opinion, despite its popular outdoor area Prego Restaurant is the perfect spot for dining come winter on Ponsonby Road. As well as having a collection of blankets for those still insisting on dining al fresco, they have the heartiest lasagne in town as well as two risotto offerings and lashings of stellar red wine options to wash it all down. This doesn’t even include their legendary pizza, which has fans all over the world. A legend for a reason, with fare that keeps them coming back for more.
Helene R.'s
Top places to take vegetarian buddies
- 136Just opened and with WAY more space than the Kingsland originator, this place is heaven for vegetarians, vegans and those that just love great food. Favourites include tacos, Pad Thai and lasagne - all raw and all good for you!
- 223Sidart RestaurantPonsonbyThe historic Three Lamps Plaza in Ponsonby is home to Sidart, an intimate dining space and the only restaurant in New Zealand to change its menu weekly. Every Tuesday the new menu is introduced and trialled by owner and chef Sid Sahrawat, and you can even book in for the test kitchen at $80.00 per head. From Wednesday to Saturday they offer 5 courses for $95 and 10 courses for $140, wine matches additional.
- 340This is the menu for the amazing Satya South Indian restaurant that we keep in a drawer at home. The reason it looks so tired? Because it is thumbed, salivated over and ordered from on an insanely regular basis! We eat in and take out, and have been working our way through the lengthy lineup of dishes for quite some time now. And we are yet to be disappointed. An unmissable spot.
- 421CocoroPonsonbyCocoro’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.
- 530Il BucoPonsonbyIf we’re eating pizza in our favourite spots are most definitely SPQR and Prego, but for pizza by the slice you just can’t beat the legendary Il Buco for freshness and flavour. Jonny and his team serve around thirty different varieties, and this includes options for vegetarians, vegans and those who go gluten free too. And there is never any compromise on taste, the ingredients are that good.
Helene R.'s
Feeding one's makeup addiction: the best spots
- 12WORLD NewmarketNewmarketThe best place to buy the kind of fragrances you won’t find on a department store counter is World’s stores, in particular the Tyler Street and Newmarket branches, which are my favourites. They stock legendary classics from the past as well as super innovative and uniquely beautiful brands like the amazing Nasomatto and Juliet Has A Gun. For those who definitely don’t want to smell like anyone else!
- 23Apotheka LimitedNewmarketGlamorpuss Cosmetics is one of Newmarket’s hidden gems and an absolute Mecca for lovers of beauty products everywhere. They stock the full range of makeup line Becca, as well as British organic Skincare line Pai and the legendary Mario Badescu - amongst others! They also do a beautiful, natural makeover if you’re off somewhere special or just looking for some expert inspiration.
- 37I 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!
- 44Bobbi Brown CosmeticsAuckland CentralA visit to the new Bobbi Brown store at Britomart is like walking into heaven on earth for a beauty junkie like me, I could literally spend all day in there. The products are naturally amazing, and the staff are so approachable and knowledgable that you learn something new about the global mega brand every time you pop in. It is the perfect place to spend some time having a bit of a winter makeover too - let the experts work their magic and then hit the town!
- 543Smith & Caughey'sAuckland CentralIf you are a beauty freak like me then the news that San Francisco brand Benefit had finally arrived in New Zealand would have been greeted with much joy. They are renowned for their cute, quirky campaigns and their amazing brow bars, one of which can now be found smack bang in the middle of Smith & Caughey’s Queen Street branch. They do a fast, seriously great job and work with what Mother Nature gave you, as well as taking walk ins. Hallelujah.
Helene R.'s
Great gifts for the hard to buy for types
- 15Trade Aid PonsonbyPonsonbyThe Trade Aid stores dotted around Auckland city always have a huge selection of reasonably priced gifting ideas, and the initiative behind them makes those gifts even more special. Their support of developing nations has been a big part of their business for years and I love shopping there all the more for it. Their kids’ sections are always particularly good too, with lots of cool little treats for parties that definitely don’t cost the earth.
- 26Dear ReaderGrey LynnI’m famous for more often than not gifting books on all manner of special occasions, and one of the places I always hit first is Dear Reader in West Lynn shops. They have an amazing selection of publications for book lovers of all ages and tastes and never fail to gift wrap with panache, and the fact that they are most next to Monterey Cafe means you can pick up a cup to go after a visit. Love this place.
- 32Bob & FriendsPonsonbyOne of the most unique and seriously impressive furniture and homewares stores I have walked into of late is the beautiful Bob & Friends opposite Western Park on Ponsonby Road. They specialise in contemporary British designers like Matthew Hilton and Gareth Neal, and every room in their showroom looks like one I would like to have in my house. They also have great gift ideas like throws and even Damien Hirst paper weights - definitely a must buy.
- 49Superette 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.
- 59The Poi RoomNewmarketThe Poi Room is a pretty glorious place to visit, packed with contemporary New Zealand art and design from the well known to the recently discovered. It is a hot spot for gifts for friends overseas, and usually has something that perfectly fits the brief no matter what your budget or size constraints. The retail staff are super helpful as well, which makes the whole experience that much sweeter.