Kerri R.'s
Cool places to get a drink
- 177Golden DawnPonsonbyGolden Dawn is one of my favourite places to grab a drink. The outside seating has a great ambiance and is perfect for a sunny afternoon, and the inside is similarly charming and much nicer during the winter. They have a different blackboard punch daily, which is always my first stop on the menu. It’s almost always delicious, and if it’s not delicious, it’s at least interesting. Their cocktail menu has some pretty unique stuff, and the food is ridiculously good.
- 241The Wine CellarNewtonThe Wine Cellar is super cosy and intimate. It’s a great place to have a drink and a chat, and the outside smoking area is kind of a covered, gross alleyway, which is … awesome. The feijoa cider I had on my last visit was spectacular.
- 30Citizen Park Restaurant BarKingslandTotally hip, and totally California. The outside seating area is one of the coolest around, with umbrellas and shrubbery and wrought iron. I love going when it’s loud and busy to read a book and sip on a cider. And the tacos are worth the trip, too.
- 442Mezze BarAuckland CentralMezze Bar is always bustling, and has a nice friendly atmosphere. It’s a great place with casual drinks with friends or a date – the tapas are yum and very shareable, and a jug of sangria packs a delicious punch.
- 56Mo Mo Tea BirkenheadBirkenheadThere are several Momo tea’s in the city, but the Birkenhead one is my favourite. Partly because it is where I first experienced the joy that is bubble tea, and partly because it has huge windows with a gorgeous view of the city.
Kerri R.'s
Healthy takeaway options
- 15Wok ExpressKingslandWok Express does amazing takeaways – the drunken noodles is my favourite. Their dishes have lots of vegetables, and are pan-fried with broth rather than oil, making them an awesome choice for an easy, inexpensive, healthy dinner.
- 221Fusion SushiAuckland CentralBy far my favourite sushi place. The sushi is huge, delicious, and I love that I can pick out exactly what I want from the cabinet at the front.
- 39Fatboy Thai RestaurantSandringhamFatboy Thai is a BYO sitdown restaurant that also offers takeaway. The mains are reasonably priced, I’ve tried several different curries and they’re good but I can’t recommend the Tom Kha Gai enough – it’s perfect.
- 475Mexicali FreshNewmarketMexicali is pretty much the best in general, and it’s my favourite guilt-free takeaways. You can pick and choose exactly what goes in your burritos, and they have a "naked" option if you’re carb-conscious.
- 56Crust Pizza ParnellParnellPizza doesn’t normally come to mind when you’re looking for healthy takeaways, but if you are trying to be good and are finding it hard to resist the temptation of pizza, Crust has a "healthier choice" menu that satisfies both requirements. These pizzas skip the thick layer of cheese and are topped with wholesome things like fresh spinach, tomatoes, avocado, and chicken. Even better, all their nutrition info is easily available on the website.
Kerri R.'s
The perfect day of pampering
- 15Silk Tree Beauty & SpaParnellWent to Silk Tree to treat myself and the boyf to a one-hour massage. An excellent decision. The ladies were friendly, the room was perfectly warm, the interior was very clean and classy, and I left so relaxed that I was practically sleepwalking. Plus they even texted me the morning of to remind me about my appointment. Highly recommended.
- 29Hairmony Beauty SalonMt RoskillI forgive Hairmony for their name because they are otherwise pretty cool. I went in for a Brazilian wax and the beauty technician, Roxie, was great. She made the experience as pleasant and comfortable as is possible. The facilities are clean and well-maintained, and there’s a discount for return customers. I’ve been going from salon to salon thanks to grabone, but this place is a keeper. It’s a bit out of my way but definitely worth the trip.
- 38Paradis Beauty SalonMt EdenI went to Paradis this evening for a basic manicure and pedicure. I've never really bothered with this sort of thing before, but I think I’m now a believer. The interior is pretty classy, chandeliers and fireplaces and nice wallpaper. The chair for the pedicure gives you a massage while your nails get did, and the ladies there are friendly and professional. The experience was very relaxing, and I can’t get over how great my hands and feet feel. And the manicure itself is tidy and basically looks perfect. I chose a dark red and feel very grown up.
- 461Neighbourhood BrewbarKingslandNeighbourhood is my favourite place to go for a casual afternoon drink - it has such a fantastic atmosphere. The outside seating area is large and inviting if it’s sunny, but if it’s not the inside is equally lovely. There’s a great mish mash of chairs and decorations, massive bookshelves, and a huge window overlooking Mt. Eden. The bartenders are friendly, and the cocktails are interesting and always delicious.
- 534The Civic TheatreAuckland CentralI love the Civic. The shooting stars on the ceiling, the 1920s/Great Gatsby-esque grandeur, the weird elephant statues… and it’s host to some awesome events. I go here as often as I can.
Kerri R.'s
Top coffee spots
- 115Strawberry AlarmclockParnellThis is my favourite cafe. The meals are huge and $15 or less, the coffee is fantastic, and the courtyard in the back is cosy and bright.
- 243Shaky Isles KingslandKingslandShaky Isles has a hipster vibe, cute baristas, and fabulous coffee. The flat whites are good, the iced mocha is a real treat, and the food is best in the biz if you’re looking for breakfast to go with your coffee. And they have free Wi-Fi!
- 32Roasted Addiqtion RoasterySandringhamRoasted Addiqtion is a long-time fave of mine. I love the comfy couches and the relaxed atmosphere. The food is fantastic and the coffee is always yum, but I usually go for a pot of tea – they have a great selection of loose leaf tea, and they give you the pot along with a timer so you know how long to let it steep before pouring a cup.
- 41Simply Delicious is tied for my favourite flat white in Auckland. Always perfect, the baristas know what they’re doing and are quick about it. It’s great for to-go coffee, and they have a cute outdoor seating area if you feel like sitting or having breakfast, but drinks are definitely their strong suit.
- 510Fred's Espresso & Soda BarPonsonbyI love how tucked away and secret Fred’s Cafe feels. It’s small, with as much outside seating as inside seating and is all brick and leafy things and charm. The coffee is consistently great, and the treats are also amazing – a bit expensive, but worth it.
Kerri R.'s
Posh eats
- 10Buenos Aires Restaurant is one of my favourite restaurants. You have to be prepared to drop a reasonable amount of cash, but it’s so very worth it. Their steaks are mouth-watering – I’ve had a different cut each visit and couldn’t pick a favourite. They do good desserts, and have some fabulous South American cocktails. It’s a great place to go if you’re looking for something fancy and outside of standard steakhouse fare.
- 222Andiamo Restaurant & BarHerne BayAndiamo is practically perfect. The entrees are great, the mains are delicious, the desserts are fabulous. The interior isn’t particularly small, but still manages to feel quite cosy and intimate. A great place for a first date, but I’ve also gone as a group and the service is excellent either way.
- 315The Mediterranean RestaurantBirkenheadThe Mediterranean Restaurant has great service, absolutely amazing food (the calzones! get one!) and the interior is beautiful, with lots of light and wood and candles and a chandelier. My favourite thing about this place, though, is the owner – he’s a genuine guy who clearly loves what he does. I once drove up with my boyfriend to have a fancy dinner, without first checking that it was open… which it wasn’t, due to an extended New Year holiday. However, the owner was there outside having a drink with his chefs, and he invited us to sit and talk with them, and gave us beers. Awesome.
- 433PyrénéesMt AlbertWhen I’m looking to cook a posh meal, rather than buy one, Pyrenees is pretty much my first stop. They have AMAZING french cheeses, deli meats, and macaroons, and their croissants are out of this world. All the makings for a perfect fancy candlelit dinner at home.
- 50Toto's Italian RestaurantAuckland CentralToto’s is so freaking good. I’ve been twice to their Godfather nights, with a set menu and a Godfather movie played on a projector. The food was incredible, and it was such good fun with a great atmosphere. The downstairs lobby is so rad, if I were rich my house would be styled after it and I would probably eat at Toto’s a lot more often.
Kerri R.'s
What to do on a lazy Sunday
- 19Lilliputt Mini GolfParnellMini golf is my go-to activity when I feel like getting out of the house, but don’t really feel like doing anything. Turns out mini golf is always awesome. Lilliputt is my favourite mini golf place because 1. the holes are unique, well-designed, and fun to play and 2. there is a big t-rex.
- 236Cornwall ParkEpsomCornwall park is absolutely gorgeous. It’s huge, has great shady walkways and beautiful sunny fields. I like hanging over the fences to say hello to the sheep, but they’re never quite as interested in hanging out as I am. The best place for a picnic, ever, is underneath the Algerian Oak Tree. It’s like a postcard.
- 361Neighbourhood BrewbarKingslandNeighbourhood is my favourite place to go for a casual afternoon drink - it has such a fantastic atmosphere. The outside seating area is large and inviting if it’s sunny, but if it’s not the inside is equally lovely. There’s a great mish mash of chairs and decorations, massive bookshelves, and a huge window overlooking Mt. Eden. The bartenders are friendly, and the cocktails are interesting and always delicious.
- 419First Scene Costume & Party HireKingslandIf you ever played dress-up as a kid, walking into First Scene is like walking into a warehouse filled with childhood dreams. This is not an overstatement. I was filled with awe at the sight of ceiling-high racks of every costume, ever. It’s a great place to browse, wander, try on costumes, and just be silly. They have lots of little costume accessories for purchase as well, so I try not to leave empty-handed.
- 513Newmarket Tenpin BowlingNewmarketNewmarket Tenpin is my favourite bowling alley. It’s on like the 10th floor and is a little bit skody, but totally lovable. They have pool tables, arcade games, and of course fantastic bowling lanes. The chips are pretty good, they’ll make pretty much any cocktail you want (though they might have to look up the recipe) and the super relaxed environment makes it very easy to have a good time. Best enjoyed with a large group.