Amanda B.'s
Favourite restaurants
- 119Bangkok Restaurant and BarAuckland CentralI often take my allergy-ridden mum to this lovely little Thai place, because they can always whip her up something gluten and dairy free, and they don’t use MSG. The staff are very friendly and helpful, and if you sit by a window you can watch the goings-on on Queen St down below. I’m a big fan of the pineapple fried rice, served in a pineapple!
- 224Tanuki Sushi & Sake BarAuckland CentralTanuki is a great little restaurant with delicious food and fantastic atmosphere. I’m a big fan of the terriyaki chicken and the sushi. If you’re dining with someone who’s not exactly a pro with chopsticks the very friendly staff will happily go find a fork with no discernible judgement. It’s perfect for a quiet dinner for two or for a big group.
- 39Tony's Lord Nelson RestaurantAuckland CentralThis place is adorable outside and in. It has a real rustic feel to it, and that plus the lovely service and great food makes for a fantastic dining experience. Feeling adventurous? Try the lamb brains! They’re actually pretty good. And it’s nice and close to walk to if you’re staying at Rydges or the Heritage.
- 49Da Vincis Italian RestaurantAuckland CentralDa Vinvi’s is a really nice little restaurant, with great atmosphere and food. There’s so much on the menu and it all sounds amazing, so it might take a while to come to a decision. It’s the perfect place for a romantic dinner for two. And there’s parking out the back, so no need to stress about finding a space.
- 520Velvet BurgerAuckland CentralThe best way to end a night out is with a giant burger. And no one does giant burgers better than Velvet Burger. The Squawk Dawg is a favourite of mine – simple but delicious – and the kumara fries are super tasty. And for people with smaller tummies, they offer mini burgers too.
Amanda B.'s
Cool treats for hot days
- 195GiapoAuckland CentralThe best thing about Giapo is that they’re always coming up with crazy new flavours to try. The staff are so nice and patient and don’t mind if you taste heaps of flavours before making your choice, which is tricky because they’re all so good. A bit of a mission to get to if you don’t live central but so worth it!
- 26Yoghurt Story Queen StreetAuckland CentralIt always ends in happily ever after at Yoghurt Story. I mean, who doesn’t love frozen yoghurt? Serving yourself means you get exactly what you want - whatever combination of flavours and toppings, however weird and/or wonderful. You can taste all the flavours before making a decision and paying by weight means you get a wee snack without paying more than you should. Awesome.
- 310Casa Del Gelato - ParnellParnellThis is the cutest little place. There are so many tasty desserts to choose from – I like the fondant chocolate – and the gelato is smooth and creamy and delicious. But I think my favourite thing about it is the adorable little seating area, down a cobblestone path. Matching flower vases tie together the mismatched tables and chairs and a giant teddy bear in the corner keeps watch as you dig in.
- 45Tank 277NewmarketGetting your 5+ a day is a breeze at Tank, with their smoothies and juices jam-packed full of fresh fruits and veges. If you’re not a smoothie person, you can get your vege fix with their amazing and wraps. And if you’re looking for a guilt-free treat on a hot summer day, give their Creamy Treats smoothies with frozen yoghurt a try.
- 56D Lugano Gelato and Sorbet NewmarketNewmarketThis is the perfect place to grab a mid-shopping treat, and a delicious way to cool down on a hot day. The berry flavours are the best - I think strawberry has to be my favourite. And they’re not stingy, making sure your gelato is packed tight into the little cup - best to share with a friend if you’re just after a small helping.
Amanda B.'s
Best brunch spots
- 13The Coffee Club ParnellParnellI’ve been to a number of Coffee Clubs - they’re all over the place - but I always choose the Parnell location for Saturday brunch. The food is good at all of them, but the service at Parnell is spectacular and the building is adorable. On a warm day you can sit outside and people watch while you wait for your meal, which won’t take long.
- 244Shaky Isles BritomartAuckland CentralI want to marry this place. Their pikelets with bacon and banana are amazing, and very reasonably priced. It has a really great atmosphere too, with really friendly staff. The coffee is gooooood and it’s right next to all the bus stops, so you don’t need to worry about parking. Definitely worth a visit for brunch this (or every) weekend.
- 310Dunk CafeParnellI was impressed with brunch at Dunk. The prices were reasonable and the food was tasty - my eggs were cooked exactly right. The service was a bit slow as they were busy, but the staff were lovely. Definitely worth a try.
- 420Denny’s is a great place for brunch. They make great pancakes and French toast and hashbrowns, and you can have as many coffee refills as you want.The staff are friendly, there’s plenty of parking AND if you sleep in past brunch time, it doesn’t matter, because they serve their breakfast menu all day.
- 57Urban CafeNewmarketUrban Cafe is a an awesome little place for weekend brunch, with a bustling atmosphere and good food. They offer a range of delicious Harney & Sons teas, which come in decent-sized pots, and you can can choose to sit inside or under cover outside. A great cafe to sit and read the paper or chat with friends.
Amanda B.'s
Paradise for book lovers
- 135Time Out BookstoreMount EdenAs I’m still very much a child at heart, my favourite part of Time Out is the children’s section at the back. They have so many beautifully illustrated children’s books that make me wish I had friends with kids to buy them all for. The staff are really nice AND there’s a cat - what’s not to love?
- 231Auckland Central LibraryAuckland CentralEven if another library is closer to where you live, take the time to visit the Auckland Central library. Browse the masses of books, ride the escalator up and down, get a coffee, play with the microfiche machine, maybe even do some reading. It’s a great place to spend some quiet time, to people watch, and to learn a thing or two about anything you want.
- 336Chapter Book and Tea ShopMount EdenWhat do you get when you combine tea and books? Paradise, obviously. The staff are very patient and are happy for you to smell samples of each of their many, many teas before choosing, and don’t seem to mind if you sit sipping tea and chatting for aaages. There are delicious treats sitting in the cabinet just waiting to be an afternoon snack and you can browse their selection of novels as you sip your tea. It's the best!
- 46Arcadia BookshopNewmarketArcadia is full of gorgeous books that all shout, "Buy me! Buy me!" when you walk through the door. They have an extensive range of recipe and cookbooks that are filled with beautiful photographs and fantastic ideas. It’s hard to leave without getting something to take home with you.
- 59Jason BooksAuckland CentralJason Books is full of great second-hand books, all in excellent condition. The lovely staff are happy to help you find what you’re after, and the store is so well maintained, it’s almost like you’re browsing new books. Love it!
Amanda B.'s
What to do on a rainy day
- 113Westfield St LukesSt LukesSt Lukes mall is my favourite place to spend a rainy afternoon shopping. You can park under cover and see the whole mall without going outside once. There’s plenty of shops and cafes to keep you going for hours, whether you’re window shopping or running up a big credit card bill. Love it.
- 231Auckland Central LibraryAuckland CentralEven if another library is closer to where you live, take the time to visit the Auckland Central library. Browse the masses of books, ride the escalator up and down, get a coffee, play with the microfiche machine, maybe even do some reading. It’s a great place to spend some quiet time, to people watch, and to learn a thing or two about anything you want.
- 351Hoyts Sylvia ParkMt WellingtonThe massive, comfy seats at Hoyts Sylvia Park kind of make you feel like you’ve paid for the fancy, expensive seats, even though you haven’t. I love their choice of old school movies - very much looking forward to The Princess Bride at the end of October.
- 49SaveMart OnehungaOnehungaYou need to set aside some time to do the SaveMart experience properly. Grab a trolley at the front and make your way around, grabbing anything and everything that catches your eye. Then, take everything to a dressing room and work your way through it. It can take a while, but you can find so many great clothes for super cheap.
- 5113Auckland War Memorial MuseumParnellFrom World War I to dinosaurs to New Zealand’s history, there is so much to see and learn at the museum. It’s staggering to stand in the hall that lists the names of Auckland’s fallen soldiers, and the sheer size of a moa skeleton is amazing. On a nice day, when your legs get tired you can have a picnic lunch in the Domain. It’s a great, free way to spend a few hours.
Amanda B.'s
Outdoor adventures
- 132Crystal MountainSwansonWe went to Crystal Mountain specifically to see the animals. We pretty much had the park to ourselves - surprising for a Saturday - and happily wandered around, feeding and petting the llamas, deer, sheep etc. They were all were very happy to pose for photos with us, and we even got to see some newborn bunnies. If you’re even remotely an animal person this place is well worth a visit.
- 2293Auckland ZooWestern SpringsWho doesn’t love the zoo? It’s a great way to spend a day, and if you get your timing right you can have so many awesome experiences with the animals, like feeding the birds and the giraffes. Plus there’s going to be a new baby giraffe out and about soon. So cute and soooo awkward.
- 338Western Springs ParkWestern SpringsWhen the weather’s nice, a picnic at Western Springs is just the thing. Bring a ball, soak up the sun, and bring some extra bread to feed the ducks. Just watch out for the big geese! It’s the perfect place to chill out after a trip to MOTAT or the zoo.
- 437On a nice summer day, catching the ferry over to Devonport is the best. I like to sit outside and feel the wind in my hair and take in just how beautiful Auckland is. Spend the afternoon having fish and chips by the water or exploring all of the adorable little shops before jumping back on the ferry and heading back to the city.
- 530Wynyard QuarterAuckland CentralWynyard Quarter is an absolutely lovely place to wander around and enjoy good weather. I love to sit on the steps leading down to the water and watch the bridge go up and down for the boats. Grab a gelato or a coffee and go for an explore!