It 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.

If you’re in the city and want some time out from all the noise, step into the Art Gallery for a while. It’s quiet and peaceful, and wandering from room to room pondering all the amazing works of art is really relaxing. Leave your bags, coats etc. at the front in a locker, so you can move around and take it all in unhindered.

This 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.

I’ve been here numerous times for various different shows, and every time I’m blown away by how amazing the inside of the building is. From the foyer and staircases through to the main auditorium, the Civic oozes old school elegance and class. And there’s always some awesome show on to go see, whether you’re into theatre, ballet, music, or any number of other things. Love it.

Naming three ingredients and having the bartender whip up a custom cocktail especially for you beats ordering a drink off a menu any day. Atticus has really cool décor, the atmosphere is awesome and the bar staff are highly entertaining. If you’re a cocktail fan it’s a must on a night out.

Dinner and a drink or two at the Claddagh is the perfect way to end a lazy Saturday. The staff are friendly, the food is tasty and the atmosphere is great. Sitting by the heater and polishing off a yummy dessert will make you totally forget the stresses of the week and later on live music will keep you entertained. 

Brooklyn Bar is an awesome place to grab dinner after work. I highly recommend the warm cajun chicken salad - the little roast potatoes and kumara really make the dish. The staff are nice and you never have to wait too long to eat.

If you’re looking for a relaxed atmosphere and good food, look no further than the Lumsden. It’s a great place for dinner on a weeknight. It doesn’t have a huge menu, but what they do serve is delicious - I’m a big fan of the fettuccini - and they have heaps of craft beers to try out, if you’re into that sort of thing. If it’s a bit busy and you end up sitting outside, fluffy blankets and big heaters will keep you toasty warm.

Glabraiths does a spectacular pub dinner. The lamb curry is delicious and the fries, thin cut with the potato skin still on, are so good my partner and I have been talking about them since we ate here. The building is historic and full of character, and the staff were all very friendly. Will definitely be going back.

I went to O’Hagans with a small group for a work dinner, and we were all impressed with the food and the service we received. The atmosphere was great, the food was delicious, and live music and dancing kept us entertained well into the evening. Definitely recommend.

The salads and the smoothies here are amazing. You can taste all the real fruits in the smoothies and the salad ingredients are all crisp and fresh. Can’t get enough of the lambo. Plus I love the cute little containers the salads come in. So good!

You absolutely have to eat at the Food Truck Garage at least once. Yes, there’s the novelty of the TV programme, but more importantly, the food is really good. The hotdogs and chips are delicious - not at all like what you’d get anywhere else - and there’s a new special to try every week. It’s pretty popular, so if you’re dining in on a Friday or Saturday evening get in quick, or you may end up standing.

Love this place. You can get a big, healthy, tasty meal for super cheap and, of course, it’s totally vegan friendly. The pakoras are by far my favourite thing - so yummy!

Pita Pit is the perfect place to take a break from shopping and have a delicious lunch that’s not full of fat and chemicals. I’m a big fan of the chicken ceasar pita, and how patient the staff are when I’m indecisive about what vegetables or dressings I want.

Revive is the perfect place for a healthy, reasonably priced weekday lunch. I’m not a vegetarian, but the food is so good you don’t even miss meat. And the big portion sizes mean I usually have some leftover for the next day too. Awesome.

You absolutely have to eat at the Food Truck Garage at least once. Yes, there’s the novelty of the TV programme, but more importantly, the food is really good. The hotdogs and chips are delicious - not at all like what you’d get anywhere else - and there’s a new special to try every week. It’s pretty popular, so if you’re dining in on a Friday or Saturday evening get in quick, or you may end up standing.

Now called Penny, this is one of the few places right in the city where you can get really good fish and chips, like you’re at the beach. The chips and pineapple fritters are my favourite menu items, but the burgers are also worth a try.

I love getting Indian to take away from Shahi. Their curries are not oily like a lot of other places, and they’re not stingy with the meat - you get lots of big chunks of chicken or lamb or beef every time. The chicken tikka is my favourite. Delicious!

Family-friendly and affordable, La Porchetta in the CBD has good pizza, good pasta and good service. I like than you can pick which pasta you want; I’m a big fan of the bolognese with tortellini. The portion sizes are pretty big, so you can eat half and take the rest home for lunch the following day. And you can order to take away as well, which is really convenient when you’re not keen to cook but don’t want to go out.

This isn’t the nicest place to dine in, but I love getting takeaways from this Korean BBQ place. The portions sizes are big enough for me to eat half for dinner and the rest for lunch the next day, and everything is always well cooked. The staff are friendly and you never have to wait too long.

Brothers Beer has such awesome decor that I’m happy to keep going back even though I’m not a big beer drinker. They make a mean pizza, and the avocado green lounge chairs and old toys give the impression you’ve travelled back in time a few decades. If you are into craft beer, Brothers is like the mothership, with heaps of new and interesting beers to try that they brew onsite.

I love the inside of this place. It’s almost like being in a crazy library, with the bookshelves, and the lamps hanging upside down from the ceiling. If you love Mac’s like I do, this is the perfect place to have a few drinks. Best to eat first though, as the food’s a bit pricy.

I’m really not into beer, but even I have to admit the Occidental’s cherry beer is delicious. For the beer connoisseur there are heaps of different brews to try, and there’s plenty for the non-beer drinkers as well. The atmosphere is great, with live music most nights, and patrons will often get up to dance later in the evening. Such a fun place!

Naming three ingredients and having the bartender whip up a custom cocktail especially for you beats ordering a drink off a menu any day. Atticus has really cool décor, the atmosphere is awesome and the bar staff are highly entertaining. If you’re a cocktail fan it’s a must on a night out.

Sale St is a great place for Friday night drinks. The atmosphere is great and I love sinking into their massive lounge chairs with a glass of wine and catching up on gossip with friends. It’s always a good night at Sale St!

Tanuki 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.

Sushi Train isn’t just a restaurant, it’s an experience. The sushi is good, but that’s almost beside the point. Having to wait for something you want to make its way around the conveyor belt, or frantically grabbing for a plate before it passes, is a lot of fun. But be warned: the excitement of the train means you may eat - and spend - more than you normally would.

This is a lovely little place, down a set of stairs and off the busy street. I really enjoy the miso and the sushi, and the decor is pretty cute. At peak times the service can be really slow, but for lunch or dinner on a week night this is a great little spot.

This is a great little place to sit and have lunch, on your own or with a friend. The sushi is good and I’m a big fan of the prawn tempura. Help yourself to water or green tea and enjoy some delicious Japanese in peace and quiet.

Whether you’re dining in or taking away, you won’t regret a trip to this awesome sushi place. Everything is fresh and delicious and the staff are really friendly. It’s the perfect place to stop for lunch if you’re craving some Japanese.