Auckland Restaurants and Dining

(Auckland, North Island, New Zealand NZ)

Cafés and dining venues are plentiful in Auckland and many new restaurants are opening all the time. Fresh seafood is often a speciality in Auckland, although all types of cuisine are mostly catered. This is a truly cosmopolitan city and is home to probably the best selection of eateries, cafés, wine bars and dining options in the whole of New Zealand.

The largest number of restaurants in Auckland are concentrated in the city centre and around the inner-city suburbs, with many lining Ponsoby Road - one of the city's main dining areas, Parnell Road - another main eating street, and Devonport - with a tempting selection of world-class restaurants, cafés and bars. There are also many Asian choices located in the downtown district, including Chinese, Japanese and Thai options.


Dining areas in Auckland also include large numbers of restaurants on the High Street - with plenty of cheap eats, Karangahope Road - a lively area also known as K' Road, Lorne Street, and the Viaduct Harbour - with many waterside establishments boasting exceptional harbour views. Further dining options include restaurants in and around Albert Street, Elliot Street, Mount Eden Village, the Newmarket district, Princes Wharf, Queen Street, Shortland Street and Vulcan Lane, which is lined with street cafés.

One of the most popular places to eat in Auckland is of course the famous Orbit restaurant at the top of imposing Sky Tower. The Orbit features excellent dining facilities and is actually a revolving restaurant, slowing rotating and offering magnificent panoramic views of the city. There are also many other splendid cafés and venues tucked away in the backstreets and within the suburbs. Most happily accept reservations for both lunch and dinner, so it is often advisable to call in advance to ensure a table.

Opening Hours

Local restaurants and cafés open all week, from around 07:00 to 22:00 and often much later, although some do close on Sunday and Monday nights.

Lunch

Lunch in Auckland ranges from a luxurious, gourmet meal at a trendy waterfront restaurant in the Viaduct Harbour or Princes Wharf, to a simple, fresh sandwich from one of the city's numerous sandwich bars. Generally eaten between 12:00 to 14:00, other lunch options also include fast-food outlets, burger bars, pizza takeaways and tasty fish and chips.

Dinner

Many of the locals in Auckland and other nearby areas of New Zealand's North Island regularly eat out for dinner, from around 18:00 to 22:00 or later. There is such an enormous selection of restaurants, brasseries, bistros, cafés, fine dining establishments and eateries that deciding where to eat is always difficult.