The Best Restaurants in Auckland

Onslow on Princes Street gets the balance between polish and warmth exactly right. The seasonal menu is full of refined, ingredient-led dishes that let New Zealand produce do the heavy lifting, from beautifully handled seafood to rich, slow-cooked meats. Perfect for a meal that feels special without ever being stiff.

Set within historic Chancery Chambers, Gilt Brasserie is a lively inner-city brasserie with a come-as-you-are energy. The menu leans into classic European brasserie style with plenty of playful twists: think crudo, steak frites, rich pasta and a much-loved tomato schnitzel. An easy choice at any time of day.

Tucked away up a narrow central city staircase, Culprit has mastered the art of keeping fine dining far from stiff. Chef Kyle Street turns nostalgic Kiwi dishes into something playful, polished and full of flavour, served as a rotating chef’s choice menu that heroes local suppliers.

A cosy Japanese restaurant on Queen Street, right above its popular sister Tanuki’s Cave. It’s a great pick after work, for date night or before a show, with all the classics from sashimi to tempura, plus a great range of cocktails.

One of Auckland’s finest restaurants, Cassia serves modern Indian cooking from its home on Albert Street. The room is fun, cosy and warm, and the charcoal-powered tandoors are central to the smoky, layered flavours that have made it a city icon.

On Britomart’s waterfront, Amano pulls a crowd at all hours, seven days a week. The 120-seat restaurant serves rustic, Italian-inspired food built on sustainability and locally sourced ingredients, and the attached bakery is perfect for a pastry on the run.

Named for the kingfish, kingi celebrates seafood with a firm commitment to sustainability, working with fishers who share its values. Just steps from The Hotel Britomart, it’s open from early-morning coffee through to drinks and fuller plates at night.

Tucked into St Kevin’s Arcade on Karangahape Road, Pici is small, lively and effortlessly cool. The tightly curated menu changes regularly but always delivers rich flavours without fuss: olives, focaccia and stracciatella to start, then handmade pasta and a porchetta with a loyal following.

Owner-operated Cocoro in Ponsonby shows just how versatile Japanese cuisine can be. The name means ‘heart and soul’, and that’s exactly what goes into delicately prepared seafood and locally sourced produce, served with the kind of care that makes every visit feel bespoke.

Forest on Dominion Road is one of Auckland’s few semi-formal vegetarian restaurants. Chef Plabita Florence cooks with curiosity, using foraged and unexpected ingredients in playful, unpretentious ways that will change how you think about vegetarian food.

More Auckland: the best bars in Auckland, the best cafés in Auckland and all our Auckland restaurants.