Schmap.com supports the following browsers:
PC
 Stylish cafe/bistro |
268 Ponsonby Road Auckland 1001 New Zealand +64 (0)9 378 7766 / +64 (0)25 989 869 (Mobile) |
Bambina is a well-established, small café with a faithful clientele. The décor is a cool but gentle minimalism blended with a touch of the past. It offers an all-day breakfast, and is renowned for its panini and other delectable items such as bruschetta with avocado and tomato, and orange polenta cake. The lunch menu operates from 11am. Try the Greek salad with haloumi. The food tends to be international in style with a Pacific Rim touch. Bambina is licensed. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Out east |
563 Remuera Rd Remuera Auckland 1005 New Zealand +64 (0)9 524 0356 |
Located on busy Remuera Road near the Upland Road intersection, Café Jazz has brought a touch of class to an otherwise prosaic environment. It also serves the best cup of coffee between St. Heliers and Newmarket. With elegant windows, polished wood floors and polite staff, Café Jazz offers a welcome respite during the busy day. The atmosphere is relaxed and conducive to staying a while. Open all day long, the coffee remains the same but the food changes as the day progresses. Lunches are very good value. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Great food, great service |
Corner Federal and Kingston Streets Rydges Auckland Hotel Auckland 1001 New Zealand +64 9 375 5922 http://www.rydges.com/7/articl... |
Circa, in Rydges Hotel, is suitable for business entertaining, casual and occasion dining. It won an award at the Corbans Wine and Food Challenge, and was a finalist for Best Service. Circa offers inner-city catering, a private function room, and catering for functions. The decor is contemporary, the atmosphere casual yet stylish. They serve breakfast, and a deli menu of items such as Panini and pizza is available throughout the day. The lunch and dinner menus feature items, such as Oven-roasted Poussin on Chicken Liver, and Corn Couscous with Thyme Marscapone. Circa is fully licensed. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: wcities |
|
Spiritual and organic |
265 Ponsonby Road Ponsonby Auckland 1001 New Zealand +64 (0)9 376 2433 |
Expresso Love—a Ponsonby Road original—has a unique personality. The artworks and murals have a spiritual theme, and the emphasis is on healthy, organic food. Take your pick of areas to sit—the peaceful courtyard with Zen water feature; upstairs, with a bird's eye view of Ponsonby Road; or the middle eastern room for mellowing out. At night the cafe becomes "A.R.E.A. 265" with candlelight, art and music blending into a magical environment. The café is fully licensed and you may bring your own wine. Order food from plates on the bar or from the wall menu. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Olivia de Santis |
|
Gourmet pizza place |
262 Ponsonby Road Ponsonby Auckland 1001 New Zealand +64 (0)9 360 1113 |
GPK is a restaurant, bar and cafe successfully rolled into one. A small cosy lounge at the rear of the bar has a fireplace and the timber theme is carried throughout tables, chairs and pavement seating. The menu is Pacific Rim and the food is always superbly presented. Pizzas from the wood-fired oven are exotic--the popular Bombay Pizza is chicken marinated in Indian spices, with red onions, cashews, banana, yoghurt, coriander and mango chutney. GPK is fully licensed, but does not take reservations. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: wcities |
 Get your English-style bitter here |
2 Mt Eden Road Grafton Auckland 1003 New Zealand +64 (0)9 379 3557 http://www.alehouse.co.nz/ |
This small brewery and ale house is set in Grafton's former library building. Their brews have great English-sounding names such as Bob Hudson's Bitter, Bellringer's Best Bitter, Grafton Porter and Bitter and Twisted. They also stock many other specialist ales and lagers—both on tap and bottled, New Zealand and imported wines, and a large range of single malt whiskies. The Ale House draws a mixed clientele from all around Auckland and has a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. Their publicity boasts "Sorry, no poker machines, pool tables, loud music or Lion Red!" They do, however, offer great pub food! Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Across from the trots |
371 Manukau Road Epsom Auckland 1003 New Zealand +64 (0)9 630 9685 |
Named for its proximity to the Auckland Trotting Club Raceway at Alexandra Park, Gee Gee's Bar and Brasserie is well known to locals and frequent race-goers for its good food, atmosphere and attentive service. Trotting regalia adorns the front bar area. The restaurant, at the rear, offers a children's menu and even high chairs. The owner, Ivan Rudez, is of Croatian origin, and the meals are often Mediterranean in flavour and presentation, and always generous in proportion. Hearty steaks feature on the menu alongside pizzas and seafood dishes. The wine list has plenty of variety. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: wcities |
|
Dining and live entertainment |
269 Parnell Road Parnell Auckland 1001 New Zealand +64 (0)9 358 4804 http://www.iguacu.co.nz/ |
Iguacu has prospered near the top of Parnell Rise for many years now. They must be getting something right. This is an inviting place; look for the gas flame welcoming you. Although large and busy, the restaurant retains a friendly atmosphere, due to the division into various indoor, outdoor and upstairs dining and bar areas. Live entertainment is a feature and the jazz session on Sunday afternoons is popular. An extensive menu of brasserie style food is available with everything from burgers to pasta or steak and vegetarian dishes. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
A good job well done |
242 Jervois Road Herne Bay Auckland 1001 New Zealand +64 (0)9 376 2937 |
Freydo and his team have been busily producing genuine, tasty Italian food for a regular and enthusiastic crowd for years now. The décor is informal and rustic in style, solid timber tables and chairs lend character. You can also sit at pavement tables under the green-striped awning. Try the Braciole Ubriache pork chops with brandy, Marsala and fennel seed; or the Pollo Rosso chicken with tomatoes and a touch of cream. All mains are served with potatoes. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
All day, every day |
2 Killarney Street Takapuna Auckland 1309 New Zealand +64 (0)9 489 9409 |
A long-established feature of Takapuna, Killarney Street Brasserie continues to be a very popular place for a business lunch, special occasion or casual meal with friends. Spacious and airy, the kitchen opens onto the dining area. There is a large fireplace, decks, and views out over the Hauraki Gulf. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Cosy hideaway in central city |
3 O'Connell Street Auckland 1001 New Zealand +64 (0)9 377 1884 |
The O'Connell Street Bistro is the perfect place for an intimate tete-a-tete. It is a small, sophisticated fine dining restaurant with just a few tables. The menu is mostly contemporary cuisine and changes regularly to accommodate new tastes. Desserts in particular are outstanding. Prices are above average, but excellent service and fare is assured. Bookings are recommended, especially during lunch hours and early evening. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Local character |
135 Williamson Avenue Grey Lynn Auckland 1002 New Zealand +64 (0)9 378 0604 |
This is not the most chic part of town, but there's plenty of local style within Occam. The staff is friendly and efficient and the atmosphere is welcoming. Pavement seating is available, though large windows bring the outside "in" during the summer. A (gas) log fire keeps the place cosy in winter. A large blackboard menu offers daily specials around a Mediterranean theme, including vegetarian options. A satisfying all-day breakfast is served until 6pm. The tea and coffee are good, and Occam is also fully licensed with a separate raised bar area, complete with backgammon board and magazines. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Late night institution |
134A Ponsonby Road Ponsonby Auckland 1001 New Zealand +64 (0)9 376 4466 |
History is acknowledged amiably, with some of the original brick walls exposed, and the wooden floors polished. You can sit on a tall stool looking out to the road or crowd round a table with the energetic throng. Wine is available by the glass. Mains include vegetarian, red meat, chicken and seafood dishes. Favourites are the chicken drumstick with peanut sauce and the mushroom fettuccine. The food is generally tasty and the servings generous. Coffee, juice and soft drinks are also available. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Woo dares wins! |
47 Ponsonby Road Ponsonby Auckland 1001 New Zealand +64 (0)9 360 1989 http://www.ottowoo.com |
Quick and cheap, Otto Woo serves healthy chopstick-ready "wok food" to be eaten at clean, communal tables or taken away. Service is always fast and there is usually a seat at the bar for those with time to sit down. The servings are good value and generously sized. The Little Otto is a perfect snack, with noodles or rice, wonton, spring roll and rice ball. Other tempting dishes are Prawn Tempura with shrimp, spinach and lemon on noodles, and Cashew Chicken with leek and mandarin on udon noodles. Freshly squeezed juices are served. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Overlooking Queen Street |
Queen's Arcade Corner Queen and Customs Street Auckland 1001 New Zealand +64 (0)9 377 5759 |
Patio Café is situated upstairs, within historic Queen's Arcade. There is a great view of the passing traffic below from the balcony. It is particularly popular with business people for workday lunches. The food here is tasty and well presented, in predominantly contemporary and Pacific Rim style, for example fresh New Zealand mussels, chargrilled vegetables, and smoked chicken and crispy vegetables. This cafe-restaurant is fully licensed. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Henry Halff |
|
Consistently great food in stylish surroundings |
226 Ponsonby Road Ponsonby Auckland 1001 New Zealand +64 (0)9 376 3095 |
Prego has style! It is undoubtedly one of the best quality venues in Ponsonby, both for the excellent food and friendly competent service. Elegant in design and style, it achieves a sophisticated but unpretentious air. Terracotta floors extend through to the front courtyard, which is shaded by a large tree and awning. The excellent menu is Italian based—pizza, pasta, grills, salads as well as a rotisserie in the evening. Prego is fully licensed. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: wcities |
|
Cuisine francaise |
44 Ponsonby Road Ponsonby Auckland 1002 New Zealand +64 (0)9 376 8147 |
Situated in a recently restored historic building, Provence is one of Auckland's few, truly authentic, French eating-houses. Chef Laurent Brunacci comes from Provence and prides himself on the restaurant's fare. Typically French and delightfully understated, Provence has wooden floors and exposed brick walls. Mains are deliciously rich in flavor and include award-winning meals such as braised duck leg with green lentils, organic mushrooms and duck demi-glaze. There is an extensive wine and beverage list. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Long traditions |
404 Queen Street Auckland 1001 New Zealand +64 (0)9 302 0223 |
First opened in 1890, the Queen's Head Tavern, in its grand colonial premises is one of the oldest pubs in Auckland. Today it comprises a large bar, café, brasserie and pub. The Queen's Head draws a good crowd for both lunch and dinner, serving food from snacks to hearty meals such as rump steak with fries. Of course it also does a fine trade serving locals their pint of beer, 11 beers on tap and 22 wines served by the glass. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Brewing on the shore |
134 Hurstmere Road Takapuna Auckland 1309 New Zealand +64 9 486 6330 http://www.rtoto.co.nz/ |
R'Toto has a great atmosphere and ambience and brews excellent beer on site. Lava Lager is the most popular, with a clean crisp taste. Crater Ale is a bit heavier and more colourful, while Black Rat Dark Ale provides the full-bodied taste and texture one would expect from the name. They also brew a Raspberry Rat and a Lava Lite as well as other speciality beers. The bistro-styled food is equally excellent and imaginative, from the seafood pizza to market fresh fish of the day in hollandaise, pesto or apricot dipping sauce. Review © 2007, Wcities |
|
Kiwi pub and brasserie |
Corner Customs Street East and Gore Street Auckland 1001 New Zealand +64 (0)9 373 2071 |
The Rose and Crown is a traditional Kiwi pub and cafe/brasserie. The venue draws a good crowd from the nearby office buildings around lunchtime. Quiz nights are on Tuesday and live local music features every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening. For lunch and dinner there are very tasty home-style meals, such as lasagne, steak and kidney pie, or wood-fired pizzas. The bar is well stocked and includes a variety of beers on tap as well as a good selection of wines and spirits. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: wcities |
