From neighbourhood gems to elegant waterfront dining spots, discover Auckland\u2019s most stylish places to dine.<\/p>\n
Stylish, adjective. Smart. Elegant. Fashionable. <\/p>\n
\n When it comes to restaurants, having style is about so much more than swish interiors, although every spot in this story excels on that front. It\u2019s the feeling a
\n restaurant creates when you walk through the door; the thoughtful details that reveal the care behind the concept, the artistry on the plate, the confidence of the service and the buzz of a happy dining room.\n <\/p>\n
Auckland\u2019s most stylish restaurants understand that style is the sum of its parts \u2013 from custom-made ceramics to spinning disco balls, seafood towers to the glow of a table lamp \u2026 together, they create the kind of places you can\u2019t wait to return to. <\/p>\n
Mother <\/p>\n
Where style is in the materials. <\/p>\n
Mother cafe, bakery, restaurant and bar in Grey Lynn. Photo \/ Babiche Martens<\/p>\n
Mother is a bakery\/cafe by day and wine bar\/restaurant by night from the talented team behind Lilian and Hotel Ponsonby \u2013 two of the best hospitality fit-outs in town. For their third project together, owner Hugo Baird and CTRL Space designer Sam Griffin have created a space that feels nostalgic yet entirely fresh. The mood and palette is somewhere between an old-fashioned cigarette lounge and a contemporary European bar. That\u2019s down to texture and materials. An angled stone countertop, glass breeze-block wall, walnut timber veneer, brown brick, yellow stucco walls and sculptural stainless-steel surfaces. Sink into Mother\u2019s corner booth as the sun goes down and the lights slowly flicker on to experience the warmth and atmosphere that make this space so appealing \u2013 preferably with a Dirty Gin Martini Tonic and a plate of spicy, buttery prawns on the way. <\/p>\n
The Nightcar<\/p>\n
Where the style is in the concept.<\/p>\n
Subterranean bar and restaurant The Nightcar. Photo \/ Babiche Martens<\/p>\n
Former art director Daren Zhou was inspired by the idea of \u201cthird culture\u201d when conceiving his subterranean lounge bar The Nightcar. It\u2019s a term familiar to many who have grown up between countries and cultures, belonging everywhere and nowhere all at once. The Nightcar is designed to be a space that traverses that divide. Zhou, who studied set design at London\u2019s Central Saint Martins before working as an art director, approached the venue like a film set. He was inspired by luxury train carriages in films such as The Darjeeling Limited to create a series of intimate booths concealed behind velvet curtains, with mirrored walls, moody red lighting and richly textured interiors. It\u2019s a sensory overload in the best possible way. Serving Northern Chinese-inspired share plates and cocktails, it\u2019s the kind of place where drinks turn to dinner and can easily lead to late-night karaoke next door. <\/p>\n
Aarth <\/p>\n
Where style is in the plating. <\/p>\n
Aarth Restaurant, Parnell, produces dishes that are a work of art, like this whitebait bhaji dish.<\/p>\n
Aarth\u2019s dishes are a work of art. The plating is always intentional, chef Vicky Shah says of his modern Indian restaurant in Parnell. \u201cIt\u2019s never decorative for the sake of it. Every element needs to contribute something, whether it\u2019s flavour, texture, balance or a sense of place.\u201d Shah credits his time working at Sidart, The French Caf\u00e9, Cassia and Kol with teaching him about precision, restraint and storytelling through food. \u201cWorking alongside Sid Sahrawat and being inspired by international chefs Prateek Sadhu and Himanshu Saini has reinforced that Indian cuisine is so much more than curries. There is an incredible depth to the cuisine through its regionality, produce and techniques, and that\u2019s something I try to celebrate at Aarth.\u201d Take the whitebait bhaji dish, which fuses an iconic New Zealand ingredient with tamarind, makrut lime leaf masala and coriander mayo. Served atop a smooth organic vessel, it\u2019s nostalgic, playful and beautiful. Inspiration for plating is everywhere, says Shah. \u201cBeyond the kitchen, I\u2019m inspired by nature, Indian craftsmanship and contemporary art.\u201d <\/p>\n
Tala<\/p>\n
Where style is in the finer details. <\/p>\n
Samoan heritage is woven into every corner of Tala Restaurant. Photo \/ Babiche Martens<\/p>\n
At Tala, chef Henry Onesemo\u2019s Samoan heritage is woven into every corner of the restaurant. Architects Seear-Budd Ross created the sleek, moody shell and stylist Fiona Hugues has layered the space with a series of handcrafted touches that pay respect to \u201cSamoa\u2019s culture, craftsmanship, landscape and hospitality\u201d. She handmade the woven blinds and hanging mats that conceal the wait station, painted the walls with her version of a French wash to lend depth and tone and worked with Waikato ceramicist Alex Wilkinson to create clay bowls resembling Samoa\u2019s dark volcanic stone for the apa fafano, a traditional hand-washing ceremony. Her next project is hand-painted \u2018books\u2019 resembling old editions of Robert Louis Stevenson\u2019s Treasure Island (the writer lived in Samoa in the 1890s). \u201cI love Henry\u2019s creativity; he has some wild plating ideas. At the beginning of their dining experience, Tala guests open the books to reveal a selection of small tastes of Samoa hidden inside.\u201d <\/p>\n
The Wine Room <\/p>\n
Where style is sartorial. <\/p>\n
The Wine Room in College Hill is a hybrid wine bar, retail space and private cellar. Photo \/ Babiche Martens<\/p>\n
Savvy visitors to The College Hill Wine Room may have noticed staff wearing pieces from some of New Zealand\u2019s top fashion labels. Suiting by Maggie Marilyn and Crane Brothers, alongside more relaxed uniforms from Harris Tapper and Ruby, create a considered look that owner Dave Nash says guests regularly comment on. More importantly, he says the team feel confident in what they\u2019re wearing, helping set the tone for the experience. A hybrid wine bar, retail space and private cellar, The Wine Room is the kind of place where you can arrive in black tie for a glass of bubbles before an event, or settle in for a casual afternoon wine on the deck. Nash describes it as a neighbourhood wine bar \u2013 just one that serves crayfish toast and Krug.<\/p>\n
Mama<\/p>\n
Where style is in the vibe. <\/p>\n
Mama restaurant brings an Italian sensibility to Newmarket. Photo \/ Babiche Martens<\/p>\n
Some restaurants feel welcoming no matter the occasion. A little bit fancy but somehow relaxed, Mama\u2019s interior, food and drinks bring an Italian sensibility to Newmarket, without the clich\u00e9. Red is a deep maroon wall, a radicchio salad and a Campari-splashed beer; green is a forest-hued trim, a drizzle of basil oil or a bowl of broccoli risotto; white is house-made ricotta and the flutter of a fabric pendant light. \u201cWe wanted Mama to feel special enough that you can visit for celebrations, but also casual enough that you can pop in for pizza and pasta on a weeknight in your jeans,\u201d says co-owner Leisha Jones. Perhaps it\u2019s the disco ball gently spinning above, or the colourful artworks by Hayley Brown bringing feminine energy to the space, but Mama\u2019s style is festive without being intimidating. <\/p>\n
Gilt <\/p>\n
Where style is in the service. <\/p>\n
Hospitality is intuitive at Gilt Brasserie. Photo \/ Babiche Martens<\/p>\n
This bustling all-day brasserie could fit into almost every stylish category in this story. Beautiful dining room? Tick. An appealing menu? Tick. Effortless atmosphere? Tick. But Gilt\u2019s superpower is its people. Like the TV show Cheers, the team has a knack for making every diner feel like a regular, whether it\u2019s restaurant manager Jane Nimsoongner greeting returning guests, beverage director and sommelier Leah Kirkland guiding diners to the perfect bottle of wine, or chefs Glen File and Jamie Hogg-Wharekawa bringing warmth from behind the pass. It\u2019s a culture that flows from owners Josh and Helen Emett, who have created a restaurant where hospitality feels intuitive rather than overly formal.<\/p>\n
First Mates, Last Laugh <\/p>\n
Where style is in the atmosphere. <\/p>\n
The outdoor dining booth at First Mates, Last Laugh.<\/p>\n
There aren\u2019t many restaurateurs who could transform a row of corrugated iron sheds and chandleries on Westhaven Marina into one of Auckland\u2019s most appealing waterfront restaurants, but Judith Tabron has achieved just that with First Mates, Last Laugh. Her all-day eatery strikes the right balance of nautical charm, pairing Japanese-Brazilian flavours with fresh seafood, mini martinis and an ice cream bar. The magic here is in the atmosphere. Working to Judith\u2019s \u201cbeach club\u201d brief, Material Creative has designed a space that borrows from the understated glamour and craftsmanship of a luxury sailing yacht parked up in the City of Sails. Curved booth seating, warm timber finishes and the occasional blue stripe feel elevated yet relaxed, and glass doors open right up to the marina. Because what\u2019s better than a seafood tower or a spicy pineapple margarita by the water?<\/p>\n
Bistro Saine <\/p>\n
Where style is in the ambience. <\/p>\n
French restaurant Bistro Saine understands how to set the mood. Photo \/ Babiche Martens<\/p>\n
The right lighting makes everything, and everyone, look better, and if there\u2019s an Auckland restaurant that understands how to set the mood, it\u2019s Bistro Saine. Entering this modern bistro is like stepping into a dining room in Paris or New York, with handsome bespoke furniture, leather seating, dark wood detailing and big, curved windows. It\u2019s the subtle lighting, though, where Bistro Saine shines, with wall sconces, sculptural pendants and glowing lamps on every table. These aged brass cordless lamps with their sweet olive leather \u2018sleeves\u2019 not only spotlight the food (and help you read the menu), but your dining companion may become more palatable, too. <\/p>\n
More food and restaurants<\/p>\n
Downtown dining and iconic Auckland eats<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"From neighbourhood gems to elegant waterfront dining spots, discover Auckland\u2019s most stylish places to dine. Stylish, adjective. Smart.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":570434,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[9055,3952,28822,2108,136856,22503,9174,281248,156,71,27298,3025,46519,111,139,425,69,22399,10270,10041,51646,61,42580],"class_list":["post-570433","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entertainment","tag-9055","tag-aucklands","tag-beautiful","tag-book","tag-dine","tag-dining","tag-discover","tag-elegant","tag-entertainment","tag-from","tag-gems","tag-most","tag-neighbourhood","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-now","tag-nz","tag-places","tag-restaurants","tag-spots","tag-stylish","tag-to","tag-waterfront"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/570433","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=570433"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/570433\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/570434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=570433"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=570433"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=570433"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}