Eating Out
Auckland has a diverse and full-flavoured variety of eating establishments. From Indian to Japanese, and Turkish to French, there's a veritable rainbow of cuisine available from which visitors can choose.
Fuelled by entrepreneurial immigrants and New Zealand's strong focus on artisanal food, wine, and beer, the bustling local markets of the country's biggest city are excellent shortcuts to understanding Auckland's cultural mosaic. With well-established farmers' markets complemented by newer specialist markets, Auckland emerges as New Zealand's only truly international city and it's certainly reflected in the variety of its restaurants.
Although Auckland's food scene is a melting pot of national cuisines, locals still love their traditional New Zealand cuisine. Staples, such as roast lamb are a favourite, along with all kinds of fresh seafood, including of course, the famous New Zealand mussel. Auckland has no shortage of brilliant restaurants serving this type of local cuisine, with establishments such as One Tree Grill creating inspired Pacific Rim style dishes for patrons to enjoy, which can be deliciously paired with a wide selection of New Zealand's world famous wines.
There are many areas in Auckland to enjoy a bite to eat, but if travellers want an authentic seafood experience, they should cruise around the Viaducts and Waterfront, where they can find a variety of fresh seafood treats to choose from. Other popular clusters of eateries can be found in High Street, Queen Street, the Wynyard Quarter, and the Arts Precinct, each of which has a unique atmosphere and speciality restaurants.
Nightlife
Auckland's 'city of sails' reputation and natural beauty make it an ideal destination for tourists wishing to take part in sightseeing. However, Auckland comes alive at night with clubs, bars, cinemas and pubs, and is arguably the kiwi nightlife capital. The city has a great selection of clubs and bars catering for up and coming businessmen, highflyers and young students. The main nightlife areas include High Street, Ponsonby, Viaduct Harbour, Parnell, and Karangahape Street. There's a great mix of bars, clubs, and quirky establishments in Auckland from which visitors can choose, including a great live music scene.