Auckland restaurants, oh how we have missed you. Now we can get back out there and enjoy the fruits of our collective labour, here are the most beautiful and bountiful restaurants to show off what this city has to offer.
Hello Beasty Combining the cuisines of Japan, Korea and China, this vibrant Viaduct Harbour eatery is full of flavour and fun. An exceptional wine list only adds to the joyful experience.
Ada Situated under soaring ceilings within The Convent Hotel, make a pilgrimage to Ada for some of Auckland’s finest handmade pasta and Italian-inspired sharing plates.
Alma Transport your taste buds and those of your dining companions to the delicious flavours and warm, relaxed energy of Andalusia with Alma’s modern, moreish tapas.
Amano Show off Auckland in its best light with an unsurpassable interior and menu at this Britomart Italian favourite. Amano is always brilliant and always buzzing.
Culprit For innovative fare unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere, pull up a seat at Wyndham Street eatery Culprit — where nostalgia and inventiveness are deliciously combined.
Esther The QT Auckland’s Mediterranean mainstay will be sure to whisk you to warmer climes with its menu inspired by travels chasing the food of the sun.
Lilian While certainly not a hidden gem, neighbourhood wine bar and osteria Lilian will have any out-of-towner feeling like they’ve stumbled upon Auckland’s best-kept secret.
Onemata Take in the marine view of Viaduct Basin at Park Hyatt Auckland’s flagship restaurant as you tuck into dishes that celebrate the best of New Zealand.
Síso Centring on a contemporary Mediterranean menu, Síso’s intimate yet roomy interior and tempting sharing dishes are more than enough to entice you to the heart of Remuera.
The Blue Breeze Inn Let the good vibes and fun fusion flavours of The Blue Breeze Inn enchant any visitor, followed by a stroll taking in the bustle of Ponsonby Road.
Jaimie Webster Haines is a skilled multi-tasker. The Auckland-based DJ and fashion designer is a mainstay at some of the coolest events in town (when we’re not in lockdown), setting the mood with her deft selection of tracks. She co-founded sound design, music production and playlist curation company Zoot Music with her husband, acclaimed jazz musician Nathan Haines. Offering everything from original productions for fashion shows to artist collaborations, brand identity, custom playlists and in-house DJ installations, Jaimie and Nathan are a powerhouse duo in the industry.
Jaimie managed to squeeze a minute out of her busy schedule to give us the rundown on what she’s up to and into currently — including her eponymous limited-run clothing label. She has also shared an excellent “funky” Christmas playlist, curated by Zoot Music to add some toe-tapping festive cheer to the season.
My personal style can be described as:“Elegant Tomboy”.
The next place I’d like to travel to is: The South of France to visit our good friends Isobel and Gabriel Sobin who live in Lacoste in the Luberon Valley. Gabi (his nickname) is the most incredible sculptor and works with rock and stone, and I would love to bring one back to NZ as I think they would work so beautifully in our landscape. It’s not so easy to bring in my suitcase, as they are rather large! I am always endlessly inspired when we are together with them.
The latest music I’m loving is: The “Idle Moments” playlist Nathan and I made through lockdown — it transcends that time as it’s just so beautiful. I play it when cooking but also on a sunny day if I get a moment to relax. Also, Little Simz has been on repeat quite a bit and my husband is about to release something very special.
Jaimie wears the Jaimie Belle shirt.
An object I would never part with is: Some of the archival Jaimie pieces from past collections. I have recently been doing small runs of my Jaimie label again — it’s made in NZ by the original Jaimie artisans and dressmakers who I first started working with when I had Jaimie Boutique on Ponsonby Rd. It is now sold in small limited runs to lovely ladies (and now men, too). It’s small and boutique, with the emphasis on ideas, design, cut, artistry and all the ways these elements can make you feel.
On my wish list is: A dance party with friends!
When I was younger, I wanted to be: A fashion photographer, actor and marine biologist — an interesting combination! My friends knew before I did that I would be a designer.
One thing that would surprise people about being a DJ is: It’s very hard work and takes a lot of concentration, technical skill, and confidence. You have to have a natural ear for music and rhythm, and be good at telling stories and taking people on a journey to really take it to the next level.
If price were not an issue, the one artist whose work I would collect is: An original Elsa Schiaparelli evening dress — in particular, this one from 1939 from her music collection. She designed this organza dress with matching gloves. It is embroidered in metallic threads with musical-score notes and accessorised with a belt containing a working music box in the buckle. As the Met description says: “Cutout scrollwork shapes on the buckle top relate to those on a violin, forms immortalised in Man Ray’s 1924 photograph ‘Le Violin d’Ingres’. An elaboration of the Surrealist notion of woman’s body as musical instrument, the wholly integrated creation captures the visual, audible, and transcendent essence of music in the person of the wearer.” My kind of dress!
In my fridge you’ll always find: Chardonnay, almond milk and vegan aioli, broccoli and dark chocolate.
Something I love about being a DJ and working with music is: I married a musician so, along with my love of clothing and design, there’s also a deep appreciation and love of music, its artistry and its ability to transform any situation.
I can’t miss an episode of: Funny Girls Season 3 on TV3 On Demand. The Outlaws on BBC. Most things on the Criterion Channel. We have a VPN, which has transformed the way we watch TV.
I recently discovered: That I will never escape the sound of leaf blowers.
Nathan Haines and Jaimie Webster Haines.
My favourite website is: Our Zoot Music website designed by Sam Southwell at Studio South. We collaborated with the team and with artist Kelly Knaga, which was a really great experience. Nathan is taking Zoot Music to the next level now and offering his bespoke recording studio, his production expertise and mixing duties to people, as well as sound design and writing music to a brief. Over the last few years, he has really honed his skills so he can offer a lot more than just writing and performing music — though that of course is his first love. There are some exciting things going on! Next up will be Jaimie.co.nz…
The last meal out I had that truly impressed me was: The vegan homemade Goody Goody Gumdrops ice cream (my all-time favourite flavour) from Forest during lockdown; a pizza from Spiga (who also do vegan!) and Money Bags from Ginger — both in Remuera. Omni is a new favourite Japanese on Dominion Rd, and I am looking forward to eating at Onslow for NYE where Nathan and I are both doing DJ sets from our big vinyl collection. Maybe we will see you there!
The last thing I bought and loved was: A tube lamp by Hay that we call the Star Wars lamp, as it looks like a lightsaber. Also, a beautiful woollen black and white striped rug for my new Jaimie studio/showroom — I am working on the re-launch and have a new website coming soon! In the meantime, people can join our mailing list via [email protected] or through my Instagram.
Grey Lynn is abuzz with the arrival of Florets, a new bakery and cafe with a deliciously wholesome offering and welcoming site. The evolution of founder Maya Handley’s popular by-delivery sourdough business Kōpiko, her first brick-and-mortar store opens with a new name and fresh partnerships with other like-minded makers.
Having trained in New York, Handley has garnered a dedicated following back home for the last two years, for her delicious loaves that are made using organic, whole-grain, spray-free and locally sourced ingredients.
“It was always my intention to open a physical space once my customer base and dough formula was established,” she tells Denizen. The search for the perfect location took about a year, and the heritage building that Handley settled on is ideal in that it’s well-placed for both her centrally-located and West Auckland customers.
The Hatch and Sam Boanas-designed, two-level space is comfortably intimate, and that’s exactly how she intended it to be. “We wanted to create a bakery where we could share the experience of what we’re making with customers,” she says, “a direct connection from where we’re baking and shaping the bread, to where people are eating it.”
Florets’ dine-in menu has been created in collaboration with Freya de Beer Smith of Pomona, whose deli goods are heroed in the sandwiches and on toast, and are also for sale to take home. Like the bread they pair with, Pomona’s pickles, cheeses and condiments are meticulously handmade using organic, local produce.
Within the sandwich selection, find the likes of heirloom tomato with charred peppers and quark and smoked fish rillettes with sea greens and fennel, and pickled egg salad with horseradish. On toasted “oat porridge” sourdough, there’s whipped macadamia with broad beans and herbs, and homemade ricotta with honeycomb and olive oil or slow jam.
All of the above sound simple, but every bite sings thanks to each element being of such high quality. There are also a couple of sweet treats at the counter, like sourdough banana loaf and seeded morning cookies. Flight Coffee is providing excellent brews to pair with all of the above, and you can buy any of Florets’ loaves to take away, with the delivery service still continuing for those who like their bread transported to their door.
Florets celebrates the beauty of collaboration — it’s even in the name. “A wheat flower head is made up of many tiny flowers, known as florets,” said Handley in an Instagram post. “I like that florets always exist together in a group to form a whole flower. In the same way, a bakery cannot exist by itself, we rely on the farmers who grow our grain and the community we bake for.”
“We are very grateful for the support of our customers”, she said, “which allows us this opportunity to open a bakery and we’re excited to be able to bake more bread and serve a wider community from our new home.”
Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday: 7:30am — 2:30pm Closed Monday and Tuesday
During the holidays, when hot, blue-skied days stretch long into balmy nights, many of us find ourselves seeking an ease with which to melt softly from one activity to the next. This includes summer dining and drinking — when the mercury climbs, simple and quick refreshments are the name of the game.
Created by Bar Non Solo manager Connor Griesdale, this cocktail recipe to make at home hits all the right flavour notes for a lip-smackingly refreshing drop. A base of Hendrick’s Gin is complemented by Schweppes 1783 Quenching Cucumber Tonic Water, and added flourishes of elderflower liqueur, cucumber puree and lemon juice make for a well-rounded libation that goes brilliantly with a relaxed and sunny disposition.
Cucumber Crisp Cocktail Recipe Makes One
Ingredients: 30ml Hendrick’s gin 15ml St Germain elderflower liqueur 1 peeled cucumber for cucumber purée 25ml lemon juice Pinch of salt Schweppes 1783 Quenching Cucumber Tonic Water to finish A couple of slices of cucumber for garnish
Method: 1. Add the peeled cucumber to a blender and blitz to make cucumber purée. 2. In a tall glass, mix the Hendrick’s gin, St Germain, lemon juice and pinch of salt. 3. Add 30ml of cucumber purée. 4. Fill the glass with ice and stir, then top with Schweppes 1783 Quenching Cucumber Tonic Water. 5. Garnish with a slice or two of cucumber and enjoy.
There’s no garment that trumps the slide for ease of wear, however these superior slip-ons (with a side of logomania) are anything but basic. Whether pool-side or out and about, their sartorial impact far outweighs their effort.
Clockwise: Miami mule from Louis Vuitton, Leather slide sandal from Prada, Dior Men Aqua Dior Sandal from Dior, Leather Band slide from Bottega Veneta.
Clockwise: Acne studios Bode Logo-Appliquéd PU slide from Mr Porter, Off The Grid slide sandal from Gucci, Basile Logo-Embossed Striped Rubber slide from Moncler, Logo-Detailed Rubber slide from Balenciaga.
Nothing offsets summer’s golden glow more than a crisp white dress. Effortlessly chic, regardless of its style, this season we’re favouring textural fabrics, cinched waists and a hint of volume in just the right places. For both daytime and after dark, pair with flat sandals for a relaxed vibe and heels for elevated polish.
Left: Matteau Knit and Cotton Dress in Ecru from Muse Boutique. Right: M.A.B.E Nola Sundress from Workshop.
Left: Ganni Cotton Poplin Shirred Puff Sleeve dress from Workshop. Right: Apron Mini dress from Louis Vuitton.
From the aficionados behind esteemed Viaduct Harbour venues Parasol & Swing and Brolly, The Broken Lantern is breathing much-needed new life into the Ponsonby Road space formerly occupied by Little Easy.
Owners Jason Rosen, Adam Neal and Olly Fitton are aiming to transform the sprawling building into multiple spaces. The lower level, open now, houses what Rosen describes as “a beer hall or tavern at its roots, but realised with the same high quality as Parasol & Swing”.
The decor scrubs away the last few incarnations of building, and “takes a touch of inspiration from its 100-year-old roots, modernised, with a hint of New York City Lower East Side street alley-vibe thrown in, to spice things up a little”. There’s a sun-catching courtyard out the back, perfect for when you want to soak up some rays while being hidden from street view.
There’s an overarching theme to the proceedings that will change seasonally — on one side of the main room, the wall is dedicated to a local artist’s mural that will change every six months, coinciding with the seasonal change of the menus.
“This means, although we will have a classic menu that will stay fairly consistent, every six months part of the main room’s energy will change, and to match it, the food and drinks,” explains Rosen.
The Broken Lantern opens with lean towards Spanish and South American flavours, sherry-based cocktails and wine from grapes such as Tempranillo, Garnacha and Albarino.
Find original cocktails, with an array of bespoke, house-made ingredients, plus 10 local craft beers on tap, and a wine menu that focuses on natural and organic wines. There are also five natural wines on tap, which is a steadily growing trend that allows customers to use refillable glass bottles to take away.
Right: Barrel-Aged Decadence.
Given their reputation for stellar cocktails, The Broken Lantern more than delivers on this aspect with a wide range of thoughtfully crafted libations that you won’t find anywhere else. Barrel-Aged Decadence, for example, comprises wine barrel-aged whiskey, cocoa nib infused cognac, Italian maraschino liqueur, a blend of rosso vermouths, and a touch of Campari, all of which are rested in a new oak barrel for no less than one month.
The Lonely Hearts Club is a new take on Parasol’s most popular Crimson & Clover Club cocktail, and mixes a peppermint tea gin, Italian aperitif wine, vanilla and strawberry grenadine, lemon and a dusting of strawberry.
The food is just as worthy a drawcard at The Broken Lantern, with a menu designed by Executive Chef Fitton, whose dishes for both Parasol & Swing and Brolly have been a large part of their success.
White fish ceviche.
In keeping with the Spanish theme, there’s “Carne Asada” half chicken with lentil chimichurri and grilled courgette; skirt steak with a “sofrito” inspired sauce, plus pickled shallots and a herb salad; white fish ceviche with tomato and chilli, topped with an inventive tapioca cracker; charred eggplant on hung yoghurt with smoked paprika and lemon, topped with a salsa of asadillo, capsicum, onion and garlic — and a hearty bar snacks menu, too.
With its thoughtful offering and seasoned team, The Broken Lantern is a suitably high calibre venue for Ponsonby that’s still welcoming and approachable. Pay them a visit, and they’re sure to fix you a delicious spread indeed.
Opening hours: Wednesday & Thursday: 4pm — at least 1am Friday to Sunday: 12pm — at least 1am Closed Monday & Tuesday.
With the level of technology used to make film as advanced as it is these days, it seems a shame to experience a dulled-down version on a regular TV screen (even if that screen is high-definition and has all the mod cons). For some, it’s an even more basic set-up of the old faithful laptop propped up on the duvet. Cosy, sure, but an immersive, big-picture cinematic experience? Hardly.
With its new 4K Ultra Short Throw laser projector, The Premiere, Samsung is offering just that. Available in two models, it is the world’s first HDR10+ certified projector, delivering contrast and detail from both bright and dark scenes, with a peak brightness of up to 2,800 lumens as measured by the American National Standards Institute (or ANSI).
It has two models available — the LSP7T single laser projector, with an up to 120-inch screen size, and the LSP9T, which boasts triple laser technology with an up to 130-inch image size.
Wherever one wishes to position it in the house — whether close to the wall or further away to adjust the screen size — The Premiere is versatile and easy to use, with ultra-short throw laser technology and a sleek, compact design that fits into any living room arrangement.
TV shows, sports games and movies alike all benefit from premium sound quality, with two built-in woofers, two tweeters and Samsung’s Acoustic Beam technology. Whether it’s a full-scale action sequence you’re watching or a more intimate scene, you’re in for a fully immersive experience.
With Christmas around the corner, we think the Premiere is a brilliant idea for a gift — and we suggest gifting this to someone with whom you share an abode, so you too can benefit from the groundbreaking cinematic technology. Movie nights in never looked so magnificent.
Words Jessica-Belle Greer | PHOTOS Holly Sarah Burgess | 14 Dec 2021
Tiffany & Co. has a longstanding legacy of discovering the world’s most mesmerising coloured gemstones, including those that had never been used in jewellery until it had the Tiffany twinkle of appreciation.
Revelling in its rich heritage, the Artistry and Brilliance collection features time-honoured treasures, including Aquamarines, Pink Sapphires, Green and Blue Tourmalines and Tanzanites. The sparkling high jewellery pieces create an artful chiaroscuro of colour and craftsmanship for those fortunate enough to wear them.
Tiffany & Co. Ring in Platinum with Aquamarine and Diamonds, Bracelet in Platinum with Aquamarines and Diamonds.
Tiffany & Co. Necklace in 18k Yellow Gold and Platinum with Yellow and White Diamonds, Bracelet in 18k Yellow Gold and Platinum with Yellow and White Diamonds, Ring in Platinum with a Pink Sapphire and Diamonds.
Tiffany & Co. Ring in Platinum with Green Tourmaline and Diamonds, Ring in Platinum with Blue Tourmaline and Diamonds, Pendant in Platinum with a Blue Tourmaline and Diamonds.
Tiffany & Co. Ring in Platinum with Tanzanite and Diamonds, Pendant in Platinum with Tanzanite and Diamonds.
Tiffany & Co. Ring in Platinum with Cuprian Elbaite Tourmaline and Diamonds.
Tiffany & Co. Earrings in Platinum with Aquamarine and Diamonds.
Image credit: Hand Model: Fliss Grennell. Manicure: Phoebe Watt Makeup.
If you’ve missed any milestones of late (or just want to acknowledge our still-novel liberty), we recommend gathering your friends and family for some long overdue wining, dining and general good timing at these lauded restaurants.
Ahi Ben Bayly’s restaurant celebrates New Zealand food with a story, and thanks to its incredible dishes and Commercial Bay corner site overlooking the Waitematā Harbour, you’ll be in the mood for celebrating as soon as you walk through the doors.
Cibo Whether taking the air in the private courtyard or ensconced inside, diners at Cibo always feel like the most important person in the room, as they enjoy its elegant, seasonal cuisine.
Jervois Steak House For when only a perfectly cooked cut and a side of finely polished ambience will do, head to Jervois Steak House, which also happens to be celebrating its 15th anniversary.
Lillius Whether you choose a set menu or à la carte, prepare to be wowed by the thoughtful execution of Lillius’ innovative fine dining dishes — its welcoming setting a refined contrast to its urban location.
Masu Honoured affairs need not exclude any of your nearest and dearest at this family-friendly Japanese robata restaurant and bar, with a passion for freshness and flavour.
Mr Morris Each touchpoint of Michael Meredith’s Britomart restaurant will have you feeling more at ease than the last, from the polished yet affable service to the food that celebrates the best of the Pacific.
Onslow Refined yet relaxed, an easy elegance touches everything at Onslow. No matter the occasion, big or small, timeless fare and warm service will make it one to remember.
The Engine Room The beloved Northcote Point institution makes a point of exceptional experiences for all. There’s no better feeling than toasting the good times knowing a plate of its comforting fare is on the way.
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