The weekend is here, which means that it is time to write out a hit list of where you want to go for your morning brunch, long lunches and delicious dinners. Here, in a bid to get you out there supporting local hospitality (and enjoying some utterly delectable food while you’re at it), we have curated a comprehensive weekend dining guide for the days ahead, from Friday night drinks to Saturday lunch to Sunday dinner, and everything in between.
Drinks at The Terrace
This intimate and exquisitely-appointed oyster bar and restaurant opened in the space alongside Viaduct Harbour’s Oyster & Chop earlier this year and quickly established itself as the perfect spot for an easy drink or a bite with friends. The Terrace offers delicious drinks, a seafood-centric menu that showcases the oyster in all its glory and a vibe that is both elevated and welcoming. This is the ideal place to kick off your Friday night in style.
Dinner at PŌNI
When drinks and nibbles are done, take a short walk to Commercial Bay and park up at Pōni for a delicious dinner. Lead by hospitality guru David Lee, Pōni offers a menu of mouthwatering Asian fare, focusing on Japanese and Chinese flavours, with dishes like popcorn shrimp with nori-sriracha-mayo sauce, cold dan dan noodles with black sesame dressing and char-siu pork jowl with jalapeño relish and mustard oil. Its wine list is also one of the best in town.
Brunch at Akarana Eatery
Head out east for a satiating brunch at Nic Watt’s Akarana Eatery. There, enjoy dishes like shakshuka eggs, housemade banana bread and cinnamon French toast, classic Benedict and more. And if you have the family in tow, little ones can exert some energy on the front lawn or nearby playground. A win-win, we say.
Lunch at Azabu Mission Bay
If you decide to linger in the eastern suburbs, why not pop into Azabu Mission Bay for lunch and sample its enticing new menu? Offering a raft of tantalising dishes and flavours, Azabu’s new menu builds on its already stellar reputation, dreamt up by Azabu’s talented chefs as the venue’s answer to summertime dining. (But you can still enjoy it, even if the summer weather hasn’t quite arrived.)
Drinks at Somm Cellar Door
Enjoy weekend drinks in the elevated environs of Somm Cellar Door. This cosy Princes Wharf spot offers an exceptional wine list (in fact, it holds some of the country’s most exclusive bottles in its cellar), alongside a menu of tasty bites designed to pair perfectly with your chosen pour. Take your experience one step further by opting for one of Somm’s Wine Flights, where you will be taken on a sensory journey that expands your wine horizons.
Dinner at Soul Bar & Bistro
You really can’t go wrong at this Viaduct Harbour stalwart. No matter what the weather decides to do this weekend, Soul Bar & Bistro is the place to go for a soul-warming and utterly delectable dinner. Start with some wagyu beef tongue or goat fromage frais, order the beef short rib ragù pappardelle with chilli and torched raclette or the Hawke’s Bay lamb rack (if you’re hungry) and dabble in the halloumi salad on the side. Outstanding.
Brunch at Amano
Up your brunch game at Amano, where you can either take a seat and enjoy dishes like granola, avocado with poached eggs on toast or breakfast frittata. Or, simply stop in at the adjoining Amano bakery for breakfast to-go with a tantalising pastry (or two), a freshly-made juice and a takeaway coffee.
Lunch at Huami
Gather your nearest and dearest and head to Huami at SkyCity for a sprawling yum cha lunch. Offering a delectable range of classic yum cha dishes including steamed dim sum, fried dim sum, dumplings, Shanghai xiao long bao, barbecue duck and pork, wok-fried noodles and more, this is the perfect place to escape the weekend weather for a flavoursome feast.
Dinner at Jervois Steak House
End your week on a high note by enjoying a satiating dinner at Auckland’s most lauded steak house. If you haven’t been to Jervois Steak House since its facelift, or sampled the new additions to its menu, consider this a sign. Cosy up by the open fire and order one of JSH’s famous cuts or, if red meat isn’t on the cards, opt instead for something like the grilled crayfish with lemon butter, the handmade gnocchi or the pan-fried market fish. And with a line-up of new desserts on offer to satisfy those sweet-tooth cravings, there really is something here for everyone to enjoy.
