Top 10 Best Restaurants in Auckland

Published by Auckland Newsroom on

List of 10 Highest Ranked Restaurants in Auckland

Auckland is a great city for food lovers, with a variety of cuisines and dining experiences to choose from. Here is a list of the top 10 best rated restaurants in Auckland, New Zealand:

  1. Sails Restaurant: Seafood and grill dishes
  2. Casita Miro: Mediterranean and European food
  3. The Grove Restaurant: Seasonal menu
  4. Culprit: New Zealand and international tapas
  5. Tokyo Bay: Seafood and sushi
  6. Tantalus Estate Restaurant: New Zealand seasonal cuisine
  7. Paris Butter: French cuisine with a contemporary twist
  8. Hello Beasty: Asian fusion food
  9. Ahi: New Zealand cuisine
  10. Kazuya: European and Japanese fusion

1. Sails Restaurant

Sails Restaurant Auckland

Sails Restaurant offers seafood and grill dishes with stunning views of the harbour and the city skyline. The menu features fresh and local ingredients, prepared with skill and creativity. You can enjoy fresh oysters, succulent beef, crispy calamari, and more. Try the crayfish bisque, the grilled snapper, or the lamb rack.

2. Casita Miro

Casita Miro Restaurant Auckland

Casita Miro is located on Waiheke Island, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, a short ferry ride from downtown Auckland. It serves Mediterranean and European food with a focus on wine pairing. The food is inspired by Spanish, Moroccan, and Greek cuisines, with dishes like goat cheese croquettes, broccolini, cauliflower, lamb tagine, and baklava.

3. The Grove Restaurant

The Grove Restaurant Auckland

The Grove Restaurant is one of the best fine dining options in Auckland, with a seasonal menu that showcases local and international ingredients. The dishes are elegant and inventive, with flavours that surprise and delight. You can savour dishes like BBQ tarakihi wing, oyster taco, venison, puau in shell, and more. Don’t miss the 55 day aged beef or the passionfruit soufflé.

4. Culprit

Culprit Restaurant Auckland

Culprit is in the heart of Auckland Central, with a lively and casual atmosphere. It serves New Zealand and international tapas, with many dishes cooked over charcoal or hardwood. You can sample dishes like oyster and sashimi, spicy pork milk buns, duck liver parfait, and more.

5. Tokyo Bay

Tokyo Bay Restaurant Auckland

Tokyo Bay is in Takapuna, a beachside suburb of Auckland. A Japanese restaurant that offers authentic sushi, sashimi, and teppanyaki. It serves seafood and sushi with a modern flair. The fish is fresh and expertly sliced, the rice is fluffy and seasoned, and the sauces are flavourful and balanced. You can indulge in dishes like chicken karaage, gyoza, sashimi, soft shell crab, and more. Try the tuna tataki, the soft shell crab, or the king prawns.

6. Tantalus Estate Restaurant

Tantalus Estate Restaurant Auckland

Tantalus Estate Restaurant is part of a winery on Waiheke Island, surrounded by vineyards and gardens. It serves New Zealand seasonal cuisine with a twist, using organic and sustainable produce. The food is refined and sophisticated, with dishes like smoked duck breast, ora king salmon, and venison loin. You can taste dishes like kingfish ceviche, lamb rump, snapper, and more.  The wine list is extensive and features some of the best wines from New Zealand and abroad.

7. Paris Butter

Paris Butter Restaurant Auckland

Paris Butter is a French restaurant in Herne Bay, a charming neighbourhood of Auckland. It serves French cuisine with a contemporary twist on classic dishes. The menu is seasonal and changes frequently, but always features high-quality ingredients and impeccable execution. You can enjoy dishes like escargot vol au vent, beef cheek bourguignon, duck confit, crème brûlée, and more.

8. Hello Beasty

Hello Beasy Restaurant Auckland

Hello Beasty is in Viaduct Harbour, a vibrant waterfront area of Auckland. It serves Asian fusion food with influences from Japan, Korea, and China. The menu is fun and playful. The menu is fun and playful, with dishes like Sichuan tuna tartare, crispy fried soft shell crab bao, and kimchi fried rice, king prawns with black bean sauce, and more. The cocktails are also creative and refreshing.

9. Ahi

Ahi Restaurant Auckland

Ahi restaurant is also in Viaduct Harbour, with a sleek and elegant design. It serves New Zealand cuisine with an emphasis on quality and creativity that celebrates the country’s rich history and culture. The menu is based on local ingredients that are sourced from farmers, fishermen, and artisans. The dishes are bold and innovative, with a touch of nostalgia. You can relish dishes like house made pastrami beef tongue, wagyu beef with bone marrow butter, lamb shoulder with mint jelly, and more. Try the crayfish toastie, the lamb shoulder pie, or the pavlova.

10. Kazuya

Kazuya Restaurant Auckland

Kazuya is in Eden Terrace, a trendy area of Auckland. It serves international and contemporary food with a European and Japanese influence, with dishes that are carefully crafted and presented. You can delight in dishes like scallops and prawns with seaweed butter sauce, duck breast with cardamom foam and masala pie crust, chocolate mousse with passion fruit sorbet, and more. The flavours are subtle and complex, with an emphasis on texture and technique. Try the duck confit, the scallop carpaccio, or the chocolate mousse.

These are some great spots to visit after spending some time at the libraries near you in Auckland.

Categories: To Do