Charlotte R.'s
Friday night with friends
- 124The Portland Public HouseAuckland CentralThe Portland Public House is a bit of a nostalgia trip for me, back to Dunedin days, with its student flat style retro furniture and kitsch games decorating the walls. We went there for some heart-warming food and boy did we get it. First up was a serving of hand cut chips and maorioli - tom sauce and aioli. The chips were cooked to perfection, crisp on the outside with soft fluffy innards and served wrapped in paper. For the main event I had the vege dhal which was spicy and delicious, with toasted ciabatta. The bacon burger looked like a classic Kiwi burger with all the trimmings and by all accounts was also lip-smackingly good. Chased by a mulled wine, it was the perfect meal on a crisp winter evening.
- 226Brothers BeerAuckland CentralBrothers Beer have a huge selection of craft beers to choose from and the most affable service around. Take a seat on one of the very retro, very kiwi sofas in the light filled bar or hop on a stool outside at one of the big tables. They have mean cheese platters to go alongside your brew of choice.
- 357Coco's Barretta is the more laid back neighbour to Coco's Cantina and that is just how I like it. Barretta is dark, warm and inviting, with the cute trade mark chequered table cloths and same friendly service as next door. I like to settle down in the comfortable booth down the back either with a group or a more intimate one on one date. You have the option to order from the full Coco's menu but you can also just settle in for a glass of wine and bowl of delicious polenta chips.
- 477Golden DawnPonsonbyThe Golden Dawn is one of my favourite places to catch up with friends for a casual meal and a drink. The food is delicious and are shared plates and there is a great selection of beer and cider on tap. Inside the atmosphere is warm and intimate for smaller groups and outside there are large tables for more substantial gatherings. The staff are friendly and there is always good music playing.
- 5110Mexico Auckland CentralAuckland CentralBe prepared for a bit of a wait on a busy night but Mexico in Britomart is well worth it. The food is incredibly tasty and you will want to try several dishes. The fried chicken is a favourite as are the fresh and innovative salads. Wait in the small bar out the back and enjoy a sangria and bowl of house made corn chips.
Charlotte R.'s
Best brunch spots
- 14Zomer CafeTakapunaZomer is the north shore counterpart to Herne Bay’s Zus and Zo, and it doesn’t disappoint. It has the same clean, white and airy feel and the food is superb. The goats cheese with grilled vegetables came with a generous serve of cheese and a delicious red pesto and the omelette is perfectly cooked with a gooey cheese centre. With many more delectable dishes in the menu, Zomer is a cafe that can be visited often.
- 228Federal & WolfeAuckland CentralFederal & Wolfe is in a grungy part of the inner city which is what I love so much about it - as well as the food! The interior has a street vibe with graffiti style art and crates as displays. It focuses on organic and seasonal food and serves up delicious Kokako coffee. I often just have a simple breakfast of poached eggs on wholegrain but there are many delectable items on the menu and in the counter, but sometimes it is the simple things that are the hardest to perfect and Federal & Wolfe succeed in this.
- 330Petit BocalSandringhamSandringham is unexplored brunch territory for me but I was pleased with my venture out to Petit Bocal. The atmosphere is charming and unpretentious, with a definite French presence. The coffee was smooth and the breakfast dishes that followed were superb. The creamy herbed oyster and portobello mushrooms on toast for me and sardines on toast for my brunch partner were both perfect late Sunday morning meals. Other noteworthy sounding items on the menu include the 'Pigs and Pickle Plate' and Caesar salad with a side of fries and there is a selection of fresh pastries and scones on the counter for a smaller snack.
- 42BocafeMount EdenCool Food Cafe is a brilliant concept, it is upstairs at Bloc and flows seamlessly into the retail concept stores in the building. The menu is one of my favourites in town as it allows you to build your own breakfast/lunch depending on what you feel like, as well as having meals and counter food available. My favourite is the homemade crumpets with poached eggs, panfried haloumi and a side of roasted vine tomatos. Yum. Or sometimes just a boiled egg and a salad of wild rocket hits the spot. Great coffee as well from Eighthirty Coffee Roasters and a selection of milkshakes and smoothies.
- 59Shed FiveAuckland CentralShed 5 has had a dramatic upgrade since my last review so I felt I needed to do it justice with an updated review. They have decreased the floor space but increased the menu to include some very moreish options. I have been visiting regularly and alternating between the Haloumi Salad with greens, hummus and roasted capsicum and the excellent European Breakfast with boiled egg, avocado, salmon(proscuitto option available), wholegrain bread and melon balls. The coffee is excellent and there is now a bar that is open on a Friday night. The sheltered outdoor area is a great place to sit on a sunny day and there is still the wood burner and couches to settle in on a cold day.
Charlotte R.'s
Get a taste of culture here
- 14Webb’s auctions are many and varied and run the gamut from vintage motorcycles and modern design classics to fine wine and African art. Thursdays at Webb’s provides a more varied and eclectic selection than the more curated auctions but could provide just the intangible thing you’ve been looking for.
- 22Melanie Roger GalleryHerne BayMelanie Roger's windows are always eye catching and her gallery is well appointed on the Jervois Road strip. Pop in to see works from many of New Zealand and Australia's finest contemporary artists such as Sam Mitchell, Gavin Hurley, Heather Straka, Martin Poppelwell, Richard Orjis and Liyen Chong among many others.
- 325Rialto Cinema NewmarketNewmarketRialto in Newmarket is my cinema of choice in Auckland. I love how they have films from festivals as well as more mainstream movies, so nice to have the option to decide on the day if you want intellectual stimulation or a trashy rom com. Also they have delicious scooped icecream from Kapiti and wine and beer that you can take in to the theatre to enjoy while watching the movie.
- 42Ivan Anthony LtdNewtonIvan Anthony represents a wide array of artists including Bill Hammond, Yvonne Todd, Andrew McLeod, Liz Maw, Ronnie van Hout and many more. An institution on the first floor of the old ANZ bank on K'Rd.
- 5162Auckland Art GalleryAuckland CentralThe Auckland Art Gallery has so much to offer in its permanent collections but it also runs great visiting exhibitions. At the moment there is a spectacular collection of American Modernism on display, from furniture o fashion and everything in between.
Charlotte R.'s
What to do on a lazy Sunday
- 11Tumeke Cycle SpaceNewtonTumeke Cycle Space is a not for profit bicycle workshop just off K’Rd. Anybody can roll along and be equipped with the necessary skills to fix their own ride and cruise back off into the glorious Auckland sunset.
- 23Myer's ParkAuckland CentralIt’s no secret that I love my Newton neighbourhood and the leafy green jewel in the crown is Myer’s Park. On your descent of the stairs from St Kevin’s Arcade the splendid grounds of Myer’s Park are revealed, as well as a number of iconic inner city buildings. The flat grassy area at the top, under the sprawling branches of the trees, is the perfect place to sit in the sun and have lunch or coffee. Travel further down the winding path and you will find a number of other idyllic spots to relax in and take in the serenity of this inner city park.
- 35BritomartAuckland CentralIf you're at a loss for something to do during the weekend why not head down to Britomart and check out this ever evolving city precinct. It's pretty spot on a sunny day and there is a farmers market to browse on a Saturday morning with plenty of cafes to keep you fed and watered. I am keen to try The Store and Milse and definitely want to have another meal at Ortolana. The shopping is excellent with Zambesi, Kate Sylvester, World, Karen Walker and Black Box rubbing shoulders and the Atrium on Takutai has MAC, Kiehl's, Jo Malone and L'Occitane for makeup, body and scents. If you don't fancy some shopping you can while away and hour in the sun on the grass by the fountain - perhaps with a coffee from one of the excellent cafes in the area.
- 44Pt Erin PoolSaint Marys BayI am not much of a swimmer but I love the Point Erin Pools. It is set in a beautiful park at the edge of Herne Bay in a modernist building and seems very far away from the city even though it is ten minutes away. There is a competition pool for those serious about the sport of swimming but also a dive pool, playground and family spa for mucking about in and generally having a good time in the sun.
- 55St Kevin's ArcadeNewtonI love taking people from out of town to St Kevin's Arcade. Not only is it a beautiful building but it has an ambience that is unique. You can browse the shops that line the atrium or sit down for coffee or lunch at one of the two cafes and people watch. One of my favourite aspects of it is the wonderful view out of the huge bay window looking out on to Myers Park and beyond to the Sky Tower.
Charlotte R.'s
Where to shop for women
- 110Tatty's Designer Recycle - Auckland CBDAuckland CentralTatty’s is a treasure trove of recycled designer, vintage and quality high street clothing and accessories. Fresh stock is put out regularly so it is worth popping by often.
- 25Sass & Bide PonsonbyPonsonbySass & Bide manage to effortlessly combine tribal motifs, glam accessories and trimmings and skinny denim in one shop. The bright and airy setting of the Ponsonby store enlivens the colours and textures on display.
- 37Kate Sylvester PonsonbyGrey LynnKate Sylvester in Ponsonby offers a relaxing atmosphere in which to browse the racks of signature looks. The eggshell blue walls offset the clothing beautifully as well as adding a calming air. This season there are Okinawa jackets embroidered with foxes and full length cheongsam style dresses with cascading flowers and, as always, Kate’s great lingerie and edgy leather pieces.
- 42GormanNewmarketGorman is a delightfully quirky store with fashion from it's namesake label in Australia. At first you will be struck by the colourful and unique prints which are so endearing, on blouses, dresses, skirts, trousers and jackets. There are also great shoes, socks, scarves, chunky knitwear and bold pieces of jewellery. The predominately wooden interior offsets the colour and prints and it seems a little like you're in a fashion fairytale woodland.
- 54Superette NewmarketNewmarketSuperette is the perfect place to buy designer denim and soft drapey t-shirts by labels such as Bassike and Nudie denim. They also have feminine wares from Lover and Sass & Bide and slouchy luxe bags by Deadly Ponies. For boys it’s cult favourites Stolen Girlfriends Club, Super sunglasses and classic New Era caps among many others.
Charlotte R.'s
Family friendly dining
- 130Petit BocalSandringhamSandringham is unexplored brunch territory for me but I was pleased with my venture out to Petit Bocal. The atmosphere is charming and unpretentious, with a definite French presence. The coffee was smooth and the breakfast dishes that followed were superb. The creamy herbed oyster and portobello mushrooms on toast for me and sardines on toast for my brunch partner were both perfect late Sunday morning meals. Other noteworthy sounding items on the menu include the 'Pigs and Pickle Plate' and Caesar salad with a side of fries and there is a selection of fresh pastries and scones on the counter for a smaller snack.
- 233Best Ugly BagelsAuckland CentralBest Ugly Bagels is my new addiction. I have only been once and had the King - lox, capers, red onion and cream cheese - it's a classic and my favourite combination. It was glorious. A woodfired, crunchy on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside, bagel with the salty/creamy/tangy topping - heaven. I will be back in tomorrow to see if I can persuade them to do a non-meat version of the Yodi but if not will be happy to try the TAB with tomato, avocado and basil. It's a buzzing atmosphere with the open kitchen and service is friendly and snappy - in the best way.
- 329Kohu Road LtdNew LynnI am a huge fan of Kohu Road's Cookies and Cream and Dark Chocolate icecreams but now also have discovered the spacious cafe out in New Lynn. Supreme Coffee made with organic milk(of course) and a bagel with smoked salmon is my perfect breakfast. The pastries and donuts in the cabinet look delicious and the cafe has a kooky area with a retro caravan and seating area which is endearing.
- 416Toru CafePonsonbyToru has a most unusual and enjoyable menu. One of my favourite dishes is the polenta with poached egg, goats cheese and roasted tomatoes. This is usually accompanied by bacon hock but they are always very happy to remove this and make it a meat free option. It is heaven on a plate. The wild mushroom and polenta toasted sandwich is also incredibly moreish and I love the crinkle cut chips and zucchini pickle that accompany it. Yum.
- 533Food Truck GarageAuckland CentralFancy a guilt free hamburger or hotdog? The Food Truck Garage serves up their take on these classics with 50% of the burger pattie being vegetables as well as a full vegetarian option. The simple prawn taco is delicious and there are skin on potato chips that are oven baked. The house made sodas are sweetened with agave nectar and include flavours like honey lemonade and lavender cola.