Johnny P.'s
Best Burgers
- 120Burger BurgerPonsonbyYes, you guessed it. The new guy that’s been causing all the fuss. You’ve probably heard by now about how incredible the burgers are at this Ponsonby favourite. Every option has achieved peak delicious. One of each kind of beast trapped in pillowy bread, with house-made sauces and extras. You know how good meats can be, and these are exemplary representatives of their species. It’s what’s wrapped around those fillings that I found most striking: about as perfect a burger bun as I’ve ever come across. Buttery and toasted from the grill-top, airy and soft so your fillings don’t spill out with every bite, yet strong enough to hold together till the end without getting soggy or making you feel like you’ve eaten a bagel’s-worth of wheat. If you’ve had enough burgers you’ll know how important those wheaty bookends can be - they can make or break a burger despite the quality of the fillings, and these quality fillings are thankfully elevated by a bun that knows its job. And if after all of that you’re still strong enough to reject gluten, these chefs will hollow out a cos lettuce and nestle your burger ingredients in there so they’re all cuddled up in a crispy green parcel. I would be going to Burger Burger for those buns alone though if I weren’t already going for the potato skins. You think you’ve tasted the best that a potato can be, but you haven’t yet tasted perfection till you’ve had Burger Burger’s potato skins. I’m guessing they must get gifted extra skins from the neighbouring restaurants because there’s no way they’re getting through all the potato innards this treat is leaving behind. Crispy little curls of golden potato, full of that earthier potato-skin flavour and nestled in beside a glistening little pool of truffle aioli. I probably cried a little the first time I had these. That’s how you know it’s true love.
- 28The Flaming OnionNorthcoteNumber two comes to us from the North Shore. My first visit here was a revelation and I’ve been making the pilgrimage at least once a fortnight ever since. Beef ground in-house and cooked to medium-rare perfection, a spicy chicken burger with proper jalapeno kick, golden hand-cut agria fries with house-made aioli - everything on this menu is terrific and there are smaller burger options for kids too. These guys have thought through every element in your burger and it shows. If you’re in the city and you have a car, it’s only 15 minutes over the bridge to this northern secret, so don’t leave it off your list (and out of your hungry mouth) because of location.
- 323Big J's TakeawaysMt WellingtonWell worth the trip to Mt Wellington, Big J’s is a classic neighbourhood burger joint. Beef makes friends with the likes of cheese, bacon, and mushrooms, and there are a couple of chicken and fish options on the menu too. All reassuringly what you’d expect, until you get to the special of the week. Announced weekly on their Facebook page, the guys at Big J’s clearly put a lot of thought into the creations they unveil, which have included inspired combos like thai beef with crispy noodles, rosemary lamb with kumara chips, and chicken with wild mushroom ragout. If you’re looking for well-made standard options and an exciting weekly wildcard then look no further than Big J’s.
- 432Handmade BurgersKingslandAn Auckland institution. If you haven’t been to Handmade yet you definitely have a friend who has, and you might need to have a chat about your friendship because why isn’t that guy inviting you along? Of the top five on this list, Handmade has the widest range of burger options (especially for vegetarians!) so if you’re partial to extras like blue cheese or plum sauce on your burger then Handmade is the place to go. Infinitely customisable, always made with care, and always tasty.
- 55Better BurgerAuckland CentralFor a dependable burger joint that’s open late, Better Burger in Britomart has its act together. You can get a hamburger, a cheeseburger, a double cheeseburger, or a vegeburger, and adding hand-cut fries and a soda will set you back not much over ten dollars. No fancy extras, just a well-made burger with quality ingredients every time.
Johnny P.'s
Where to watch the game on a big screen
- 112Four Kings Sports BarTe AroWhat a place to head to if you’re after a good atmosphere, brilliant food and a nicely chilled brew. No shortage of screens here to catch whatever game you want to watch, they’re always playing multiple sports at any one time…pure bliss for any sports fan, just like myself!
- 26Chicago Sports CafeWellington CentralIf you’re looking for 100% party vibes with people just as excited about the game as you, this is the place. People just kept coming in and the atmosphere kept getting better and better. An all American inspired menu makes this an place awesome to settle in for an afternoon of NBA too, it’s THE BEST!
- 325The Green Man PubWellington CentralSo many good vibes coming from this place, with a menu and drink selection they can be super proud of. This is the cosiest of the bars on my top 5, with a buzzing atmosphere made by good people who like a quality outing. Smiles all around!
- 49The Cambridge HotelMt VictoriaThe spot to head if you’re after a good dose of classic Kiwi hospitality. Warm, welcoming and always busy it’s got those ‘ye ollld watering hole’ vibes but the food and drinks menu is far from out dated. Plenty of big screens to get amongst the game with ample viewing spots.
- 53Speights Ale House WellingtonThorndonThe Speights Ale House is always on point with their good old pubby atmosphere, with great food and a pint served with a smile. They’ve been doing it for ages, and you can tell as the staff are happy to try make your requests happen. Plenty of screens as well, with easy viewing advantage points!
Johnny P.'s
Indoor activities for kids
- 19BowlaramaNew Plymouth CentralThis place is heaven for the little ones! With 16 lanes of ten pin bowling and 18 holes of underwater themed, glow in the dark minigolf, as well as arcade games and pool tables, there’s at least 36 reasons to check it out. If your youngster likes to get competitive then there’s little league bowling competitions on offer too. Hours of indoor entertainment!
- 22Naki Nitro Indoor KartingBell BlockTheir slogan says it all - fun, fast and definitely a blast! With karts designed specifically for youngsters (6-9yrs and 10yrs+) as well as dual karts for one parent and one child, it’s a safe racing environment. Best to ring ahead before you have a hoon on their 140 meter track!
- 32Rumpus RoomNew Plymouth CentralSuper fun and super safe, Rumpus Room is an ideal place to take the little ones to burn up all that energy…you’ll sleep well that night as they will be too! With three play structures specially designed for the ‘bigger’, ‘medium’ (toddler), and ‘little’ (baby) kids there’s guaranteed good times for all. And you can relax in the on site cafe knowing they’re in safe hands with their qualified staff supervising at all times.
- 46Todd Energy Aquatic CentreNew Plymouth CentralClassic family fun to be had here whether you’re into slip ‘n sliding, or spas ‘n saunas! The wave pool will have your little ones entertained for hours so you can kick back at the cafe (as long as they’re over eight years old), not to mention the hydro slides, Tarzan rope and a 32 degree toddlers pool with its own slide. Aces!
- 52New Plymouth YMCANew Plymouth Central"The YMCA is a fantastic environment to trust with your kids. They have a range of activities for kids aged from preschool to help develop their learning and cognitive skills, including the Kindy Gym held in the Indoor Stadium. Conveniently, it also offers before and after school care to agree with your work schedule. If sports are a hobby of your child, that’s no problem, the YMCA can provide popular sports such as badminton, soccer, basketball and squash. Don’t forget about the holidays! The YMCA has various programmes starting from 7.15am through to 5.30pm that enable the children to attend outings every day like swimming, the cinema, arts and crafts, and also trips to out of town venues like Topec and Stoney Oaks. They also allow some costs to be subsidised through WINZ."
Johnny P.'s
Indoor activities for kids
- 15Capital EWellington CentralAn amazing group of super friendly Wellington staff out to teach our youngsters about tv, music, animation, computer game production, as well as theatre performances and more. It’s such a relevant organisation (not for profit too!) with all the latest technology. There really is something fun and educational for every type and age of child!
- 221Wellington ZooNewtownA mixture of indoor and outdoor activities wise(!) but still one of the coolest places to visit with the little ones…everyone loves the zoo! They have awesome animal encounters like, cheetah, big cat, giraffe and red panda, and educational talks every half hour or so. If you’re super keen you can even do a zoo sleepover!
- 31H2O Xtreme Aquatic CentreUpper Hutt CentralSo much fun to be had here! The slides are as good as their names suggest…Xtreme Speed Slide, The MasterBlaster and Darkness Falls…all for a mere $4. There’s also a wave pool, giant inflatable obstacle courses and plenty of opportunity for swimming lessons and fitness courses. Highly recommended!
- 48Carter ObservatoryKelburnTake your kids here and just watch their jaws hit the floor as the interactive Planetarium show starts…guaranteed ‘ooohs and ahhhs’ as well as plenty of brain food! Be sure to ring ahead as they have to close reasonably regularly for maintenance and big group bookings. A brilliant way to explore the Wellington skies and beyond.
- 58Just mentioning to the kids that you’re visiting this place at they’ll be hit the ceiling! That’s because it RULES. Tenpin bowling, laser strike, arcade games, pool tables and a restaurant with a super scrumptious menu. They do regular daily specials like unlimited bowling on Wednesday evenings, as well as Junior League bowling with coaching and competition. A sweet place for birthday parties too!
Johnny P.'s
Best Places to buy Vinyl Records
- 125Conch Records Kitchen and BarPonsonbyThis crew are so good at keeping it fresh and interesting with their music collections, as well as making a kick **** flat white and a menu to write home about. Be sure to ask the in store DJ what he’s playing, and maybe even kick back with a brew or vino!
- 268Real Groovy AucklandAuckland CentralLegends in the game - if you’ve never been before…WHAT?! Take some time to get out from behind that digital download screen and support your local.
- 310Marbecks Music Auckland CentralAuckland CentralThese guys have been around forever, If you’re after a few audible gems, pay them a visit. Look through their selection of vinyl at their online store and be tempted. I checked with them and Marbecks have around 1000 records in stock at any given time - new releases, import and rare new vinyl. They have a special order service where they can track down new, second-hand and rare records from suppliers here, USA, England and Europe. Also some good news - the shop is about to triple in size
- 41Southbound Record ShopGraftonStay up to speed in what is happening in the vinyl with the weekly newsletter. These guys really got behind Record Store Day on 19 April with 100 releases from around the world for the annual celebration of independent record stores.
Johnny P.'s
A drink for me, next to the sea.
- 17Rickshaw Eddy'sMission BayI’m not too much of a Mission Bay fan, but this place is pretty dang cool. The deck is huge and the sea breeze caresses your face as you sip on your drinkie…it’s all rather pleasant at this place. It’s just over the road from the beach, so feels close/beachy enough to qualify for this list.
- 29Ostro BrasserieAuckland CentralWhat’s not to like about a harbour front view, delicious artistic food, 3 stories up, looking out over the Harbour Bridge, Rangitoto, etc and etc? Yep, gimme that any day. Bliss.
- 326Jack TarAuckland CentralThe North Wharf is totally buzzing at the moment, there’s a treasure trove of places opening up everywhere. There’s plenty of outside tables to chill at and they’re right by the water. A real cruisy pubby vibe with nice brews and good grub. Nom nom nom.
- 464TSG - Tyler Street GarageAuckland CentralSuper dooper awesome to hang out on the rooftop bar or the outside tables here. Sunny vibes with great food and there’s usually a DJ playing tracks - highly recommended.
- 527Northern SteamshipAuckland CentralAwesome spot to be by the sea but still get that downtown vibe. This place is always busy, a real safe/solid place to go for a coupley drinks with some buddies and your work mates.