Anitra N.'s
Healthy takeaway options
- 15Nando's TakapunaTakapunaEveryone loves Nando’s! The perfect hangover cure in my opinion. With so many options to choose from and as indecisive as I am it is always a unique form of torture heading to Nando’s. I usually end up getting the supremo chicken breast burger which has the most delicious marinated juicy chicken breast with salad and sauces of your choice. They are well known for their delicious Peri Peri sauce and you can choose if you want lemon and herb, mild, hot or extra hot. At a reasonable cheap price for the high quality of the food Nando’s is always sure to please. You should get the extra hot sauce if you want to be even healthier, this way you will sweat heaps and lose weight.
- 211Moto Sushi BarParnellWhat a cute little sushi bar located in the fancy suburb of Parnell! Came here for dinner, there was about 10 of us in total and it is imperative you book as this place is always quite busy but you can get things to go. My friend who planned this dinner had been talking about this place for a while so I was keen to see what the buzz was about. You walk down some stone stairs into the restaurant which is quite small and quaint - very cute. Would be great to go on a date here! I got a platter of teriyaki sushi which was great however I wish I had branched out a bit more in my food decision as everyone elses plates looked amazing. They had gotten bento boxes dishes much more creative than my safe zone teriyaki chicken but that’s alright as there is always a next time!!
- 36Habitual Fix - TakapunaTakapunaI recently visited the Takapuna Habitual Fix although there are a few placed around Auckland I believe. This place offers healthy fast food such as salads, smoothies, sandwiches, pitas, wraps, noodles, and so on. I got a caesar salad but in a pita bread and it was so delicious!! They have a fantastic vast menu, heaps to choose from. Took me a while to choose my order! They also have the option to make your own salad or sandwich or whatever which I think is a great idea. The set menu is delicious too however! You can take your food away or eat in store as there are always tables and chairs set up for customers.
- 432Handmade BurgersKingslandSo good. Must go. I wish I didnt have a word minimum because that is all that needs to be said. Multiple awards, awesome shop that obviously used to be a petrol station (love how they didnt completely re-do the place), great price for what you get, various options for vegetarians, BEST BURGERS EVER. I got the "Larry" chicken burger and it is now on my eating-out bucket list to try every burger on this menu. Best burger I’ve had yet by far, I have to say the only down side is that I had to choose only one!
- 54Subway TakapunaTakapuna CentralI don’t care what anyone says, I love Subway. These days most of the population are generally not the biggest fans for various reasons but I am loyal to the cause. Or I just have low standards, not too sure. My favourite is the Subway melt - turkey, ham and bacon with melted cheese. Mmmmmmm. Clearly not the healthiest thing on the menu but there are definitely low fat options which is what this place is based around. The teriyaki chicken is always delicious and apparently the salads are really good as well but be sure to get extra meat because it didn’t look like they were very generous with the serving, and if you are anything like me then you need the meat. Always good how you can choose everything that goes on it including sauces which I always try overload on at expense of the worker judging me. My love for food is a borderline eating problem.
Anitra N.'s
Fun ways to expand your mind
- 19I love coming here to study for exams because it is about half way between my house and university which means I don’t have to travel as far but I am still being productive and not staying home where I can never manage to study with all the distractions. The librarians are very lovely and helpful which is a nice surprise as I always imagine them to be how they are in movies and tv shows and really old and witch-like. The library itself has a great lay out, definitely better than my university’s one. It is very open, not dark like most others. I always find it really easy to study in here because it has a really nice ambience and obviously there are plentiful books to cater to everyone’s interests and expand your horizons.
- 29Bruce Mason CentreTakapunaThis is a great venue! Being on the shore and all, you wouldn’t really expect a nice AND big setting on the shore of all places. I have been here many a time in my youth for events such as Rockquest, various High School awards ceremonies and also my sisters graduation ceremony. They were all quite different events but the Bruce Mason is very practical and malleable to whatever it is that is being held there. The events that are held here vary from concerts of any music genre to plays, ceremonies, comedy shows, the list goes on. The Bruce Mason website will keep you up to date with all of the upcoming events that are guaranteed to appeal to all types.
- 34Parnell Rose GardensParnellParnell in itself is a lovely suburb, but if you really want to make the most of it then visit the Rose Gardens. I came here on Valentine’s Day which was really cute and there were heaps of other couples around enjoying the pleasant sights and aromas that is the Rose Gardens. Tip: the roses are in full bloom between October and April to get the maximum potential of the flowers if you wish to visit! These gardens are open at all times to the public and the ‘white garden’ is available for venues such as weddings.
- 461Stardome Observatory & PlanetariumRoyal OakI have always been fascinated with the universe since a young age (I used to carry a little handbook of constellations around with me as a child) so when I finally got to go to the Stardome it was an exceptionally exciting trip for me. I saw the show "The Autumn Night Sky" where you sat in an amazing 360 degree theatre that replicates the sky outside as a presenter discusses what we can see from our spot in the world for the particular month of your visit. After this, everyone goes outside into the courtyard for a viewing of the planets, and I got to see Jupiter through a huge telescope. It was an amazing experience and afterwards I felt rather moved by it all because as you are learning about the infinity of the universe it gives you tingles and puts things into perspective knowing how limitless it all is. In the wise words of Calvin and Hobbes, ""If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I’ll bet they’d live a lot differently. "
- 518The Wine Box RestaurantAlbanyThe Wine Box is nestled in the quaint Albany Village which in turn sets the tone for the actual restaurant. This restaurant is very unique in the way that it serves Australian dishes and this is why I chose to put it on this list. Expand your mind by sampling the Australian dishes, and by this I mean kangaroo, ostrich and other various exotic dishes. I have never been game enough to try these dishes but I do think it is a great idea to think outside the box and make your restaurant memorable and unique. This restaurant is a lovely place to go with a loved one you are trying to impress. It is very romantic and cute and the food is just delicious. Just hope your date is not put off by smoked ostrich.
Anitra N.'s
The perfect day of pampering
- 12Bloom spa and beautyPonsonbySo on my visit I got the "Full Bloom Escape", valued at $410. As soon as I got there they asked if I wanted a herbal tea, so I drank that then went into the room. They were so nice and easy to talk to. I started off by having an exfoliating massage with pomegranate scrub and moisturizers - it was heaven. They did my back, legs and arms then turned over to do front legs and arms and neck. Next was the facial, lots of detoxifying products used and toners and cleansers then a face mask, had that on for 30 mins, was so relaxed I almost fell asleep! Then they put more moisturizer on. Finally had a manicure and pedicure, such cool colours! Whilst I had my pedi they brought in a tray with cold water, watermelon, blueberries cheese and gluten free bread and magazines. It was the best day ever.
- 22Phoenix Cosmetics TakapunaTakapunaI came to Phoenix Cosmetics to get an eyelash extension. They offer very competitive rates compared to most other eyelash bars in Auckland. It cost me $50 for a full set of eyelashes where most other places cost around the $100 mark for a great job. I have been to Phoenix on two different occasions; one was for my birthday because I had gotten a voucher and the second was a few months later because I had loved the first outcome so much. The second visit was sadly a bit disappointing, the eyelashes weren’t as good as the first ones I got done. The girl said that they had ordered new eyelash material that week so that would be why, and it just was not as good as the last one they were using so hopefully since then they have changed back again since then because the first set were amazing!
- 331East Day SpaAuckland CentralEast Day Spa offers beauty treatments and therapy in a relaxing and elegant setting. As soon as you walk through the doors, you are submerged into what seems like another world. With Indian influences protruding through every inch of the establishment, you feel like you have been transported to a traditional Indian village. You are asked to wait in a room where they give you a beverage of your choice. Once my appointment to get my eyebrows threaded had commenced, although hurting a lot my experience was very relaxing and professional. This spa is pricier than other beauty businesses I have visited but it is definitely on the higher-end of the spectrum.
- 44American NailsTakapunaFantastic little nail salon located on the summery streets of Takapuna. I received a voucher for my birthday and I accidently left it a bit too late, the voucher expired at the end of February and I called American Nails a couple days after it expired and they kindly let me still use it. My voucher was for a shellac manicure + colour. I chose a light pink. The girl doing my nails was very professional it was clear she had been doing this a long time, it was all very effortless. My nails were done in about half an hour and they looked great and I got many compliments over the next few weeks. The shellac is a new thing where the colour is semi-permanent and does not come off for about 3 weeks. As good as nail salons get!
- 50Koos Beauty and NailsBrowns BayI got a deal off Grabone for a full set of eyelash extensions and I had previously heard about it from a friend after complimenting her lush lashes. I very often see this deal too so be sure to keep your eyes peeled. The girls are always so friendly with me, I think they are all Korean because I had a chat with one of the girls about Gangnam Style and what the lyrics were actually saying which was when she told me she was from there. So most of the girls aren’t that great with English but they are so sweet! The end result is always fantastic and you get so many compliments from strangers about the lashes, always a plus. So you end up referring a lot of people to this place which is good because I think they are fairly new so It is nice to get a good company recognised! Love this place!
Anitra N.'s
Best brunch spots
- 120Domain and Ayr CafeParnellSo despite the slight bias because the waiter is gorgeous, I came here for my birthday earlier in the year and my experience here was satisfying for all of my senses, mainly taste and sight. Nonetheless, I got the classic NZ breakfast with eggs, bacon, tomato, mushrooms, etc etc. The lot. It was really good and I also got an iced mocha which was great. My friend told me to get the spinach and banana smoothie which she swears is really good but I was not about to risk getting a gross drink for my birthday breakfast. This place is all organic and you can certainly tell from the high quality of the food they serve. It was so full of flavour and I could feel better about myself knowing it was organic. Coffee is great here, got a mocha which was full flavoured and delicious.
- 220Rosie CafeParnellCame here for breakfast one morning as I had heard a great review from a friend. I got the eggs benedict as ordered by my friend. What I thought was great is that you can swap the bacon for mushy peas which I love and can never seem to find anywhere, although I would never give up bacon so I got it as a side. Words cannot describe the deliciousness that was experienced. The service was quick and friendly, the place is so relaxed and quaint on the corner of an unsuspecting road of Parnell near the Rose Gardens, so it is all very cute and romantic. The old fashioned lemonade they make is to die for! Absolutely no complaints about this place, one of the best breakfast joints out.
- 334Jam Organic Cafe - TakapunaTakapunaMy family and I came to Jam after hearing about it having opened just recently. My sister and I got a salad which had chicken, mango and kumara crisps. It was the best salad I’ve ever had! We have been back many times since because we can’t get enough of it. I also got an iced mochaccino but that was quite average (not as amazing as Roasted Addiqtion’s). I especially love where this cafe is situated, it is right next to the park they have redone which now has big deck chairs and a huge expanse for people to relax on which in turn sets the tone for the cafe as well being right next to it. The waitresses are extremely friendly here even when I am being annoying and asking how long my salad is going to be. Great place.
- 423Roasted Addiqtion Cafe - KingslandKingslandCame here for lunch with friends one sunny day, we sat in the outdoor area which is downstairs out the back. It has shade or sun table options which is nice, and this particular day was beautiful. I ordered the buffalo burger which was sadly a bit of a let down. The meat was bland and for me that is the most exciting part of a burger so I did not get to enjoy the rest. On the upside, the iced mochaccino I ordered was the best thing ever, just thinking about it I am salivating. I came back here on a separate occasion by myself and decided to have breakfast (yes by myself, independent empowered woman dining alone et cetera) and I ordered the bacon and eggs with a mocha. Both got full marks, really really delicious. So I think Roasted Addiqtion are better at the breakfast thing more than the lunch.
- 529Altura Cafe & RoasteryRosedaleI have recently learnt that Altura has recently undergone a menu change and I am yet to try it out. However, I used to frequent this place with my family at least once a week until we moved. My sister and I would always get the chicken burger (boring, but so good). Looking at the new menu it seems they have spiced things up a lot, they now have a couscous salad which personally I think is great as I rarely see couscous on the menu in cafes which is a shame because I love it. They have a great kids menu with cool options such as mini hotdogs which personally I would get as a full grown adult, but I guess I’m no poster girl for adulthood/maturity.
Anitra N.'s
Where to shop for women
- 14Metro RetroNewtonMetro Retro used to be Fast and Loose which was everyone’s favourite so they had big shoes to fill. The store is very small and the aisles are awkwardly sized, especially because I usually stroll up from uni so have a big bag on me which ends up hitting things/people over. But this aside I do like the clothes in Metro Retro and that is all it is really about at the end of the day. I have found many a gem in here before but my only critique is the layout. Perhaps they need to refer back to Fast and Loose’s layout to make the place work because at the moment it makes you feel like a bull in a china shop I love love love op shopping so this is definitely the place for you if you are searching for some vintage pieces.
- 27Search & DestroyAuckland CentralSearch and Destroy is definitely one of the better op shops in the whole of Auckland and as an op shop connoisseur this is a big call from me! I have never ever visited this shop and left without buying something. As a genuine vintage store, this shop will have you dressed as an indie hipster in no time. The store isn’t that big but the clothes obviously aren’t ordered or anything so it takes a wee while to get through everything and you do want to make sure you search hard because it is easy to overlook something which could be a gem!
- 31Kookai NewmarketNewmarketKookai is one of my favourite women’s fashion stores. The shops are located at many different locations around New Zealand but the best in my opinion would be the Broadway one inside the 277 mall. All the stores have a very stylish and high class interior, with neat racks presenting the clothes in a very ordered manner. The Broadway store however is a bit bigger than the other ones with more stock therefore more selection for your fashion desires! Can always guarantee you will find a nice dress here for a night out or nice dinner.
- 47Wild Pair Queen StreetAuckland CentralI find something here every time I come here, the only thing that stops me from purchasing is my income or there lack of. The girls are always really friendly (obviously fake, but still) and although they are probably just lying when you come out of the changing room and they say it looks really good, it is still nice to have someone lie to keep your dignity in tact. But in all seriousness they are usually very helpful especially with accessorizing and creating outfits, etc. This is a great place to come if you are looking for something to wear for the weekend last minute because there is always great stuff in the sale racks.
- 54SmooveAuckland CentralI have been a fan of Smoove since way back so it is good to see it has gotten more and more popular and moved into a bigger store a little further along the arcade. Smoove is full of eccentric and vintage inspired pieces for the more eclectic fashionista. I remember coming here in as a 7th former and being amazed over the belt buckles that spun around, they have all sorts of quirky stuff like that here. Recently I have been in and found that they have reworked the place so that their items aren’t as off the tangent as they previously were but still have that unique flair that makes them from Smoove. I love this store and I hope the owners are still around because they always made each trip entertaining!
Anitra N.'s
A night on the town
- 19No. 1 High StreetAuckland CentralNo. 1 High Street used to be the infamous Met club, so it didn’t really have big shoes to fill. However, as dirty as Met was it was loved by many so when it closed down we were all gutted and expected something just as manky to take its place. But then No. 1 High Street appeared and we cautiously and warily scoped it out. It is, in my opinion, definitely one of the nicer joints in Auckland. I have only been here on nights out for dancing, not for dinner/lunch as you can do. It has a huge downstairs area for dancing which is very elegant and classy. Then the upstairs bit is available to be hired out for private functions and is the perfect place for a chit chat with your mate. I love the little touches they have put on this place like the piano that the djs play at and the beautiful bathrooms with huge mirrors. This place is very high class.
- 26Family BarNewtonOh how I do love this place. This is everyone’s favourite gay bar in Auckland! I come here with my girl friends to get away from the sleaziness of any other club or bar in Auckland, and it is pretty much the perfect place to go because if you are a girl then you are pretty much invisible here. It can get quite ego damaging after a while however. There are more shirtless men here than at a beach and everyone is just out to have a great time, the vibe is always so fun and light hearted. There is a stage to rock out on and a HUGE disco ball surrounded by other little ones to give it a dancing queen-esque feel. A favourite pastime of mine is taking single straight male friends here and watching them get eaten alive.
- 35The Pony ClubAuckland CentralThis place is definitely one of my guilty pleasures. You would not catch me saying "let’s go to Pony Club", I always wait for someone to bring it up then pretend like I am uninterested but go along "to be a good friend". This place is also a handy scapegoat if you are planning to go to the strip club or the brothel that are located right next door, just say you were trying to find Pony Club and went in the wrong entrance. Pony club is located underground (no/little signal - very annoying). Had many great nights in this club, the music genre is mainly hip hop so ensure your group is down for that if you are heading this way. If you head to the left of the dance floor on the back wall there are some stairs, if you go up them then you will see a huge wall mural of My Little Pony which is amazing and great for selfies, as per my fantastic photo.
- 4291885 BritomartAuckland CentralSo, this place is pretty much my metaphorical crack. Every single weekend I try not to come here in attempt to broaden my horizons with other clubs but I end up doing it every single time. "No… I swore I wouldn’t do it again.. okay maybe just a little bit". But in my (hazy, drunken) mind it seems like the best club out. The music is always good, it is always full of people of the right sorts (friendly, good looking - a rare mix), and I have never ever had a bad or even average night here. There is a basement downstairs where the "VIP" can go, or a room upstairs from the main dancefloor with a bar and couches to sit. All in all this club ticks all the boxes for me.
- 55GoldfinchAuckland CentralA trendy new bar located on the waterfront of Auckland, everybody is loving this place right now. From the outside it doesn’t look like much but enter and you have a unique bar unlike anything else in Auckland and I just love the newness factor as I am getting sick of always going to the same old joints in Auckland (1885). The crowd is older and classier than most other bars/clubs in Auckland which is always a plus. The layout is great - there is a large circular bar then keep walking past which leads to the spacious dance floor decorated with new and old school stereos behind the dj booth which gives the place some attitude.