Sarah M.'s
Where to take the kids to eat
- 110Mexicali Fresh - NewmarketNewmarketTake the littlies to Mexicali and get them thinking (and eating) outside of their comfort zone. I’d start them off with a cheese quesadilla and go light on the salsas, you don’t want their first experience of Mexican food to be burning there young taste buds!
- 24Subway William PickeringAlbanySometimes a good old sandwhich is all a kid needs to keep them happy and their belly full. None of this fancy stuff, just a good old ham and chesse sub. If your kid is not as fussy as my little niece then I would definately throw some salad into the mix!
- 314Burger Fuel Sylvia ParkMount WellingtonKids love burgers and fries, yes its not the healthiest option but at least Burger Fuel has put a healthy spin on that good old Friday night favourite. Check out their kids meal range and feed your little one a little meal to fill their little belly. Note to parents: Do not try to take a bite of your childs burger, they will get upset.
- 4161Circus Circus CafeMount EdenCircus Circus will have your little ones imagination running wild. This is one really cool place to bring kids for a meal and its the kind of place that really impresses adults too. If you have a dog, you can bring them along for the trip out, the cafe has dog bowls with fresh water outside for your furry friend.
- 54La Porchetta PonsonbyPonsonbySometimes Italian is just what you need to end your working week but often its hard to find a place that caters for children. La Porchetta is a great choice when you have littlies to feed. Reasonably priced and good food for a range of taste buds, just watch the spaghetti sauce, its known to be rather messy!
Sarah M.'s
Geek-friendly shopping destinations
- 19Heroes For SaleNewtonHeroes is the place to let your inner comic geek really come to life. If you are into comics this place will blow you away, not only do they have a great range of the latest editions and hard to find gems but if you fancy a figurine or two then you can pick one up with your next purchase.
- 22Have you always wanted to built an ultimate robot about battle it out against other robots? Well my friend, you need to get yourself down to Jaycar asap. Prepare to geek out a little though, who am I kidding, prepare to be in geeky electronic heaven. The staff know what they are talking about so feel free to ask questions until you’ve got all you need to know.
- 338Unity Books LimitedAuckland CentralFor all of your book-geek needs head to Unity on High Street. You will love the huge selection and little gems here and will most likely spend hours just flicking through the pages of nice new books. Close to inner city parks so I’d suggest taking your new purchase into nature to get a bit more familiar with each other.
- 46Camera & Camera LimitedAuckland CentralIf you are interested in photography and are wanting to geek out a little then head to see the guys at Camera & Camera. These guys know their stuff! I bought my first camera from them and always go back for friendly advice and to pick up accessories when I’ve got a bit of extra cash lying around.
- 520JB Hi-Fi Sylvia ParkMt WellingtonOk so I’m going to say that I’m a bit of a Mac geek, in fact I really don’t know how to drive a PC at all anymore. JB Hi-Fi never fails to get my heart racing with all of the pretty new Mac products. Better yet you can try them out and take them for a bit of a spin in store. Oh Mac, I will always be under your spell.
Sarah M.'s
Where to eat dessert
- 154MilseAuckland CentralWhat isn’t there to love about a restaurant that’s sole purpose is to get your taste buds fired up after dinner? This is the kind of place that everyone talks about, a place so good that if you haven’t tried it yet you need to make sure it’s the next thing you do. The menu is a little different in the evening but if you head there on a Monday brunch date like I did then I would recommend trying the gelato sticks, perfect for the summer sun.
- 224Valentino's GelatoAuckland CentralGelato is just one of those desserts that I cannot say no to. Oh and if you are thinking dessert is just for after dinner then think again my friend! This is the perfect place to come to on a cute little date night on the waterfront. I’ve had my fair share of gelato and let me tell you, these guys do it best.
- 331Café CezannePonsonbyWhen you think dessert you can’t go past cake. Carrot cake is probably my favourite, especially with cream cheese icing, oh my! Chocolate is good too but sometimes you need to expand your horizons people. This cafe is open late and is a great little place to head out to for a slice or two of cake. The prices are good and the flavour never fails to amaze me. Yum!
- 424Late Night DinerPonsonbySometimes dessert is in liquid form and this is when you need a really good chocolate milkshake in your life. Late Night Diner, like the name suggests is open late which means more time to digest your dinner and head out for a liquid dessert. So simply yet so so good!
- 557MoustacheAuckland CentralMilk and cookies! Yes you heard right, grab a cookie and a hot chocolate and let the dunking begin. Dessert after all is something that brings back childhood memories, why not indulge in a little comforting treat. Such a great concept and always friendly staff.
Sarah M.'s
Where to shop for the home
- 115JB Hi-Fi Queen StreetAuckland CentralIf you are a techo geek and you have to have the newest gadgets for your home chances are that is an expensive thing to keep up. JB HI-Fi is really the only place I go when I’m looking for electronic goods. The staff are really knowledgeable and the prices are the best in town. Make sure to check out their vinal collection while you’re there and grab some tunes to play on that fancy new entertainment system.
- 230Iko Iko AucklandNewtonSometimes you are sitting in your lounge room on a Saturday night when your flatmates have gone partying and you realise that the room could do with a little bit of personality. Iko Iko is the BEST place to get cute, ridiculous and super trendy homewares. They have a great range of lanterns too which always do a good job of brightening things up. In no time your house will be so trendy your pinterest followers will be jealous.
- 39Martha's Furnishing Fabrics LtdNewmarketThere is only so much you can do with an old couch that you have picked up super cheap from trademe. It may be comfy and you may have finally gotten rid of the smell of cat urine but you can not deny how ugly it is. Take a trip to Martha’s and buy yourself some fabric to make over that mess - this store has the trendiest fabric around!
- 45The House of Knives LimitedMt EdenI once dated a chef who taught me the importance of having decent sharp knives in the kitchen. Now I have become that annoying person who buys people chef’s knives as christmas presents. Guess where I get them from, you guessed it, The House of Knives. It kind of makes sense doesn’t it?
- 59Briscoes Homeware - St LukesMorningsideEveryone knows that if you buy something from Briscoes when they aren’t having a sale then you probably have a screw loose. If you have been doing this, my advice would be t rethink your shopping experience and head there during a "sale". You won’t get over how cheap things are, in fact when I moved houses recently I just went to a Briscoes sale and got everything I needed for half of my budget. Score!
Sarah M.'s
Great neighbourhood bars
- 113Ginger MinxMt EdenEvery time I walk into this place I feel like its the first time I walk in, all over again. Ginger Minx has a funky, kitsch, modern feel all wrapped into a cozy corner of Mt Eden. It’s the kind of place you could go for an after work drink and do a bit of people watching, or arrive at later on a Friday night and boogie the night away with some fresh beats and a cocktail in hand. My kind of bar.
- 232Gypsy Tea RoomGrey LynnA word of warning, this place is so good that you either need to get in early, or come back later in the evening. It’s rather tiny and oh so cosy, got a kick-**** wine and whisky menu, full of neighbourhood characters and quite frankly, the place to go in West Lynn for a good tipple.
- 336De Post Belgian Beer Cafe Mt EdenMount EdenGreat service, great pub food, an array of seating options and did I mention - great beer?! De Poste does casual dining and casual drinks so very well, well deserving of status as must-go to local.
- 48The Eagle BarAuckland CentralEagle Bar is my ultimate favourite place to go on a night out. You will most likely know I am there because the soundtrack for the night will include Tina Turner and TLC. Which is probably the beauty of this place, they have a music system that lets you pick the songs! Definately the place to go if you want to engage in crazy conversations. You never know where the night will take you.
- 577Golden DawnPonsonbyThis is one of those places that is tucked away in an nondescript building on the corner of two busy roads. When you walk in you feel like you are in another city. Always really good energy and has a great creative vibe, you just need to experience for yourself.
Sarah M.'s
A taste of village life
- 113Howick Historical VillagePakuranga, Bucklands BeachHead east and take a stroll through one of Auckland’s oldest precincts, complete with a historic Village. Take the kids to wander through the seven acres that Howick Historical Village is set on - I love the old world charm that’s been carefully preserved in this place. While you’re in the area, grab a coffee at the Apothecary Cafe on Picton St.
- 25Titirangi Village MarketTitirangiNestled in the Waitakere Hills, going to Titirangi Village feels like escaping the city. Once you’re done relaxing in a cafe or browsing the art shops in the town centre, head out to a nearby beach - Huia has a great fish and chip shop - to really get away from big city life. The best part? It’s barely a half an hour trip back to the city centre. If you plan your trip for a Sunday make sure you swing by the Titirangi Village Markets, an integral hub of village life.
- 31Visit DevonportDevonportThere are so many great things about Devonport; the book stores, the parks, the nearby walks, the wharf, the views, the art galleries - it really is a must-visit destination in Auckland. But the best thing about this village? Going there and back on the downtown ferry. Such a novelty for a city girl!
- 41Visit Clevedon!ClevedonThere is quite possibly nothing better than driving out to Clevedon on a weekend morning and exploring this charming village. What’s not to love about driving past green paddocks, grazing sheep, quaint country scenes and arriving at one of the best markets around - complete with live band and horse rides!? There are also some wonderful cafes and galleries dotted along the main street.
- 56Coyle ParkPoint ChevalierAlright, you’ve got me, Coyle Park isn’t technically a village. But it is still at the end of Pt Chevalier road and driving down that boulevard, lined by pohutukawa trees, feels like being in small town New Zealand. The street itself is home to many small shops which are fun to explore, and not a lot beats grabbing fish and chips or an ice cream at one of the local shops then heading down to Coyle Park or Pt Chevalier Beach to pass the afternoon.