Notable Chef

Tala

A male chef working behind the counter inside an open kitchen.
Place Auckland
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What started out as a pop-up restaurant at Karangahape Road’s Bar Magda in 2022 saw subsequent success for TALA, which has now permanently relocated to Parnell Road.

Norma Taps

A man and woman chatting to a staff member at the counter at Norma Taps in Auckland.
Place Auckland
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Sustainability and creativity combine at Norma Taps, an innovative space making its home in Auckland’s City Works Depot.

Roses Dining Room

The tiny restaurant inside Roses Dining Room in Auckland.
Place Auckland
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Roses Dining Room may seem a little unconventional, but they’ve certainly got the recipe right.

Culprit

Plates of food next to a menu that sees 'Culprit' in black and white.
Place Auckland
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Tucked away up a narrow central Auckland staircase lies Culprit, a trendy and sophisticated inner city hideout serving nostalgic New Zealand cuisine with a modern global edge.

Tempero

Two men and a woman standing in the bright blue entrance to Tempero restaurant in Auckland.
Place Auckland
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We all know that Karangahape Road is a melting pot of global cuisines, but until recently Latin-influenced options were notably lacking from the scene.

Homeland

A staff member holding three plates of food.
Place Auckland
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Built on the concept of being an embassy for all things food, Auckland’s Homeland is about appreciating local, sustainable produce, creating a sense of community and...

KOL

A long table with chairs sitting against a blue wall inside KOL.
Place Auckland
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KOL (pronounced ‘coal’ and inspired by the same word) is all about fire, food and cocktails. Cue: vibrant colours, bold flavours and interesting concepts and dishes.

Bar Céleste

Chef preparing food in the kitchen at Bar Celeste.
Place Auckland Editor's Pick
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No matter the shape of your night, Céleste should be a feature.

Gemmayze Street

Close up of seating area and old photographs and artwork on the wall at Gemmayze Street.
Place Auckland
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Don’t head here looking for something you’re familiar with, go to be taken somewhere completely new.

Orphans Kitchen

Interior of restaurant.
Place Auckland
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Effortlessly cool and utterly lacking in pretension, Orphans Kitchen is one of the greatest contributions to the Ponsonby Road renaissance.