Sipping And Savouring On The Waitematā: These Are Auckland’s Best Waterfront Eats And Sips

Nicknamed the City of Sails for good reason, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is a waterfront playground, where long lunches, local wines and seriously good eats come served with epic views.

Less than four hours from both Sydney and Melbourne, Auckland is home to a stacked line-up of culinary heavyweights and boundary-pushing mixologists, making its food scene reason enough to lock in your next getaway.

With the help of Discover Auckland, we’ve rounded up the ultimate list of where to sip and snack along Auckland’s waterfront, no misses, only hits. With menus that change with the seasons, you can expect flavour-forward dishes that champion local produce and coastal dining.

East at Sudima

A direct stroll to the many waterside attractions of the Viaduct Harbour, East is a must for the plant-based traveller, and anyone who loves flavour-forward Asian dining. Sitting pretty on the ground floor of Auckland’s Sudima Hotel, EAST serves up share plates that celebrate local produce and authentic flavours, with 75% of the menu vegan.

Rest assured, carnivores, you won’t leave hungry. Dig into spicy kung pao with garlic eggplant, ginger-caramelised shiitake mushrooms and gochujang cauliflower. Thirsty? The organic wine list is thoughfully created, showcasing artisanal producers from across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Queens Rooftop

Perched high up on the 21st floor, soak up 270-degree views across the Waitematā Harbour at Queens, where getting there is half the fun. Duck through the moodily lit Queens Wineshop (perfect for a post-meal takeaway), and hop into an elevator tucked behind shelves of vino, whisking you sky-high to the open-air rooftop.

There isn't a bad seat in the house, with high tables and booths begging you to settle in for long lunches that turn into late nights. Expect slick cocktails and seafood towers, all soundtracked by live DJs. Stick around after dark, there’s a late-night menu and front-row seats as the skyline shifts from golden hour to full sparkle.

Dr Rudi’s Rooftop Brewing Co.

There’s a reason this joint is always vibing: the views and brews are primo. The rooftop was made for cold beers on a balmy Auckland day, with the shimmering Viaduct as your backdrop. The perfect sipping spot for large groups, the on-site micro brewery pours a tasty lineup of lagers, APAs and pilsners, while the kitchen fires out smash-worthy pizzas, burgers and bar snacks like wings, tacos and ribs.

There’s even a dedicated kids' menu if you’re travelling with little ones. Want to level up your visit? Post-feed, book in for a game of bowling at their onsite lanes.

Somm

Set on Princes Wharf, Somm is the ultimate spot to celebrate some of the best of New Zealand’s wines. Long lunches here lean hard into holiday mode, with flights of rosé, yuzu crab toast and crispy fried chicken smothered in hot honey all calling your name. Not sure what you want to sip? The talented team is only too happy to guide you through their stacked tipple menu. Local tip: swing by between 3pm-6pm for sundowner specials. Because golden hour at this harbour-front location and discounted cocktails are a sure-fire holiday win.

Bivacco

Nonna-approved pasta with waterfront views? Say less. Lock in a table on Bivacco’s sun-drenched deck and thank yourself later. Foodies will swoon over the menu. Think Sicilian crudo and beef carpaccio to start, followed by goat's cheese ravioli with burnt honey and linguine with Cloudy Bay clams.

Round out the feast with chargrilled snapper topped with pickled mussels or the local lamp rump. Whatever you do, save room for the tiramisu.

Azabu

Slip into a terracotta-hued booth at Azabu Mission Bay and prepare for serious flavour bombs. Set within the historic Mission House at Mission Bay beach, this Japanese-Peruvian eatery comes with the soundtrack and scenes of waves lapping the shore.

Grab a seat outside and watch Rangitoto shimmer in the sea, while you work your way through tuna tataki, seared beef tostadas, lamb yaki with chilli miso, and crispy pork belly with ginger apple puree and soy caramel. Prefer a liquid dessert to close things out? The espresso martini is gold standard.

The HEKE

Offering the chance to hop from city to island and back again. Taking the short and seriously beautiful ferry ride from Auckland’s mainland lands to Waiheke Island is an absolute must. Home to some of the country’s best waterfront eats and sips. For a guaranteed hit, make tracks to The HEKE. Set across four acres of lush gardens, this laid-back favourite champions local flavours at every turn.

Sip your way through tasting flights from the onsite Tasting Room & Store. Here you can book a tasting to learn how The HEKE grows and presses its Waiheke Island extra virgin olive oil and to enjoy a taste of their Allpress blends. From here you'll be well prepped for a feast, think smashed burgers, hand-stretched pizzas and plates fired over a huge Argentinian-style charcoal BBQ. Our tip is to order the smashed spuds with whip and greens and the Hanoi pork ribeye with zingy pineapple salad. Trust us when we say both are guaranteed to spark a happy dance at first bite.

Bistro Allpress

Get ready to sip wine then zipline, to take home the olive oil you’ve just tasted among the winding groves of Allpress Olive Groves at Waiheke's Bistro Allpress. This hidden gems menu is all about simplicity and seasonality, drawing on Waiheke and Aotearoa New Zealand produce to let quality ingredients—and that exceptional olive oil—do the talking.

Tuck into Allpress sourdough with pickled Waiheke-grown veg, pan-fried Kaipara flounder with caper gremolata, and chicken with sage-and-onion stuffing. For something more casual, nab a seat in the sun-drenched courtyard, where the pizza kitchen sets the scene for long, lazy lunches. Post-meal, wander into the Tasting Room and store for the signature olive oil experience, then stock up on bottles to take a little taste of the island home with you.

Man O’ War

Perched on the north-eastern tip of Waiheke, Man O’ War dishes up rugged coastal views with sweeping panoramas across its namesake bay. A must-do on Waiheke Island, this vineyard restaurant nails Euro-summer energy year-round.

Their Man O' War Forest Flight experience is an absolute must, this a 2-hour zipline adventure taking you through an ancient kauri forest with epic coastal views, ending just steps from our iconic beachfront Restaurant and Tasting Room.

And after all that adrenaline you there it would be rude not to then settle into the eatery for a delicious spread. Start with a charcuterie board stacked with local cheeses and cured meats, or go all in with steak topped with salsa verde or harissa chicken served alongside bulgur tabbouleh and labneh. To finish? The vanilla panna cotta paired with a glass of crisp Kulta Matilda Chardonnay is non-negotiable.

Ki Māha

For one of the best waterfront dining destinations in all of New Zealand, you can’t go past the goosebump-inducing setting at Ki Māha.  This showstopper is set just steps from the white sand of Onetangi Beach on Waiheke.

The menu reads like a love letter to New Zealand's best produce, shifting with the seasons to spotlight what’s freshest right now. Think, kingfish sashimi with ponzu and finger lime, BBQ lamb chops dusted with pistachio dukkha, grass-fed New Zealand Angus ribeye, and Tora Bay crayfish with lemon herb butter. Come hungry, and don’t rush it; this is a dining destination meant to be savoured.

For more on how to soak up the best eats of Auckland, visit here.

Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by Discover Auckland and proudly endorsed by The Urban List. To find out more about who we work with and why, read our editorial policy here. 

Image credit: Hero-Ki Maha, East Resturaunt At Sudima, Supplied.