The Best Ponsonby Restaurants You Should Eat At
Vicki Young
Freelance Sub-Editor | Urban List NZ
With a vibrant restaurant and cafe scene, you can’t beat golden hour when in Ponsonby, Tāmaki Makaurau. The suburb comes alive with delicious smells, clinking glasses and the hum of people dining out. We’re truly spoilt for choice when it comes to eating out in Ponsonby. From food courts to candlelit courtyards, casual eateries to date night-worthy dinners, the food scene in Ponsonby will take your tastebuds on a global adventure—and all within walking distance too.
Here are the best restaurants to eat at in Ponsonby,
Blue
Courtyard, Unit 1/1A Franklin Rd
Image credit: Blue Ponsonby | Vicki Young
From the talented hospitality crew who brought us Roses Dining Room, Blue is a light-filled cosy nook during the day to a candlelit restaurant and wine bar at night. From ‘The Blue Plate’ brekky staple tucked away in their private dining space, to house kiwi onion with crisps and roe (for an elevated chip n’ dip number) in the evening with a glass of wine by candlelight in their cosy courtyard. Blue isn’t defined by a set cuisine, but a snapshot of the season, their ethos firmly rooted in creating a local food economy by supporting community gardens and directly from farm to gate for their ingredients. Natural, low-intervention and local glass pours are listed on the chalkboard, along with dessert on rotation—we’ll be back for silky chocolate cremeux dressed in olive oil and za’atar.
Bookings for dinner are recommended.
RETURN
165 Ponsonby Road
Image credit: RETURN | Supplied (Photography by Amber Soljan)
With both a relaxed and refined dining approach, drawing design inspiration from their first restaurant in New York, The Musket Room (which received a Michelin star months within opening in 2013, and retained through to 2020), Return is a nod to Chef Matt and Barbara Lambert’s culinary journey which has come full-circle since coming back to Aotearoa. With Chef Matt’s refined yet playful approach to modern Aotearoa cuisine, the menu reflects the seasons and champions a local network of small-scale farmers, growers and producers with a dining experience taking you along the journey from land to sea (along with some incredible wine pairings to match).
Start with signature snacks like Matt’s take on ‘fish & chips,’ featuring a beer-battered cracker (reminiscent of the best, crispy battered end-bits in FNC) with cured white fish and pops of vinegar alongside pickles, fresh herbs and house-made tartare, or the ultimate surf ‘n’ turf snack via a decadent deep-fried bone marrow topped with fresh kina (yes, you heard that correctly), before a culinary deep-dive across Return’s menus (choose from short or long story, as well as à la carte). There’s something magical about the dining journey, quietly confident, incredible culinary technique throughout, all there to highlight the best of Aotearoa kaimoana, wild game, and fresh, seasonal veg.
Prego
226 Ponsonby Road
Image credit: Prego Restaurant | Instagram
Part and parcel of the Ponsonby Road fabric since 1986, Prego have been serving classic Italian fare for two decades and then some, as a regular go-to for locals (along with a dedicated kids menu too). With classics like Vitello Tonnato—seared fresh tuna and roasted rose veal (along with tuna mayonnaise and pops of crispy capers and basil oil), it’s a refreshing cold starter that alternates so well with piping hot bites of their popular black truffle arancini. Move onto mains such as their Risotto All’Anatra, a creamy duck and mushroom risotto with aged balsamic, and comforting pasta dishes (cue: beef, pork and pancetta Spaghetti Alla Bolognese). Save room for dessert, because their tiramisù has all the classic espresso and marsala wine-soaked savoiardi, whipped egg and mascarpone layers, dusted with indulgent Valrhona cocoa.
San Ray
118 Ponsonby Road
Image credit: San Ray | Instagram
From the talented people at Cazadar, San Ray transports your appetite to a summer holiday for the tastebuds. With lime and tequila granita-topped oysters to start, heritage pork coppa charcuterie from their sister restaurant Cazador, and Fiordland Wapiti tartare with Comté—and that’s just the beginning, along with a cocktail in hand. Get the Paloma, or for something even more savoury, their chipotle-infused mezcal Bloody Maria is just the sip. At San Ray, vegetable dishes are given just as much thought as their meat protein counterparts—woodfire grilled and charred to bring out the sweet, roasted to draw deeper flavours, and dressed with layers of flavour (pictured, their roasted carrots from day one, with smoked kiwifruit molé). Don't forget the meat, San Ray's woodfired chicken (with all the pan juices) is a serious labour of love (brined for two days before being woodfired). If you’re after steak, don’t go past their chargrilled bavette—highlighting the flavour of an underrated cut, along with caramelised butter and cognac jus. Finish with the coveted dark chocolate and brandy mousse—complete with layers of salted caramel, fragrant rosemary, olive oil and toasted hazelnuts.
Cocoro
Located in Frank Parker House, 56a Brown Street
Image credit: Cocoro | Instagram
Dip into the side street off Ponsonby’s main bustling street and you’ll find this hidden gem. Cocoro means “heart and soul” in Japanese, with their modern Japanese degustation-style menu a unique culinary experience every time (referred to as “ichigo ichie”). Choose from à la carte or trust Chef Makoto Tokuyama with one of his degustation menus. With the menu changing seasonally, expect dishes like silky, savoury seafood custard (a.k.a. kaimoana chawanmushi with Timaru scampi, blackfoot paua, Hokkaido scallops, green-lipped mussels and fragrant yuzu), 100% farm-raised Bluefin tuna with smoked takuan (pickled daikon), hand-pulled silky Inaniwa udon with Cloudy Bay clams and shiitake, as well as Chatham Island crayfish gratin with sweet moromi miso and pops of tobiko (flying fish roe). Cocoro is the place to be for a celebration of Aotearoa kaimoana and Japanese culinary technique.
Beau
265 Ponsonby Road
Image credit: Beau, from the archives | Vicki Young
There’s nothing quite like sitting at a table outside Beau during golden hour with a glass of wine and snacks in hand—a refreshing Albariño with their Freaky Fried Chicken, Ashleigh Barrowman’s chilled Pinot Noir with their smoked cheddar and beef tartare, or both with the charcuterie and French cheese options too. On cooler nights, head inside into their cosy main dining space, where you can never go wrong with the mains (big fans of a market fish) and their flavoursome veg sides. From candied almonds and aji amarillo tossed through green beans, gem salad with radicchio, pickled apple and black garlic, to crispy chickpeas and currants with roast caullini. Finish with dessert, or if you’re a bit like me, more cheese (especially a very melty slice of Époisses AOP Germain) and a sip of 2019 Churton ‘Petit Manseng.’
Hotel Ponsonby
1 Saint Marys Road, St Marys Bay
Image credit: Hotel Ponsonby | Vicki Young
Head to Hotel Ponsonby further up the road for their signature Enzoni cocktail (featuring delicious frozen grapes) in the sunny courtyard and then stay for dinner. This beautiful historic Ponsonby Post Office building has transformed into a popular gastropub, bistro and beer garden with a nostalgic British pub-feel with green vinyl tabletops and leather furnishings, alongside elegant chic finishes like lush velvet fabrics and soft linen lights. Start with house rosemary focaccia and smoked kahawai rillettes, then snack on fried oyster mushrooms and lamb skewers. For hearty mains, opt for an HP cheeseburger with dry-aged beef, chicken schnitty with apple, rocket and aged cheddar (and do add fries), or the rump cap with smoked beef fat (order extra focaccia for a necessary sauce swipe).
Note: At the time of writing, they’ve started offering $20 steak frites Mondays—what a way to start the week.
Juno - Ponsonby
20 Williamson Avenue, Grey Lynn
Image credit: Juno - Ponsonby | Vicki Young
When John and Jamie closed Omni on Dominion Road, Tāmaki Makaurau lost a great dining institution (those pillow-soft sandos and grilled chicken hearts will live rent free in my early Auckland memories). Ponsonby are so lucky to have them, now as a sleek all-day spot with standout toppings on toast by day, and more recently, snacks and wine by night. Start with a mini martini—like a cocktail entree—adorned with an emerald green olive, then follow with a very flavoursome ‘nduja XO steak tartare, and raw snapper folded over perfect squares of potato hash with espelette pepper. Both their daytime sandos (and fried chicken burger by night) are a must-eat), alongside a crisp white wine by the glass, or their signature blue curaçao number (complete with an orange-shaped jelly garnish).
Farina
244 Ponsonby Road
Image credit: Farina | Instagram
Opened in 2014, Farina is one of the Ponsonby Road institutions. Chef-owner Sergio Maglione arrived in Aotearoa as a young chef over 25 years ago, passionate about showcasing Italian street food, handmade pasta, and Neapolitan wood-fired pizza (one of the few certified pizzerias in Aotearoa preserving the traditional methods in making Neapolitan pizza). Start with their seafood bar options like oysters freshly shucked or fried with house tartare and octopus salad, mozzarella bar options (with cheese from experts Ill Casaro based in Wairau Valley), nibble on salty pops of ascolane (a.k.a. beef-stuffed crumbed olives—we could eat these by the dozen) and pane e antipasti (Vitello Tonnato and house-preserved sardines please) before moving onto the hard decision of choosing mains (an extensive 7 pasta and 13 pizza flavours to choose from). A pizza fresh out of the oven, with a blistered crust and bubbling interior is a must—from classic Margherita to smoky Salsiccia (with bits of pork and fennel sausage and smoked mozzarella), as well as other Italian classics on their dine-in menu like their Linguine alla Vongole. Best enjoyed with a basil spritz in hand. Bookings are highly recommended with limited walk-in’s.
El Sizzling Chorizo
136/138 Ponsonby Road
Image credit: El Sizzling Chorizo | Instagram
Head to El Sizzling Chorizo for your Argentinian BBQ experience. Barbecue (or asado) to Argentinian culture is not only about eating meat but shared conversations with friends over a cracking bottle of red while the meal is being cooked over coals—let the chefs do the cooking part here, with mains like marbled wagyu sirloin, Scotch fillet, or for a bit of everything then their Orejano might just be it. With empanadas to start, pork belly and flank steak, plus BBQ potatoes and bread to mop up the juices. They even have wine pairing recommendations for each main—would be rude not to. Finish with dulce de leche alfajores.
Parade
252 Ponsonby Road
Image credit: Parade | Instagram
Synonymous with their burgers (with fluffy and buttery pretzel-style buns handmade daily), Parade on Ponsonby is the go-to garden bar spot for a burger and a beer. Serving not only the smashed variety (or make it double), they also have fried chicken and vegetarian fillings which are just as smashable. Must add-on’s are their fries (of the loaded variety—plus when there’s the option to add a chopped smash patty, then say yes). Start with their chilli, lime and garlic oil tossed S&P prawns, then continue with all of above, with a tap beer (or non-alc number, they have lots to choose from too) in hand.
Khu Khu
171A Ponsonby Road
Image credit: Khu Khu | Instagram
Having opened in 2019, and expanding to Milford and the CBD with two more Khu Khu sites, Michael Khuwattenasenee is no stranger to hospitality. Khu Khu focuses on Thai-inspired, vegan dishes that don’t sacrifice on flavour. If there is one dish you must try at Khu Khu, my pick are the Duck Drunken Noodles. With vegan “duck,” bouncy noodles and veg, tossed through the kiss of wok hei—they had me fooled—and I’d definitely order again and again. Snack on panko-fried eggplant with black pepper sauce or satay tofu in fluffy steamed bao and a refreshing papaya salad with your Khusmopolitan, too.
Special mention: Elsewhere at Bare Wine
3C/49 Brown Street
Image credit: Elsewhere at Bare Wine | Supplied (Photography by Jerome Warburton @jeromewarbuton)
From the team behind Someplace Somewhere who have run sell-out kitchen pop-ups across Tāmaki Makaurau, they’re now bringing their latest concept Elsewhere—a kitchen takeover at Bare Wine. Having debut mid-March, their menu changes with the seasons and Kane’s ferments, with European-inspired sharing plates alongside Japanese techniques and flavours.
The menu includes Bare Wine’s cheese and charcuterie picks with sourdough, along with crispy accras and garlicky escargot. Elsewhere’s selection of cold and hot dishes are also made for sharing (or snacks for one—we won’t judge) with current snacks like chicken pâté with pink pepper, and buttery steamed market fish with tobiko to name a few of the exciting bites on the current menu (save some sourdough for the mop). Dishes are the perfect pairing with the many exciting wines you can discover at Bare, with over 350 bottles from Aotearoa and beyond at the shop.
Jump on Bare Wine’s socials to keep up to date with what’s cooking (and pouring) before they finish up their Brown Street shop mid July (and move around the corner to their new space La Buvette by Bare Wine on Richmond Road).
Special mention: Ponsonby Food Courts and Eateries
Ponsonby International Food Court at 106 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby Central at 136/146 Ponsonby Road
A special mention—a collection of restaurants, all under one roof. Two to be exact, and both within minutes of walking distance from one another. This list would go on with the sheer amount of diverse cuisines in both, but collectively this is a best for the books. It’s the ideal place for a group catch-up if everyone wants to pick something different to eat, and the ease of going to one space for all tastes (or a great progressive dinner idea) is a win-win in our books. From casual fast-paced eateries and takeaways, to celebration dinners out, between both of these places, they have you covered for all occasions.
See More on Ponsonby International Food Court
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Main Image Credit: RETURN | Supplied (Photography by Babiche Martens)