Nightlife

From food courts to candlelit courtyards, casual eateries to date night-worthy dinners, the food scene in Ponsonby is world class—and all within walking distance too.

The mercury might be plunging in Tāmaki Makaurau, but there’s one spot in the city that’s only getting hotter this winter. 

Sport is basically a religion here in Aotearoa, and meeting your mates to share a drink and yell sports-themed profanities is a rite of passage. And when you can’t make it to a game, there’s no better way to experience nail-biting sport than with a drink in your hand and plenty of people to create the vibe. 

As per usual, mighty Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is pulling out all the stops. Here’s what’s on in Auckland this week, this month, and this year. 

We love Japanese food an awful lot here at the Urban List. And who’s to blame us? From sushi to sashimi to sake, Japanese cuisine delivers deliciousness on all levels.

Explore Fiji's best activities for every type of traveller in 2026.

We live for new openings (especially the kind that involves food) and know you do, too. Fortunately, Auckland is the city that just keeps on giving when it comes to new restaurants, bars, cafes and bakeries—we really are a lucky bunch.

If you’ve got 48 hours and a curiosity for art, music, film and performance, this is your sign to make a beeline for Wellington. 

There’s a moment in Wellington when the day starts to soften and the city shifts gears. For our editor, this is Wellington at its best.

Takapuna is one of my favourite suburbs in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Not only is it home to one of the most popular beaches on the North Shore, it also boasts a long list of amazing places to eat and drink and that's a combo that makes this food writer very happy indeed.

From small batch spirits and sweet treats to world-class coffee and fine dining that'll mesmerise eyes and taste buds alike, consider this your guide to 48 hours of seriously good kai.

We've rounded up the best of the best bars, with oldies, newbies and everything in between. No matter the specifics, all of these places have one thing in common: they're a damn fine spot to sink a drink.

Hello lovers, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner so if you haven’t made plans yet, you'd better hustle.

Let us hear you say love. Whether it’s your first or your one hundredth date, a little thought goes a long way and a dinner and a movie just ain't it. 

We’ve said it before but we’ll say it again: rooftop bars are the shiz. What’s not to love about sitting sky-high, sipping on a beverage and taking in an epic view? Auckland’s best rooftop bars are dotted across the city and come in all shapes in sizes.

Nothing has us feeling more festive than a completely over-the-top display of Christmas lights—this is definitely a case of the more the merrier! Lucky for us Aucklanders, a decent dose of holiday twinkle is never far away.

With thatched-roof farmhouses and world-renowned udon on her must-do in Japan hit-list, we asked Nozomi Inoue for the ultimate run-down on her favourite hotspots.

Ho, ho, holy snowball. December is nearly here and it's time to get our Christmas party on. Is it just us, or did this year really sneak up on us?

While your Spotify may be overflowing with a cracking collection of music, nothing beats the sweet, sweet sound of live music.

There’s something about dancing I just can’t get enough of. Whether it’s dancing in the moonlight, dancing in the dark or dancing in the rain, there really is nothing greater.

With its top-notch eateries and unrivalled views of the Waitematā Harbour, Wynyard Quarter is one of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s most beautiful spots.

Skip dinner altogether and go straight into a sugar-glazed euphoria.

Bargain bevvies, a bar snack or two and some quality yarns make for the ultimate after-work wind-down.

Easter is upon us and a long weekend of resting and feasting awaits. Take this holiday as a chance to go out to get your wine and dine on because that’s what we’ll be doing!

It's official—Onehunga is one of Auckland's most hip albeit underrated suburbs. Studded with historic buildings and delightful villas, this charming neighbourhood has really amped things up in recent years on the eating-out front, with a host of top-notch bars, restaurants and cafés coming to the fore.

Whether you’re diving into the mad scramble that is Boxing Day sales, after a top-tier refuel mid-beach day, or soothing a deathly hangover on New Year’s Day, don’t waste your calories (and dollaz) on shoddy fare. It’s time to celebrate. Come 2025, it’s a new year and a new you, and that new you deserves to be fueled by the finest kai Auckland has to offer.

Legend has it that at summer’s end or ‘Samhain’—the inspiration behind Halloween traditions—the veil between the world of the living and the underworld is at its thinnest. The dead will walk.

Grab a spot by the water, dig in to a tasty something and let the City of Sails treat you some next-level hospitality at Auckland’s best waterfront eateries.

The independent arts festival kicks off from 2-22 September, celebrating the weird and wonderful of Auckland’s art scene, and everything in between.

Don’t get us wrong, we love a night in with Netflix but it just doesn’t compare to seeing movies on the silver screen, a bucket of popcorn in hand.

If you’re sticking around Tāmaki Makaurau this Waitangi Day—Tuesday 6 February to be exact—you’ll be delighted to know a bunch of top notch eateries will be open for brunch, lunch, a cheeky tipple or three, or an all-out feast. 

Espresso martinis are like the grown-up version of a coffee, a harmonious yet powerful blend of alcohol and caffeine that will see you through the night (and potentially into the next day).

Between free bottomless popcorn, in-film snack deliveries and a Tarantino-approved space, we’ve found the very best of Auckland’s bustling boutique cinema scene. 

Rain or shine, bowling is one of the most fun ways to spend an afternoon. 

Whether you’re planning a big birthday or a special shindig, only the best will do. Because we’re about nothing but the best, we’ve got you covered!

Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight…Aucklanders, while the South Island may be famous for its skies, we’re pretty damn lucky too.