Catch Up With Your Crew At These Must-Visit Spots On Karangahape Road
Alice Rich
Contributor & Former Editor | Urban List NZ
Karangahape Road, darlings!
Vibrant, creative, electric. Possibly the most bangin’ precinct in all of Tāmaki Makaurau. A short walk from downtown, a hop across from Ponsonby. Step onto the strip, and you’re sure to bump into toe-tappin’ beats, appetite-smashing kai, and a fabulous queen or two. And so you can get straight down to treating yo’self, we’ve rounded up the top spots to drink, dine and vibe on the legendary K' Road.
So, in no particular order, here are the best spots to dine at on Karangahape Road. Just follow the rainbow road.
Jump to:
- The Best Restaurants On Karanghape Road
- The Best Bars On Karangahape Road
- Karangahape Road's Best Cafes And Other Noteworthy Spots
The Best Restaurants On Karangahape Road
Sagrado Cantina
St Kevin's Arcade, 183 Karangahape Road
Image credit: Sagrado Cantina | Michael White
A slice of Mexico City has sprung up in St Kevin's Arcade and it goes by the name of Sagrado Cantina. If that sounds familiar that'd be because Sagrado's been working the Auckland night market circuit for some time but now you can find it in the heart of Tāmaki, decked out in colourful traditional Mexican decorative flags. Order anything with the sweet-savoury chilli-spiked chocolate mole sauce, and you'll be stoked.
Open Coffee/Open Late
553 Karangahape Road
Win the morning, ignite the night: Open Coffee pulls brews from 7 am daily, then does a switch up to its after-dark alias Open Late for all the late night shenanigans. Community is exceptionally strong here, so if you're after a spot that's all about belonging, this is the place to hit—day or night.
Tempero
352 Karangahape Road, Auckland CBD
Meticulously melding together flavours and influences from Brazil, Mexico, Portugal, Peru (and then some), chef Fabio Bernardini and his tight-knit team have created an intimate space where authenticity shines and Pan-Latin dishes delight at Tempero. Think Brazilian bite-sized bread morsels stuffed with cheese, sweet yet smokey crispy black-eyed pea cakes (acarajé) stuffed with okra and palm heart and smooth passionfruit mousse to finish.
Sneaky Snacky
184 Karangahape Road
Everybody knows fried food hits different after dark and if you're in need of a serious fuel up mid bar crawl, Sneaky Snackys glazed doughnut fried chicken burgers are just the thing. It's giving artery-clogging but no regrets. But we're also crazy about their ramen. Both are worth every penny (and every calorie).
Pici
St Kevin's Arcade, 183 Karangahape Road
Stop by Pici for stripped back, rustic, handmade Italian fare you'll dream about for weeks. These guys do the best cacio e pepe in all the land but even better than that (yes, even) is the sea salt and extra virgin olive oil cheesecake that has a cult following all of its own and, holy heck, does it deliver.
Apéro Food and Wine
280 Karangahape Road
A go-to wine bar since ages ago, Apéro Food and Wine is a cosy, sophisticated simiplicity in an exposed brick aesthetic we crave on the regular. Chances are, you will too.
Otto Restaurant
375 Karangahape Road
In what might be one of my favourite phoenix-rising stories, Otto (formerly known as Cotto), is as perfect for date night as it is for a large group celebration. It's classy Italian with eyebrow-raising 'surely it costs more' pricetags. Every time I hit this spot, I almost cry because it tastes so good. No exaggeration. Try it for yourself.
Lowbrow
St Kevin's Arcade, 183 Karangahape Road
Floating in the centre of St Kevin's Arcade, hit Lowbrow for generously-sauced sandos, golden deep fried chicken wings and decadent desserts combined with low-intervention wines, cocktails, and craft beer.
Ziggle
91 Karangahape Road
Not to be passed over, Ziggle serves ridiculously good Korean Fried Chicken—as is, or stuffed inside a burger. Colonel Sanders, who?
Atelier
292 Karangahape Road
Image credit: Atelier | Facebook
Atelier is Parisian eats with a distinctly Karangahape vibe (and a downright dangerous roasted camembert situation). If I had to choose just one place to eat at every day for the rest of my life, it'd probably be here. And that isn't just because of the food—the somehow fancy yet laidback atmosphere and warm staff make Atelier malleable to any occasion. Besides, Wednesday through Friday is their 'French After Work' happy hour where you can score cheese from $9, wine from $9 and margs from $15.
PokPok Thai Restaurant & Bar
261 Karangahape Road
A really great Thai restaurant is one you can rely on to give you the perfect hit of this beloved cuisine every goddamn time. And PokPok Thai Restaurant & Bar fits that brief. No notes.
Bar Magda
25b Cross Street
If you're hunting for kai you're unlikely to have experienced before, you'll want to find Bar Magda (on the Karangahape adjacent Cross Street). The red-lit speakeasy-style bar and bistro regularly reinvents its menu, drawing from Filipino culinary traditions and flavours.
Java
322 Karangahape Road
Java deftly delivers a flavour bomb of Indonesian cuisine in neon surrounds, plus it’s BYO. Not exactly quiet, this spot's one to hit when you want electric vibes and you've got a monster of an appetite that needs placating. Eat everything.
Gemmayze Street
St Kevin's Arcade, 183 Karangahape Road
If there's just one restaurant you're going to try on Karangahape, make it Gemmayze Street. A Lebanese institution, I'm yet to meet anyone who's been there who hasn't become immediately obsessed. And I doubt I ever will. Create your own tabletop picnic or opt for a phenomenal four-course 'jeeb' or 'mezza', with something sweet to finish. Gluten-free hack: they make their own GF flatbread in-house, and it's sensational.
The White Lady
St Kevins Arcade, 183 Karangahape Road
An Aucklander rite of passage, a toastie or cup of chips from The White Lady is a non-neogiable accompaniment to a night of debauchery. From a historically-frothed food truck, to permanent digs in the one and only St Kevin's Arcade.
Carmen Jones
382 Karangahape Road
Head to Carmen Jones for the moreish Moorish tapas (had to) in a boho, cosy setting and stay for the late night social dancing courtesy of Aluxer. P.s. this menu caters easily to dietaries.
Uncle Man's
277 Karanghape Road
Stop by Uncle Man’s for utterly delicious, authentic Malaysian street food that doesn’t cost the earth.
Coco's Cantina
374 Karangahape Road
Image credit: Coco's Cantina | Instagram
Italian food is soul food and at Coco's Cantina you feel like you're at home (but better). Next time you imagine a plateful of Italian—whether as a classic, vegan or gluten-free edit—and a vino, you're probably imagining Coco's. Plus, their happy hour specials are well worth fighting the traffic for.
Hyderabad Hotel
271 Karangahape Road
Never failing to spark intrigue, the spot currently known as Hyderabad Hotel has had many iterations over the years but whatever it's guise, it remains a culinary icon and, when it's open, you ought to put it on rotation.
The Best Cafes And Other Noteworthy Spots On Karangahape Road
Bestie
St Kevins Arcade, 183 Karangahape Road
Image credit: Bestie | Facebook
Your friendly neighbourhood cafe is aptly named. Bestie has been jazzing up work meetings for years now, as well as creating a relaxing atmosphere for catch ups and morning dates alike. Order whatever takes your fancy from the menu (it's sure to fill the void), or unleash on their packed cabinet offering.
Fort Greene
327 Karangahape Road
Showstopping sandos await you at Fort Greene (made from in-house sourdough) plus Viennoiserie that'll make you very happy indeed. Once a pop up at the Food Truck Collective, then a shopfront in St Kevins Arcade and now a fully-fledged standalone brick and mortar on Karangahape itself, complete with a delightful pastry room.
The Lebanese Grocer
61/65 Pitt Street
Just off to the side of Karangahape Road is The Lebanese Grocer, the home of authentic Lebanese food in Tāmaki Makaurau. And, right next door, is Za'atar Bakehouse, a pop-up window dedicated to Lebanese breakfast icon, manakish (like a Lebanese pizza except next level). Think cheese-forward, za'atar-spiked and topped with fresh tomatoes and salty pops of olives.
Little Algiers
551 Karangahape Road
Down-to-earth Algerian soul food to feed body and mind. Little Algiers is a firm local favourite, and it's easy to see why.
PieFee
349 Karangahape Road
I can't say I ever knew I needed an internet-breaking pie-coffee hybrid (yep, that's a coffee served in a pie, complete with chocolate coating and sprinkle rim) but I do, and so do you. And, luckily for us all, PieFee slings exactly that. Praise be.
Find out moreThe Sugar Dealer
3/321 Karangahape Road
There are a lot of things in life that can be solved with a spontaneous hulking great slab of brownie. Don't know what to do for a bring-a-plate? Brownie. Forgot someone's birthday? Brownie. Flatmate caught you in the nude again? Yep, a brownie is sure to smooth that over as well. And if said brownie recipient has dietaries, fear not, The Sugar Dealer has got that covered, too.
The Best Bars On Karangahape Road
Sly Bar
354a Karangahape Road
Image credit: Sly Bar | supplied
There's something special about ending up in Sly Bar having known nothing about it beforehand so all I'm going to say is you’ll have a ball at this slick spot with grunge vibes, provided you can find your way in, that is.
Deza
St Kevins Arcade, 183 Karangahape Road
Sagrado Cantina's sultry sister (and neighbour), Deza is a late night cantina built around the central tenets of tequila, mezcal and maiz. And every plate is a sensation in its own right.
No. 7
7/59 Pitt Street, Newton
Not quite on Karangahape Road but near enough that it'd be a travesty if you didn't know it, by day No.7 does a worthy take on a straberry matcha—but hot—and by night it dishes out all manner of delectable bites, with a penchant for pasta with personality.
The Frog
454 Karangahape Road
An essential part of any good bar is flattering lighting, and on this (and many other points) The Frog delivers. Created by a pair of artists, The Frog is art-forward and,as you might expect from the name, suitably fit-out in a green palette. Swing by for cocktails (including a 0% on tap) and stay a while.
Caluzzi Cabaret
461 Karangahape Road
If dazzling drag and all-round fabulousness is a bit of you, your night will be well-spent at Caluzzi Cabaret, an experience that's perhaps the very essence of Karangahape Road, distilled into dinner and a show.
Eagle Bar
259 Karangahape Road
Some say Eagle Bar has become the new Family. Head here for fun, friendly vibes and, on Thursdays, probably definitely a hefty dose of jovial offkey karaoke. Good times.
Whammy Bar/Doulbe Whammy/Public Bar
St Kevin's Arcade, 183 Karangahape Road
My favourite dive bar, Whammy is a lil' kooky and always vibey, with a fistful of grunge glitter for good measure. And now you can get double the whammy, with the St Kevin's Arcade icon's expansion to the former Wine Cellar redubbed Double Whammy.
Acho's
309 Karangahape Road
Image credit: Acho's | Facebook
With the claim to fame of having been located all over Karangahape Road, no matter where Acho's jumps to, we're in love. This spot's great for refreshing drinks with all the boujee bites (like kushikatsu, edamame, lotus root, and beyond), in a laid-back setting.
Downtown more your vibe? Check out all the best places to feast in Auckland CBD.
Main image credit: Acho's.