Urban List Guide To Auckland

Here in Tāmaki Makaurau we’ve slurped our way to find the best bowls of steaming hot phở you can get in the city to find some faves we just keep coming back to again and again. 

With winter’s indoor-socialising era officially upon us, hosting at home no longer needs to look like a Pinterest board brought violently to life. And we’re here to show you that the best hosts aren’t necessarily the ones making everything from scratch.

We tapped a hair stylist for her go-to tips, biggest blow-wave mistakes and the tricks she swears by for achieving that fresh-from-the-salon finish from your own bathroom.

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.

When it comes to steaks, the grills (and chefs) in Tāmaki Makaurau aren’t messing around. Whether you’re all about how it’s cooked (from charcoal to woodfired) or all about the cut, there’s a steak for every kind of occasion, big or small. 

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

​Auckland is a mecca for hair salons and when it comes to choosing “the one”, selecting a hairdresser to entrust with your precious locks is a big freakin’ deal.

Kick back and dive into the best Disney+ has to offer in Australia and New Zealand for 2026.

As Kiwis, a love of pies is practically in our DNA. These hearty pastries have been keeping us fuelled for generations and are the perfect meal for lunch, dinner, or even a cheeky brekkie.

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. 

We’ve rounded up our go-to picks for that bakery run—whether you’re a sucker for a kiwi classic, a modern Asian sweet, gluten-free sausage roll or a vegan croissant—we’ve got you.

Ube is having a main character moment in the food and drink scene across Aotearoa, and especially in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Whether you’re a fan of a classic hot choc, or an indulgent one with melted chocolate, floating with marshmallows (toasted, please)—or a thick Italian-style custard situation, there’s a hot choc for every occasion here in Tāmaki Makaurau.

From the first slurp of noodles, a jammy egg and fragrant char of the glistening piece of chāshū, to a deep and savoury, toasted sesame dotted broth—here are our picks for the best ramen in Auckland in 2026.

Whether you'd love to spend your weekend gazing at art-adorned walls with a quizzical look on your face thinking ‘what the heck is that!?’ or simply elevate your mind by marvelling at stunning artwork then we have found the best places for you.

If you’re curious about anything (or everything), get yourself along to one of Auckland’s many incredible museums and prepare to expand your mind. From ancient relics to impressive architecture, lush outdoors to lifeforms past and present, Auckland has no shortage of intriguing historic collections to get amongst.

One of the side effects of writing for Urban List is friends and strangers alike are always sliding into my DMs asking for recs (which I dig, by the way). So I decided I should really be spilling my secrets here, for all of you, too. 

Ah, the universal dumpling. Enjoyed across cultures and family tables as part of celebrations, they’re found in all shapes and sizes across cultures. From steamed to pan-fried, and all the different varieties in between—there’s something comforting about digging into a big bowlful of dumplings. 

Auckland is a pretty fun place to grow up. Consider this your ticket to never hearing 'I'm booored' again.  

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. 

​What’s a Sunday without a roast? We’re talking juicy, succulent pieces of meat drowned in gravy, paired with crispy, seasoned veges and—if you’re lucky—a fluffy Yorkshire pud on the side. 

Grab a pie and a pint, put your thinking cap on, and get ready to show off your obscure knowledge. Who knows? You might even come out on top. 

As far as baked treats go, cookies are king, and we don't discriminate.

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.

Forget everything you thought you knew about vegan and vegetarian food. Far from its can-o’-chickpea origins, vegan fare is now unapologetically delicious.

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

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.

Make markets your favourite weekend morning ritual and kick on with mates for the night markets too. Here is our (extensive!) list of the very best Auckland markets.

Swap your waterproof jacket for a robe and hiking boots for slippers, here’s how to spend a stress-free 72 hours in Aotearoa’s geothermal heart.

Does life feel so hectic right now that you’re missing out on those magical moments with your special someone? Check out these romantic getaways and magical retreats within driving (or ferry) distance from Auckland.

Beer—it makes the world a better place and lucky for us hop lovers, Auckland’s craft beer scene is absolutely booming.

From vintage teacups to bottomless bubbles—here are our picks for the best high tea offerings across Tāmaki Makaurau.

Make it a memorable weekend (with Mother’s Day this year on Sunday 10th May) and gift her the love language of food, with a feast out in Tāmaki Makaurau.

This Mother’s Day, skip the generic gifts and celebrate with something truly special, while supporting the incredible businesses that make Aotearoa shine. 

From rolling valleys to dense native forest and cliffs overlooking black sand beaches, we've found the most jaw-dropping Airbnbs across New Zealand that you can book for a getaway.

Korean food has officially taken over Auckland—and we're not mad about it. Whether you're in it for fiery Korean fried chicken, bubbling bowls of stew, or sizzling hot BBQ, this is your go-to guide to the best Korean restaurants in Auckland.

Whether you're after breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner or a little somethin' somethin' this ANZAC Day public holiday, there's loads to choose from. 

Oh New Zealand, how we love it. Home to dramatic, unspoiled landscapes it’s one hell of a spot for a group getaway—and, once you’re there, all you need is the best Airbnb to take your longed-for hol to the next level.

Managed to wrangle time with the whole fam and tempted by a New Zealand getaway at the best Airbnb? You’ve come to the right place.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, here are the best things to do in Auckland to celebrate. 

We’ve plucked, tinted and shaped our way to bring you the very best brow bars in Auckland. 

Whether it’s family brunch with an Easter twist, an Auckland staycation with the kids or an excuse to indulge in Easter hot cross buns and Easter treats—gather the crew for a relaxing weekend ahead, rain or shine. 

From doughnuts to gelato, or make it a complete weekend affair with an Easter High Tea—these are our picks for the Best Easter Treats for 2026 

Fear not, breakfast-lover—you’re about to have the ultimate list of the best breakfasts in Auckland right at your fingertips.

Let's get one thing straight—pilates may be a great tool for rehab but that doesn't mean it's cruisy.

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.

At Urban List, we've spent a lot of time thinking about what makes the difference between a good restaurant and Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland's very best. 

From creamy kormas and crispy pakora to dry fire-breathing curries and fluffy biryani, here are the best Indian restaurants in Auckland.

To help us whittle down our beauty choices for 2026, we’ve phoned a friend aka, beauty creator, Taylor Arona, to tell us her top five picks.

Whether you’re a traditional spiced fruit purist, team chocolate, or partial to a custard cross, bakers are slinging all sorts and we’re here to give you our picks for the Easter season.

Treat Mum with a beautiful bunch of flowers. 

Dubbed the BRITPOP World Tour, it’s part nostalgia trip, part greatest-hits fever dream, and entirely designed to have you screaming “I’m loving angels instead” with thousands of strangers.

After selling out in just minutes in 2024, this tour is your chance to see the siren once more and see why we're all swooning.

It's the time of year when we resolve to go harder, to be better, to move faster, and to get stronger—no wait, that might just be Daft Punk. In any case, here's our ultimate guide to Auckland's best gyms. 

When the summer season kicks in, you’ll see ferry-loads make a beeline over the water to Waiheke for the weekend. A day out in this little slice of paradise makes for a perfect weekend getaway—with minimal travel required. 

Early mornings, midweek departures, or late-week getaways—you’ve got options no matter what your week looks like.

Your go-to guide for maximising a trip to the Sunshine Coast

Dive into Urban List's top picks for the best Italian restaurants in Auckland.

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.

After their "one night only" Tasmania show earlier this year, the Foo Fighters are heading to stadiums across Australia and New Zealand with local support acts on each stop.

After dropping his seventh studio album The Fall-Off earlier in February 2026, J. Cole has announced a globe-spanning tour hitting more than 15 countries and over 50 cities, including major Australian and New Zealand shows.

Swedish pop powerhouse Zara Larsson is hitting Australia this October,

We’ve rounded up ten of the most romantic restaurants in Auckland so you can take the guesswork out of where to go for the most romantic date night. 

The musician shares the inspiration behind the new album's romantic ballads and synthy dance bops—and why he handed over the record release schedule to his fans. 

Pulp are heading Down Under for the first time in over a decade. Hitting Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, and two nights at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt, here's everything you need to know.

We’ve whipped up a countdown guide to help you get the most out of Laneway Festival 2026. 

Along with the balmy days, summer brings its fair share of unique situations. The same goes for summertime snacking.

The economy may be in dire straits but your bank account need not be—cheap eats are not a thing of the past. In fact, you can tuck into a lunch that’s quick and healthy for less than twenty bucks, even if you work in Auckland CBD.

Whether payday is a distant memory or you simply don’t want to spend your life savings on a meal, don’t go running for those two-minute noodles just yet. There are plenty of cheap eats in Auckland that are minimal on coin but maximum on deliciousness.

Ava Wardecki caught up with culinary creative and all-round ray of sunshine, Amelia Ferrier, to chat about what it really takes to live that full-time recipe creator life.

Your status as host with the most is about to be renewed this summer.

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. 

Nothing beats good food and breathtaking views, so why not combine the two and head out for a picnic. We've taken the hard part out of your picnic organisation and put together a list of 16 of the best spots you can set yourself up at around Auckland. 

Laneway Festival has dropped its set times, and with them, the annual tradition of optimism, denial and eventual compromise.

We’ve rounded up our crew's tried-and-tested favourites  so you can skip the guesswork and dive straight into an epic Auckland getaway.

We’ve all fallen victim to the “yeah, soon one day” thought trap. 

From boutique to five-star luxury we've scoured town for la crème de la crème, so without further ado, here are the best hotels in Auckland.

Ed Sheeran returns to Australia in 2026, fresh off the release of his newest album, Play.

In Te Waipounamu's (South Island) largest city, a quiet transformation is unfolding. Ōtautahi Christchurch's dining scene is redefining New Zealand gastronomy—rooted in resilience post-earthquake, regional produce, and a new generation of chefs who are rewriting the rules.

Embark on a sensory journey across Aotearoa’s culinary map—connecting the dots between region, producer, and restaurant. It’s not just where to eat, but why it matters and sharing a kōrero with those turning local treasures into global experiences.

From locally-sourced produce to award-winning wines—it’s time to put Aotearoa under the spotlight, showcasing the magic that happens when multi-cultural culinary creativity meets incredible produce grown in Aotearoa soil. 

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.

Finding a restaurant to eat at in Auckland on Christmas Day isn't always easy (the phrase 'needle in a haystack' springs to mind). Well never fear, 'cos we've done the hard yards for you and found out who's open to play host this year so you can sit back, relax and make merry while someone else does all the work.

It's the most wonderful time of the year—for pets as much as humans. 

It’s the festive season—or should I say feastin’ season—and if you’re a bit of a sweet tooth who cares more for the pav station than ham this Christmas, read on. 

Working smarter, not harder goes way beyond hacks for meetings that should have been an email: it turns out that it works a treat for Black Friday sales too.

Quaint streets, sparkling harbour views, and a vibe so chill you'll toss up selling everything you own and never returning home: Here's your essential 2026 guide on where to eat, play, and stay in lovely old Akaroa.

Buckle up—here’s our hit list of New Zealand spots where the journey and the destination both steal the show.