The Latest

Beauty

The Best Eyebrow Studios In Auckland

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

Things To Do

The Best Things To Do In Tauranga

The Bay of Plenty boasts some of the best sun, sea and sand that New Zealand has to offer. Tucked away along the coveted coastline is Tauranga, home to the iconic Mauao volcano and dreamy Mount Maunganui beach. Affectionately termed “the Mount” by locals, this seaside gem offers watersports for the adventurous, festivals for the free-spirited and mouth-watering eats for the foodies.

Things To Do

25 Of The Best Things To Do In Dunedin

Quirky urban cool, natural wonders, arty happenings and more than a few places to quench your thirst, Dunedin is full of contrasts and curiosities.

Food & Drink

Mensa

Found on the ground floor of the Beca building, all-day eatery, Mensa is the perfect spot to soak up that glorious sunshine, ideally with a coffee and slice of freshly baked sourdough pizza in hand. 

Food & Drink

Lulu’s Neighbourhood Bowls

You probably already know Lulu’s. 

Bars & Pubs

truth/dare

A brand new bar concept has opened up in Snickel Lane. And we're stunned. 

Food & Drink

Sagrado Cantina

It was only just last week when I finally tasted the mole my taste buds have been waiting for—from a colourful, vibrant cantina called Sagrado, tucked away in St. Kevin’s Arcade.

Food & Drink

The Best Restaurants In Invercargill And Bluff For A Real Taste Of The South

It’s handy to have a healthy appetite when you try out Invercargill’s restaurants, as down south the portions are generous and don’t skimp on flavour.

Food & Drink

Parnell’s Best Restaurants, Bars And Cafes And Where To Find Them

For a night out feeling fancy, a sweet pick-me-up or a tasty bite to get you through your day, Parnell won’t disappoint. Arguably the most stroll-worthy suburb in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, it's packed with restaurants, cafes and bars that know a thing or two about really good kai.

Things To Do

The Best Nightclubs In Auckland

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.

Bakeries & Delis

Fankery

A space which was once a parking ticket booth has been transformed into the vibrant purple hues of Fankery.

Restaurants

Sumi

It’s a Tuesday night in Auckland city but you’d easily mistake it for the weekend at Sumi. The new izakaya spot by owner-chef Jason Lee (Wakuwaku, Katsu Katsu, Tsuru Tsuru) in City Works Depot is humming.

Where to stay

Hotel Indigo Auckland By IHG

Escape the concrete jungle of Tāmaki Makaurau and immerse yourself in the elegant and chic vibes of Hotel Indigo.

Bakeries & Delis

Cinnamon Squared

How's this for an epic love story—Minseok Lee was never a big fan of baking, but when he met his partner, Ellie, she told him how much she adored sweet treats. So naturally, he did what any loved-up man would do and went into business with her on the now-viral cinnamon bun joint, Cinnamon Squared, where he currently bakes up to 600 cinnamon buns A DAY. The moral of the story: find someone who loves you like Minseok.

Food & Drink

The Feed | The New Zealand Food News You Need To Know

Roll up, roll up. It’s time for this week’s New Zealand food news. Hot off the press (or should we say, toastie press) are all the tasty tidbits you need to know. 

TV & Movies

Best Shows And Movies On Disney Plus Australia (June 2025 Edition)

Kick back and dive into the best Disney+ has to offer in Australia and New Zealand for 2025.

TV & Movies

Prestige Picks: 35+ Of The Best Shows And Movies On Apple TV+ To Watch In June 2025

In our opinion, you can never have too many streaming services, and Apple TV+ is a must-have. Packed with all-star casts and binge-worthy shows, it's the perfect addition to your watchlist.

Food & Drink

Bistro Saine

Wander down the cobblestones of Saint Patrick’s Square and you might happen upon the luxurious first floor of newly-built Hotel Indigo, housed in a restored heritage building. You can enter through the other side too—the Albert Street entrance blending into the concrete jungle as if it was always there (just look for the elegant Bistro Saine font out front).

Restaurants

Takapuna Surf Club

When you hear the words surf club, what comes to mind? I think of ice cream, pizza, and Alf Stewart (I haven't watched Home & Away in years, but I understand the Summer Bay Surf Club is still standing. Poor old Mr. Stewart, I'm not so sure).

Cafes

Kinfolk

Funny that the first thing I noticed about Kinfolk had little to do with the actual food—rather, it was the artwork on the back wall depicting three women on lilos, eating pasta. I like this place already, had been my immediate thought.

Restaurants

Perch

If you’d told me there’d be a future where I’d be sitting in Perch, no dumplings in sight, I’d have been perplexed. But in this new era of Perch, there’s plenty to keep bellies full and, dare I say it, you won’t even miss the dumplings. 

Restaurants

The Best Restaurants In Auckland Right Now

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. 

Things To Do

The Absolute Best Things To Do In Auckland

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

Travel

We Asked For Your Must-See Sights On A Trip To Fiji

From the top-notch suggestions you sent our way, we’ve rounded up the non-negotiable places to visit in Fiji.

Health + Wellness

O-Studio Remuera

We’re all for gyms levelling up their recovery game with the introduction of saunas and ice baths but a wellness space that’s completely free from the unrelenting beeps of tabata training just hits different. 

Bakeries & Delis

Fitzroy Deli

You know that episode of Friends where Ross loses it over someone at work stealing his sandwich? “MY SANDWICH?!” Well, we're not so different to old mate Ross here, because that'd 100% be us, should anyone try to mess with our own sando of choice: anything from new kid on the block, Fitzroy Deli.

Food & Drink

Lola Rouge

Head to Lola Rouge for pan-Asian eats whipped up with the utmost finesse. 

Food & Drink

Neat Cakes

Neat Cakes is now open for walk-ins. 

Travel

Passport To Paradise: Your ‘Burb-To-‘Burb Guide To The Gold Coast

Your guide on where to eat, stay and play on a Gold Coast adventure.

What's On

What’s On In Auckland This Week, This Month And This Year 2025

Auckland is pulling out all the stops this month. Here’s what’s on in Auckland this week, this month, and this year. 

Restaurants

The Chef’s Table At Blue Duck Station

We sent writer Vicki Young to check out The Chef's Table at Blue Duck Station. 

Restaurants

Ada Restaurant

Travelling across the busy Auckland strip of Great North Road, you’d easily drive past if you didn’t know about this dreamy food haven. The ex-convent, tucked away in Grey Lynn, has since been converted into a beautiful boutique hotel with a sun-lit bistro called Ada. Having changed hands a couple of years ago, Aaron and Fran of rockstar hospitality fame (with projects across Tāmaki such as St. Marg’s, Pie Rollas, Major Tom, Hello Friends + Allies, Winona Forever, Just Like Martha, Rude Boy, and Friday I’m In Love to name a few) reimagined Ada with modern Māori twists to our culinary scene thanks to the beautiful kai from Chef Kia Kanuta and the team. For those who knew about that squid ink spaghetti with paua cream (and a rēwana fry bread mop)—you’d already know Ada is a pretty magical place.

Bars & Pubs

Tyler St Sport

Tyler St Sport is the cracking new venue from Foley Hospitality aka the group behind several other top Auckland establishments including Soul Bar & Bistro, Andiamo, and Somm Wine Bar & Bistro. Solid credentials, to say the least.

Food & Drink

269 Parnell

It seems like 269 Parnell was under construction for millennia, so much so that we’d long stopped expecting anything to materialise behind it. 

Health + Wellness

Mode Studio

Mode doesn't look or feel like a gym at all (in the best way) and it's one of the few that might actually have this healthy body, healthy mind thing down. For reals. 

Travel

12 Of The Most Beautiful Road Trips In Tasmania

Every route is a scenic route when road tripping through Tasmania, so there’s a lot to get excited about. So pack your bags and embark on the adventure of a lifetime with these 10 stunning road trips to take in Tasmania.

Features

Courageous Creative Pairama Wright On Nostalgic Eats And Finding Connection Through Kai

How Pairama Wright found connection to his Māori heritage through food, and the magic of a one-tin traybake.

Bars & Pubs

Quinn

Hidden away on Mills Lane is a brand new speakeasy-style cocktail bar punctuated with sleek blue neon—Quinn.

Bars & Pubs

Mea

Parasol & Swing just got an enigmatic younger sister and she can sure handle a shaker. 

Food & Drink

The Vegan Treatory

Ponsonby Central just scored the cookie shop. They’re soft-baked, they’re chunky, they’re entirely plant-based and they’re pulling people off the streets of Ponsonby for a fix. 

Restaurants

Cāntīng

Dessert might seem like an unusual place to start a review—especially one focusing on Chinese cuisine—but then again, Cāntīng is far from your usual restaurant. 

Food & Drink

The Best Cafes In Ponsonby Right Now

From chic patisseries and pretty pink ice cream parlours to boujee burger joints, Ponsonby's got it all.

Food & Drink

The Best Wynyard Quarter Restaurants, Cafes And Bars

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

Restaurants

Auckland’s Best New Restaurant Openings Of 2025 You Need To Know About

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.

Food & Drink

The College Hill Wine Room By David Nash

If fine wine luxury's a bit of you (it is), you'll want to head to The College Hill Wine Room by David Nash, glass-first. 

Where to stay

Ruru PurePod

A sublime getaway just 90 minutes from central Auckland, Ruru PurePod the tonic to a this-close-to-burnout sort of week; it's a jaw-droppingly gorgeous setting for a romantic getaway and a secluded retreat for reflection and self-care. 

Fam

Farm House Cafe

The famous cinnabun from Hill House Cafe has returned to South Auckland.

Food & Drink

Bowler

From Charles and Patrick Williams—the good folks who brought us Williams, one of Tāmaki's most frothed cafes (by restaurant royalty and hungry punters alike)—comes Bowler, a bangin' salad and açaí bowl pitstop tucked inside Les Mills on Victoria Street. 

Podcasts & Books

9 Of The Best New Podcasts Worth Listening To

Ready to plug in? These are the best new podcasts to play in 2025. 

Restaurants

The Best Cheap Eats In Auckland

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.

Restaurants

The Best Korean Restaurants In Auckland

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.

Food & Drink

Little ‘Lato Ponsonby

It all started as a gelato dream for Hannah Engelsman, founder and CEO (a.k.a official title as Gelato Fanatic) of Little ‘Lato. 

Cafes

Juno

If Wes Anderson hung up his director's hat and opened a cafe, it'd be the kind of place with pastel margaritas, diabolically cool wallpaper, and eggs benedict topped in fluffy, candyfloss-coloured hollandaise. 

Food & Drink

Trivet

Inspired by To’ona’i traditions (Sunday brunch or feasting in Samoan) and the multicultural culinary fabric of Aotearoa coming together at the dinner table, Chef Wallace (Uelese) Mua is bringing his culinary ode to Auckland in the form of JW Marriott's Trivet. 

Shopping

Mānawa Bay

Forget everything you thought you knew about outlet stores—Mānawa Bay's serving bargains, but make it luxe.

U:L Recommends

The Best Jewellers In Auckland And Where To Find Them

Few things in life come close to the excitement of receiving jewellery. The box, the silky lining, the glamour of it all—nothing compares. Here are a few of our favourite jewellers in Tāmaki Makaurau for you to chase that thrill. 

Cafes

The Best Breakfasts In Auckland And Where To Find Them

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

Where to stay

Abstract Hotel

Tucked away just off Karangahape Road is a boutique hotel known as Abstract. As its name suggests, Abstract brings a fresh perspective to the local hotel scene (and staycays) standing out from the crowd not least due to its tasteful theatre-inspired aesthetic. 

Food & Drink

St. Marg’s

St Marg's has emerged from the ashes of the ol’ Thirsty Dog, complete with lush olive-green banquette seating lining sun-facing windows, pops of indoor greenery, organic cotton and rice paper lamp shades. 

Restaurants

Good Luck Club

It’s your lucky day every day at the Good Luck Club. 

Food & Drink

Turtle: Pizza & Pints

Tucked away in the bustling heart of Greenlane, surrounded by a sea of office buildings, lies Turtle: Pizza and Pints—a hidden gem that might just be missed if one isn’t in the know. 

Bars & Pubs

Where To Find The Very Best Bars 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.

Local Escapes

16 Of The Best Places To Stay In Lake Tekapo From Hotels And Motels To Airbnbs

The gateway to some of the best stargazing in Aotearoa and the world, Lake Tekapo is one helluva holiday destination.

Local Escapes

14 Of The Best Boutique Hotels And Airbnbs In Wanaka

Whether you’re in town to hike, ski, wine taste, or golf, here are 14 boutique accommodation options to level up your stay in Wānaka.

Fitness

Red Room

Neon-lit workout spaces appear to be on the rise and, as a Personal Trainer who self-identifies as a Disco Moth, I couldn't be happier.

Restaurants

GOAT - From India, With Love

Located in the old Misters Real Food digs on Wyndham Street, GOAT—short for "Greatest of All Taste" with love, from India—is a culinary adventure you won’t want to miss.

Food & Drink

Norma Taps

There’s now one more reason to head to Auckland’s City Works Depot and that’s the addition of Norma Taps, located just a mere 20-second stroll from the legendary Best Ugly Bagels, this dapper new spot has quickly become a local favorite.

Restaurants

Hanoi Haven

Traditional Vietnamese cuisine has traversed the Pacific to find a new home on Hurstmere Road, where it's been given a contemporary (and potentially Auckland-best) makeover. This elevated take on what is undoubtedly some of the world's most flavoursome food can be found at Hanoi Haven—a chic new eatery that's replaced the now-unrecognisable Bird On A Wire spot, fronting Takapuna's Fortieth & Hurstmere laneway.