It’s time to reflect on the year gone by... where do you even start?
Yep, it’s Matariki this Friday (20 June to be exact) and while some places close their doors for the public holiday, there are still a number of epic spots to feast at while looking back on the lunar year gone by (or wishing it good riddance).
Here are a bunch of delicious cafes, restaurants, bars, pubs, bakeries, cakeries, bowlers, juiceries & parlours to pull up a chair at this Matariki.
Cafes Open This Matariki
Image credit: Hill House Cafe | Instagram
Browne St., Avondale | regular hours (open late Fridays)
Lulu Cafe, Wairau Valley | 8am-3.30pm
Hill House Cafe, Hillsborough | regular hours
Farm House Cafe, Clevedon | regular hours
Sip'N Chill, Newmarket | 10am-11pm, Friday & Saturday
Atomic Coffee Roasters, Kingsland | regular hours
Kohi Beach, Kohimarama | regular hours
Folds Patisserie, Mount Eden | regular hours | surcharge
FIKA WITH ME, Birkenhead | regular hours
Odettes Eatery, Auckland Central | brunch hours on Matariki | no surcharge
Fort Greene, Karangahape Road | regular hours | no surcharge
Scandibunz, Westlake | regular hours | no surcharge
Melba (Vulcan Lane), Auckland Central | regular hours
Good Hood Eatery, Castor Bay | regular hours
Bistro Box, Auckland Airport & Mānawa Bay | regular hours | no surcharge
Fields, Albany | regular hours
Semplice, St Heliers | 8am-2.30pm
Biskit Cafe & Kitchen, Parnell | 8am-3pm | surcharge
Charlie & Chu's, Howick | 6.30am-4pm | no surcharge
Tui Tui Bistro & Café, Auckland Museum | 9am-5pm | no surcharge
Friend & Whau, Maungawhau (Mount Eden Summit) | 8am-4pm | surcharge
Luna All Day, Hobson Street (CBD), Elliot Street (CBD), Newmarket & Takapuna | regular hours
Everyday Coffee, Sandringham | 8am-1pm
Twisted Tomato, Pt Chevalier | 8am-3pm
Alla Prossima, Auckland Central | regular hours
Glory Patisserie, Takapuna | 8am-3pm | surcharge
Daily Bread, All stores except Fed Street | regular hours
Metita, Auckland Central | 11am onwards | surcharge
Federal Delicatessen, Auckland Central | 8am onwards
Paname Social, Auckland CBD | 8am onwards
Ambler, Pt Chevalier | 8am onwards
Wander Café & Bistro, Wynyard Quarter | 8am-2pm
Longshot, Ponsonby | 8am onwards
Pikuniku, Greenlane | 8am-3pm
Cafena Cafe, Auckland Central | regular hours
Chuffed, Auckland CBD | 7.30am-3pm
Two Little Chickens, Mount Albert | 7.30am onwards
Forbes Homemade Gourmet, Kohimarama, Ranfurly Road (Epsom) & Great South Road (Epsom) | regular hours
Oat Bros, Hamilton East | regular hours
Restaurants Open This Matariki
Image credit: Odettes Eatery | Instagram
Candela, Karangahape Road | regular hours | no surcharge
Pici, Karangahape Road | regular hours
Trivet, Auckland CBD | 12.30-1.30pm, 5.30-7.30pm
Spiga, Remuera | 5-10pm | no surcharge
Rosie's Red Hot Cantina, Takapuna | 2-12pm
Turtle Pizza: Pizza & Pints, Greenlane | regular hours
Kohi Beach, Kohimarama | regular hours
Odettes Eatery, Auckland Central | brunch hours on Matariki | no surcharge
Bar Magda, Auckland Central | regular hours
Jo Bro's Burgers, Titirangi Village | regular hours
Loco Bro's Taqueria, Commercial Bay & Titirangi Village | regular hours
East, Auckland Central | regular hours | no surcharge
Cazador (Restaurant & Deli), Mount Eden | regular hours
Golden Silk, Hobsonville & Kumeu | regular hours | surcharge
Broke Boy Taco, Mount Albert | regular hours | no surcharge
Esther Restaurant, Viaduct (QT Auckland) | regular hours
Rooftop at QT, Viaduct (QT Auckland) | 3pm onwards
Bonita, Ellerslie | regular hours
Sunday Burrito, Ponsonby/Pop-up | regular hours
San Ray, Grey Lynn (Ponsonby Road) | 9am-late
Delhi Delhi, Royal Oak | dinner service | no surcharge
ESARN ROCKET, Westmere | regular hours
The Heke, Waiheke | regular hours (gig on Saturday night)
Smashed As, Papakura | regular hours | no surcharge
Milenta, Victoria Park Market | regular hours | no surcharge
Tiger Soho, Mount Roskill (SOHO Hotel) | regular hours
Alla Prossima, Auckland Central | regular hours
Matakana Bacom Co. (Bacon Butty Shop), Matakana | 8am-2pm | no surcharge
The Grill, Auckland Central (Horizon Hotel) | 5pm onwards | surcharge
MASU, Auckland Central | 5pm onwards | surcharge
Cassia, SkyCity | 5pm onwards | surcharge
Metita, SkyCity | 5pm onwards | surcharge
Federal Delicatessen, SkyCity | 8am onwards
Andy's Burgers, SkyCity | 11.30am onwards | surcharge
Huami, SkyCity | 11.30am-2.30pm & 5.30-9.30pm
Paname Social, Auckland CBD | 8am onwards
Ambler, Pt Chevalier | 8am onwards
The Hunting Lodge, Kumeu | regular hours (Restaurant & Lawn Bar) a short astronomy chat with Auckland Astronomical Society at 5.15pm & 6.15pm for any bookings on-site (check out the stars through their telescopes)
One Tree Grill, Epsom | 5.30pm onwards | no surcharge
Signal Hill, Devonport | 11.30am onwards
BOSSI, Auckland CBD | 5pm onwards Friday, reg (surcharge), regular hours Saturday
Treasure Kitchen, Henderson | 11am-3pm & 5-9:30pm
Sum Made, Albany | regular hours | surcharge
Mexico (all locations) | regular hours
Natalia's Food Journey, Manurewa (parked at the Botanical Gardens with other food trucks) | 10am-4pm
Peko Peko, Hobsonville | 5-8pm (dinner only) | no surcharge
Jervois Steak House, Ponsonby | 5pm onwards
Andiamo, Herne Bay | 12pm onwards
Mr Tanaka's, Ellerslie | regular hours | no surcharge
Carmen Jones, Karangahape Road | 3pm onwards
@Bangkok, Kingsland | regular hours
Papa's Italian Eatery, Kingsland | regular hours | no surcharge
Queens Rooftop & Wineshop, Auckland CBD | regular hours with a Matariki Special Pasta: hand-rolled saffron fettuccine with South Island creamed pāua and shaved black truffle
Bars & Pubs Open This Matariki
Image credit: Candela | Instagram
Browne St., Avondale | regular hours (open late Fridays)
Candela, Karangahape Road | regular hours | no surcharge
Churly's Brewpub, Mount Eden | regular hours
Churly's Rise, Titirangi | regular hours
The Broken Lantern, Ponsonby | regular hours | no surcharge
Parasol & Swing, Viaduct | regular hours | no surcharge
The Grange, Takapuna | regular hours | no surcharge
Bar Magda, Auckland Central | regular hours
Atelier, Karangahape Road | regular hours
Nanam, Takapuna | regular hours
Sunset Bar, Auckland Central | 4pm onwards | no surcharge
The Heke, Waiheke | regular hours (gig on Saturday night)
The Rustic Pizzeria, Manukau | 12-9pm | no surcharge
Sky Bar, Sky Tower | 12pm onwards | surcharge
Huami, SkyCity | 11.30am-2.30pm & 5.30-9.30pm
Paname Social, Auckland CBD | 8am onwards
Ambler, Pt Chevalier | 8am onwards
The Hunting Lodge, Kumeu | regular hours (Restaurant & Lawn Bar) a short astronomy chat with Auckland Astronomical Society at 5.15pm & 6.15pm for any bookings on-site (check out the stars through their telescopes)
Signal Hill, Devonport | 11.30am onwards
Ground Wine Bar, Auckland CBD | regular hours
Garage Project, Kingsland | 2-9pm | no surcharge
The Bridgman, Mount Eden | regular hours (with happy hour)
Mexico (all locations) | regular hours
Hallertau, Riverhead & Clevedon | regular hours | surcharge (on-premises)
The Brit, Britomart | 12pm onwards
Mr Tanaka's, Ellerslie | regular hours | no surcharge
Reign & Pour, Auckland Central | regular hours | no surcharge
Carmen Jones, Karangahape Road | 3pm onwards
Longroom, Ponsonby | regular hours with extended happy hours 'til 10pm, plus new winter menu & special DJ lineup
Bakeries, Cakeries, Bowlers, Juiceries & Ice Cream/Gelato Parlours Open This Matariki
Image credit: Sparrow & Sweet | Instagram
Crush, Auckland CBD | regular hours | no surcharge
Scrunchy Millers, Long Bay | 11am-9.30pm | no surcharge
Bluebells Cakery, Commercial Bay & Kingsland | regular hours
Little 'Lato, Ponsonby | regular hours | no surcharge
Sparrow & Sweet, Pukekohe & Takanini | 8.30am-8pm (Puke) & 12-10pm (Taka) | no surcharge
Juice Up (Hamilton Grand Opening), Hamilton East | 2pm-12am | no surcharge
Fankery, Newmarket | regular hours
Wen & Yen, Rosedale | regular hours | no surcharge
Fort Greene, Karangahape Road | regular hours | no surcharge
The Dough Corner, Karangahape Road | regulawr hours
Mill Bakery, Henderson | regular hours (with new concepts) | no surcharge
Miann, Ponsonby & Britomart | regular hours
Giapo, Auckland Central | regular hours (with a Matariki special)
Bowler, Auckland Central| regular hours
Luna All Day, Hobson Street (CBD), Elliot Street (CBD), Newmarket & Takapuna | regular hours
Sweet As Choice Bakery, New Lynn | 10am-2pm | no surcharge
Bear Gelato, Mount Eden | regular hours | no surcharge
Glory Patisserie, Takapuna | 8am-3pm | surcharge
Daily Bread, All stores except Fed Street | regular hours
Mövenpick, Ponsonby | regular hours
Island Gelato Co., Grey Lynn (Ponsonby Road) & Farro Fresh Supermarkets | regular hours
Pistackio Gelato & Co. | regular hours
Molly's Bakehouse, Henderson | regular hours | no surcharge
Roti Bros., Commercial Bay | 10am-4pm | no surcharge
Forbes Homemade Gourmet, Kohimarama, Ranfurly Road (Epsom) & Great South Road (Epsom) | regular hours
Oat Bros, Hamilton East | regular hours
Gelatiamo, Wynyard Quarter | 10am-9.30pm | no surcharge
Want to get involved? Check out these epic Matariki events happening around Tāmaki Makaurau.
Image credit: Queens Rooftop & Wineshop | Supplied.