Dining

O'Connell Street Bistro
The delightful O'Connell Street Bistro is a grown-up treat, with elegant décor and truly wonderful food and wine. Its 12 tables satisfy lunchtime powerbrokers and dinnertime daters. The Eurocentric menu leans heavily on the duck, salmon and lamb side of things.
3 O'Connell St
City Centre
tel: 377 1884

Dizengoff
This super-stylish shoebox serves one of the great breakfasts in Auckland to a mixed crowd of business and bohemian types, locals and visitors. The menu is kosher-friendly with mouthwatering scrambled eggs and great coffee. Linger over the best stack of reading material in the city if you tire of eavesdropping and people-watching.
256 Ponsonby Rd
Ponsonby
tel: 360 0108

French Café
The legendary French Café has been rated as one of Auckland's top restaurants for around 20 years now and it still continues to excel. The cuisine is unsurprisingly French, but chef Simon Wright manages to sneak in some Pacific Rim touches. Book well ahead if you want to snag a table.
210 Symonds St
City Centre
tel: 377 1911

Euro
The oft-lauded Euro holds a few surprises. Its sleek and sparse dining space belies its buzzy atmosphere and adventurous path taken by the kitchen. Euro's menu makes forays into molecular gastronomy, with mains featuring foams, wafers, jellies and jams. Made from superior local produce, the tastes and textures achieved are a true dining-out treat.
Shed 22
Princes Wharf
tel: 309 9856

Gion
The charming staff glide by in kimonos in this swish orange-and-purple room festooned with silk hangings. Auckland has excellent Japanese restaurants and this is one of the best.
197 Parnell Rd
tel: 09 379 3344