10 Best Fine Dining Restaurants in Auckland

Luxury Restaurants in Auckland

Complete a special occasion in Auckland or simply treat yourself to some of the finest restaurants that New Zealand’s largest city has to offer. From ultra-fresh seafood to Indian dishes like you’ve never tried before, a whole range of local and international foods are represented in Auckland. On top of the cuisine, many of the luxury restaurants in Auckland offer unique experiences, whether its rotating atop the Sky Tower or taking in the views from a vineyard on Waiheke Island. Get more inspiration for where to dine with this list of fine dining restaurants in Auckland.

Complete the luxury experience by following The Luxury Guide to Auckland.

1. Clooney

Aside from the lavish furnishings and impressive space, Clooney in Freeman’s Bay offers a luxury dining experience. Travel New Zealand through its cuisine with Clooney specialising in local dishes with intriguing flavour combinations. We’re talking caramelised yoghurt, violet and pomegranate, nettle and sunflower and Valrhona – just to name a few. The upmarket restaurant also offers private dining and semi-private dining experiences.

Location: Freeman’s Bay

2. Sails Restaurant

Enjoy award-winning food alongside (what should be) award-winning views of an array of fabulous yachts from the Westhaven Marina. Sails Restaurant offers an exquisite fine dining experience focussing on fresh seafood. Match plates of scallops, sashimi, snapper and more with New Zealand wines.

Location: Westhaven Marina

3. Harbourside

Another excellent restaurant for seafood is the Harbourside. Swap your harbourside fish and chips for creative dishes with local ingredients. Try Kiwi specialities like crayfish from Fiordland and whitebait fritters from the West Coast – all while keeping to sustainable fishing practices. Take in the harbour views from the all-weather covered deck. Find this restaurant on the first floor of the Ferry Building in Downtown Auckland.

Location: Auckland CBD

4. One Tree Grill

Reward a climb up and down the volcanic cone One Tree Hill with fine dining at One Tree Grill. This fine-dining restaurant in Epsom offers impeccably-presented plates that you’ll spend way too much time photographing before eating. The restaurant specialises in local cuisine, with signature dishes including Hawke’s Bay lamb, Canterbury duck and local market fish. Wine is also a big deal here with the restaurant boasting an extensive wine cellar of international and local wines.

Location: Epsom

5. Cibo

An attractive restaurant well worth saving for a special occasion, Cibo in Parnell offers irresistible degustation dinners and a la carte menus of creative cuisine. We’re talking meals like venison tataki, coffee and chocolate, tuna with chorizo and squid, and much more! What’s more, this restaurant is a top choice for vegetarians and vegans thanks to their indulgent “Plant & Garden” menu. Get more “vege” tips in our Vegetarian Travel Guide to New Zealand.

Location: Parnell

6. Orbit 360

More than just a restaurant, this revolving restaurant at the top of the Sky Tower is an experience. Complement your Kiwi-inspired dish with panoramic vistas of Auckland. The unique restaurant in the city centre of Auckland is open for lunch and dinner and also offers a kids menu. What’s more combine your dining experience with the adrenaline-fuelled SkyWalk. Find out more in our 10 Luxury Activities in Auckland.

Location: Auckland CBD

7. Eight at Cordis

Set inside one of the most prestigious hotels in Auckland, Eight at Cordis is a no-brainer for fine diners. The restaurant certainly adds glamour to your hotel buffet with eight distinct kitchens preparing gourmet meals right before your eyes. Choose your style: American grill, sushi bar, seafood restaurant, Indian curry house, salad bar and more! Top off the experience with a dizzying array of exquisite desserts. Find out more about Cordis, Auckland in 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Auckland.

Location: Auckland CBD

8. Sideart

A contemporary restaurant with the menu and decor to match, Sideart is well worth a jaunt to Ponsonby. The New Zealand-Indian fusion restaurant pushes the boundaries of imaginative cuisine with memorable dishes including black truffle paneer, market fish tikka, crayfish and moilee sauce, aged duck and more.

Location: Ponsonby

9. Kazuya

Auckland might have a lot of amazing Japanese restaurants but not many matches the splendour of Kazuya. This Japanese fine dining destination in Eden Terrace creates works of art on your plate which you can’t help but feel guilty for spoiling when you divulge into the tasting. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and even provides a 10-course degustation menu, which we recommend in order to try it all!

Location: Eden Terrace

10. Cable Bay

A restaurant well worth taking a ferry to Waiheke Island for is the dining room at Cable Bay. Embrace the glorious views of the Hauraki Gulf through the floor-to-ceiling windows while sampling wine from Cable Bay’s own vineyards and winery. As for the food, dishes reflect New Zealand cuisine, from merino lamb racks to wild venison. Find out how to fill more of your time on Waiheke Island in our 9 Glorious Things to Do on Waiheke Island and visit more of the 21 Vineyards & Wineries on Waiheke Island.

Location: Waiheke Island

More About Auckland

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
Adventure Mark (Health and Safety Audit - Updated [2024])
Work Safe NZ (Adventure Activities Guidelines - Updated [2024])
Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])
NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])

Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

Laura S.

This article has been reviewed and published by Laura, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Laura is a first-class honours journalism graduate and a travel journalist with expertise in New Zealand and South Pacific tourism for over 10 years. She also runs travel guides for five of the top destinations in the South Pacific and is the co-host of over 250 episodes of the NZ Travel Show on YouTube.

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