A Perfect Food Day in Auckland
A perfect food day in Auckland runs from a deli or cafe breakfast to a cheap and brilliant lunch in the suburbs, an afternoon gelato at Giapo, and a proper sit-down dinner. Eat dish by dish and the city opens up.
How do you plan a food day in Auckland?
Eat across cuisines and let the cravings lead. The trick to an Auckland food day is to chase specific dishes in different parts of the city rather than sticking to one strip. Breakfast in a cafe or deli, lunch cheap in the suburbs, an afternoon sweet treat, and a sit-down dinner gives you a full sweep of the city's range in a day.
Breakfast and a coffee
Start at the cafe end, where Auckland is strong. The city's brunch and deli scene is good, from a loaded Reuben at Fort Greene to a Montreal poutine at the Federal Delicatessen or the burnt eggplant at Odette's. Auckland takes its coffee seriously, so this is the meal to ease into with a proper flat white before the day's eating gets going.
A cheap, brilliant lunch
Lunch is where you go cheap and chase flavour. A lemongrass pork bánh mì at Mr T's, a dosa at Roop's, falafel at Shefco or a mince and cheese pie at Muzza's all feed you well for little. This is the meal to head into the suburbs for, where the city's migrant kitchens do their best work at honest prices. Keep it light enough to leave room for dinner.
An afternoon treat and a proper dinner
Break the afternoon with something sweet, then sit down for the main event. Giapo's theatrical hokey pokey gelato in the CBD is the classic Auckland afternoon stop, with Doe Donuts and the knafeh at Ima as alternatives. For dinner, settle into a sit-down spot, handmade pasta at Pici, a Picanha plate at Tropeiro Grill, or modern Asian at Hello Beasty, and let the day end slowly over a real meal.
Build your own food day
Kai AKL maps every dish to its restaurant, sorted by craving and area, so a food day plans itself. Works offline.
Explore Kai AKLRelated: What to eat in Auckland and 3 days in Auckland.