left: Gochu, right: Kome

A guide to elevating the work-week lunch at Commercial Bay

Pressed for time but unwilling to compromise on flavour? Commercial Bay has your lunch plans sorted. From vibrant, ready-to-go fare and generously filled bowls to comforting takeaway staples worth stepping out for, this downtown dining hub makes a swift lunch feel considered. When the clock is ticking, but your appetite calls for something satisfying, these are the spots that deliver quickly and exceptionally well.

Origine

Origine

Offering: Summer express lunch – $49

Origine’s Summer Express Menu is designed for relaxed lunches that still feel considered. A three-course shared dining experience, it highlights seasonal favourites including duck liver parfait, Lumina lamb rump and a Clevedon strawberry soufflé, with freshly shucked Pacific oysters available as an optional addition. A refined option for midweek catch-ups or an elevated lunch break at Commercial Bay.

Cāntīng

Offering: Lunches now takeaway

Cāntīng’s cult favourites are now available to take away, bringing Nic Watt’s refined take on Chinese flavours to your midday routine. From plump, flavour-laden dumplings to much-loved signature dishes, each lunch box is thoughtfully assembled for ease without sacrificing depth or quality. Priced at $28, these generously packed offerings make a compelling case for upgrading your desk lunch, delivering comfort and bold flavour in equal measure.

Gochu

Gochu

Offering: Express lunch – $39

Gochu’s express lunch delivers bold, Korean-inspired flavours in a format that fits neatly into the workday. Expect a well-balanced spread of sliders, tuna crudo, charred chicken, rice and salad, designed to be satisfying without feeling heavy. A lively option for when you want something fun, fast and full of flavour at Commercial Bay.

BillyPot

BillyPot

Offering: Fast, fresh lunch takeaways

BillyPot is an easy go-to when you’re craving something fresh, light and full of flavour. With seafood at the heart of the menu, it’s a great spot to grab a quick lunch that still feels considered, whether that’s oysters, prawns or a simple seafood plate done well. Ideal for when time is short but standards are not.

Kome

Kome

Offering: Fast, fresh lunch takeaways

For a lunch that feels both efficient and elevated, Kome strikes the balance with ease. Expect pristine sashimi platters and vibrant poke bowls layered with fresh seafood and seasonal accompaniments, alongside warming bowls of udon, crisp karaage chicken and neatly composed bento boxes. It is Japanese dining designed for pace, generous in flavour and beautifully presented, making it ideal for a midday stop that does not compromise on quality.

Chul’s

Chul’s

Offering: Fast, fresh lunch takeaways

Chul’s brings the heart of Korean comfort food to Commercial Bay with bold, flavour-packed dishes that are ready when you are. From freshly rolled kimbap to steaming bowls of soulful classics, it’s a perfect spot for a quick lunch that still feels satisfying and full of character.

commercialbay.co.nz

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Sculptural and inherently architectural, Claybrook’s basins and bathtubs set the benchmark

In a well-designed home, the bathroom is never just an afterthought. It is a study in proportion, tactility and restraint. Every element must justify its presence. For a design-literate audience, that standard is non-negotiable.

Omaha Retreat by Sonya Cotter Design. Photos: Jackie Meiring
Claybrook Ovo 1800 bath  from Plumbline

It is precisely why the work of Claybrook continues to appear in some of the country’s most architecturally accomplished residences. Their basins possess a sculptural clarity that feels deliberate rather than decorative. Edges are refined. Silhouettes are balanced. The materiality carries weight without visual heaviness. Placed against stone, timber or polished plaster, these pieces anchor a space with quiet confidence.

Claybrook bespoke bath. Brand available from Plumbline

This is design that understands permanence. Claybrook products are engineered for remarkable durability and resistance to staining, maintaining their integrity in daily use. Exceptional heat retention enhances the bathing experience in a way that feels subtle but deeply considered. And in an era when true luxury increasingly aligns with longevity, the ability to repair surfaces rather than replace them speaks to an intelligent, future-focused approach.

Claybrook Deck wall-hung basin from Plumbline
Claybrook Apollo basin from Plumbline

Claybrook’s emphasis on clean forms, composed proportions, and finishes that complement architectural intent rather than compete with it results in bathrooms where the effect is seamless. Nothing clamours for attention, yet everything is noticed.

Claybrook Soho bath. Brand available from Plumbline.

For those commissioning homes, the distinction lies in choosing pieces that hold their relevance long after trends have dissolved. Sculptural, durable and inherently architectural, Claybrook’s basins and bathtubs continue to set that benchmark. Available nationwide through Pumbline.

plumbline.co.nz

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Honour Japan’s Cherry Blossom Season with Masu’s Ikebana Ladies Lunch

Each year in Japan, cherry blossom season, or sakura, signals a fleeting moment of beauty. Parks fill, petals fall, and the country collectively pauses to honour the transience of nature. Here in Auckland, Masu by Nic Watt is marking that same spirit of renewal with a Ladies Lunch that feels both reverent and refined.

Taking place on Friday 27 February from 12–2pm, this intimate gathering pays tribute to Japan’s most poetic season through cuisine and craft. Hosted by Chef Nic Watt alongside celebrated florist Chikako, the afternoon centres on ikebana, the centuries-old Japanese art of flower arranging.

Ikebana is not simply about assembling blooms. It is a disciplined practice rooted in harmony, asymmetry and negative space. Each stem is positioned with intention, reflecting the rhythms of nature and the beauty of impermanence that the cherry blossom season so elegantly represents.

Guests will be welcomed with a glass of Nautilus Cuvée Brut before settling in for a refined three-course lunch, showcasing Masu’s contemporary Japanese approach. Between courses, Chikako will guide attendees through a hands-on ikebana workshop, offering insight into the philosophy behind the form. Each guest will leave with their own sculptural arrangement, a quiet nod to sakura season brought to life on our shores.

At $95 per person, including lunch, bubbles and your ikebana creation to take home, it is an elegant way to honour a centuries-old Japanese tradition without leaving the city.

With only a few spots remaining, consider this your cue to book.

Masu Ikebana Ladies Lunch
Friday 27 February, 12 pm – 2 pm
$95 per person
Includes three-course lunch, glass of Nautilus Cuvée Brut on arrival, and an ikebana arrangement to take home.

skycityauckland.co.nz/masu

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Avery rug from Designer Rugs, Marble coffee table by Florence Knoll from Mr. Bigglesworthy, Apollo armchair by Maxalto, Husk Sofa by B&B Italia, 26h Bronze vase by Bitossi, Eames Turned Stool D by Herman Miller from Matisse, Flex VI by Ray Haydon, 2025, from Sanderson, Alpaca Velvet in Cacoa by Mokum made up as cushion from James Dunlop Textiles, Cenciara Pendant Brass from Lighting Direct

Grounded in warmth: How to style your home with balanced colours

Art direction — Amber Armitage/ Marigold
Photography — Melanie Jenkins/ Flash Studios

All designers, regardless of style, are tasked with the often-impossible job of balancing the yin and the yang. When a space leans too heavily in one particular direction, all equilibrium is lost, and the space is left energetically confused. This season, we’re gravitating towards warmth, from caramel colourways to toffee-toned walls, natural wood, brass accents and copper finishes. Interiors that stay energetically grounded — think a return to baseline in a bid to mitigate the chaos of the season ahead.

Avery rug from Designer Rugs, T1 amchair by Rodney Kinsman and Cell candle holder by Zaha Hadid Studio from Good Form, Cicladi table by Edra from Matisse, Paspalum Urvillei (Vasey Grass) Positive by Kate Van Der Drift, 2025, from Sanderson, Quadrata by Mokum curtain from James Dunlop Textiles, Cenciara Pendant Brass from Lighting Direct

Naturally, we look to grounding hues like Resene Okey Dokey and Irish Coffee to start, to evoke a sense of softness and generate calm wherever incorporated. Consider anchoring primary living spaces with colours like Okey Dokey, and outfit them with natural leather heroes that gracefully patina over time, creating a relaxing and inviting atmosphere.

Resene’s Alamo, an endlessly versatile, salmon-hued beige, works in harmony with chrome accents, providing an earthly base for mixing molten metals. The balance in Resene’s palette, cocooned in warmth yet refreshingly refined, creates harmony and sophistication wherever it is incorporated.

resene.co.nz

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left to right: grilled chicken, harissa, apricot, sugar snaps & toum, punch drunk love, seared scallops, preserved lemon butter sauce, citrus oil

Stop everything, Soul Bar’s new Summer menu is your cue to book the Viaduct’s hottest table

There are certain Auckland institutions that don’t just survive the seasons; they define them. And when the sun is still high over the Waitematā and the Viaduct hums with that late-summer optimism, there is really only one place we want to be.

Soul Bar & Bistro has unveiled its 2026 menu refresh, and consider this your official notice: it is very, very good.

Yes, the stalwarts remain. The ham-off-the-bone macaroni cheese, with its truffle-parmesan crust, still does what it has always done. But Executive Chef Gavin Doyle’s latest additions feel designed for this exact moment in the calendar, when summer lingers, rosé is still decisively appropriate, and the waterfront demands a long lunch that slides effortlessly into dinner.

grilled fig toast with ricotta and cherry mostarda
left: tuna tartare with mango, makrut lime, chilli, calamansi vinegar & coconut. Left: amaretto sour

It begins lightly, as all good afternoons should. Grilled fig toast with ricotta and cherry mostarda is sweet, savoury and unapologetically indulgent. Tuna tartare arrives bright with mango, makrut lime, chilli and calamansi vinegar, lifted with coconut for a subtle tropical hum that tastes like sunshine on skin. Seared scallops with preserved lemon butter and citrus oil are the sort of dish that makes you pause mid-conversation.

potato gnocchi with yellow zucchini, almond and salted buffalo curd

Then come the mains that anchor you to your seat a little longer. Potato gnocchi with yellow zucchini, almond and salted buffalo curd is generous and comforting without ever feeling heavy. Grilled chicken with harissa, apricot, sugar snaps and toum brings heat and sweetness into perfect balance. And the crumbed pork chop with sweetcorn, garlic shoots and green tomato chutney is the kind of dish that turns a casual booking into a ritual.

left: crumbed pork chop with sweetcorn & garlic shoots and green tomato chutney. Back right: sweetcorn & zucchini salad with pickled jalapeños and dill mayo

Even the sweetcorn and zucchini salad with pickled jalapeños and dill mayo feels like a love letter to the season.

But beyond the plates, here is the real reason to go now. The Viaduct is sparkling. Boats are drifting past. The evenings are long. There is a particular alchemy that happens when good food meets waterfront light, and Soul has mastered it.

Summer is not over. Not yet. And if you are going to make the most of it, this is the table to book.

soubar.co.nz

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Lunar New Year: Planning to stay the same? The Fire Horse has other ideas

Horse-shaped cookies from Lieutenant
Coffee Bar & Eatery

Fire Horse: Virgo

You see the fault line before anyone else does. This year, stop fixing quietly and start directing loudly. Precision is power. Use it.

Festive Horse from Jellycat

Fire Horse: Scorpio

You reinvent like other people change shoes. Do it again. Only cleaner, sharper, and without the public autopsy.

Lucky Animals Horse clip from Van Cleef & Arpels

Fire Horse: Leo

Darling, you were born for spectacle. This year, make it strategic. Fame is fleeting. Authority lingers.

The Horse Brooch from Bvlgari

Fire Horse: Taurus

You adore comfort. The Fire Horse adores ambition. Trade the armchair for the thoroughbred.

Grand Soir Year of the Horse from Christian Dior

Fire Horse: Gemini

Yes, yes, you contain multitudes. Pick one and monetise it. Chaos is charming. Focus is profitable.

Horse Box from Louis Vuitton

Fire Horse: Capricorn

You love a plan. The Fire Horse loves audacity. Take the calculated leap and pretend it was inevitable.

1955 Horsebit Shoulder Bag from Gucci

Fire Horse: Libra

You’ve been weighing up your options for sport. Put the scales down. Decision is the new seduction.

Symbolica pendant from Swarovski

Fire Horse: Aquarius

You’ve always been ten minutes ahead of the room. This year, stop explaining and start owning.

Albi Horse graphic tray from Christofle

Fire Horse: Cancer

Sentimentality is sweet. Growth is better. Release the antique emotional furniture.

Emerald Cut Ruby and Diamond band from Graff

Fire Horse: Pisces

You drift beautifully. This year, steer beautifully. Mystique works best with a destination.

Horsebit Chain Necklace from Gucci

Fire Horse: Sagittarius

You chase horizons. Try conquering one. Freedom feels better when it’s earned.

Crystal Pouch from Celine

Fire Horse: Aries

You charge magnificently. Aim magnificently. Not every provocation deserves your fireworks.

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Nineties minimalist fashion will forever be my fashion Love Story

There is something slightly confronting about watching an era you actually lived through being reissued as mythology. When a film or television series suddenly declares the late nineties and early 2000s the pinnacle of enduring style, I feel both nostalgic and faintly amused. At the time, it was not iconic. It was simply our uniform.

With the release of Ryan Murphy’s new series Love Story, revisiting the romance and tragedy of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, a new generation is discovering what many of us witnessed in real time. Grainy paparazzi images are now treated as sacred fashion artefacts. Silk slips are selling out again. Headbands are back. The mood boards are relentless.

Carolyn remains perhaps the most mysterious modern style muse. There exists less than a minute of her voice on tape, yet she has become almost deified within fashion circles. Thrust into the spotlight when she married JFK Jr, despite her clear preference for privacy, she was photographed endlessly until their tragic deaths in 1999. Those images, walking through Tribeca in loafers, stepping out in a bias-cut slip, hair pulled back, now circulate as shorthand for cool.

LYNETTE CASHMERE TURTLENECK from Nili Lotan
Saint Laurent SL 872 001 Erin sunglasses from Sunglass bar
Pesaro Loafers from Loulou De Saison
Satin midi dress from THEORY

As a young woman, I was living in New York during that exact period. I moved within the fashion and magazine world that orbited downtown Manhattan, and they were simply part of the city’s rhythm. Carolyn’s role in PR at Calvin Klein placed her closer to my professional periphery than John, though he was a magazine publisher. But she was in the industry. Which somehow made her influence more potent.

Eileen Top from Harris Tapper
Callasli 90 slingback sandals from MANOLO BLAHNIK
Asymmetric silk-satin skirt from ALAÏA
1969 Skyline Nano chainmail shoulder bag from RABANNE

There was awe around her, yes. But also sympathy. She had not auditioned for global fascination. She had fallen in love with an American icon and found herself under an unforgiving lens.

The truth is, her wardrobe was not dramatically different from ours. Straight-leg jeans. A crisp knit. Chanel ballet flats. Prada loafers. Silk slips cut on the bias. Clean coats. Neutral palettes. It was not revolutionary in a theatrical sense. But it marked a shift. A progression from early nineties heroin chic into something more refined and grounded. Less fragility, more polish. Minimalism with confidence.

gotham Sleek Leather Coat from Nour Hammour
Marfa leather ankle boots from KHAITE
Logo patent leather tote from Prada
Nubuck and leather knee boots from ALAÏA

Today, commentators call it quiet luxury. Some even suggest she invented it. And while names like Audrey Hepburn or Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis may have longer historical arcs, Carolyn’s influence feels startlingly modern. Her tailoring, her proportions, her refusal to overwork a look, it all reads as relevant in 2026. Perhaps that is why it has endured.

I still own pieces from that era. They still work. Because when style is anchored in quality, proportion and restraint, it does not expire.

Faye Vintage cropped straight jeans from Citizens of Humanity
Striped silk crepe de chine scarf from TOTEME
Viola oversized pinstripe blazer from Calvin Klein
Jennifer Behr Lydia headband from Farfetch

I remember with painful clarity the days after their plane disappeared. The waiting. The collective hope that they had simply diverted to escape the weather. The slow, devastating acceptance when they had not.

The tragedy cemented their place in cultural memory. But what truly lingers is the restraint. The fact that they did not try too hard. They did not need to.

Their looks were unfussy, consistent, and assured. And that, more than any trend cycle, is what defines enduring class. For those of us who lived it, it was never a costume. It was simply New York.

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Bvlgari Global Ambassador, Lisa Manobal wearing Vimini High Jewelry necklace from the Bvlgari Eternal collection

Bvlgari Vimini: The Archival Revival Ushering In a New Eternal Era

There are certain signatures at Bvlgari that need no introduction. Serpenti coils with unmistakable sensuality. B.zero1 stands as a sculptural ode to Rome’s Colosseum. Monete transforms ancient currency into wearable history. Now, with the debut of Vimini, the Roman maison proves that its archives remain as fertile as ever.

Vimini marks the inaugural chapter of Bvlgari Eternal, a visionary initiative that revisits foundational designs from the house’s past and reinterprets them for a contemporary audience. Its point of origin is a 1942 bracelet discovered in the archives, created during the material and social constraints of wartime Italy. In an era defined by limitation, the piece stood as an act of creative defiance. Crafted in yellow and rose gold, its woven geometry drew inspiration from the wicker baskets of ancient Greece and Rome, humble, utilitarian objects elevated through rhythm, repetition and hand-shaped dexterity.

Anne Hathaway wearing the Bvlgari High jewellery Vimini Bracelet

The name Vimini, meaning wicker, feels instinctive. Its structure is built from undulating rhomboid elements, stacked and interlocked to create a supple, woven effect. There is an architectural clarity to the design, an echo of Italian Rationalism’s essential forms, yet the overall impression is fluid rather than rigid. The bracelet remains faithful to its precursor, while benefiting from the elevated craftsmanship made possible by Bvlgari’s state-of-the-art Valenza manufacture. The collection extends to a necklace, ring and two earring styles, each piece designed to move naturally with the body, tactile and rhythmic in its articulation.

Bvlgari Eternal debuts in Los Angeles. The Vimini collection, unveiled on Rodeo Drive’s new flagship store

In its high jewellery expressions, Vimini ventures further. Yellow gold meets black Diamond-Like Carbon, a high-tech coating more commonly associated with watchmaking. The interplay of light and shadow creates a striking bi-colour dialogue that feels both ancient and futuristic. Diamonds are set into this darkened architecture, amplifying contrast and lending the collection an avant-garde edge. On the global stage, the Eternal Vimini High Jewellery necklace has already found its moment, worn by global ambassador Lisa Manobal in a powerful display of modern Roman glamour.

Maude Apatow wearing the Bvlgari High jewellery Vimini Earrings

“With Bulgari Eternal, we open a new chapter in our creative story,” noted Jean-Christophe Babin. It is a sentiment embodied in Vimini’s weave, heritage threaded through innovation. By drawing from a wartime bracelet shaped by constraint and reimagining it with contemporary mastery, Bvlgari demonstrates that true icons are not invented overnight. They are rediscovered, reworked and reborn.

Vimini is not simply a revival. It is proof that the house’s past remains an inexhaustible source of modernity, and that in Rome, history is always in motion.

bulgari.com

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With its iconic location, expansive space, and enduring quality design, Pillars ticks all the boxes without compromise

There are few ridgelines in Auckland as instantly recognisable as the one at the junction of Ponsonby and St Marys Bay. Thousands pass it daily, glancing up toward the elevated sweep across the city skyline. In recent months, there have been signs of a new development that have caught our attention. Pillars is set to sit confidently at the top of this iconic stretch. Promising an unmistakable presence and architectural façades, signalling that something both considered and enduring is soon to take shape.

Developed by Precinct and designed by Jasmax, Pillars is defined by proportion, restraint and permanence. Sculptural façades, fluted concrete detailing and carefully articulated forms give the building a strong civic presence while remaining respectful of its established setting. From its exterior, it reads as composed and assured. Step inside, and that architectural confidence gives way to a quieter, more intimate understanding of how people want to live.

That combination of prestigious, highly visible location and confident, design-led execution helps explain why Pillars has generated sustained interest since its unveiling. But the appeal runs deeper than architecture alone. Buyers are responding to what Pillars represents at this moment in time. Right-sizing, redefined.

Increasingly, Pillars is appealing to buyers transitioning into a new phase of urban living. People who want the ease of lock-and-leave security, yet refuse to compromise on space, privacy or quality. The appeal lies in homes that still feel substantial and complete, with the reassurance of thoughtful design, long-term build integrity and a setting that supports everyday life as much as it elevates it.

Across a limited collection of two and three-bedroom residences with additional media rooms, Pillars offers homes that feel expansive without excess. Full-floorplate sensibilities and dual-aspect layouts allow light to move naturally through the interiors, creating a sense of volume rarely associated with apartment living. Integrated storage is generous and purposeful, supporting daily life without visual clutter, while flexible layouts accommodate entertaining, working from home and evolving needs.

Private outdoor spaces are equally deliberate. Deep balconies extend the living experience outward, encouraging genuine indoor-outdoor flow, while select ground-floor homes open onto landscaped gardens that offer privacy and greenery rarely found in urban apartments. These are homes designed for people who still want space, but no longer want waste.

The location reinforces that philosophy. Positioned between the energy of Ponsonby and the established residential calm of St Marys Bay and Freemans Bay, Pillars offers immediate access to the city’s best while maintaining a strong sense of neighbourhood. Cafés, restaurants, galleries and waterfront walks are moments away, yet the address retains the reassurance of long-held community and character. It is urban living with depth, connected without feeling transient.

Underpinning the development is the long-term thinking of Precinct Properties. Best known for shaping Auckland’s commercial centre, Precinct brings the same rigour and placemaking mindset to Pillars. Sustainability features that enhance comfort and efficiency, secure parking with EV infrastructure, private lift access and robust construction speak to a development conceived for longevity rather than trend.

As availability becomes increasingly limited, Pillars prompts a broader reflection on what right-sizing truly means. It is not about giving something up. It is about choosing better. Better design. Better location. Better use of space. And a home that aligns with how life is lived now.

Recognised instinctively and increasingly understood for what it offers, Pillars will become more than an iconic landmark. It’s set to be a confident expression of modern urban luxury, defined by clarity, quality and living well without compromise.

pillars.co.nz

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Sardines on toast with sourdough, tomato butter, chilli, pickles & lemon
Market fish
Baked Camembert with roasted grapes, cornichons, walnuts and toast. Hanger steak with cafe de Paris butter & chips.

Agnes Birkenhead: Inside Auckland’s new All-Day Wine Bar & Bistro

There’s something deeply reassuring about a restaurant that knows exactly what it is.

Agnes, newly opened in Birkenhead, does not shout for attention. It doesn’t need to. Housed in a former Hellaby’s butchery, the building’s original tiles, marble and even the reinstated counter remain proudly intact, lending the space a quiet gravitas that feels increasingly rare.

Behind the project are hospitality veterans Fran and Aaron Mazza-Carson, whose 15-year track record includes Hello Friends & Allies, Winona Forever, Sugar at Chelsea Bay, Queenies, ADA and Pie Rolla’s. With Fran’s background in patisserie and Aaron’s roots in marketing and music, the pairing has always been complementary. For Agnes, they’ve partnered with head chef Alfie Ingham, whose experience spans New Zealand, Australia, the UK and France, but whose heart lies in traditional European bistros.

left: Sticky Toffee pancake with dates, caramel and Crème fraîche. right: Biscoff Mont Blanc

“We share a real appreciation for uncomplicated food that is of excellent quality but not pretentious or too flowery,” they explain. The result is a menu that reads like a love letter to simplicity done properly.

Sausage with mashed potato and jus

There’s a house-made sausage that already feels like a signature: pork shoulder, seasoned traditionally, served by day or at night with mash and jus. Brunch swings between sticky toffee pancakes with dates, caramel and crème fraîche, and sardines on toast with tomato-chilli butter and pickles. Come evening, baked Camembert with roasted grapes, cornichons and walnuts is the kind of dish you order for the table without hesitation.

left to right: Ricotta dumplings with brown butter and pesto. Mussel Gratin with Rockefeller sauce and bacon. Heirloom tomatoes with black olive tapenade and buffalo

The wine list follows suit. Tightly edited rather than encyclopaedic, it oscillates between familiar favourites and intriguing alternatives, each chosen to work seamlessly with the food or stand confidently alone. The marble counter is primed for aperitifs and people watching.

Baked Camembert with roasted grapes, cornichons, walnuts and toast

Fran has designed the interiors herself and drawn on her Italian heritage for inspiration. The front room is relaxed and family-friendly; the back bistro is more intimate and softly lit.

More than anything, Agnes is built for its neighbourhood. The ambition is not occasion dining, but somewhere you return to weekly, even daily. A place where owners are present, the welcome is genuine, and the food is unfussy but good.

Opening hours:
Monday — Tuesday, 7am — 3pm
Wednesday — Friday, 7am — 10pm
Saturday, 8am — 10pm
Sunday, 8am — 3pm

agnes.co.nz

98, Hinemoa Street
Birkenhead
Auckland

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