Amandira

Navigating the Extraordinary: Discover the world’s most exotic boat journeys

A new year calls for new adventures. These unforgettable voyages redefine luxury, sustainability, and cultural immersion. From gliding along the serene rivers of France’s Champagne region to sailing through Indonesia’s turquoise waters, these journeys offer the perfect balance of comfort, exclusivity, and environmental consciousness.

Sailing the Indonesian Archipelago

Glide through the turquoise waters of the Indonesian archipelago aboard a meticulously restored Phinisi boat, reimagined as a floating sanctuary of elegance and comfort. Amandira by Aman offers an exclusive voyage, immersing guests in breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and diverse marine life — all in unparalleled style.

Amandira

Designed for just 10 guests, Amandira ensures an intimate and luxurious experience. Each cabin is exquisitely appointed with plush furnishings, ensuite bathrooms, and private balconies offering sweeping ocean views.

“Curated excursions unveil Indonesia’s hidden treasures — ancient temples, bustling markets, and crystal-clear waters…”

Master Cabin

Dining is a highlight, with an onboard chef crafting gourmet meals from the freshest local ingredients, complemented by an exceptional selection of wines and handcrafted cocktails.

Beyond indulgence, curated excursions unveil Indonesia’s hidden treasures — ancient temples, bustling markets, and crystal-clear waters teeming with vibrant coral reefs.

Left: Amandira sandback picnic. Right: Dinner aboard Amandira
Dinner set up on foredeck

Amandira’s commitment to sustainability sets it apart, incorporating renewable energy and responsible practices to preserve Indonesia’s natural beauty.

Set sail on a voyage where adventure meets luxury, and every moment invites you to immerse yourself in Indonesia’s timeless allure.

aman/amandira.com

Step Aboard a Floating Villa through the Heart of Champagne

Glide through the serene waterways of France’s Champagne region aboard Coquelicot Belmond, a meticulously restored barge reimagined as a floating haven of elegance and comfort. This exclusive voyage offers an intimate escape, immersing guests in rolling vineyards, historic châteaux, and the region’s rich cultural heritage.

Coquelicot Belmond

Designed for just six guests, Coquelicot Belmond ensures privacy and sophistication, with exquisitely appointed cabins featuring plush furnishings, marble bathrooms, and floor-to-ceiling windows framing the picturesque landscape.

Cabin interior

Culinary excellence defines the journey, with an onboard chef crafting exquisite meals using the finest local ingredients, perfectly paired with exceptional Champagnes and wines from the region.

Exterior Deck
Left: Champagne bar. Right Outdoor Dining

Beyond the indulgent dining, curated excursions unveil Champagne’s hidden gems—medieval villages, historic estates, and private tastings at renowned maisons.

“This exclusive voyage offers an intimate escape, immersing guests in rolling vineyards, historic châteaux, and the region’s rich cultural heritage.”

What sets Coquelicot Belmond apart is its commitment to sustainability, operating with minimal environmental impact through renewable energy and responsible practices that preserve the region’s natural beauty.

belmond/coquelicot.com

Experience Japan’s Traditions Aboard Guntû

Drifting across the serene waters of Japan’s Seto Inland Sea, Guntû is more than a luxury floating ryokan — it is a gateway to Japan’s most timeless traditions. Onboard, guests are invited to immerse themselves in cultural rituals that cultivate mindfulness, harmony, and a deep appreciation for heritage, all without stepping ashore.

The Terrace

Each day unfolds like a carefully curated ritual, beginning with guided meditation on deck. Rooted in Zen Buddhist principles, these morning sessions set a tranquil tone, with the soft sea breeze and rhythmic waves providing the perfect backdrop for quiet reflection.

“As the sun sets, the haunting melodies of the shakuhachi, a traditional bamboo flute, drift through the air, deepening the boat’s meditative ambience.”

Meditation Deck

As the day progresses, a traditional tea ceremony transforms the preparation of matcha into an artful meditation. Every movement, from the gentle whisking of the tea to the mindful sipping, embodies a philosophy of balance and respect — an invitation to slow down and savour the present moment.

Afternoons offer the chance to explore ikebana, the intricate art of Japanese flower arranging. Under the guidance of a skilled instructor, guests discover the principles of asymmetry, harmony, and seasonal awareness that define this craft. As the sun sets, the haunting melodies of the shakuhachi, a traditional bamboo flute, drift through the air, deepening the boat’s meditative ambience.

Terrace Suite

Evenings on Guntû bring a sense of community, with exquisite kaiseki-style dining prepared using the freshest seasonal ingredients. These intimate meals are often accompanied by live performances of classical Japanese music or storytelling, offering a window into the country’s artistic traditions. Before retiring to elegantly designed cabins, guests can take part in a calligraphy workshop, tracing each brushstroke with mindful precision — another way to embrace Japan’s philosophy of beauty in simplicity.

Guntû

A journey aboard Guntû is more than just an escape — it is a passage into Japan’s cultural soul. By weaving centuries-old traditions into daily life on the water, the voyage becomes a seamless blend of tranquillity, heritage, and refined luxury.

guntu.jp

Escape

The Fiji resorts where every generation actually wants to holiday together
The April school holidays call for a staycation — these are the Auckland hotel suites worth booking
Discover why Fiji is the ultimate escape for marking a milestone celebration, no matter the occasion

Huami’s Yum Cha is a weekend ritual that’s worth revisiting

Behind Federal Street’s red doors, Huami does yum cha differently. Those translucent har kao arrive with truffle. The squid ink prawn dumplings hit hard. And hanging proudly on display? Some of Auckland’s best Peking duck, the glossy birds giving the promise of what’s to come.

This is yum cha that brings the whole family together, from your dumpling-obsessed nephew to your dim sum purist grandmother. The trolleys still roll, the jasmine tea flows, and everything is refined just enough to remind you why weekend traditions matter.

The Peking duck arrives with paper-thin pancakes and all the proper accompaniments: crispy skin, soft duck meat that pulls apart with ease. Order it alongside the xiao long bao (soup intact, as it should be) and a round of show-stopping squid ink dumplings that take things visually and tastefully to another level.

Gather friends, or the extended family, and be sure to book a big round table. Weekends like this are made for yum cha. And Huami’s offering is familiar yet with enough finesse to elevate your experience.

skycityauckland.co.nz/huami

Gastronomy

Denizen’s definitive guide to the best Vietnamese restaurants
Eden Cloakroom is back in the hands that built it, and Mt Edenis better for it
Denizen’s definitive guide to the best ramen bowls in town
Kokomo Ocean Grand Residence

The Fiji resorts where every generation actually wants to holiday together

There comes a point when family holidays stop being logistical exercises in survival and start becoming something rather more meaningful. The years of rolling your eyes at your parents’ enthusiasm for organised fun recede quickly once you are negotiating the dietary whims, screen addictions and general mutiny of your own children. Suddenly, those once mortifying elders look less like social liabilities and more like saints with time on their hands and a knack for diffusing tantrums.

It is in this recalibration that the multigenerational holiday finds its stride. Not a forced march through Europe with colour-coded itineraries, nor a frenetic theme park sprint, but something softer. Space to gather. Space to retreat. Space for grandparents to feel useful, parents to feel supported, and children to feel utterly adored. Three tiers of the same family cake, each afforded both proximity and privacy.

For New Zealanders, Fiji is the obvious answer, thanks to a mere three hours in the air, and no time difference to unravel sleep cycles at either end of the age spectrum. A climate that flatters everyone. And, crucially, resorts that understand that travelling as a tribe requires both scale and subtlety.

What elevates Fiji for multigenerational travel goes beyond the obvious white sand and warm water. Villas are large enough to house the whole dynasty without anyone drawing up emotional battle lines. Staff who instinctively engage children while respectfully tending to grandparents. Activities that range from snorkelling over coral gardens to spa rituals and sunset cocktails, without anyone feeling dragged along for the ride.

Kokomo Private Island

Kokomo Private Island

If scale is your love language, Kokomo speaks it fluently. Set amid the Kadavu Islands and encircled by the Great Astrolabe Reef, the residences here are expansive enough to swallow an entire family tree. Five-bedroom homes with private infinity pools, multiple living areas and dedicated butlers shift the dynamic from crowded to convivial.

Kokomo Dravuni Grand Residence

The presence of nannies and an attentive island team is not indulgent. It is transformative. Children are absorbed into marine adventures and cultural activities, grandparents are guided through reef explorations at their own pace, and parents are briefly relieved of the title of Chief Organiser. The all-inclusive structure removes awkward bill splitting, which is perhaps the greatest gift of all.

kokomoislandfiji.com

Vomo Island Reef House

Vomo Island

Vomo excels at beachfront togetherness with breathing room. Its private residences, including the four-bedroom Residence and the five-bedroom Reef House, are designed for proper family occupation rather than polite cohabitation. Expect long living zones, private pools and butler service that smooths out the edges of group travel.

Vomo Island Reef House

Bedrooms are generously separated, which in multigenerational terms is as important as the ocean view. Children can spill sand across decks, grandparents can claim a quiet corner with a book, and parents can host long, lazy lunches without worrying about the washing up. It feels polished without being precious, a rare combination when you are travelling with people who still argue about board games.

vomofiji.com

Six Senses Fiji

Six Senses Fiji

On Malolo Island, Six Senses brings its signature wellness focus to the family format. Villas and residences range up to six bedrooms, each with a private pool, kitchen, and a Guest Experience Maker who quietly orchestrates the stay.

Six Senses Four Bedroom Beachfront Pool Residence

Here, multigenerational travel meets modern restoration. Grandparents gravitate towards yoga and spa rituals, parents balance surf sessions with long lunches, and children disappear into kids’ club or supervised snorkelling. The newly introduced residences, set slightly apart with private beach access, offer an added layer of discretion for milestone gatherings or simply families who prefer their celebrations without an audience.

Six Senses Fiji

In the end, Fiji works because it understands something essential. Togetherness requires space. Generosity of spirit is easier under a palm tree. And when the day ends with three generations watching the same sunset, arguing lightly over who makes the best margarita, you realise this is less about a holiday and more about continuity.

Besides, if tensions do flare, the ocean is warm, the villas are vast, and there is always tomorrow to pretend you are all perfectly harmonious.

sixsenses.com

Escape

Navigating the Extraordinary: Discover the world’s most exotic boat journeys
The April school holidays call for a staycation — these are the Auckland hotel suites worth booking
Discover why Fiji is the ultimate escape for marking a milestone celebration, no matter the occasion
Judy Millar Hard Epic, 2021 Acrylic and oil on canvas 2100 × 1500 × 35 mm

Win a major Judy Millar painting and help shape the next twenty years of the McCahon Artist Residence

To mark twenty years of the Parehuia Artist Residency, McCahon House is holding a nationwide Art Union raffle with a prize that’s suitably worthy. Hard Epic (2021), is a large-scale acrylic and oil on canvas by Judy Millar, one of New Zealand’s most internationally recognised painters. A Venice Biennale exhibitor, monumental abstractionist, and the very first artist to live and work at Parehuia (McCahon House) when the programme launched two decades ago, Millar has donated the painting to ensure the residency that helped shape her career can continue to support other artists. Hard Epic was painted in 2021, during the COVID lockdowns, when the intensity of West Auckland sunsets and the strange collective stillness of that period found their way onto her canvas. It is a large work (2100 × 1500mm, acrylic and oil on canvas) and a significant one. To own an original Judy Millar is to own a piece of New Zealand art history by an artist whose works remain highly coveted. 

Judy Millar, Hard Epic, 2021 Acrylic and oil on canvas 2100 × 1500 × 35 mm

In support of McCahon House, this year they have revived the Art Union, an old Aotearoa tradition in which a work of art was offered as a prize. Simply buy a ticket, support the next generation of artists, and you might also win an exceptional painting from one of our country’s most celebrated artists. As Millar says, “I’m now in a position to give back and help support other artists. I want to see other artists be given similar chances.”

The Parehuia residency sits beside Colin McCahon’s former home in Titirangi and has quietly supported painters, sculptors, installation artists and research-led practitioners for twenty years. Many previous residents of the McCahon House have gone on to have acclaimed national and international careers. It is the kind of programme that shapes our cultural landscape.

With only 1,000 tickets available for $100, and all proceeds going directly to the residency, this is your chance to own a Judy Millar, and the feel proud that you have contributed to keeping something creative and unique alive in New Zealand. The winning ticket will be drawn at the Aotearoa Art Fair on Sunday, 3rd May at the McCahon House booth.

Purchase your ticket here.

Culture

As the season for cosying up with a good book returns, here’s what to read this autumn
Jess Swney’s ‘I Think My Pig Is Whistling’ brings tactile rebellion to Föenander Galleries
Denizen Exclusive: Introducing Lucas Jones, whose poems will make you cry

As the season for cosying up with a good book returns, here’s what to read this autumn

As the cooler weather sets in, we’re more inclined than ever to cosy up with a captivating book to while away the evenings. This season, there’s a compelling mix of new releases to keep minds engaged, from literary heavyweights and sharp-witted crime fiction to unsettling thrillers, disarmingly honest memoirs and thought-provoking global fiction. These are the books we’re reading this autumn. Enjoy.

What to read
Literary Buzz

John of John 
by Douglas Stuart

Following the global success of Shuggie Bain, Douglas Stuart returns with a tender, quietly devastating story set in the windswept Outer Hebrides. At its centre is a young man navigating identity, love and family obligation within a community shaped by silence and tradition. Stuart writes with extraordinary compassion, confirming his place among the most compelling literary voices working today.

Son of Nobody 
by Yann Martel

The Booker Prize-winning author of Life of Pi delivers a formally ambitious novel unfolding across two parallel stories. One reimagines the Trojan War while the other follows the scholar studying it as his own life begins to unravel. Martel balances myth, philosophy and storytelling with the imaginative curiosity that has long defined his work.

What to read
Page-Turners

Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief 
by  Benjamin Stevenson

Benjamin Stevenson continues his delightfully self-aware Ernest Cunningham mysteries with a bank heist that spirals into a locked-room murder puzzle. Playful, clever and packed with twists, the novel gleefully toys with the conventions of crime fiction while delivering the kind of satisfying page-turner readers devour over a weekend.

My Husband’s Wife 
by Alice Feeney

Domestic normality fractures when a woman returns home to find another woman living her life. Her husband insists the stranger is his real wife. Feeney’s gripping premise unfolds into a maze of deception, fractured memory and psychological manipulation that keeps the tension simmering until the final pages.

What to read
Australian Voices

Gravity Let Me Go 
by Trent Dalton

Few writers capture emotional intensity quite like Australia’s Trent Dalton. In this ambitious new novel, he blends love story, mystery and flashes of magical realism into a sweeping exploration of grief, memory and the fragile architecture of marriage. Dalton’s storytelling remains expansive, compassionate and deeply human.

Like, Follow, Die
by Ashley Kalagian Blunt

Set against the polished façade of Sydney’s eastern suburbs, this unsettling thriller explores the darker corridors of online culture. When a mother tries to understand how her gentle teenage son committed a violent act, the novel exposes the radicalising influence of digital echo chambers and the fragile boundaries between truth and perception.

What to read
Global Fiction

Sisters in Yellow
by Mieko Kawakami

The acclaimed Japanese author delivers a stark portrait of class, alienation and longing in contemporary Tokyo. When a young woman attempts to escape the limits of her life, the path forward becomes increasingly bleak. Kawakami’s spare, emotionally direct writing reveals the quiet violence of economic inequality.

Whidbey 
by T. Kira Madden

Memoirist T. Kira Madden turns to fiction with a haunting literary thriller set in the Pacific Northwest. Three women become bound together by the murder of a predatory man, forcing each to confront the uneasy terrain between justice, vengeance and survival.

What to read
Editor’s Pick

The Land and Its People 
by David Sedaris

David Sedaris remains one of the most reliably funny writers alive. His latest collection turns his dry observational humour toward travel, family and the quiet absurdities of modern life. Few writers make everyday encounters feel quite so sharply ridiculous, yet so very recognisably human, even when they’re painfully, gloriously and utterly absurd.

Born to Flourish
by Richard Davidson & Cortland Dahl

Blending neuroscience with contemplative practice, this book explores how emotional resilience, compassion and attention can be cultivated. Drawing on decades of research into wellbeing and meditation, the book offers a thoughtful examination of what it means to flourish in an increasingly distracted world.

What to read
Lives & Legends

Homeschooled 
by Stefan Merrill Block

Stefan Merrill Block was just nine years old when his mum decided to homeschool him, a regime that largely centred around her own desire to reclaim lost time with her son, who she believed was growing up too fast. Homeschooled offers an inside look into a corner of the educational world that is often overlooked, and the suffocating nature of family trauma.

You with the Sad Eyes
by Christina Applegate

Christina Applegate writes with disarming honesty about a life spent in the spotlight and the resilience required to navigate it. From early television fame to her 2021 MS diagnosis, the memoir balances humour, vulnerability and hard-earned perspective. It is a candid portrait of reinvention, endurance and the quiet strength required to keep moving forward.

Culture

Win a major Judy Millar painting and help shape the next twenty years of the McCahon Artist Residence
Jess Swney’s ‘I Think My Pig Is Whistling’ brings tactile rebellion to Föenander Galleries
Denizen Exclusive: Introducing Lucas Jones, whose poems will make you cry

Mastering Autumnal dressing: Your guide to effortless seasonal style

Achieving an effortlessly elegant yet practical wardrobe is not as simple as it seems, especially when the season calls for navigating crisp mornings, mild afternoons, and cooler evenings all in a single day. Autumnal dressing is an art of balance: staying warm without sacrificing style, and looking polished without overthinking every outfit. The key lies in building a curated selection of timeless, mix-and-match pieces that work harder so you don’t have to.

Leather Jackets

Shop The Edit
Saint Laurent Leather bomber jacket from Mytheresa
Magda Butrym Belted Leather Jacket from Moda Operandi
Leather with aged effect jacket from Gucci
Róhe Leather bomber jacket from Mytheresa
Balenciaga wrap wide-sleeve jacket from Farfetch
Saint Laurent Belted leather jacket from MyTheresa
Theory Leather Jacket from Muse
Leather Jacket from Miu Miu
LOEWE belted nappa leather coat from Farfetch
Chloé Cropped leather biker jacket from MyTheresa
Nour Hammour Pia leather bomber jacket from Farfetch
Alaïa Hooded leather bomber jacket from MyTheresa

Coveted

Denizen’s Autumn Issue is the Momentum we all need
The case for a colourful Rolex and the models worth your attention right now
Nineties minimalist fashion will forever be my fashion Love Story

Jess Swney’s ‘I Think My Pig Is Whistling’ brings tactile rebellion to Föenander Galleries

Tufted textiles become unlikely vessels for memory, tension and quiet rebellion in Jess Swney’s new exhibition, where softness disguises a far sharper cultural conversation.

In contemporary art, textiles have finally stepped out from the shadows of craft and into the critical spotlight. Auckland artist Jess Swney is among the voices pushing that shift forward, transforming the humble rug into something far more complex than decoration. Her tufted works, which she describes as rug “paintings”, sit somewhere between tactile sculpture and painterly abstraction, asking viewers to reconsider the hierarchy that has long separated fine art from domestic craft.

Jess Swney, 21 and Closing, 2025 Hand Tufted Wool on Monks Cloth, with Custom Metal Band Frame, 420 x 420mm
Jess Swney, Seqqaya, 2025 Hand Tufted Wool on Monk’s Cloth, Framed, 510 x 530mm

Swney’s practice navigates the charged territory of cultural inheritance. Textiles, historically relegated to the realm of women’s work, become her medium for examining the social frameworks young women continue to navigate today. Beneath their richly coloured surfaces, these works explore the subtle negotiations of power, expectation and self-assertion that often sit just beneath the surface of everyday interactions.

The imagery moves fluidly between abstraction and figuration. Shapes emerge and dissolve, sometimes suggesting bodies or landscapes before slipping back into fields of colour and texture. Rather than depicting specific scenes, Swney allows materiality to carry meaning. Wool becomes brushstroke, surface becomes narrative. The result is work that feels instinctive and emotionally charged, hovering at the delicate edge between beauty and unease.


Jess Swney Hafifa, 2025 Hand Tufted Wool on Monks Cloth, framed

Her wider practice often explores dualities: land and sea, presence and absence, intimacy and entitlement. Those tensions continue here, embedded quietly in shifts of tone, colour and scale.

This latest exhibition also reflects time spent on residency in Morocco, where Swney worked alongside local artisans learning traditional weaving techniques on hand-operated looms. The experience deepened her engagement with ideas of cultural lineage, or the absence of a singular one. Within these works sits a search for collective knowledge in a world that increasingly prioritises the individual.

The result is a body of work that feels both intimate and expansive. Soft to the touch, but conceptually sharp. Rugs, perhaps, but not as anyone has known them before.

Swney is represented by Föenander Galleries in Parnell, Auckland, a contemporary space known for championing artists whose work connects people, ideas and the cultural moment.

Exhibition dates:
23rd April – 12th May 2026

Panel discussion hosted by Karen Walker:
5 pm
, Tuesday 28th April

Jess Swney will appear in conversation with Karen Walker at the Karen Walker Flagship store in Britomart as part of a collaboration for the Aotearoa Art Fair.

foenandergalleries.co.nz

Föenander Galleries

1 Faraday Street, Parnell
Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland

Culture

Win a major Judy Millar painting and help shape the next twenty years of the McCahon Artist Residence
As the season for cosying up with a good book returns, here’s what to read this autumn
Denizen Exclusive: Introducing Lucas Jones, whose poems will make you cry

Eden Cloakroom is back in the hands that built it, and Mt Edenis better for it

Not a rebrand. Not a pivot. Not a concept with a mood board. Eden Cloakroom, which
earned New Pub of the Year back in 2008 and quietly slipped from Mt Eden’s grasp, has
returned as a European-style bistro bar and courtyard. More to the point, the original owner
Darren Tolley is back behind the bar he built. In a hospitality landscape that tends to favour
the new, this is a decidedly compelling case for the familiar.

Tolley has brought CTRL Space back with him, the design studio behind the original fit-out,
and the brief was refreshingly restrained: refine what people already loved rather than chase
what’s next. That restraint reads clearly in the result. The room meets you easily. Timber tones have been reworked to feel warmer, softly textured plaster walls and tiled borders lend character without weight, and European cues sit throughout: checkerboard tiling in the courtyard, bentwood seating, leather upholstery that invites you to stay longer than planned. At the centre, a curved timber-lined bar functions as the room’s natural gathering point, its shelves backed with aged mirror that catches the light and gives the space a sense of depth it wears well. “It never felt like we needed to reinvent Eden Cloakroom,” Tolley says. “Just bring it back to what people loved about it in the first place. A good local should feel easy, somewhere you can drop in without thinking too much about it.”

Inside, bar leaners, small tables, and banquette seating handle everything from a solo drink
to a longer evening. The courtyard opens things further with tiled tables and casual seating
arranged for the kind of slow drift from one glass to an impromptu dinner. Lighting does
quiet, important work: bright and unguarded by day, warm and conspiratorial by evening.
“We weren’t trying to redesign Eden Cloakroom, just tune it,” says CTRL Space’s Stevens.
“The materials, the light, the small details that make a place feel familiar and worth coming
back to.”

The menu matches the philosophy: European-leaning, shareable, and built for tables that
order generously. Kumara sourdough arrives with a charcoal butter so dark and savoury it
looks forged rather than churned. The crispy potatoes shatter audibly. Beef shin croquettes
are compact and deeply savoury, the kind you order two of and wish you’d ordered four.
Lighter plates bring contrast: burrata with vincotto, a smooth chicken liver parfait, ceviche,
and seasonal vegetables. Larger plates run to prawn tostadas, charcoal chicken, beef
bavette, and lamb ribs, while a well-judged chocolate mousse and pannacotta close things
out.

What Tolley has recaptured here is increasingly rare: a neighbourhood bar that knows
exactly what it is. No overworked concept, no anxious trend-chasing. Drop in on a Thursday
when the courtyard catches the last of the light. You’ll stay longer than you meant to.

Opening hours:
Wednesday – Thursday, 3 pm till late
Friday – Sunday, 12 pm till late

instagram.com/edencloakroom

476 Mount Eden Road
Mount Eden
Auckland

Gastronomy

Huami’s Yum Cha is a weekend ritual that’s worth revisiting
Denizen’s definitive guide to the best Vietnamese restaurants
Denizen’s definitive guide to the best ramen bowls in town
Ramen Takara’s Tan-Tan Ramen

Denizen’s definitive guide to the best ramen bowls in town

It’s no surprise that wintertime sees our ramen cravings intensify. This comforting Japanese noodle soup comes in a variety of forms, although every iteration is built on some kind of painstakingly-made and flavoursome broth and topped with a selection of different meats and vegetables. From tonkotsu to paitan, every bowl is full of soul and is the ideal meal to slurp back over the chilly season.

In Auckland, we’re thankfully spoilt for choice when it comes to excellent ramen restaurants which, in turn, means choosing where to dine can be a delicious struggle. Luckily, we’ve conjured up a list of our favourite ramen joints and the best bowls on offer in order to make life a little easier for you.

Kome’s Super Ramen

Super Ramen

at Commercial Bay’s Kome

A cosy spot with an ever-loyal following, Kome delivers comforting Japanese fare in troves. The Super Ramen is exactly that — super in both name and stature. A generous, deeply satisfying bowl, it arrives laden with rich tonkotsu broth, tender chashu pork, a jammy egg, and springy noodles that soak up every last drop. It’s big, bold, and built for those who like their ramen with extra everything.

Akamaru Shinaji

from Ippudo

There’s nearly always a queue to wait for a table at Ippudo, but trust us, it’s worth the wait. Since opening in Westfield Newmarket, the ramen joint has been a popular highlight of the centre’s food offering. Ippudo is a worldwide chain, but that doesn’t stop its ramen from being top-notch; the menu allows diners to choose the hardness of their noodles, and the sides are also worth ordering. The akamaru shinaji ramen is particularly delicious, as the tonkotsu broth is enhanced with special blended miso paste and fragrant garlic oil, adding depth and richness when mixed in. Adding a flavoured egg is a must.

Chop Chop Noodle House’s Cobra Kai Ramen

Cobra Kai Super Mega Ramen

from Chop Chop Noodle House

Ponsonby Central’s Chop Chop Noodle House is a certified crowd favourite. On its refined list of signature ramen bowls, the cobra kai is front and centre. Filled to the brim with pulled pork shoulder, pork belly, bacon, kimchi, various veggies, a jammy boiled egg and a flourish of fried chicken for good measure, only hearty appetites need attempt this hunger-busting bowl. Vegetarians will also be pleased with the miso ramen, which sees kombu smoked butter and smoked eggplant impart an irresistible umami flavour.

Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen

from Tanpopo Ramen

A mainstay of the city’s ramen scene for over three decades, Tanpopo on Anzac Ave remains a go-to for those craving soul-deep comfort. The standout? Their Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen. The broth is a rich, velvety fusion of pork and soy, simmered to umami-packed perfection, with slices of tender BBQ pork layered on top. Noodles soak up the savoury base, while bamboo shoots and crisp dried seaweed bring contrast and crunch. You can keep it classic, or lean into the genius of optional add-ons.

Miso-Ra’s Curry Ramen

Miso Curry Ramen

from Miso-Ra

Staying true to its name, Miso-Ra specialises in the comforting bowl of miso ramen. Our favourite is the miso-curry ramen as the soy flavours are enhanced by the curry powder and the soup reaches a thicker consistency. The broth is a concoction of miso, pork stock, chicken stock, corn for bursts of sweetness, rich pork mince, aromatic sesame seeds, fragrant coriander and shoyu marinated egg. The whites of the egg have absorbed every bit of salty flavour from the infusion of the shoyu while the yolk remains bright and runny. Also available in a vegan iteration.

Paitan

from Katsu Bay

While tori paitan, a creamy chicken broth-based ramen, isn’t quite as well-known as tonkotsu worldwide, Katau Bay (previously Zool Zool) is far ahead of the trends. This paitan is truly something special. Consisting of a rich chicken broth reduction, mixed with chicken breast, bamboo shoots, spinach, spring onion, egg, and nori, this bowl will have you feeling full, happy and content.

Ramen Takara’s Tan-Tan Ramen

Tan-Tan Ramen

from Ramen Takara

When Ramen Takara first opened up in Browns Bay, people were crossing bridges to satisfy their ramen cravings. Luckily, Ramen Takara has now been operating for a few years on Ponsonby Road, and both joints are as great as each other. The go-to bowl at Ramen Takara seems to be the Chinese sichuan dandan noodle and Japanese ramen hybrid, the tan-tan ramen. The broth is thickened and enriched with pork mince yet each spoonful is as enjoyable as the one before from the added spice acting like a constant palate refresher. The bowl also consists of a vegetable stir-fry, bok choy and shredded leek which soaks up all the flavours of the salty and spicy soup.

Oh My Hot!! Tonkotsu chashu ramen

from Daruma

With a CBD outpost in Commercial Bay (as well as other branches peppered throughout Auckland), Daruma is worth a visit for its spicy tonkotsu chashu ramen. Tender slices of chashu, or braised pork, are combined with a nitamago (soft boiled) egg, rocket and nori seaweed, all topped with hot chilli oil. With a spice level ranging from ‘medium’ to ‘extra hot’, it’s the perfect thing to blast away any winter sniffles.

Sneaky Snacky’s Shoyu Ramen

Shoyu Ramen

from Sneaky Snacky

Perhaps best known for its obscenely decadent doughnut burgers, some may be surprised to hear K’Road’s Sneaky Snacky does a great bowl of ramen, too. In a departure from ramen’s usual cloudy, creamy pork-based broth, Sneaky Snacky’s shoyu ramen boasts clear chicken broth with a satisfying umami flavour that will see it devoured to the very last drop. Topped with pork charshu (or grilled chicken) alongside all your favourite ramen accoutrements, this dish is not to be missed.

R1 Ajisen Ramen

from Ajisen Ramen

Japanese ramen chain Ajisen Ramen showcases its Kumamoto roots in Newmarket, and whether you’re local or not, the ramens are a must. The star here is the R1 Ajisen Ramen, a bowl that embodies the brand’s signature style. This dish features a rich pork-based broth, complemented by house-made noodles, tender chashu pork, a perfectly cooked tamago egg, scallions, and kikurage mushrooms. It’s a harmonious blend of flavours that truly hits the spot come winter.

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Denizen’s Autumn Issue is the Momentum we all need

In the past six years, we’ve faced challenges that no one could ever have imagined. Yet, despite the odds, we somehow made it through the ‘stay alive till ’25’ and arrived at the hope and promise of ‘it’ll be fixed in ’26’, as if it were the dawning of the Age of Aquarius. And yet, here we are.

Denizen’s Autumn Issue is a celebration of our desire for momentum. Not blind optimism, not forced positivity, but the quiet, stubborn insistence that each of us still matters. That curiosity still matters. That being socially, gastronomically and culturally engaged is what we do best. These are not distractions from the world around us; they are an acknowledgement that we are, in fact, the masters of our own narrative.

In 18 years, Denizen has never been a publication that waits for permission for enjoyment. We are surrounded by endless desire: world-class restaurants run by fantastic, hardworking people; talented designers and architects, and international luxury retailers who make us feel globally connected despite our physical isolation. This issue is not escapism, but evidence that the people who refuse to stop creating, building and pushing forward are the ones who always end up on the right side of whatever comes next.

On our cover is Grace Wright, an abstract artist who works at scale, building monumental canvases in layers of acrylic on linen. Her paintings are not quiet. They coil and surge with a physical energy, gestures tangling and unravelling across the surface. She shares her process of painting as a spiritual act, of entering a transcendent state, where the extraordinary emerges: compositions that sit at the threshold between chaos and resolution, between tension and release. Wright paints the moment before the fall, that suspension, where everything is possible, but nothing is assured. Stand in front of one of her works, and the momentum feels real.

That is the feeling we wanted for this issue. Not nostalgia, not comfort, not a gentle pat on the head. Energy. Velocity. The unapologetic belief that the way through is forward and that forward, when done with intention and taste and a refusal to settle, looks extraordinary.

This issue features places to go that will change the way you think, people who will remind you what ambition looks like, and ideas on each page that are worth your time. This is not about surviving the moment or reasons to retreat; it is about refusing to waste the opportunities that lie ahead for us all.

Our Autumn Issue is available at all good newsagents and supermarkets, or do yourself a favour and subscribe below.

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