From low-lit ambience to conversation-starting food, the impressive entries in our Best Date Night category are known for inspiring romance. That said, it was intimate Karangahape Road restaurant Bar Céleste, that was voted as this year’s winner, thanks to its cosy feel, considered wine list and exceptionally tasty, made-to-share menu. Not far behind were honourable mentions, including fine-dining institution Cassia, Britomart’s delicious Andalusian eatery Alma, innovative, inner-city foodie haven Culprit and another K’Road go-to for wine-lovers, Apéro.
Thanks to these welcoming restaurants and spacious eateries, we no longer need to choose between good food and good company. Favourites in our Best for Group Dining category included the beachfront Azabu Misson Bay, Parnell’s Non Solo Pizza, K’Road’s Cotto (we particularly love the private dining space here) and Waiheke’s Three Seven Two. But it was the renowned Soul Bar & Bistro that topped the final list — thanks to its menu perfect for long lunching and spectacular views across Viaduct Harbour.
The 2022 Denizen Hospo Heroes is brought to you by American Express. Wining and dining your way around Auckland’s top restaurants (as voted by you), has never been easier thanks to American Express’s new Gold Rewards Cards. Find out more here.
Revered for the exquisite design and sculptural furniture it offers, the Bonham Group has always approached architecture and interiors through a lens of ‘breaking the mould’. The spaces it creates for clients are intensely personal, meticulously crafted and balance form with function in a precise, purposeful way. Just look at the studio’s new ‘functional art’ offering (pieces that give art a practical use), a clever way of imbuing clients’ homes with some creative finesse. Now, the coveted aesthetic of Bonham Art + Design is becoming more accessible than ever thanks to its recently-launched online store (where customers can shop from an impressive collection of artists and designers) and new permanent gallery in Arrowtown (its first ever bricks-and-mortar location).
Right: “Personages, Poetry and Prose”, 2021
Showcasing its unique perspective, Bonham Gallery provides the chance to get up close and personal with fine and functional art from celebrated practitioners as well as a curated line-up of collectable furniture — objects that are destined to become future heirlooms.
Marrying its contemporary vision with timeless design, Bonham Art + Design is fast becoming a go-to for those who value something different in their space, and with future plans to open more galleries in the likes of Sydney and Melbourne, it would seem this is just the beginning.
Podcasts are an excellent way to while away the weekend, whether they are listened to on a walk or while tucked up in bed with your morning coffee. And with a number of new podcasts coming out every week, we’ve made finding the best easy with a round-up of ones we’re listening to and loving right now. From juicy gossip to engrossing conspiracy, these are the five podcasts to tune into this weekend.
Finger Food This insightful new podcast from culinary-artist-turned-holistic-sexual-mentor Stacey O’Gorman is set to inform and entertain in equal measure. Speaking with a diverse line-up of guests, O’Gorman leads thoughtful, engaging conversations and creates a safe space in which to explore intimacy, vulnerability and sex. You won’t be able to tear yourself away.
American Hostage Based on a true story, American Hostage stars Jon Hamm as Fred Heckman, a beloved local radio reporter who is thrust into the middle of a life-or-death crisis when hostage-taker, Tony Kiritsis, demands to be interviewed on his popular radio news programme. American Hostage is an eight-episode scripted psychological thriller that exceeds all expectations.
Normal Gossip Normal Gossip delivers juicy, strange, funny, and utterly uninspiring gossip about people you’ll never know and never meet. Host Kelsey McKinney shares reader-submitted comedic gossip with guests, before diving into the lives and decisions of complete strangers. Call us gossips, but we can’t get enough.
Liar, Liar: Melissa Caddick and the Missing Millions This intriguing new podcast from Sydney Morning Herald’s Kate McClymont and 60 Minutes’ Tom Steinfort tells the story of missing Sydney woman Melissa Caddick, a seemingly successful businesswoman from Sydney’s eastern suburbs went missing after authorities raided her Dover Heights home amid questions over Caddick’s massive Ponzi scheme and a $23 million fraud that ripped off investors including her family and friends.
Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV
From Keeping Up With The Kardashians and The Hills to Selling Sunset, Love Island and more, journalists Pandora Sykes and Sirin Kale explore the history of reality TV and the ethical questions raised by the genre. Using interviews with contestants, commentators, producers and psychotherapists, Unreal is a ten-episode deep dive that is just as addictive as the shows themselves.
A good bar is so much more than somewhere to enjoy a tipple. From interior ambiance to well-made drinks to delicious food, the contenders for Auckland’s Best Bar truly offer it all. And while Parnell’s elegant Faraday’s Bar came very close to the top, alongside open-air venues like Viaduct Harbour’s Rooftop at QT and Parasol & Swing, and of course, the perpetually-packed Hotel Ponsonby, it was underground Britomart bar, Caretaker that took pole position, thanks to its after-hours vibe and specialty cocktails.
The 2022 Denizen Hospo Heroes is brought to you by American Express. Wining and dining your way around Auckland’s top restaurants (as voted by you), has never been easier thanks to American Express’s new Gold Rewards Cards. Find out more here.
Wine and dine your way around the top restaurants as voted by you, with a little something to sweeten settling up the bill from American Express.
Dining your way around the proud winners of Denizen’s 2022 Hospo Heroes is a journey worth taking this season, and thanks to American Express’ new Gold Rewards Card, it’s never been easier or more rewarding. Card Members can indulge in memorable gastronomic experiences through American Express’ exclusive Dining Collection (which includes a number of our much-adored Hospo Hero-winners in Auckland and beyond) and enjoy up to $200 of Dining Credit1 — one of the Gold Rewards Card’s most enticing benefits.
There’s a delectable list of restaurants that count themselves part of the American Express Dining Collection, including some standouts you’ll uncover on the following pages. From the eternally popular Italian all-day eatery, Amano to the divine celebration spot, Mr Morris. Reliable favourites Andiamo and Non Solo Pizza make the cut too, alongside the ever-inspired Azabu and Soul Bar & Bistro, and even those found further afield, including South Island destination, Amisfield. And if you spend $100 or more on your American Express Gold Rewards Card at any of the participating Dining Collection restaurants you will be eligible for $100 credit, twice a year. That’s $200 back on some of the most delicious dining experiences across the country.
Dining Credits are just some of the rewards found with the new American Express Gold Rewards Card. Promising to add serious panache to your purse, this card is available in either gold or rose gold, and Card Members are able to earn 2 Membership Rewards2 Points for every dollar spent (to be used for travel, gift cards or to pay off eligible purchases). Additional cards can also be added for no extra cost. For those not currently members, you can sign up online today to reap the endless rewards.
See here for more information. Terms and conditions apply.
Never wonder where to take the family for a meal again thanks to this line-up of the best Kid-Friendly Dining in Auckland, as voted by you. While Ponsonby stalwart Prego was the very deserving favourite, taking out the top spot for its friendly service and menu of Italian classics, it was closely followed by the likes of Waiheke’s Man O’ War vineyard (perfect for a day-trip), Wynyard Quarter’s Baduzzi, the eminently accessible (and always delicious) Burger Burger and The Grounds at Whoa! Studios – where a day of entertainment awaits after the food is finished.
The 2022 Denizen Hospo Heroes is brought to you by American Express. Wining and dining your way around Auckland’s top restaurants (as voted by you), has never been easier thanks to American Express’s new Gold Rewards Cards. Find out more here.
The abrupt transition to winter (proper winter) has seen us cranking up the heat and reluctantly surrendering to our most cosy attire. And while the cold, rainy weather might be wreaking havoc on our usually festive Friday moods, we’ve decided to combat the blues with a spot of seasonal shopping. After all, what better excuse is there for picking up some new cashmere?
Without further ado, here is an assortment of the best knits we’re turning to, to see us through the cold snap in style.
Tucked away on a busy corner of Williamson Avenue is an unassuming spot offering an authentic Korean dining experience with an ultra-modern twist. Meet Banziha — a bustling cafe by day and an under-the-radar restaurant and soju bar by night.
From left: Banziha’s Sweet & Spicy Korean Fried Chicken; Fried lotus root with chilli mayonnaise.
Banziha was a concept inspired by the cult-favourite Korean film Parasite (popular a few years ago), and its name is a direct translation of ‘half-basement’ (referring to specific kinds of apartment spaces that exist throughout South Korea and feature heavily in the film). And while the moody, almost-underground interiors of this eatery definitely speak to the idea that inspired its name, the vibe here is anything but, offering an intimate, laid-back atmosphere in which to enjoy a range of mouth-watering, Korean dishes that pack a flavourful punch.
We are simply obsessed with Banziha’s lunch deal, where a simple menu offers a variety of delicious Korean bowls, served on salad, udon or rice. Think Bulgogi beef, sweet and spicy tofu, Korean fired chicken, spicy charcoal chicken and more. Yet when the sun goes down, the menu truly comes alive.
Offering authentic small bites like boiled porkbelly (Bo-Ssam), spicy pork back ribs (Mae-Un-GalBi-Jjim) and braised beef short ribs (So-Galbi-Jjim) alongside tasty shared plates and traditional meals and, of course, a comprehensive Korean Fried Chicken offering (the Volcanic Korean Chicken with charcoal chicken marinated in spicy sauce with mozzarella is a particular highlight), it is a menu designed to showcase the best of Korean cuisine.
Rounding out the dining experience is a drinks menu that heroes housemade soju in various iterations, promising a refreshing drink to cut through the spicy richness of the food.
A small but mighty restaurant, we have already seen great things from the team at Banziha and suggest booking a table before the rest of the city discovers this hidden gem.
Move over marble, there’s another stone undergoing a rapid resurgence in popularity: Travertine. Technically limestone, this warm-toned material makes for an attractive accent within any kind of room.
With a unique finish that is somehow simultaneously eye-catching and subtle, travertine offers a more elemental, earthy feel than its polished marble counterparts and recently, has been used in a number of high-end projects to complement their sleek, contemporary spaces.
Whether installed via built-in furnishings, or curated as furniture and objet d’art, this stone is as versatile to use as it is appealing to look at, and is the material we all want to have in our homes right now.
Distinct travertine table by Ferm Living from Slow Store.
Sculpted Lamp from Studio Henry Wilson, Soffio table lamp by Giopato & Coombes from ECC, Menu Reverse table lamp from Tim Webber.
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