A short walk from Queen Street and Aotea Square, Mojo Mosaic is the perfect spot for a coffee, a lunch break, or a catch-up...
Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tāmaki returns!
From 12 to 17 May 2026
This May, thousands of people from across Aotearoa will once again gather in the city centre to spend a week with some of the world's most fascinating minds!
Explore a packed programme of talks, ideas and conversations — with literary heavyweights, global voices and exciting new talent all taking the stage.
With the Writers Festival taking over Aotea Centre, the city centre is ready to play its part. Between big ideas and standing ovations, there’s coffee to fuel you, bites to grab, shops to browse and galleries to dip into. Whether you’re racing between sessions or lingering long after the last applause, consider this your guide to making a full day (and night) of it.
Find your reading or writing spot
A quiet nook can change the whole mood of your day. Mojo Mosaic offers a warm, creative atmosphere with soft background chatter—perfect for settling in with a book or letting your ideas flow onto the page. If you prefer total calm, the library gives you peaceful corners, steady silence that makes it easy to settle in.
The Auckland Central City library has an extensive collection of fiction, non-fiction, magazines and music and free access to...
Albert Park's long history and distinctive character has earned it a special place in the hearts of Aucklanders.
Offering an array of delectable food and specialty coffee, it's the place to enjoy delicious treats. Relax and recharge after...
A coffee shop and plant based eatery located on High Street.
This tucked away cafe on High Street has indoor and outdoor seating and a menu with seriously enticing options.
Caffeine first
Grab a quick espresso, cool down with an iced matcha, or choose something bold enough to power you through back‑to‑back sessions. From iconic cafés like Remedy Coffee and MELBA to tucked-away gems like Receptionist Coffee and Stolen Summer, discover your next favourite cup!
d.o.s.e is a trendy espresso bar on High Street, serving the classics through to innovative new drinks.
Kōkako is a specialty coffee roaster with a commitment to innovation, sustainability and ethics. Kōkako's flagship coffee bar...
The intention at Rumours Specialty Coffee is simple: good coffee with a good ambience.
Designed for busy city workers, FERN lets you pre-order, customize, and leave notes easily through their sleek website or in...
Kompass Coffee serves up delicious bakery goods and cabinet food along with exceptional specialty coffee.
Snickel Lane's stylish coffee shop serving excellent coffee and treats.
Eat between ideas
Grab a quick bite when you’re on the move, or savour a long, lazy lunch when you’ve got time to linger. Try White Lady’s Old Skool Egg Burger, stacked with a beef pattie, fried egg, beetroot and all the essentials. If you’re in the mood to unwind, Reign & Pour’s $69pp bottomless brunch has you covered with tacos, burgers, mimosas and more. Wanting a variety? Head to Elliott Stables, where you can wander between Malaysian, Italian, Mexican and plenty more global flavours—all under one roof.
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The finalists for the 2026 Iconic Auckland Eats are here, and 28 are from our delicious city centre restaurants!
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Check out these city centre spots to indulge and relax into a long lunch.
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Looking for a quick and tasty bite somewhere in the city? Whether you're in a rush, want food on the go or just want to try...
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Here are a couple of healthy lunch picks that will make your lunch break the highlight of your day.
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What better way to bask in the joy of silly season days than at a rooftop bar? With over 10 spectacular rooftop spots, the...
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We have the lowdown on all the best places to go for the most delightful hot cross buns.
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Summer days are synonymous with iced cold drinks, whether it’s a thirst-quenching caffeinating iced coffee or a nutritious...
Wander wisely
Browse bookshops, fashion and gift stores — the perfect way to fill the gaps between talks. Wander through shelves of new reads at Unity Books , treat yourself to a trinket at Shut The Front Door, or pick up a stylish piece at Juliette Hogan.
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Looking for a good book to sink your teeth into? Look no further than these bookshops and their expert staff! Whether you're...
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Queen Street provides the perfect open-air shopping environment where you'll be able to fill all of your shopping needs.
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High Street District shopping is happening, and it's definitely worth a visit!
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As the newest addition to the city centre, Commercial Bay is home to quality retail, great hospitality environments, world...
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If you’re in the mood for a shopping spree, Britomart has you covered.
Reset your brain
With ideas and inspiration swirling in your head, it’s the perfect moment for a reset. Step into a gallery or exhibition for five minutes or fifty — it all counts. The Auckland Art Gallery offers a range of free exhibitions open to the public, while the New Zealand Maritime Museum invites you into a world of stories where people and the sea are preserved, shared and celebrated.
Stay a little longer
Don’t let it end just yet—make a day of it with post‑talk drinks or a sweet finish. For something different, try Caretaker, a New York–style cocktail lounge where the host creates a custom drink based on your preferences and mood. No menu—just trust. If you’re after dessert, head to Giapo for some of the world’s most inventive, freshly made ice creams that taste even better than they look.
Bespoke cocktail bar tucked away in Snickel Lane where timeless classics meet modern mixology and bold flavour pairings.
Hand crafting small batch ice cream in the Waikato since 2015
Hidden away on O'Connell Street, this unique hidden bar serves delicious, inventive small-batch cocktails.
Cinnamon rolls baked fresh daily, new to Victoria St West.
Be transported as you step through the charming velvet curtain into Bar Albert, one of New Zealand's highest rooftop bar.
Island Gelato prides itself on its inventive streak that leads to the creation of many unique unforgettable flavours.
Machi Machi is a new generation of beverage shop that believes in taste, comfort and art.
Snow Bingsu & Souffle Pancakes - open late in Courthouse Lane
Hand crafting small batch ice cream in the Waikato since 2015
A wineshop and rooftop bar at the top of Commercial Bay... and it is fabulous!
If you're going to indulge, you may as well do it properly and Miann Britomart is ready and waiting for you.
A metamorphosis has occurred at Little Culprit. Introducing Curio, a cocktail and wine lounge for the unique & uncanny.
Run by Martin and Alek, they have both taken their knowledge for wine and turned this space into a cozy, intimate and...
Kemuri Hi-Fi is a sultry underground bar inspired by Japanese jazz cafes, where whisky, vinyl, and high-end audio systems...
The Wafflers bake fresh Korean waffles and croffles daily.
The sweet arrival of this brand new chocolate shop invites you to indulge your senses in a world of decadent delights.
Something for the kids
Bringing your kids to Pukapuka Adventures opens up a whole day of fun, and the city centre makes it easy to keep the momentum going! The city's full of family‑friendly restaurants, casual cafés, and activities that suit every age—whether you’re after a quick bite, a relaxed meal, or something to keep little ones entertained between stops.
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Want to know where to eat with kids in the city centre? Look no further than these family friendly restaurants in the heart...
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With plenty to do, lots of yummy places to eat, both you and the kids are in for a fun filled time.
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The city centre offers plenty of fun activities to keep the family entertained.
Embark on a bookshop trail
Renowned for stocking obscure and interesting books, Unity has one of the best book collections in Auckland.
Little Unity is devoted to words for the very young and nostalgia for the very old, from Beatrix Potter through to Tolkien...
Discover a haven for bibliophiles—a meeting place where literature comes alive. Explore over 4000 rare and antiquarian books...
Some rare book stores only offer a small selection of rare books, but Rare Book’s on High Street has two levels worth of rare...