SOUL is in the heart of Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour, with a focus on the finest, freshest local ingredients and an emphasis on...
We're unsurprised yet stoked to see a range of city centre establishments being recognised with amazing awards. From restaurants and bars to retail shops, hotels and more, be sure to add some of these venues to your list when planning your next trip to the city centre.
Hotels
The Hotel Britomart, for winning Tripadvisor's #1 hotel in New Zealand
Ranking out of more than 3000 hotels, The Hotel Britomart has been recognised as #1 in New Zealand in the annual Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice awards.
The Hotel Britomart is New Zealand’s first 5 Green Star Hotel, a peaceful retreat within the heart of the buzzing shopping and hospitality precinct. Set over 10 floors and designed by Cheshire Architects, the unique aesthetic features of the hotel include a cobbled square and distinctive brick exterior with irregularly placed windows which link the building with its unique heritage environs.
Read more about the hotel and book a stay, here.
Inside a room at QT Auckland
QT Auckland for its quirky fit-out, which scored best refurbishment in Australasia
Following its opening in November 2021, QT Auckland was named the winner of the Paul Davis Hotel Design Awards for the Best Refurbishment in Australasia. The Paul Davis Design Awards recognise the best-of-the-best in design and architecture in the hotel, tourism and hospitality fields in New Zealand.
Restaurants and Bars
alma, for winning Metro Restaurant of the Year award's Best Restaurant 2022
Designed to bring joy, comfort and pleasure, alma's food style travels through seasons, produce and localities. Metro recognised them as this year's best restaurant alongside best in smart dining, best chef (Jo Pearson), best young chef (Vallensie Cavella Wijaya), plus, their beef tongue with green olive and lemon won best dish! It's a no-brainer to add this one to your list.
Amano, for winning Dish Cults Icon of the Year Award
Amano is a grand institution bringing delectable dishes, pastries, and world-class service to the Britomart Precinct. The Cult Icon Awards look to customers in a diner-voted celebration, and this year they saw Amano taking the Cult Icon of the Year Award. Whether for breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert, you won't be disappointed by a trip to Amano.
Best Ugly Bagels, for winning Dish Cult's Favourite Dish
Simple yet delicious, bagels are loved by many! So, it's no wonder one of the best bagel spots in the country took out the Cult Favourite Dish for 2022. The King Salmon at Al Brown's iconic Best Ugly Bagels features cream cheese, salmon, capers, onion, and dill. However, the bagel itself is arguably the best feature of this dish. Modelled after Montreal's hand-made, wood-fired bagels, these classic, crispy but chewy bagels are a must-try.
Mr. Morris, for being Metro's Best New Restaurant and Viva's Supreme Winner
After taking a break from the Auckland restaurant scene when Merediths closed in 2017, Michael Meredith returned to the Auckland dining scene with Mr. Morris on Britomart's Galway Street, much to diners' and critics' delight. The dining experience, paired with the inventive Pacific-influenced cuisine, has already drawn high praise despite being open for less than a year - being the Supreme Winner in Viva's Top 50 Restaurants for 2021, as well as being awarded the Best New Restaurant and Best Wine Line accolades from Metro's annual Top 50 list too.
Gochu, for winning a 'Metro Best Dish' award for their charred chicken, gochujang, comté
Meaning chilli pepper in Korean, Gochu brings you a new New Zealand Korean cuisine experience like no other, serving fresh, flavour-filled dishes plus modern wines, cocktails and good times. It's no surprise Gochu's charred chicken, gochujang, comté made it into Metro's best dishes for 2023. It comes to the table sizzling, covered in bright spicy gochujang, which then gets slathered in a comté and leek oil sauce, a layer of moreish savouriness that alchemises perfectly with the other components. See the full list of Metro's Best Dishes, here.
Denizen Hospo Heroes, as voted by you
Put your trust in the hands of the public and add these Hospo Hero winners to your list.
Disappear downstairs on Roukai Lane and step back in time with this beautiful cocktail lounge.
Amano is one of Britomart’s most prominent restaurants with a seasonal menu that is sure to tempt your palate.
Located in the refurbished space that previously housed The Deck at Ostro.
Nestled in the old Cafe Hanoi site in Auckland’s Britomart precinct, Mr. Morris is a warm, welcoming restaurant whose name...
Simple but flavoursome, Eden Noodles Cafe is considered as one of the best places to grab a quick bite or casual lunch or...
Ebisu offers something new, a sophisticated twist on the traditional Japanese izakaya style of informal drinking and dining. ...
Retail
Juliette Hogan, for winning the Supreme Business Excellence Award
First launching in 2007, Juliette Hogan is considered one of the most successful fashion designers in New Zealand. With a dedicated fashion niche of feminine but not too girly, grown-up but relaxed this retailer took out Westpac's 2021 Supreme Business Excellence Award.
Maggie Marilyn, for being a finalist for the Going Circular Award
Maggie Marilyn recently opened its first flagship store in Britomart, this being the first step in a bold plan to move towards a completely circular model of sustainability. In 2021 the New Zealand label was a finalist for the Sustainable Business Network's Going Circular Award, read more about their awesome initiatives here.
Health & Beauty
The Facialist, for the best holistic facial, as voted by the people
The Facialist specialises in holistic facials and skincare with a beautiful boutique clinic located in City Works Depot. Thousands of votes were cast to crown The Facialist the best of the best in the 2021 Denizen Everyday Heroes Awards - so book in for your next facial here and treat your skin to something truly special.
Aotea, for their Social Responsibility Award
With a commitment to act in the best interest of society, it's no wonder Aotea was recognised with a Social Responsibility Award. They lead the way by providing scholarships to their rangatahi Māori, manufacturing products in NZ and using solar panels for 100% of their power.
Attractions & Activities
All Blacks Experience, for being named as winners in Best Design Awards Digital Section
The intelligent and inspirational vision behind the All Blacks Experience was recognised as the best of the best when they were named winners of the Digital (Interactive and Exhibition) Section of the Best Design Awards. This 45 minute experience immerses manuhiri in the history, culture and people of the All Blacks and is a must-try.
Comvita Wellness Lab, for its award winning retail and experiential space
Manuka honey producer Comvita recently opened its Wellness Lab experiential space on Quay Street, featuring a tasting tour that helps visitors explore mono-floral honey through five senses, including smell, touch, sight, and hearing. It's quickly become one of the most unique retail experiences you can enjoy in the city centre and received the top accolade in the Retail Award category at the 2021 Interior Awards.
Wētā Workshop, for excellence in theme parks, museums and visitor attractions
This fantastical film effects workshop takes groups on a journey through Wētā Workshop wizardry's creative process, and it's one that needs to be seen to be believed! It comes with no surprise that Wētā Workshop won a Themed Entertainment Association Award, an international award recognising excellence in theme parks, museums and visitor attractions.
Award-winning outdoor spaces
At the 2022 Best Design Awards, Wynyard Quarter's Tank Park received the Gold Pin in the Public and Institutional Spaces category!
At the recent Auckland Architecture Awards, two Downtown Programme projects, Te Wānanga and Te Ngau o Horotiu won their categories, and we can see why!
The new downtown public space, Te Wānanga (above), won in the Planning & Urban Design category, while Te Ngau o Horotiu (below), Auckland’s downtown ferry facility won in the Public Architecture category.
Photo by Auckland Transport
Establishments recognised for their fit outs
The Best Awards is an annual showcase of excellence in design. 2021 saw many city centre establishments winning gold in the spatial category. Check them out below.
Ghost Street
kingi
Mr Morris
Wētā Workshop Unleashed
Hotel Britomart
Commercial Bay
The Libraries at Hotel Britomart