Auckland

This former bank vault, on one of the city's fashionable backstreets, has a cozy bar from which you can watch passersby through thin venetian blinds. — Fodor's

Eating seafood by the water is a must in Auckland and this modernist gastrodome also boasts an unbeatable see-and-be-seen location. — Lonely Planet

It's not really a café, and it's not strictly French—that aside, it is one of Auckland's best and most consistent restaurants. — Fodor's

Giapo produces all the classic flavors and a couple of oddball ones like tiramisu and blue cheese. — Frommer's

Italian for "good food," cibo is an apt name for this restaurant with Mediterranean- and Asian-influenced dishes. — Fodor's

This friendly and stylish Italian restaurant covers all the bases, with a fireplace in winter and a courtyard in summer. — Lonely Planet

Stylish and smart, this light-filled restaurant with floor-to-ceiling glass looks across the harbor to trendy Devonport and the Bayswater boat marina. — Fodor's

Seafood of all types is lovingly prepared here from fresh raw oysters to simply grilled filets to more complex fish stews. — Frommer's

This consistent Italian eatery offers pasta as a single serving or in table-sharing bowls that feed four or more. — Fodor's

Auckland and the gulf are at their glistening best when viewed from Mudbrick’s picturesque veranda. — Lonely Planet

Cable Bay is one of Waiheke's most popular vineyards, located on top of a hill looking down to the Hauraki Gulf and islands. — Afar Magazine

In a former waterfront warehouse complete with kauri pillars and roughed-up concrete, Ebisu has become a fixture for its very fine take on clever, modern Japanese cuisine. — Travel + Leisure

Ortolana was onto sophisticated garden-to-table fare long before it became a full-blown trend. — Travel + Leisure

Regional Chinese flavours combine with a funky retro Pacific ambience at this so-hip-it-hurts eatery. — Lonely Planet

His second spot, Baduzzi in North Wharf, serves the city’s best modern Italian-inspired food. — Travel + Leisure

Now an institution, this restaurant has served reliable, reasonably priced meals in a lively, colorful atmosphere for more than 2 decades. — Frommer's

This hugely popular dark den pulses most nights of the week and you have to get in early (like 6pm) to get a spot. — Frommer's