Most Authentic Spanish cuisine in Auckland. Great service,wine and Food…read more Muy Bien!!!

A cool little bar and eatery..it used to be Ruby and El Toro from memory. We stopped in for a…read morecouple of drinks. We were greeted with smiles and even though the kitchen was closing they were more than happy to open for us. Nice. We ended up just drinking and were very pleased with the friendly table side service. All staff seemed to be Spanish, happy and welcoming. We drank Spanish beer and wine. Good reasonable prices. Although we didn't eat, we definitely plan to next time and I can recommend the cold drinks and excellent service. I'm sure the food would follow suit. Seating options are tables and leaners and outside there is a courtyard with seating. Decor is pleasing and I'm looking forward to heading back in to see those smiling faces.

Tapas sounded good so we checked it out and ended up getting the lamb with roasted veggies a cheese…read moreplate and some wine. All were delicious and the service was excellent. Spoke to the owners for an hour or so while we ate - one from Christchurch and the other is from Madrid. Super nice people. Everything was excellent and authentic Spanish - the cheese, olives (free), wine and bread. It's in the alley with seating outside. People from the neighborhood stopped by just to hang out. Very cool spot.

The reviews I read were right. The food and drinks were delicious at Madriz. The Sangria was a fun,…read morerefreshing choice and we enjoyed everything we ordered. The tapas plates were so nicely seasoned, perfectly cooked and fun to share. The charcuterie plate was decadent with melt in your mouth Iberico ham. The little alley the restaurant is located in makes you feel like your in a small cafe in a European location and makes for fun people watching.

I would probably visit here more frequently than approximately once a month if it were not for the…read more$12 Sundays, due to the distance from my own locale. There is the option of a burrito, chimachunga or quesadilla and choice of meat - chicken or beef, at the discounted rate. Full price is around the high teen dollar mark. Service is usually pretty relaxed, excusable as it is a Sunday, with cocktail specials also on. The marguerita is particularly nice. I have not tried that many others, as there is a high chance I have been hungover when visiting in the past. The meals are a great size, with the amount just right to fill you right up. The meals come with an array of salad with sour cream and guacamole also. There is a enormous selection of hot sauces hiding around the bar, of all variations of chili and brand. I believe Toro is an extremely close relation of the neighbouring and popular El Camino bar, with an almost identical menu and special deal. We ultimately ended up at Toro after frequently being rejected by El Camino, as it was too full - only to discover that next door do the identical deal. I actually end up enjoying Toro more, as it has a more relaxed atmosphere (if that is possible) with slightly more space, as it can sometimes become crammed next door.

El Camino has become one of those places that cool people are starting to talk about, so in a…read morecouple of months' time it'll be obnoxious. I'm not that cool so I've never been, but I have been to Toro and I have to say I enjoyed it. As far as I can tell the two places have some familial connection but I won't let my praise for Toro spill over onto its hipster neighbour. Toro does a good balance between bar and restaurant. You know how at some bars you feel stupid sitting down to eat, and at some restaurants you feel like a lush if you just want to drink? Well Toro doesn't have either of those problems. I went for a friend's birthday and we transitioned smoothly from food to beers to mojitos over the course of the evening, and all of it seemed comfortable and relaxed. The food and mojitos were nice too, and the beers were bottled so their quality was uniform. I'd come here again.

What a great local find! We were taken here by some friends who work nearby, as this is one of the…read morefavorite haunts. I can see why. The four of each enjoyed our dishes: Snapper of the day, Oxtails, and Lamb shoulder (see photos). All were very reasonably priced, and very tasty. My lamb shoulder was particularly tender, and had the texture of osso bucco. The crème flan, while good, was the weak part of the meal. Wine price was very fair. Service was excellent. There is a nice rear outdoor garden patio to enjoy your meal.

One of my absolute favorite places to eat! The staff is very friendly and you'll crave the food…read morelong after you go. Has a gorgeous courtyard in the back which is equipped with a sheltered area and heaters so you can enjoy it even in the rainy weather! Awesome spot for coffee and hands down the best item on the menu is the Kumaru burger

What a disappointing dining experience!!!…read more Limited menu I could deal with. But then, I expect excellent, or at the very least, very good execution. Sadly, this wasn't meant to be, at least not this night. My wife and I shared four tapas, of which only one was properly served at an acceptably hot temperature. The Octopus (pulpo), $12, was served on sliced potato, and was decently flavored, without being rubbery. The Berenjena (eggplant served crostini or bruschetta style), $5.50, similarly served cold. The Piquillo, stuffed capsicum, was the only positive of the evening. This was served hot (temperature), and had a sweet taste with no heat, $14. The calamari, $11, was heavily breaded, and served cold. Even the white creamy sauce didn't help with the flavor. This completed the meal. See photos. The Avaniel tempranillo, $14/gl, was a full-bodied wine, and was enjoyable. Service was fair. All in all, a sorry evening, I won't be going back.

I stopped going to Bellota after my favorite dish of Prawn and risotto disappeared. However a…read morefriend wanted to go for a Shangria and there we were, as Bellota makes the best red wine Shangria - not too sweet and not too heavy. There were some new dishes which caught our eyes. Black rice w squid & prawn ($13) reminded me of the old dish so we ordered it to try. Way too salty. Garlic Prawn ($13) and Dessert platter ($10.5) tasted average nor impressive while rest of the dishes were fantastic. Gratin of Piquillo w fish & prawns ($14) was delicious, Cassava chips ($8) were bulky and crispy, Calamari ($11) tasted like heaven.. You may have noticed that there are too many dishes mentioned here. Yes, I went twice in a week to try out the menu... Yes this is very unlike me but I am not regretting it as I know what I will have next time!

Exceptional cocktails. Exceptional service. Beautiful place to enjoy a fine drink…read more We tried 4 different cocktails. They have all the usuals and The Old Fashioned and Manhattan were beyond excellent. My partner had a rhubarb tequila concoction and a margarita which was truly truly delicious. The menu is extensive and I'm sure all delivered with precision and perfection. The staff were helpful and go the extra length to deliver and satisfy. Located down the wharf your get great views from the patio and a great place to watch the sunset.

Great place for whiskey. They have a lot of choice. Also cigar friendly out on the patio and they…read moredo sell cigars but ridiculously high priced. Would have given 5 stars otherwise.

I came to Pintxos for a late afternoon/early evening drink with friends and it was lovely to find…read moreoutdoor seating still in the sun! A rare treat in Ponsonby. I was able to order a drink from my seat, but I didn't get the wine I ordered - a more expensive option plus a larger size - something I didn't realise until the bill came! Still, it was enjoyable. Some of my friends ordered some of the pintxos from the bar - they looked ok but nothing special and not as appetising as the pintxos I sampled in San Sebastian - hence why I opted out of ordering. You pay according to the number of toothpicks leftover at the end of your visit. I wouldn't rush back but still a nice option to have in Ponsonby.

Mexican is the new "it" cuisine; tapas are, like, so totes 2012. That is, unless you have tried the…read morepintxos at the appropriately named Pintxos in Ponsonby, the first authentic bar/eatery of its kind in Auckland. A pintxo (pronounced "pincho") is a traditional Spanish snack especially popular in the Basque region of Spain. The literal translation is "thorn" or "spike" because of the toothpick that skewers the delectable morsel to a slice of fresh baguette. Opened in November 2012, Pintxos is located at the back of the alley next to Grand Central on Ponsonby Road and has a sun-drenched street frontage and entrance from MacKelvie Street. You can while away the late afternoon summer sun in their colourful courtyard, which comes alive at night with strings of colourful lights replicating the seaside resort of San Sebastian. Or you can choose to enjoy your Spanish snack in the quirkily furnished cosiness of the indoor spaces. The well-stocked bar will cater to everyone's needs; there are craft beers on tap, a good selection of Spanish & NZ wines, and friendly bar staff to guide your decisions if you feel like trying something new. The Spanish sparkling wine was a smooth and fruity glass of bubbles to match the sunny atmosphere. With delicious options focusing on quality Spanish-style ingredients, the pintxos selection is an ever-changing array of hot and cold seasonal delights. The day we visited there were crispy crumbed balls of goats cheese paired with sweet onion confit; spicy warm chorizo, green olives and tangy red onion; and a proscuitto, mango & manchego cheese match that sang of summer. The beauty of this style of snacking is the self-service option. You simply help yourself to the snack that tempts you, and store up the toothpicks after you've demolished your pintxo. On leaving, you can proudly display your collection and pay accordingly. I'm sure there's room in here for some kind of pintxos eating record! Even those on restricted diets are catered to with the thoughtful option of gluten-free crackers. Pintxos is the perfect place to catch up for an after-work snack, pre-dinner drinks, or simply to sit back and imagine you are enjoying a siesta or fiesta in Spain.

La Zeppa is vast and noisy with a circular bar in the middle of the room and an open kitchen by the…read moredoor. More recently added is the gorgeous lantern-festooned deck with outdoor booth seating which really is a lovely spot to spend an evening when Auckland's weather is behaving. The bar out here opens in the afternoon so you don't have to trek back inside for your beverages which is a neat plan. There's a few things to note: while the New York loft design looks great, it really does sound awful. It's strangely improved when the place is full but if you have any hearing issues, don't come here. The other thing is that this is one of the first places in Auckland to do tapas and while they've got better with time, not everything is great. I do love their Platters concept though, particularly the fact that there's a Vegetarian one. Lastly, be aware La Zeppa "goes off" on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, turning into something of a pick-up joint complete with DJ. Although less so since the competition kicked things up. Maybe the solution is to do a bit of a crawl through all the new Freemans Bay bars and sample a little bit of something at each one. So much fun to be had, so little time!

On a sunny, summer evening you can't really beat a drink on the roof at La Zappa…read more Yes, it can be a little banker-y at times, but I only ever go here with a group of friends so I tend not to notice the other clientele around me and focus on good catch-ups, good wine and good food. They sell food in little tapa-style dishes, and although it sometimes takes a while to come out (go and have a grumble and you'll either get some extra free platters or, if you grumble hard enough, a free bottle of wine) and they're great for sharing. Sangria jugs and Pimms are on offer too if that's your style.

I first went to Didas when I was eighteen and since then I have become a regular patron of the…read morerenowned wine and tapas lounge. Situated on Jervois Road, Didas attracts all sorts of stylish and successful Ponsonby locals. With an extensive wine list, and bottles ranging in price from the standard $30-40 to over $600, I probably would have felt out of place if it wasn't for the incredibly friendly staff - like Nick and Chris who are more than a little chatty, and the wine lounge's completely relaxed atmosphere. Behind the bar wine bottles are stacked in library-like fashion, and there is even a sliding wooden ladder - just like the one Belle swings on in Beauty and the Beast - to ensure staff can reach every bottle. Although my average Didas experience occurs at night and revolves around copious amounts of alcohol and a lot of shit-talking, my latest experience was totally different but equally as fun. I met friends on a sunny Sunday afternoon for a drink and, sitting out on Jervois Road with my cider and live music - it really was the perfect set up. So next time you're on Jervois Road and the weather is good, take a moment to have a cold one and people-watch from the comfort of a Didas stool.

I went to Didas a few times when it first opened and I lived just down the road. It had a great,…read morelaid back atmosphere, excellent food and made for perfect date material. I vividly remember ordering rosemary lamb skewers that actually came out with the lamb 'skewered' on a length of rosemary - just delicious. Didas quickly became the 'cougar bar' and although I'm sure the food is just as good and the wine list just as extensive, the clientele that you see posted outside when you walk/drive past is fairly off-putting, and Didas is no longer on my radar of local Ponsonby bars to frequent. But if you're older, and looking to rub shoulders with some Herne Bay money (although not always the best kind), by all means head along to Didas Wine Lounge!

Fantastic happy hour for Bonvoy members (which is free to join). I was able to score $10 glass of…read morewine and $10 bar bites! We had the pork belly sliders and the chicken bites. Both were delicious and great for the price. After HH, I stayed for a Margherita pizza and more wine. The pizza was thin crust and tasted fresh. Only thing that was interesting to me was the inability to order the same HH wines after HH. The selection switches out. Service was really great and friendly. It started off rather quiet for HH but began to fill as time went on. Plenty of seating options and trendy decor.

VISIT: end of February 2020…read more This was a pleasant surprise as we ate here probably every day of the 3 that we were in town. I typically shy away from restaurants that are in the hotel because they tend to be pricey. We felt, for Americans, that this was decently priced and that each time we ate here, we got a different meal FOOD WE TRIED: - Chicken and vegetable dumplings - Prawn and chive Gyoza - Arancini - 55 day aged beef brisket sliders - Seafood Risotto - Spaghetti with mussels, snapper and prawns The sliders, gyoza and spaghetti with seafood was VERY good. I wouldn't order the dumplings again, but I always forget that chicken dumplings just aren't the same as pork and/or shrimp. The Arancini was a bit disappointing in flavor, maybe just a touch more salt would have been helpful and same thing with the flavor of the Risotto. The seafood was cooked perfectly, but the sauce on it just wasn't as flavorful as I would have liked, for a risotto. Service was always great with the staff always helpful with recommendations. We were very happy to have access to this restaurant during our stay the Four Points