Yesterday I was on a mission to view as many art galleries as I could in the city, honestly I…read moredidn't get to many, considering the size of Auckland their isn't actually a great deal around. I have heard that Wellington is the 'art capital' which I look forward to visiting one day. So, Lonely Dog Gallery I heard about you from a previous Yelp review and decided to go pay you a visit. The work here is thematic, comical, fine art and well presented. It is obviously in a specialised market which I am pleased to see does good business - I took note of quite a few red dots (art that has been bought). Plus being in such a good location next to Britomart's transport centre in the hub of the city must mean a lot of tourism flow through. I was also relieved to find it easy to get to, unlike some other inner city galleries I couldn't even find the bloody door to get inI d Although I didn't but any of the art I did buy one of the cards of the art, for my eldest sister in mind, (a big fan of dogs), $5.00 each or you can buy them in packs. They have a description on the back which added to the appeal.

Lonely Dog recently moved down Customs Street a few hundred metres closer to Queen Street…read more Otherwise, it's still the exact same intriguing spot for a quick look as it's always been. For those that don't know, Lonely Dog is a sort of art phenomenon started by Kiwi artist Ivan Clarke who one day started adding human-esque dogs into his dramatic landscape works. It's a sort of weird comic book meets fine landscape art mix, and as such it makes for some pretty surreal stuff with all sorts of symbolic parallels drawn between the dogs and reality. Can't say I've ever bought anything from here, but it's a fun place to linger for a few minutes for a look if you're in the area.

A free museum? Sign us up. We did the kid games and kid packet in the first floor exhibit on the…read moreMāori and local culture. What a story and history lesson with modern art approaches. The staff were so kind and recommended which exhibits to try and the we just spent an hour or two in the clay zone making our own art! This is well worth an afternoon and our next trip will include visit to the cafe when the rain hits!

Gorgeous Art gallery in the heart of Auckland! My husband and I enjoyed strolling the gallery…read moreduring a recent trip. I really enjoyed their Manet and Picasso pieces. If you have a few hours to spare, there's a really nice outdoor space to sit and read a book!

The visual Arts have long been of interest to me, even prior to my own days spent in an art school…read morefor several years. So, seizing on the opportunity to write reviews for Yelp I decided it would provide a great opportunity to sight some galleries around Auckland that I had not yet seen since moving here last year. NKB on Mt Eden Road was holding an exhibition titled 'Impressions' (28th March till 16th April 2013) when I went in to have a look at both the gallery and the art. Neither moved me all that much I am sorry to say. The gallery was very small, boxed in and simplistic with its stark white walls and typical timber flooring. Now, this could be just me to some extent, a personal review remember, not a critic. I like 'old school' art and unique 'old school' galleries. So modern fine art is not really up my alley, now having said that the one piece that I did admire, just a little, was a piece called 'Lone Tree Wangamui' by Matt Palmer, a simple print that made an impact with its line work, colouring and composition. The gallery does have a more varied collection of fine art in the stockroom that can viewed on the website too.

Perhaps the most pleasant and affable art galleries in Auckland. By no means the largest, but nkb…read moreGallery has quality art over quantity. It is a sad thing that it has become common place to be ignored, or even looked down upon, by staff in art galleries. I was almost stunned as I entered nkb and the staff member politely finished his phone call and offered information on the exhibition, all without forcing a brochure into my hand and peering over my shoulder. This small Mt Eden shows off some great art, of various techniques, by up-and-coming New Zealand artists alongside some more familiar names. An inviting gallery I will be sure to keep an eye on in the future.

This store is great because it doesn't cater to the 'kitschy' side of New Zealand art and design as…read moremuch as some souvenir type stores like it do. It's more of an Art Gallery rather than a store. And affordable too. I love artist Tony Cribbs 'Adventures of Tin man' series and always like to pick something up whenever I see one in a store or gallery. They are just too cute. And funny as well. I always get compliments on them whenever I have people over to mine. They just exemplify the New Zealand sense of humor so well. I like the fact that Mana also has prints of a lot of their artworks so if you can't afford the actual original artwork itself there are still opportunities for you to own a slice of something. I'm currently crushing on one of their artworks, one of a Maori girl/princess wrapped in a traditional woven cloak. I may have to settle on the print of this one myself!

If you're looking for some absolutely beautiful local art, jewellery or gifts for someone visiting…read moreNew Zealand to take home with them or even to send to someone abroad, this place should be your one stop shop. They've got a fairly small but carefully curated collection of glassware, paintings and sculptures alongside jewellery and cards and other nick-nacks. My favourite things in here are the necklaces. Long thin silver chains with bird and flower pendants, which were gorgeous and really unusual. Things like this range from around $40 up to $400, so you're sure to find something no matter what your budget. I've been looking for a Green Stone necklace for my partner for quite some time and have never been able to find one that I really love, but the ones in Mana are the nicest I've seen in Auckland. Plus they were playing Ben Howard on the stereo when I walked in, which just made me like it even more.

"You know, I'm no art critic. But I know what I hate. And I don't hate this." - C. M. Burns,…read morePowerplant owner. Never a truer word was spoken. Art galleries are pretty boring sometimes. I don't think Starkwhite could ever be described as boring, which I think is probably the most important thing for an art gallery, right? Starkwhite consistently displays work by artists who challenge their audience. Whether they're poking fun at something or maintaining a poker face, the work always has something to say. That's why I like Starkwhite and always go inside if they've got a new artist exhibiting. Best thing I saw there was this terrific sculpture piece that saw a tray of eggs drooping perilously over the corners of an empty doorway. It was bloody excellent. Probably one of the best contemporary art galleries in Auckland.

I'm so pleased I accidentally stumbled across this little gallery on Ponsonby Road; it's a small,…read morequiet but inviting space on the K' Road end of Ponsonby and showcases small but interesting exhibitions in its whitewashed rooms. I really like its current "Islanders" exhibition, which showcases the work of NZ sculptor Jo Torr. I'm really fascinated by fashion history and the exhibition provided a unique insight into how Polynesian culture inspired European dress during the early days of New Zealand's colonization, which I found really interesting. There are usually two exhibits on in the gallery at any one time: a small one in the window at the front, and the main one covering the rest of the gallery. It's a real shame the gallery isn't slightly bigger as, really, you couldn't spend more than about half an hour in there; but it's free and culturally enriching. I think it's really important for places like this to exist in any city and this one is great if you just want a quiet break from the noise of the city for a while, learn about stuff or just look at beautiful things. Exhibitions usually change around once every month or two.

Outstanding service and selection of gifts. I purchased a print and love the story behind it…read more Staff are awesome and will bend over backwards to help you.

Wonderful shop with artifacts, green stones, pottery, wall art and much more - a gem close to…read moreWestfield mall. Fern was a great help And very attentive. a must in Auckland!

This name is deceiving, or perhaps I am just foolish! I have previously walked past this place and…read morehad always thought it must be 'upstairs' and would go in next time when I "have more time". Now I have made that time and I am glad I did. Downstairs is housed this great little community gallery. They change the exhibit every month and it is made up of an eclectic mix of work for purchase by established and emerging artists. The focus is on community and is linked to the Titirangi Community Arts Council. I was pleased to hear that sales have been up since moving to New Lynn in September 2012 and although they are only there temporarily for the next two years whilst Lopdell House gets a new look I am sure good things may come out of this relocation.

Seated right away. Great selection of breakfast items. Perfect coffee to go with my Avo toast…read more Friendly staff. Baked goods were at the counter. Took an almond pastry to go!

Its been a wee while since I have managed to devour the populating Auckland food scene. Looking…read morethrough my list of bookmarked eateries, Sunday called for brunch. Removing myself from the usual spots in the city we tried Crave in Morningside. Situated in a pretty quiet spot, the site itself was light and airy with tall ceilings and is a lot larger than the pictures presented. Extremely busy upon arriving, we added our names to the list, and as accurately estimated by the host the wait was only around 15mins for a table. Between the four of us eating, there were a few hits and misses. Upon being served, two of us received our meals before the other two with about a 3min wait between dishes served which is always a tad awkward watching other people eat before yours is served. Almost after always ordering the Mushroom on Toast dish today wasn't too far from the norm by choosing the Fungi from the menu. Instead of your standard toast option, it was served on a delicious kumara and feta cake, however the herb garlic cream was very lack lustre. It didn't give me that feeling that I wanted more and really missed that umph and body and was fairly under seasoned. It's a shame because the concept was there and presentation was a beaut. If I could make one recommendation, please serve it on a plate and not a bowl, it's frustrating to try scoop the last few bits with a fork and knife. The rest of the dining party were happily pleased with their tasty meals, with each dish having a modern switch up to your classic eggs bene and scrambled eggs. We agreed it would have been great to have a slice of toast or a hash served with the Cottled Egg just to tie the dish together. Otherwise overall the service was on point and friendly topping off a satisfied feeling upon leaving. Rating: Food: 7/10 Service: 8/10 Value for money: Very Good Opening Hours: Mon-Weds: 7am-5pm Thurs-Sat: 7am-late Sun: 7am-4pm 6 Morningside Dr, Morningside