AFP Takes Auckland!
Last week the Pōneke city kids took on the big city of Tāmaki Makaurau for a few nights! With both of Jason’s parents residing there and his brother flying in for the weekend, it was a full family affair. We had such a great time exploring some of Auckland’s incredible eateries and even managed to fit a concert in there too.
As we were supporting local in another city, we thought it would be cool to share some of the spots we popped into and really enjoyed. Auckland has an incredible array of restaurants and as most of our crew are either locals or grew up in the city, we were in good hands…
Shihad Concert at Spark Arena
We were lucky enough to see Shihad perform their second to last show ever! Whilst it felt a little funny seeing a Wellington band in Auckland…we thoroughly enjoyed their show at Spark Arena and felt all the Pōneke love as the boys shouted out their respective Welly suburbs on stage!
Shihad had the whole of Spark Arena with their phone torches in the air for ‘Pacifier’ and boogying hard to ‘Home Again’ for their final song of the night. It was a truly special evening.
Onslow Restaurant
For our pre-concert dinner we dined at one of Jason’s brother’s favourite Auckland spots, Onslow. Located in central Auckland, just a conveniently short walk from Spark Arena, Onslow was hands down our favourite spot that we visited over the weekend.
With a very classy interior fit-out and views of the sky tower from the back patio, the ambiance inside Onslow is immaculate. We especially loved the ‘treats’ section on their menu, consisting of miniature versions of some delicious savoury bites, including fried chicken, whipped goats cheese on fried bread and caramelized fig with buffalo curd! It’s safe to say we were all suitably stuffed after our dinner at Onslow.
Soul Bistro & Bar
Soul is somewhere that we often frequent when visiting Jason’s family in Auckland and their menu never disappoints! In prime location on the Auckland Viaduct, Soul has been operating for over two decades, and it’s easy to see why. With gorgeous views of the waterfront and an elegant interior, it was the perfect spot for a family lunch on Friday.
James and I both indulged in an Aperol Spritz and I enjoyed a very tasty grilled nectarine salad. Special mention to the macaroni cheese too, which Bella thoroughly enjoyed!
Kemuri Hi-Fi
Now a true family favourite, James discovered Kemuri Hi-Fi on a trip to Auckland with his friends and we’ve been back several times since on various trips. Located in Commercial Bay, entering this bar has the feeling of walking down into an exclusive speakeasy and once inside the vibes don’t dissapoint!
Set up as a vinyl bar, Kemuri Hi-Fi has one of the largest collections of records I’ve ever seen, a top-notch audio system and even a live vinyl DJ spinning away behind the bar. Their menu is inspired by listening bars in Japan and their drinks menu reflects this with an array of innovative cocktails (with their own song matches!) and a huge selection of whiskey.
Ebisu Restaurant
For our first meal of the trip, the four of us had a delicious dinner at one of my favourite restaurants in Tāmaki Makaurau, Ebisu. Located in Auckland Central, this Japanese restaurant has a menu that is bound to please all taste buds.
Jason and I indulged in some sashimi and James enjoyed their karaage chicken and vegetable tempura. Bella was very pleased to see her favourite, agedashi tofu on the menu too!