The 4 restaurants you need to visit in New Zealand

You probably already know New Zealand has some pretty good restaurants, but you might not know that some of them are so good they are ranked among the best…in the world!

That's right, Kiwis are dominating the culinary scene with amazing dishes, beautiful restaurants and original ingredients that can only be found in the land of the Māori. So, if you are planning your next trip to Auckland, here are five restaurants you definitely cannot miss.

The Grove (Auckland)

Located in the heart of the city, The Grove is undeniably one of Auckland’s top restaurants. This super exclusive venue serves modern New Zealand food with a French twist that will dazzle your senses. Their menu is constantly changing and adapting to include new ingredients, harnessing the power of seasonal fruits and vegetables and experimenting with new techniques. The Grove also showcases a fantastic range of natural and biodynamic wines from all over the world that create a unique wine selection, carefully curated by Michael and Annette Dearth, owners of the restaurant.

Sails Restaurant (Auckland)

Situated in Westhaven, heart of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest marina, Salis Restaurant is without a doubt the best seafood restaurant in New Zealand. With a one of a kind location and years of experience in the restaurant business, Salis Restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy a night in town. Their wine selection is one of the biggest in the city and that is saying a lot. The restaurant is the perfect place for dates, business meetings and yes, tourists who enjoy a fancy night in town. People recently picked Sails Restaurant as the winner of the Great Auckland Seafood Challenge for the best seafood dish in Auckland, which is probably the only thing you really needed to know to make your decision.

Bella Cucina (Queenstown)

Located inside an unmistakable character building in Queenstown’s Brecon Street Dining precinct, Bella Cucina is the best Italian restaurant in all of New Zealand. With a menu of simple yet elegant dishes, fresh organic ingredients, and a fine selection of European wines, the restaurant will make you fall in love with pizza and pasta all over again. Since it opened in 2008, it has been a local favorite. The menu even has a “trust the chef” option that you can pick to put your lunch in the hands of some of the best cooks in town. Trust us, they do not disappoint.

Arbour (Marlborough)

Eat, sip, gather. That's the motto of Marlborough's best restaurant. Arbour is a small little place located in the heart of the city that specializes in innovative cuisine and friendly service. While their menu is small and ever changing, it has gained a reputation for being delicious and always original. Arbour has won the Two Hats Cuisine Good Food Awards 2019, Best Venue 'Top of the South', Wild Tomato 2017, and was crowned as the best restaurant in Marlborough in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.