Dulce in Devonport combines sea views, great service and amazing seasonal food. And the dog is always welcome.
Favourite restaurant for dinner with friends?
Love Bossi in Commerce St – great ambience and fit out (my wife is an interior designer, so I have to be onto these things). And rich, decadent Italian food – with a fun, modern take.
Favourite place to take a visitor to?
It used to be a secret, but it’s so good that it isn’t one anymore. Azabu Ponsonby is the perfect mix of Asian fusion dishes and authentic Japanese cocktails, making it the best night out with friends or loved ones.
Favourite spot to finish a night out?
Caretaker – Down a discreet alley off Britomart, this underground lounge bar serves some of the most outrageous but delicious cocktails you will ever come across ... Or never come across!
Favourite place to get coffee?
Win the Day Golf & Coffee in Belmont. Yep, this tiny place has combined excellent coffee and a green for putting practice while you wait to grab your coffee on the way to work.
Favourite fish-and-chip shop?
Has to be Takapuna Beach Cafe – you can take away to the beach or eat in with a glass of wine or two. And finished with the best gelato.
Favourite trail for a hike?
Haven’t done it for a couple of years, but the best walk in Auckland has to be Rangitoto. Amazing lunar landscape and epic views from the summit.
Favourite venue for a gig?
Kemuri Hi Fi in the basement of Commercial Bay – a subterranean underground vinyl bar fused with Japanese cool. Perfect for that last cocktail of the night.
Favourite place to find a bargain?
Definitely not a bargain but always find something special at Flagstaff Gallery in Devonport – a great curated collection of NZ art and sculpture.
Alex McDonald is the co-creator of Mānuka Phuel, the headline sponsor for Auckland’s largest one-day music festival, Synthony.
