Auckland travel guide

What to Eat in Auckland: Fish Market Oysters, NZ Steak and Lamb, and Green Mussels by the Ferry Building

Auckland was the last stop of our Australia and New Zealand trip and our first time in New Zealand. In a few days we ate the things the country is known for: oysters and fish and chips at the Auckland Fish Market, New Zealand lamb and grass-fed steak at a steakhouse open since 1973, and green-lipped mussels by the harbour. In between, a city tour took us from Westhaven Marina up to the Mount Eden crater. Here's what we ordered, what it cost, and what we'd do differently next time.

NZ$5 each Fish market oysters

NZ$147 Steakhouse dinner for two

53 Volcanoes in the city

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Auckland city skyline and Sky Tower seen across the harbour from Northcote Point — The Auckland skyline from Te Onewa Northcote Point, across the harbour from the city.

The Auckland Harbour Bridge over the Waitematā Harbour on a cloudy day — The Auckland Harbour Bridge, which links the city to the North Shore.

View from the summit of Maungawhau Mount Eden over Auckland toward Rangitoto Island — From the top of Maungawhau / Mount Eden, looking out to Rangitoto, Auckland's youngest volcano.

Auckland's Sky Tower with a faint rainbow behind it — We woke up to a rainbow behind the Sky Tower.

The Auckland Fish Market building in Wynyard Quarter with a Wild About Wild mural — The Auckland Fish Market in Wynyard Quarter.

Freshly shucked oysters with lemon and Tabasco at the Auckland Fish Market — The oysters we picked ourselves, at NZ$5 each.

The glowing red neon sign at Angus Steak House in Auckland — Angus Steak House on Fort Lane, family owned since 1973.

Two seared New Zealand lamb rumps cut into pieces on a sizzling plate at Angus Steak House — The lamb rump at Angus Steak House: two big pieces, cooked medium.

Linguini with scampi, cherry tomatoes, and breadcrumbs in a creamy tomato sauce at The Shucker Brothers — Linguini with scampi at The Shucker Brothers, our last meal in Auckland.

Where we ate.

Garlic-brushed fried monkfish with chips, salad, and aioli from Sanford & Sons Fishmonger at the Auckland Fish Market

 Auckland Fish Market 22-32 Jellicoe Street, Wynyard Quarter 

Seafood market with an oyster counter and fishmonger

Get: Pick your own oysters at the oyster counter (NZ$5 each, about US$3), then get the monkfish from Sanford & Sons Fishmonger (NZ$18 with salad, chips, and aioli).

We came because we loved the Sydney Fish Market, and this one is much smaller and calmer. It was nearly empty on a Wednesday afternoon. The oysters were the best of the trip: naturally sweet, very fresh, and not fishy at all, unlike the ones we had in Melbourne. We finished them so fast. The monkfish had a crispy, lightly fried outside brushed with garlic oil, and the inside was dense, flaky, and still soft. It ran a little salty, so the aioli helps, and the chips were crispy outside and soft inside. If you buy fish from the fishmonger side, they'll cook it for you.

A rare New Zealand Scotch fillet steak being cut on a sizzling plate at Angus Steak House

 Angus Steak House 8 Fort Lane, Auckland CBD 

Family-owned steakhouse since 1973

Get: The Scotch fillet (ribeye) cooked rare, the lamb rump (two pieces) cooked medium, and peppercorn sauce on the side.

We loved New Zealand lamb so much that we had to try the beef too. Our tour guide put the quality down to how the animals are raised and cared for. You pick your own cut from the case before they cook it, which is half the fun. The Scotch fillet came out properly rare, juicy and tender, and only lightly seasoned so you really taste the meat. Add a pinch of salt or the creamy, peppery peppercorn sauce if you want more flavor. The lamb rump is huge and fairly lean, with the fat mostly on the outside and a mild lamb flavor. Dinner for two came to NZ$147 (about US$86). That's not cheap, but the portions were enormous, and we like supporting a small family business that's been around this long.

Room service plate of New Zealand lamb with layered potatoes from Bistro Saine at Hotel Indigo Auckland

 Hotel Indigo Auckland and Bistro Saine 53 St Patrick's Square, Auckland CBD 

Hotel with a French-influenced restaurant

Get: Room service from Bistro Saine: the New Zealand lamb, the duck breast, and the confit duck fat potatoes

Our first meal in New Zealand was room service, and it was shockingly good. The lamb was cooked perfectly, very lamby, with a snappy outside. The duck breast had a slight crisp and a good amount of fat, and the roasted potatoes were satisfying. It was a lot of food. We booked the hotel through The Edit by Chase Travel. For us that meant breakfast every day (and it's a good breakfast), a property credit we used on room service, and a welcome bottle of wine. All of that cost us about what we paid for a basic hotel in San Antonio.

Iced flat white, honey miso matcha, and mini canelés on a wooden tray at D.O.S.E On High

 D.O.S.E On High 5 High Street, Auckland CBD 

Specialty coffee and matcha

Get: The matcha with honey miso and cream, which comes with mini canelés. Lisa also had an iced flat white.

We found this on our last day and wish we'd come on day one. The space is our style and the menu is creative. Matcha with miso sounds like it shouldn't work, but it really does: the matcha flavor is strong, with miso as an aftertaste. The tiny canelés are the shortest we've ever seen and add a little sweetness between sips. Lisa only drinks cold coffee, and after a trip of hot flat whites and magic coffees, an iced flat white (basically an iced latte) was smooth and very milky.

New Zealand green-lipped mussels in a creamy tomato sauce with basil and bread at The Shucker Brothers

 The Shucker Brothers Auckland Ferry Building, Quay Street 

Seafood restaurant on the waterfront

Get: The green mussels, the battered fish and chips, and the linguini with scampi

Our last meal, right on the water at the Ferry Building. Green-lipped mussels are one of New Zealand's big foods, and even though we're not mussel people, these won us over. They're milder and much less fishy than regular mussels, with a soft texture, in a creamy, tomatoey sauce with lots of umami. Dip the bread. The fish and chips had a light, very crisp batter with sea salt, and the fish was flaky, sweet, and good enough that it didn't need tartar sauce. The linguini with scampi was creamier and more garlicky, with tender shrimp and breadcrumbs on top. A great last meal.

 Auckland city tour Westhaven Marina, Te Onewa Northcote Point, and Maungawhau / Mount Eden 

Half-day sightseeing tour

Get: Westhaven Marina, the view of the city from Northcote Point under the Harbour Bridge, and the summit of Maungawhau / Mount Eden

We love a city tour early in a trip because the guide tells you things you'd never learn just walking around. Auckland is the City of Sails: Westhaven Marina is the largest marina in the Southern Hemisphere, and New Zealand has the highest boat-to-person ratio in the world. From Northcote Point, under the Harbour Bridge, you get the classic skyline view back across to the Sky Tower (it reminded us of Toronto). Then we walked up Maungawhau / Mount Eden. The crater drops straight down, about 50 meters, and it's a sacred site, so stay on the paths and don't go into the crater. From the top you can see Rangitoto, the youngest of Auckland's 53 volcanoes.

Good to know before you go

Prices are from our visit and should be treated as a snapshot. Check current menus before you go.
It was about 53°F (12°C) and it rained during our stay. Pack a warm, waterproof layer.
Downtown felt a lot like Asia, with boba everywhere: ChaPanda, Chating, a boba tea bar, and a BBQ Chicken, all within a few blocks.
Auckland's City Rail Link opened on September 13, 2026, after our trip, adding new underground stations in the city center. Getting around downtown without a car should be easier now than when we visited.
We didn't see a single kiwi. They only lived in New Zealand, which had no native land-mammal predators, and they're now threatened by introduced ones like stoats and cats. To see one, plan a trip to a predator-free sanctuary.
Next time we want to try TALA, a contemporary Samoan restaurant at 235 Parnell Road. Pacific Islanders are a big part of Auckland, and our guide told us about the effort to keep te reo Māori, the Māori language, alive.

Questions people ask us about Auckland.

What food is Auckland known for?

Seafood, lamb, and beef. Try oysters and fish and chips at the Auckland Fish Market, green-lipped mussels (New Zealand's signature mussel) on the waterfront, and New Zealand lamb and grass-fed steak. We did all of that, plus a flat white or two, in a few days.

Is the Auckland Fish Market worth visiting?

Yes, especially for oysters. It's much smaller than the Sydney Fish Market and was quiet on a Wednesday afternoon. We picked our own oysters for NZ$5 each (about US$3) and had monkfish and chips from Sanford & Sons Fishmonger for NZ$18. It's at 22-32 Jellicoe Street in Wynyard Quarter.

Is Angus Steak House in Auckland worth it?

We thought so. It's a family-owned steakhouse on Fort Lane that's been open since 1973, and you choose your own cut before it's cooked. Our rare Scotch fillet, two-piece lamb rump, and peppercorn sauce came to NZ$147 (about US$86) for two, and the portions were huge.

What do New Zealand green mussels taste like?

Milder and much less fishy than regular mussels, with a soft texture. We had them at The Shucker Brothers by the Auckland Ferry Building in a creamy tomato sauce, and even as non-mussel people we loved them.

Is Mount Eden worth the walk?

Yes. Maungawhau / Mount Eden has one of the best views of Auckland, a steep crater about 50 meters deep, and a view out to Rangitoto, the youngest of the city's 53 volcanoes. It's a sacred site, so stay on the paths and out of the crater.

How many days do you need in Auckland?

We had a few days and covered the city center, the waterfront, a half-day city tour, and four great meals. That's enough for a first taste of the city. You'll need more time to see kiwi birds in a sanctuary or to get outside the city.

Where did you stay in Auckland?

Hotel Indigo Auckland at 53 St Patrick's Square, near the Sky Tower. We booked it through The Edit by Chase Travel, which for us included daily breakfast, a property credit we used on room service at Bistro Saine, and a welcome bottle of wine.

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