Dish Cult Dines: Walking Auckland’s City Of Colour Light Trail

From sidewalks, streets, and hidden laneways to trees, overhanging lights, and full city squares, follow the light trail and learn about skilled creatives while reminiscing all Tāmaki Makaurau has to offer.

While you’re set out to spot all 34 fixtures, we’re here to keep you sustained with some of Auckland’s best spots for a drink, bite, or meal to accompany your trail walk!

A stone’s throw from the first instalment of the City of Colour Light Trail, The Confidential is our favourite way to start the trek. Unique cocktails, cold pints, an international wine list, and chilled bubbles can all be consumed before heading off to look at the lights. The cosy bar is perfect for colder nights, allowing you to get slightly warmed up inside. If you’re looking to load up to tide yourself over, The Confidential put together an amazing charcuterie platter with all your favourites, as well as a fantastic cheese platter to nibble through. Sitting perfectly in the central hub of Vulcan Lane, you can sit back and relax with all the people-watching you can imagine before joining the crowds yourself.

Spilling out onto the sidewalk of Shortland Street, Debretts Kitchen (located in the glamorous Hotel Debrett) is the perfect place to catch a glimpse of the Incantation Orb installation by visual artist and house producer, Suren Unka. Admire the use of moving lights and creative shapes in the corner gallery opposite Hotel Debrett while enjoying main meals or house snacks of the highest quality. Our picks include Debretts’ mozzarella arancini balls, pork belly bites, and tequila ginger garlic chilli prawns. A house concocted cocktail never goes amiss.

Still quite fresh to the Auckland City line up of dining districts, Commercial Bay very quickly took over our hearts when it comes to picking a place for a meal out. Between the amazing iconic restaurants and brand new openings, there really is something for every budget and taste. From extensive multiple course meals from favourites such as Ghost Donkey (think pink fairy lights and exquisite Mexican fare) to more casual but equally high-quality spots such as Green Door Pizza, you’ll find something to suit your mood mid-trail.

If you’re looking for something on the go in Commercial Bay, we’d suggest stopping in the cult-favourite bagel spot: Best Ugly Bagels. Between sweet and savoury spreads, as well as loaded classics and BUB signature combos, they’re the perfect on-the-go bites to keep you sustained.

Some of our favourite pieces from the City of Colour are situated on the stunning Viaduct Harbour, so what better spot to gaze than from a rooftop eatery. Saint Alice is our place of choice to nab a perfect view of HYBYCOZO’s larger than life Deep Thought installation. Aside from the mesmerising views of the harbour and City of Colour, Saint Alice has the perfect menu to graze your way through, with classic cocktails additional to their more signature tipples. Grab a pizza or two, some sharing fries, and some kai moana to keep you going for your subsequent hike up to Karangahape Road.

If you’re following the trail from downtown to the top of Queen Street, you’ll find yourself finishing at the famous Karangahape Road. Conclude your evening stroll with a romantic meal at Apéro, K Road’s resident French bar and eatery. ‘Apéro’ is the idea of having a drink before a meal, which we think is the perfect way to finish the City of Colour light trail. Apéro offers up authentic French fare along the likes of croquettes, terrine, roasted cauliflower and goats curd, and feijoa soufflé. With dim mood lighting and a very intimate table setting, this is the pocket of cosiness you’re looking for after your journey through Auckland City.

Auckland’s City of Colour light trail will be available to catch from May 6th – May 22nd 2022.