If there is one thing we Aucklanders love, it's a BYO night out.

It’s cheap, cheerful, and always sets the stage for an unforgettable evening. We have celebrated many special occasions, mid-week catch-ups, and the odd work function at these restaurants. We never miss an opportunity to get together with a group of our closest friends and visit one of the countless (BYO) venues in town.

Auckland has a variety of BYO restaurants, and we believe that they are some of the best in the country. It’s not only the insanely cheap corkage that sways our hearts but the range of international cuisine that comes with it. Travel the globe by visiting a new restaurant every night, showcasing dishes from Thailand, the Mediterranean, Italy, Korea, Japan, China, Vietnam and Malaysia. The fare is flavourful, exotic and exciting; regardless of the BYO status, these restaurants are not to be missed.

Although we never need a reason to profess our love for BYO venues, we do indeed have a reason today. A powerful duo has come together to reinvigorate the hospitality industry, specifically BYO restaurants. Leftfield wines has joined forces with the runaway food forum, Lazy Susan. Their mission is to uncover the ‘Best of BYO’. The partnership arose in the aftermath of last years hardship on the industry, blossoming to create some hype for the rightfully deserving restaurants of Tāmaki Makaurau.

The Best of BYO Awards has set out to acknowledge the best of the best, shining a light on overlooked spots. One lucky restaurant, deemed the best BYO, will receive a well-deserved $5,000 support package alongside bragging rights. Who wouldn’t want to be Auckland’s top BYO spot?

Auckland residents are being called upon to submit their suggestions for the rightful winner of the award, to do so, head on over to the Lazy Susan group on Facebook and show your support for the best BYO in all of Auckland. Four talented judges will then take on the challenge of creating a shortlist of 12 establishments; before finally picking a winner.

Everything will be taken into consideration for the competition, from atmosphere to décor, hospitality, corkage, cuisine and the overall dining experience.

Our judges include Anthony Suvalko, a Lazy Susan co-founder, cookbook and travel guide author. Next, we have Anna King Shahab, a Lazy Susan co-founder and a food and travel writer. Our next judge, Sammy Akuthota is a restaurateur and self-confessed hedonistic lover of food and drink – sounds like our type of person! Our final judge is Sam Low, a food and beverage creative and champion barista. Each judge will take on the task of finding a winner by visiting the shortlisted sites to score them against the considered criteria. The judge’s scores will then be compared to the public vote, and a reigning champion will be selected.

The $5,000 small business grant can be used to help the winner in many ways; shaking up its social media presence, working on their SEO skills, getting beautiful photographs taken or sprucing up the design. The prize money represents our appreciation and continued support of the industry.

There are so many fantastic restaurants that we would love to nominate, but there can be only one winner. We cannot wait to see the final results. Have your say on Auckland’s Best BYO spot by visiting the Lazy Susan Facebook page and nominating your favourite establishment! This competition provides a great opportunity (excuse) to do the rounds of our beloved BYO restaurants and make an informed decision.

Get ready to cast your vote, but first – check out our top picks for the best BYO restaurants in Auckland!

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