The Best Mediterranean Eateries In Auckland

Headed by celebrity chef, Sean Connolly, Esther brings the Mediterranean to Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour. Situated in the luxurious QT Hotel, Esther’s open country-style kitchen sets the scene for a homely welcome, with intimate, comfortable seating adding to Esther’s wistful European charms – whisking you straight to the golden beaches and al fresco restaurants of your favourite travel memories. The menu is compiled of plenty locally-grown ingredients, as well as an abundance of seafood, favourites such as souvlaki and steak tartare, and a variety of fresh authentic pasta dishes. Of course, the cocktail menu mimics the classic bars of Europe, for your aperitivo fix.

Embrace your nomadic tendencies, take your tastebuds on a journey to the Mediterranean by visiting Nomad. The cuisine is an international fusion with a strong Mediterranean influence that’s undeniably delicious. The restaurant is beautiful and airy, offering ample space for big groups to dine. Nomad promotes the sharing of experiences, flavours and tapas. Dine upon Egyptian style falafel, share a slice of woodfired Moroccan lamb pizza, the Fattoush salad or the nomad’s hummus. The latter is a personal favourite; we opt for the tender pulled lamb on hummus with salsa, tahini sauce, almonds and Turkish hide.

You haven’t tasted Mediterranean cuisine unless you’ve dined at Mezze Bar. The Auckland icon showcases tasty morsels, tapas and mezze inspired by their travels all over the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Africa. We love visiting Mezze Bar for family occasions, indulgent lunches and weekly catch-ups with our foodie friends; the cuisine never ceases to amaze. Choose to dine from the al la carte menu and enjoy the likes of mezze lamb burgers, ceviche and classic Greek salads. Or, grab a selection of beautiful tapas for the table and graze upon hummus, roasted carrot mezze, a caprese twist, kofte kebabs and feta cheese with dukkah, chilli, woodfired bread and black olives.

Odettes is renowned for many reasons, including the elegant and stylish restaurant, lively atmosphere and insanely good food. Open for every meal of the day; there’s ample opportunity to have your cravings satisfied. The menu showcases exceptional Mediterranean-influenced dishes with fun and fresh ingredients and unforgettable flavours. There’s nowhere we’d rather be on a Sunday morning than the courtyard of Odettes, a delicious plate of wagyu koftas before us; the savoury crepe comes with hummus, Massaman curry, coconut, shallots and coriander. Get together a group of like-minded food-lovers and enjoy a selection of tapa-style dishes like the chargrilled lamb shish kebab, snapper carpaccio and freekeh tabbouleh.

Expand your palette with bold, daring and age-old classic flavours at Casablanca; enjoy a slice of the Mediterranean right on your doorstep. Dining Mediterranean is a fantastic opportunity to surround yourself with friends and family, the cuisine encourages sharing, and it’s an experience like none other. The mezze platter is the perfect way to kick off your visit; the board contains a spread of dips, salads, olives, falafels and pide bread. We highly recommend the Jordan hummus; the slow-cooked lamb comes with hummus, tahini sauce, almonds and pide bread. Save space for something sweet; the baklava is divine, the sweet filo pastry comes with walnuts, syrup and ice cream. Wash everything down with a jug of tangy sangria or an iced glass of raki, a Turkish aniseed liqueur.

We hope you have a big appetite; Sam’s Mediterranean Eatery is incredibly generous with its portion sizes; you’ll want to try a little bit of everything. The restaurant is quaint and intimate, the perfect place for casual dinners throughout the week. A crowd favourite dish is the Mediterranean chicken; it’s delicious, succulent and moreish. The slow-roasted, marinated chicken is topped with cream and spinach sauce, served with bulgur wheat pilaf, a mixed salad and cacik sauce. For those of you that would like to try your hand at making your version of Mediterranean cuisine at home, Sam’s also has an attached food store.