Auckland, like any country’s largest city, is full of vibrant and eclectic places to eat. Whether you fancy a steak dinner, a colourful curry, a long Italian lunch, or a French-inspired brunch, there are numerous options. When it comes to finding somewhere that will sort you out with some genuinely healthy fare, things can get a little trickier. Explore our guide to find out 10 of the best healthy restaurants in town.
Located in the Auckland Heritage Hotel in central Auckland is Hectors Restaurant, an eatery that caters to all dietary requirements, with special attention paid to vegan and vegetarian customers. The spacious and well-illuminated venue has tropical-themed decor, including indoor palm trees and a colourful, eclectic carpet. Hectors Restaurant takes the initiative to promote healthy and sustainable eating, using produce that is sourced from within a 50-kilometer radius of the restaurant. This drastically reduces their emissions and helps support local farmers and suppliers.
With two establishments in Auckland now, Bowl and Arrow must be onto a winning formula. They’re keeping it simple, but then again, why would you change that which is clearly working? The paying public seems to be in agreement with them and all too willing to shell out their money on the companies excellent range of smoothie bowls and juices. Utilizing a blend of veggies, fruit, superfoods and coconut, the smoothie bowls are topped with gluten-free granolas, fruit, coconut chips and freeze-dried raspberries. Bowl and Arrow’s whole range comes complete with the number of calories in each portion so you know exactly what you’re putting into yourself. Perfect for those Auckland fitness fanatics.
Firstly, when you’re in a rush, it’s great to know that you can grab a quick takeaway bite that isn’t doing you any harm. What’s particularly pleasing about Misters takeaway is that the actual food is almost eclipsed by the takeaway packaging itself. It’s surely a sign of things to come when a brilliant independent cafe is utilizing one-hundred percent compostable packaging. When you’re tucking into one of their delectable lunch bowls — you can choose between Italian, Greek, Moroccan, Thai and Japanese — it’s nice to think that the very bowl you’re eating it out of will be composted in about four weeks. Whilst the takeaway lunch bowls are perfect for city-slickers who are pressed for time during their lunch-breaks, Misters is a great place to get into early for a bit of breakfast. Our recommendation is the Açai Bowl.
Vegan, dairy free and gluten free, these are the aspects of a restaurant that tells you beyond a shadow of a doubt that what you’re about to enjoy is going to be doing you some good. You really are left in no doubt that what you’re eating is good for you with The Raw Cafe. This small cafe/restaurant chain was initially put on the map by its raw cakes but now produces some of the healthiest vegan food that you can wrap your face around. All the food is plant-based and free from anything that might even resemble gluten or dairy — making this the perfect place to go when you want to eat out without having to ask questions or read labels regarding allergies or preferences.
More of the good and less of the bad is not something that you’d necessarily think of when you think of a restaurant that specialises in chicken. However, modern cooking is all about turning preconceptions on their heads, and such is the ethos of the gals and guys at Boy and Bird. It’s not healthy in the way that the vegan restaurants on our list are healthy. In fact, you might not want to mention this culinary stop to your dietitian. What makes it worthy of the list though, is that it serves up solid soul food that makes your tummy sing. And whilst they might not skimp on the carbs and the focus is on chicken and other birds, the meat is of the highest quality welfare, free-range type. The veggies are all locally sourced and organic.
Who doesn’t love a good bit of Mexican/Asian food? Many would argue that there’s no way that these popular cuisines could get any better, but when you factor in delicious, fresh ingredients and recipes that aren’t going to assault your waistline — without compromising on flavours — then we think you’re onto a hell of a thing. This vegan restaurant is has becoming a firm favourite with Aucklanders who are keen on grabbing themselves something extremely toothsome without having to worry about whether they’re going to have loosen the belt a notch. Blackbean beetroot or tofu patties are the order of the day when it comes to their tasty burgers, whilst the selection of noodle dishes will blow you away.
Eating healthily and organically can sometimes be considered to be synonymous with the act of emptying out your wallet on the counter. It’s refreshing then that the good folk at Greenleaf Organic Cafe don’t feel obliged to take their punters to the cleaners for wanting to eat wholesome, nourishing food. On the contrary, this is probably one of the least expensive places to eat on our list, and when you consider what you’re getting suddenly it’s the culinary bargain of Auckland. They used to specialise in smoothies, but as the demand for their nourishing fodder increased so did their list of offerings. It probably isn’t the most healthy option on this list of healthy options, but it’ll keep your taste buds in a good mood as well as keep your bathroom scales happy.
Let’s get into the properly healthy stuff. Sip Kitchen is a place that seems to sooth the soul the moment that you walk through the door. Whether you’ve just finished a session at the gym or are recovering from the mother of all hangovers, you can find a juice or smoothie that’ll sort you right out. If you’re after something a little more solid and substantial, but equally guilt-free, then you can also tuck into a dish of creamy coconut mushrooms on sourdough bread. Even if you’re feeling a little bit naughty, the sugar-free, raw chocolate brownie will satisfy that craving without making you feel like you’ve let the team down.
Are you part of the cynical crowd when it comes to the idea that vegan and raw food can be delicious? Does the idea of a chocolate cheesecake with no dairy fill you with disdain and contempt? Well, be brave, swallow that cynicism and head down to the Little Bird Organics and The Unbakery. To experience the best, most healthy, nutritious, fresh, unrefined, non-pasteurised, non-pressurised, non-heat-treated, pure, delicious whole foods, this is the only place to go in Auckland – with the possible exception of Revive Café. It’s a revelation when you first try it and comforting to know that you really can walk out of a restaurant and be the healthier for it. It makes every dollar count for double since it’s tasty too!
It’s been 14 years since Revive opened its doors and, since then, it has grown and flourished – so much so, that they now have three cafés around Auckland, a selection of cookbooks on healthy eating and a wholesale healthy-food shop. The man behind it all is Jeremy Dixon, and his company really does have your best interests at heart. Just try a selection of their raw food or whip up one of their healthy vegan recipes, and you’ll soon realise that eating raw, organic foods doesn’t have to be a chore. Revive do excellent coffee too, so pop down for an amazing breakfast and see how good it makes you feel.
