SPQR
(Italian)Having been resident of Ponsonby, Auckland since 1992, SPQR is one of the older and longest-lasting restaurants on the Ponsonby strip. It's not surprising that SPQR had managed to keep Auckland locals coming back for more even after all this years; being able to garner restaurant awards even up til 2010 only goes to prove how SPQR had consistently kept standards up even after all these years. It's chic street-side setting that makes for great pre-dinner drinks and nibbles while people watching in Ponsonby sure doesn't hurt either! Dida's Wine and Tapas Lounge
(Mediterranean, Spanish, Tapas)It is only apt that we pay tribute to the Dida's Wine and Tapas Lounge flagship store on Jervois Road, Ponsonby for our list of the most notable Ponsonby Restaurants. We couldn't possibly forget this store that brought us some of the best tapas and wine pairings around Auckland now, can we? And hey - we're not about to leave out a Ponsonby jewel that serves field mushrooms in Chardonnay cream for breakfast at the Dida's Food Store in the mornings (way to sneak booze in on a sunny morning), and rose & honey brulees as an after hours dessert to go with your choice of dessert wine from the Wine and Tapas Lounge's extensive selection! Ella Cafe & Lounge
(Bistro)Ella Cafe & Lounge was established in tribute to Stella, an eatery that was seated in the exact same spot this Ponsonby restaurant now resides in. After a string of failures came and went by on 118 Ponsonby Road, former Stella staff Ermin Zimmet grabbed the golden opportunity to revive the glory of his former workplace, pulling Becky Lamb, also former Stella staff back to serve as head chef as well. Whether or not Ella Cafe & Lounge lives up to the Stella heritage we may not be certain, but if anything, this Ponsonby local certainly is writing its very own legacy with the hearty food and ace wine list it offers. Himalaya Nepalese Restaurant
(Modern European)We thought it was about time this low-key and underrated Ponsonby restaurant gained some recognition in the Auckland foodie world. Reserving a spot for Himalaya Nepalese Restaurant in our recommended Ponsonby restaurants list based in Three Kings, Ponsonby was the least we could do for this hidden gem. Who'd even think that Auckland was resident to an authentic Nepalese restaurant? Himalaya Nepalese Restaurant's signature curries and momo dumplings will be sure to satisfy the Ponsonby local's desire for food with a difference. MooChowChow
(Fusion, Thai)Introducing Vietnamese cuisine to the Ponsonby strip is the latest Mark Wallbank venture, MooChowChow. But in sync with the most hyped eateries that pop up in Ponsonby, MooChowChow doesn't just to the usual Vietnamese, but does it with a modern twist without compromising authenticity. Worry not that the hype is unwarranted for, though, because the team at View Auckland love what we're seeing at MooChowChow. With some of the freshest Southeast Asian spices and flavourings being used in the eye-opening food on their menu, this Ponsonby restaurant makes a great stop for those seeking something gastronomically different from the usual Western fare in Ponsonby. Ponsonby Road Bistro
(Bistro, New Zealand)The Ponsonby Road Bistro looks unsuspectingly like the regular upmarket drinking hole, complete with the stark white tablecloth setting and over half a dozen street-side tables primed for optimal people watching proximity. Don't be fooled by the aloof front that Ponsonby Road Bistro puts on, though, because this is one Auckland restaurant that balances sleekness without the attitude and character without the excessive extravagance. The food at Ponsonby Road Bistro is fawned over by many and rightfully so - so many of savvy people in Auckland couldn't possibly be wrong! Prego Restaurant
(Italian)Prego Restaurant is not only one of the few Ponsonby restaurants that had remained a Ponsonby Road resident even after two decades but also one that continues to see a full house almost every night - a feat, considering the competitiveness of the dining scene in Ponsonby. If you're craving some of the most yummy gourmet Italian pizzas or a great seafood linguine, come to Prego Rstaurant as this age old Auckland institution will be sure to deliver the same quality it had been serving up since the '80s. Prohibition
(Modern European, New Zealand)With London native Denis Baudet helming the 'hot' kitchen and Richard Arboleda, three-time winner of the NZ Patissierie Chef of the Year award churning out their own house made pastries and desserts, you can tell that Prohibition takes its food very seriously. The importance of wine isn't lost on this Ponsonby restaurant either, with almost a dedicated sommelier working the floor to help you navigate their excellent wine list - or alternatively, do feel free to BYO wine for a corkage free of $30.

Prohibition ranks as a View Auckland favourite simply because it is one of the few restaurants in Ponsonby, Auckland that offers a full-fledged, developed food and wine experience. SidArt
(New Zealand)We couldn't be happier that Sid Sahrawat, owner and head chef of SidArt in Ponsonby, Auckland has been embracing the molecular and experimental end of the fine dining field. After all, the addition of his innovative, new-age cuisine to the line-up of restaurants in Ponsonby brings the standard of cookery in Auckland a few notches higher. Sid Sahrawat, alumni of THE French Cafe is understandably gaining rave reviews for the food that he plates up - we can't even pick a favourite because every one of his dishes are an adventure and delight in itself. Even compared to the noticeably pricier standard in Ponsonby is SidArt is a splurge, but you have our word that it'll be a worthy one. Soto Japanese Garden Restaurant
(Asian, Japanese)Soto Japanese Garden Restaurant is an icon in the Auckland ethnic fusion cuisine scene, so it doesn't come as a surprise that it makes our best Ponsonby restaurants list. Japanese fusion at its best, Soto Japanese Garden Restaurant offers a refreshingly delicious departure from the usual bistro and modern European style foods that are so commonplace in Ponsonby. Sunday Painters
(Modern European)Here have we one of the few restaurants in Ponsonby (or even Auckland) that was opened with burning passion that ignited from a few friends' Sunday painting gatherings. Sunday Painters in Ponsonby doesn't only bring to the table the friendly, heartfelt service that isn't unlike the hospitality you'd receive from a dinner party with a group of intimate friends; it matches its impeccable service with some of the most rustically French food with wines to match. Eating at Sunday Painters is a unique one in Ponsonby because it's like an intimate gathering with great friends - but minus the dish-washing, of course. Yuzu Japanese Cafe
(Asian, Japanese)Yuzu Japanese Cafe is a rare breed on the Ponsonby strip simply because this is one of the very few Ponsonby restaurants that isn't actually licenced. Yes, I see those eyebrows of yours raising - is it possible for a restaurant in Ponsonby to survive without offering alcohol or even BYO? Well, people of Auckland, Yuzu Japanese Cafe is living proof. Auckland locals have been filling Yuzu Japanese Cafe despite its no alcohol policy, and you'll understand why too once you've gotten round to trying the food at Yuzu Japanese Cafe.

This quaint little Japanese eatery - with chef Geeyong Chris Chung, alumni of one of the top three culinary schools in the world and equipped with over 20 years of experience overseeing the kitchen - produces some of the most authentic and homely Japanese food in Auckland. Pair this with the ambience that takes you from Ponsonby to an alleyway hole-in-the-wall eatery in Kyoto and you have a combination that will forgive the absence of alcohol. Besides, this only gives you more reason to go for BOTH pre and post- dinner drinks ;)