Five Fantastic Places to Eat in Parnell

Foodies travel from far and wide to check out Parnell's impressive selection of bars, bistros, cafés and restaurants, with dozens of enticing options lining Parnell Road, St Georges Bay Road and the surrounding neighbourhoods. The only problem? With so many irresistible options, the choice of where to eat can be a little overwhelming!

So in the interest of saving you some time and making your decision just a little bit easier, we've gathered a list of the five best places to eat in our neighbourhood.

Barulho means ‘noise' in Portuguese, but don't let that put you off trying this Spanish gem! What began a few years ago as a humble Spanish tapas bar grew rapidly in popularity. The result? A stylish, buzzing Portuguese/Spanish restaurant with room for 100 diners. When it comes to the food, the focus is on quality, not quantity. The menu is relatively small, but every delicious dish is perfectly balanced for maximum flavour, with the ceviche and paella being crowd favourites. Open from midday Tuesday to Friday, and from 3pm on Saturday, Barulho is a favourite Parnell lunch spot during the week.

For warming flavours in a comforting environment, family-run Persian restaurant Rumi is a fantastic choice. Dig into an array of Middle Eastern cuisine, from shared mezze platters or new dishes rich with spices, tantalising sauces, meats and vegetables - with a generous authentic menu, you really are spoilt for choice. Rumi has a "field to fork" approach, cooking their traditional recipes using ingredients from local farms, markets and small-scale sustainable producers, as well as their own small organic farm where they grow tomatoes, fresh herbs and some of their herbal teas.

Non Solo Pizza has been a Parnell Road favourite for years, and its name is a clue that there’s far more here than pizza. Yes, the woodfired pizzas are excellent, but the menu is a love letter to Italian cooking, with silky burrata, house-made pasta, fresh seasonal oysters and generous plates of meat and fish. Finish with a classic tiramisu or an affogato, and you’ll leave very happy indeed.

The atmosphere is half the appeal. Start with an Aperol spritz in the sun-soaked garden bar, then move inside to the lively dining room as the evening picks up. On weekends, the Italian long lunch is the epitome of group dining, a great way to feed a hungry crowd, so gather your friends and family and settle in for the afternoon.

If you’re craving something a little different, Gerome is a must-visit. This modern Greek restaurant celebrates the flavours of the Aegean, with meat, fish and seafood cooked over the chargrill and wood fire, then paired with Greek cheeses and herbs. The kitchen follows the seasons and makes the most of the best New Zealand produce, so the menu is always worth a fresh look.

Gerome has earned plenty of love from diners, including several Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice awards, and it’s easy to see why. The warm, welcoming dining experience suits everything from a long lunch with friends to a special occasion dinner.

Gerome is just along Parnell Road, about a 13-minute walk from our Parnell accommodation, and is open from midday until late every day of the week.

If you’d rather not venture far, Gladstones Café Restaurant at our Parnell hotel is a great choice for a hearty meal and attentive service. Open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it’s housed in a charming 1900s character building. You can dine indoors, or head out to the veranda and enjoy your meal al fresco on a sunny afternoon.

The menu is full of well-loved classics, from fish and chips, steaks and burgers to salads, pizza and pasta, so there’s something to suit even the fussiest of diners. Travelling with little ones? The kids’ menu makes family meals a breeze.

Whether you’re after a relaxed dinner, a business lunch, a casual bite or a special-occasion feast, Parnell Village has you covered.

Its restaurants serve up cuisines such as Spanish, Greek and Italian and more, with generous portions and unique seasonal dishes that are sure to excite every taste bud. And with plenty of spots to satisfy a sweet tooth, you’ll never be short of an excuse to linger over dessert.

So come and explore the flavours of Parnell, Auckland, and when you’re ready to put your feet up, our Parnell hotel is just around the corner.