New Openings: Bars and Eateries to Try in Auckland

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Po' Brothers' signature seafood tom yum noodle dish. Picture / Supplied

Po' BrothersPo' Brothers is the new pan-Asian Ponsonby Rd restaurant from the creator and head chef of Kingsland's @Bangkok, Purin Pongsak, and we love that it's BYO wine from Sunday to Wednesday. Plus the food is seriously good and really cheap, and the fitout is super slick. Make sure you try its signature seafood tom yum noodle dish, and the deep-fried dessert bao with green tea icecream and red bean paste. 185 Ponsonby Rd

A'mezaAnother new pan-Asian offering, this one on Dominion Rd, is A'meza. The beautifully presented food from Wilfred Laysico and Leah Escondo ranges from prawn beignets to beef cheek, and highly recommended is the housemade pandesal (Filipino bread) with milk curd and lavender salt ($8).345 Dominion Rd, Mt Eden

CaretakerWe're massive fans of new Britomart record store by day, live music venue by night Rec, so we can't wait to check out the New York-style cocktail lounge downstairs. Caretaker is "inspired by the golden era of bartending" so we're expecting a lot of classic cocktails, with contemporary twists, including the use of fresh-pressed juices. Even the ice for the glasses is carefully crafted. Order from the menu or tell the bartender your likes and dislikes and let them construct the perfect drink, just for you. Downstairs, 38 Roukai Ln, Britomart

Woodworks, AvondaleWelcome back to Avondale favourite Woodworks which is open again following a devastating electrical fire which ripped through its Great North Rd premises in July last year. Owners Jess Brewer and Matt Gosset (formerly of Petit Bocal and La Boulange) have painstakingly recreated the eatery's airy, wooden, plant-filled fitout of the former wood-turning factory, which was an all-day eatery during the brief few months it operated before the fire; for its second reincarnation they'll just focus on feeding people during the day. 1790 Great North Rd, Avondale

Lord KitchenerIf you're craving a taste of the Mother Country, Sandringham has the place for you. Lord Kitchener is a British-inspired pub serving the likes of Yorkshire pudding, Scotch eggs, mushy peas and chip butties. Its decor features exposed brick, pressed tin, hanging plants, wooden floors and a fireplace, and there's also a courtyard for when the Auckland weather starts playing ball.6 Kitchener St, Sandringham

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