I had a photoshoot here a few weeks ago where I was taking photographs and filming for a boutique…read moreand I was so impressed with what we received. For a small fee we hired out a basic studio packed which included some lights, soft boxes and cables. The owner of the studio set them all up for us so that relieved our stress right from the get go. It's a lovely space, really modern and light complete with kitchen, dining room and toilet so it's really easy to spend the entire day there. When we were finished the owner came back to take everything down and we had a good chat to her, she was so friendly and told us lots about the space which also doubles as an event room for launches etc. When the new season clothing comes in we will be back here again to shoot the lookbook, I can't wait! Note they don't have normal opening hours as they open subject to bookings.

Like most folks in auckland it have heard of Mantells for some many years now but never really had…read morean occasion ... That was until we had the opportunity to photograph a wedding that was held here. The wedding itself was just simply fabulous. The bride and groom and family and guests were fantastic and really made the day. Being part of the "service" folks we got to see first hand all the things that happened in the background. The staff at Mantells worked tirelessly to ensure that the event went as slick as possible. The kitchen was running implacably and kept churning out fantastic dish after dish! The waiters and front staff were smooth and paid attention to all the details. The venue itself was well kept, groomed, and had this air of magnificence! I can go on and on about this place and how wonderful it is ... The 5 stars is truly well earned!

I've been hearing about this spot for years so when I attended a wedding at Mantells recently I was…read moreall curiosity and was not disappointed in the slightest. Tucked behind the old post building on Mt. Eden Road this intimate function venue is all class - you actually feel as though you're at a beautiful private residence somewhere in France. Wedding ceremonies can take place in either the courtyard or the indoor lounge and dining room areas. If the weather permits it the courtyard area with its amazing stonework and pillars and outdoor fireplace is probably the pick of the spot. The food was amazing and the service very, um, effiecient, no mucking around on eating your meals or they were gone before you knew it! I'm personally not a fan of pork-belly but I heard more than half the guests palpitating over it. A really stunning place.

Until recently, this was primarily an event space with a beautiful atmosphere at Fort Takapuna…read moreoverlooking the water and it has just recently opened for Sunday brunch. An absolutely wonderful spot up on the hill, with outdoor seating (no reservations) and a nice selection for coffee and brunch. The food ranged from fresh granola and berries to a hearty New Zealand breakie with bacon, eggs, potatoes, and more. We went for a Mother's Day brunch with my brother and sister-in-law and it couldn't have been a better spot. Would definitely earn five stars if it were not for the incredibly slow and inconsistent service. It took nearly an hour after ordering to receive our food which came out piecemeal with potatoes coming out first, then a couple mains, followed by a couple coffees, then my granola (were they making the yoghurt from scratch?) and lastly the three orange juices we ordered. The waitstaff was quite disorganized and forgot the three children's bacon and eggs altogether. Hopefully they can work out the kinks, because this place has a lot of potential!

Amazing food, fantastic coffee and wonderful staff. Couldn't think of a better place for brunch in…read moreAuckland! I recommend highly.

Nice, handy accommodation to the city, but not too pricey, I stayed at The Surrey Hotel (formerly…read moreQuality Inn) for a week with some friends. They have a massive pool in the middle of their complex and reasonably sized motel studios, as well as hotel rooms. Since I was in a big group, they did a good job of putting us in various rooms without separating us too much. We purchased the continental breakfast option and thoroughly enjoyed a buffet of yummy food in the mornings at the restaurant. It's not exactly 5 star, as it's a bit run down in places. However, perfectly comfortable if you're looking for a place to lay your head. Grey Lynn isn't the nicest area, but they have a resident cat to keep your comforted.

I needed to buy some presents before my recent trip to visit a nephew and niece under the age of 14…read moreand Smiggle was the answer to my calls for help. This store has a crazy cool amount of options to choose from for the young and hip kid. I loved that there was a different style and colour for every pencil case, folder, writing book, journal, and money safe. It did make trying to decide on a design quite hard at first, but with help from the really friendly and chatty sales assistant, I was on my way with a bag of Smiggle gear for the kids in less than 15 minutes. Smiggle has everything the kid would need for school. For example bags, wallets, lunch boxes, drink bottles, funky slap bands to swap with friends, writing tools. It's completely endless, and mind boggling what they have come up with, it's like they have entered the child's mind and asked- what would you want? Always a fun time shopping here, I get to be a kid for a bit.

I met Amanda from The Vintage Table when I was sourcing vintage supplies for my wedding a while…read moreback. We've become firm friends and I am so happy to be able to give her a bit of promo for her amazing work which has been featured in magazines and at regular events around Auckland. Like me, her love of "nana chic" precedes the current craze and it's great that so many people now appreciate the vintage aesthethic and appreciate her beautiful stuff. The Vintage Table supply everything from glassware, china, antique birdcages, linens, cutlery and even the odd piece of furniture - all available to hire for your event. She also does High Tea, all-inclusive for a sophisticated way to celebrate a special occasion. Her collection is truly amazing and the service and pricing excellent (in fact, I reckon she could charge more!). I was like a kid in a lolly shop going through her things and deciding which bits I wanted to borrow - I would have taken all of it if I could but the favourite pieces I used were the glass bottles as vases and the tealight holders. Instant vintage glamour and perfect for my mismatched home-made-with-love wedding.

This place is wonderful. I needed flowers for a loved one in Auckland and Amanda did a great job…read morehelping me select an arrangement within my price range, along with some top-shelf candy from House of Chocolate to accompany it. The flowers arrived on time and looked beautiful, and the communication was top notch all along the way. Good florist, and the owner Amanda is a delight.

Ok so I don't usually give out five stars but this Florist is the best! At very short notice she…read morearranged flowers for a memorial lunch I arranged for my late wife and access to the venue was restricted. Rather than me having to run around and organise that for her, she took care of everything. Very impressed. And the flowers for super fantastic. Highly recommend them and I have used them again for some potted flowers for the kitchen.

This is The Deaf Society's headquarters and also a venue space available to hire. During working…read morehours there's usually someone downstairs in the office if you have any queries relating to the Society itself, but the function room is upstairs. It's a really great space with a full bar (that can be completely secured when not required), stage, tables, loads of chairs, and even a deck with BBQ. I've been here to mini-markets put on by the Society that actually sell some really great stuff - jewellery, arts and crafts etc. I like to support their events because everyone is always so nice and I love how communication is so universal; even when there are barriers to it you can manage to share a laugh with other people. I also used to bring my daughter here to The Performance Net which was a less successful experience but the point is that the facilities are versatile and it would be a good place to hold any community event or private party.