This is the old man of the Valley Road part of Mt Eden, having been around since 1971. I remember…read moreit having a reputation for being grossly overpriced and the service a little, shall we say, sharp. David Brettell was quite the character and of course the collectors still came. The younger family members now run the shop (and used to be my mum's neighbours) and happily the pricing is more realistic. There's still the appointment-only furniture shop next door which always has some lovely pieces but for scavenger shoppers like me, the treasures are in the overflowing main shop. There's a lot of china, silverware and glassware but you'll also find trunks, artworks, costume jewellery, buttons and random objects. What's really great about Antique Alley is that it's not an op-shop pretending junk is special stuff. It DOES have special stuff. To me it's an Auckland icon and embodiment of what a "proper" antiquities shop should be.

This place is a dreeeeam and I'm even hesitant to review it on here in case it becomes too 'known'…read more But I guess any publicity is good publicity for the business owners, right?! Think gorgeous French antiques, refurbished furniture and oodles of atmosphere. I would buy anything and everything, had I the money to do so. If you follow them on Facebook you can see what new items they have arriving in store. You can often find second-hand authentic Tolix chairs, industrial-style lights and shades and gorgeous, reasonably-priced vintage bottles. They hire out furniture too - perfect if you've got a function coming up or even just want extra seating at home over busy periods like Christmas.

This place defines 'local knowledge'. It's so hidden, I walked past it everyday for a year and…read moredidn't know it was there. When I eventually discovered it, I was so excited. Filled with French antique delights, its like a Parisian treasure trove. There are tables, chairs, huge lights, rustic medicine bottles, and cabinets packed with hundreds of gems. Loads of cafes like 'Foxtrot' have their antiques as their café furniture and if had my own house, I know where I'd be heading to fit it out. When I talked to the shop assistant he said that they also hire out the outdoor tables and chairs for functions. They would be perfect for weddings.

What a lovely, quaint shop filled with all kinds of treasures, new and old. During my visit, a…read moregorgeous little girl shows up, and the owner proudly introduces her as her granddaughter, Audrey - the shop is named after her. Such a cute thing! Whether you like an antique tea set, a porcelain ornament, some bunnykins memorabilia, a sweet scarf, a lovely piece of vintage furniture, or a nice chat with some friendly old ladies behind the counter, this is really the place to come. It has a lovely family vibe, rather than a posh, pretentious one often experienced in other antique places. It's a great place to explore next time you have a craving for something a little different.

I love Collected. It is possibly one of my favourite shops in terms of homewares, gifts and knick…read moreknacks. Plus everything is super bright that you'll just want to buy the whole shop! They stock Lindi King bracelets (which are all bright colours and come with different charms), wall art, gift cards, candles, home aromatherapy perfumes (the skull ones are amazing), children's gifts and toys, cushions, lampshades, and so much more! I love coming here when I need to buy presents for friends and family, plus staff are always super friendly and helpful and they offer colourful gift wrapping too!

I only just discovered this shop today and it was by accident! They are in the Bloc Building on…read moreNormanby Road (just across the road from the Normanby hotel). On the ground level is the Citta Design shop and then if you go upstairs you'll find the Collected. What a find it is! I wanted so much in the shop. And the really good part is there was some really nice stuff for around $20 or less such as dinner plates, various knick knacks, candles and other stuff made of awesome. There was so much I wanted to purchase. So once I have a bit more cash in the bank, I will definitely be back (come on pay day)!

Dianna and Bruce have a great deal of knowledge and experience with jewellery and gold soveriegns…read moreand other types of collectibles. They are also very trust worthy

I found Abbey Antiques the best place to come to when the girls and I were looking for 21st…read morebirthday gifts for our friends. These vintage pieces are just so stunning and classic, they're never going to date and they're something stunning you can have with you for years to come. They have a large range of beautiful jewelry and watches; they also have some antique furniture, records, china and much more. It's not a very big store but there is still A LOT to be fascinated by and look at. The prices here range from inexpensive to quite expensive, but that's what you need to expect from gorgeous vintage pieces. If you're looking for something a little different from your usual mainstream items, pop in here and check it out, there are some real beauties.

Laura Ashley has beautiful furniture and home accessories, the quality is high and although much of…read moreit is very feminine the store manages to look like a proper English home without being too pretty. The sofas, chair and footstools look so comfortable and the beds are always dressed so well that you just want to climb in, the store overall is laid out well and the colour blocking will help you to figure out what cushion is acceptable to place in close proximity to that coloured lampshade how you will co-ordinate your bedlinen. These are important things to consider. What is great about this store is that it often has very good sales. 70% off sheets and some items such as silk quilts discounted by 50% is hard to pass up. Every so often there are weekend sales for certain items, such as furniture or towels or home accessories so it is well worth keeping an eye out for these in their well dressed windows.

This is one of those awfully deceptive places that you think you are going to get a bargain at…read morecause everything looks really old, and then you check the price tag and its like sucker! You can't afford alla this. Which is true but dreams are free right. They have some beautifully restored furniture pieces like this amazing set of drawers I see whenever I close my eyes. I honestly though just like coming in here for inspiration for my flat. The owner of the shop has a refined eye for sure. This is one of those shops that people can see very differently aesthetic wise ( take my partner for example who still remains puzzled as to why people want to buy such junk) After all, one mans 'junk' is another's treasure!

For the longest time, Flotsam + Jetsam was crammed into a little Richmond Road shop. Packed to the…read morerafters with taxidermy, quirky crockery and other curios, Cameron and the team quickly outgrew this place and moved up to the cute but dilapidated Lord Ponsonby Antiques building on the corner of Williamson Ave an Ponsonby Road. The name of this business is quite apt - it's really cool to see really cheap and strange items alongside really expensive European lamps, handpainted crockery and the odd bit of furniture. If you're heading to the new premises, don't be afraid to walk around the back and head up the stairs. It can sometimes look like an area customers aren't supposed to go, but if you go up top, there are two more rooms full of larger items like tables and chairs... and a big bowl of free matchbooks!

Vintage doesn't get any better than Tango…read more The best thing about Tango is that there quite literally isn't a single thing in the shop that hasn't been hand picked because it's beautiful and high quality. There's a definite aesthetic to the stock - a sort of campy, tongue-in-cheek take on glamour - that you'll most likely love if you're into vintage. Tango is hands down the best place in town to get your hands on designer and name-brand vintage that's in top condition, but there are also less expensive items, like costume jewellery and handbags. Not to be overlooked, the service at Tango is perfect - it's always a comfortable browsing experience, but the guy who works there is really knowledgeable about clothes and is very helpful if you're looking for something in particular. In short: Tango should be your first destination for impressive vintage dresses and accessories.

This is the sort of place where I can imagine Greta Garbo just chilling out on a chaise lounge,…read moreclassily smoking a ciggarette and blowing smoke rings into unsuspecting customers eyes. You can see why this store is known as one of Aucklands best vintage stores, because the stuff sold here is actually vintage. Not just ugly stuff people dont want anymore. It is a veritable treasure trove of antique things I instantly craved. Court shoes, fur stoles, dresses so authentic they look like they could even have mothholes (they dont, dont worry) Though the guy working there could probably take a lesson in customer service, I was just taking a photo and he near about booted me out. How rude.