It’s an age-old dilemma: where do you take someone on a first date? You want a pick that reflects your taste, something fun and intimate enough to help sparks fly, but not so romantic that it feels like an anniversary dinner – it’s only the first date! You want to eat something nice – you’re going out and spending money, after all – but not Onslow nice.

You’ve googled ‘first date restaurants Auckland’ and after scrolling past the AI summary, you’re left with two-year-old Reddit threads and some standard ‘date night’ articles that all mysteriously recommend the same five places. Reddit’s helpful, but can you trust user3949575893 to curate the vibe for your first encounter?

We’ve asked some real people, both on the hospo scene and off, where they’d whisk us away to on a first date, saving you the hassle of the search.

Sake Bar Nippon 

Recommended by Diva Giles, co-founder of Beau

Ask for seats at the kitchen bar, get cosy and flirty sitting next to each other and if it’s not a great date, then you can watch the chefs for distraction. It’s been there since I was a kid and it’s such a fun, buzzing vibe. The dishes are all numbered and then you write what you want on a docket, so it’s a perfect little ice breaker for a first date. My partner and I go there all the time. She loves the tap beer – it’s ice cold – and I always get two rounds of yum yum prawns. I dream about that sauce!

Open 

Recommended by Cam Yates, founder of Sybs

For a first date, I love a daytime moment somewhere chill and familiar to put us both at ease. Somewhere you might bump into a friend: Open on Karangahape Road. It’s a great spot for a first date because it’s low key and chill. The people are friendly, warm and chatty; they might even read out your horoscopes! The coffee and the pastries are delicious, so even if you can’t think of what to say next, take a bite, have a sip and be soothed. 

And the space? Choose your vibe! Out front, we could people watch and make up stories about strangers on the street. On a sunny day, we’d lounge around out back, with private spots amongst the benches for crushing to blossom. Indoors in winter, we must take a two person table next to the roaring fire – because what says the beginnings of romance better?? Open transforms into Open Late on Thursday and Friday evenings, ideal for the second date, over a couple of tasty beverages!

Freida Margolis & Tanuki’s Cave

Recommended by Joanna Zhao, model and digital marketer

For a drink, I would go to Freida’s in Grey Lynn on a Thursday for jazz night – so if it starts to get a bit awkie, you can just listen to some jazz. The inside has a really cosy vibe for winter.

If it was dinner (though I would typically not get dinner for a first date), Tanuki’s Cave in the city for skewers. All the dishes are perfect for sharing, and you can screen test them to see if they can use chopsticks.

Ponsonby International Foodcourt

Recommended by Joe Dale-Dickson, co-owner at Blue

For me, it has to be the Ponsonby International Foodcourt. Honest, kind people and consistently fantastic food. There’s a beauty in the no frills, fluro-light starkness of the space that is both levelling and genuinely grounding. Ideally parked up on the balcony in the early evening sun. If it’s going well, it’s close enough to wander to Bare Wine, Pici, or Open for a wine after dinner.

Bestie Cafe 

Recommended by Aellerie Konia-Storey, store manager at Crushes

I love a brunch date, and my favourite place is DEFINITELY Bestie! The vibe is in the name: they have such amazing customer care, and the food is a perfect talking point. How could you not gush back and forth to your date how YUM everything is! If the date goes well, we can keep the good vibes going by having a shop around, and if it goes badly (god forbid), I’m making that B-line through Meyers park! #trackstarstyle