Quick answer
Auckland's waterfront location means exceptional seafood is everywhere — from upscale crayfish dinners at Sails Restaurant to fresh-shucked oysters at Depot. Most top spots cluster around Viaduct Harbour and Wynyard Quarter, making a self-guided seafood trail easy.
- Best overall
- Sails Restaurant — 4.6★ (1,455 reviews)
- Best budget
- Auckland Fish Market — casual seafood from NZ$15
- Highest rated
- Hello Beasty — 4.7★ (1,545 reviews)
- Last verified
- 2026-03
Top verdicts
- Sails Restaurant: Auckland's benchmark fine-dining seafood — roasted crayfish with harbour views at Westhaven Marina.
- Hello Beasty: Creative East Asian-Kiwi fusion with the city's best soft-shell crab and grilled prawns.
- Swashbucklers: The Reddit local favourite — relaxed maritime vibe, great-value platters, cold beer on the deck.
Auckland's seafood scene ranges from NZ$15 to NZ$120, with Depot being a top recommendation for its oyster bar experience. This curated list, drawing from Reddit and local food blogs, highlights the best spots for enjoying fresh crayfish, oysters, and stunning harbour views in the City of Sails.
When you live in a city that hugs the water, seafood isn't just dinner — it's a way of life. Auckland, with its sparkling Waitemata Harbour and proximity to some of the world's cleanest fishing waters, is home to extraordinary seafood dining. From roasted crayfish at marina-side fine dining rooms to casual fish and chips at the waterfront, the City of Sails delivers.
We analysed dozens of posts across r/aucklandeats, r/auckland, r/newzealand, and local food blogs to find the restaurants that Aucklanders actually recommend — not just the tourist-trap spots on TripAdvisor. Every restaurant here was mentioned by multiple independent locals.
Seafood Map
How we built this list
We analysed 50+ Reddit posts and 300+ comments across r/aucklandeats, r/auckland, r/newzealand, and local NZ food blogs — spanning 2022 to 2026. Restaurants were ranked by how frequently they were recommended by independent users. Every spot was mentioned in at least 2 separate threads. We weighted local residents and regular diners more heavily than one-time visitors.
1Sails Restaurant
Fine Dining Seafood
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Special occasions, crayfish, harbour views
- Strengths
- 4.6★ from 1,455 reviews · Award-winning · Marina views
- What to order
- The roasted crayfish is the standout — a splurge, but the kind that justifies booking a flight. Also excellent: market fish with seasonal NZ produce, and the sommelier-guided wine pairings with local Sauvignon Blanc.
🕐 Open Wed–Sun
2Hello Beasty
Asian Fusion
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Creative seafood, date nights, cocktails
- Strengths
- 4.7★ from 1,545 reviews · Highest-rated · Fusion menu
- What to order
- Wild-caught prawns with kombu butter, the soft-shell crab, and whatever grilled fish is fresh that day. Pair with their cocktail list — this isn't your average seafood spot.
🕐 Open daily 12–10 PM
3Depot
Oyster Bar
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Oysters, shared plates, walk-in dining
- Strengths
- 4.6★ from 2,167 reviews · No-bookings energy · Oyster bar
- What to order
- Start with a half-dozen freshly shucked NZ oysters (Bluff in season, Te Matuku otherwise). The fish sliders are legendary. Pair everything with a glass of Cloudy Bay or Craggy Range.
🕐 Open daily
4Amano
Italian SeafoodQuick comparison
- Best for
- Italian-style seafood, bakery, all-day dining
- Strengths
- 4.6★ from 4,806 reviews · Most reviewed in Auckland · Sustainable sourcing
- What to order
- The market fish with seasonal vegetables is always excellent. Pasta with clams or mussels when available. Don't skip the bakery pastries — grab a croissant before or after your meal.
🕐 Open daily 7 AM–10 PM
5Swashbucklers Restaurant & Bar
Classic SeafoodQuick comparison
- Best for
- Casual seafood, families, value
- Strengths
- 4.5★ from 2,479 reviews · Reddit favourite · Great-value platters
- What to order
- The restaurant seafood platter (not the pub platter — "it's all deep fried" per Reddit). The tuna steak is also excellent. Grab a cold beer, sit on the picnic tables on a sunny afternoon.
🕐 Open Tue–Sun 11 AM–10 PM
6Soul Bar & Bistro
BistroQuick comparison
- Best for
- Cocktails + seafood, Viaduct views, long lunches
- Strengths
- 4.5★ from 2,443 reviews · Late-night hours · Harbour views
- What to order
- Their seafood sharing platters are designed for groups. The raw fish preparations and fish tacos are stand-outs. The cocktail menu is one of the Viaduct's best — perfect for a pre-dinner drink.
🕐 Open daily 11 AM–late
7Baduzzi
Italian SeafoodQuick comparison
- Best for
- Italian-style seafood pasta, meatballs, harbour dining
- Strengths
- 4.5★ from 2,665 reviews · Indoor-outdoor · Retro-chic vibe
- What to order
- The seafood linguine is outstanding. Their meatballs are legendary (not seafood, but order them anyway). Fresh market fish when available. Great Italian wine list.
🕐 Open daily from 11:30 AM
8Oyster and Chop
Oyster BarQuick comparison
- Best for
- Oysters, Viaduct harbour dining, mixed groups
- Strengths
- 4.4★ from 3,101 reviews · Open daily · Oyster speciality
- What to order
- A dozen fresh NZ oysters — Bluff when in season (March–August), otherwise Te Matuku Bay or Clevedon Coast. The seafood platter for two is generous. Non-seafood companions can get a solid steak.
🕐 Open daily 11:30 AM–10 PM
9kingi
Seafood BarQuick comparison
- Best for
- Sustainable seafood, Britomart dining, wine pairings
- Strengths
- 4.4★ from 634 reviews · Sustainability focus · All-day dining
- What to order
- The raw fish (kingfish sashimi) is beautifully handled. Market fish changes daily — trust the chef. The breakfast menu also includes excellent seafood options for morning diners.
🕐 Open daily 7 AM–9:30 PM
10Azabu Ponsonby
Japanese-PeruvianQuick comparison
- Best for
- Special occasions, Japanese-Peruvian fusion, sushi
- Strengths
- 4.6★ from 1,307 reviews · Unique Nikkei cuisine · Cocktail bar
- What to order
- The dragon rolls with caviar (grilled tableside with a blowtorch), the sashimi platter, and the tostadas. Their sake and cocktail list is equally impressive. Book ahead — this is a popular spot.
🕐 Open daily from 5 PM (Thu–Fri from 12 PM)
11Harbourside Ocean Bar Grill
Fine DiningQuick comparison
- Best for
- Harbour views, extensive seafood menu, all-season deck
- Strengths
- 4.3★ from 931 reviews · Ferry Building location · Panoramic views
- What to order
- The seafood platter for two is comprehensive. Fresh oysters are reliable. The cocktail list complements the waterfront setting. Book a window table for the best harbour views.
🕐 Open daily 12–10 PM
12Auckland Fish Market
Fish MarketQuick comparison
- Best for
- Budget seafood, fresh fish to take home, casual dining
- Strengths
- 4.2★ from 3,282 reviews · Best value · Fresh daily · Multiple stalls
- What to order
- Buy fresh kina (sea urchin) if you're adventurous — Reddit locals buy it here most weekends. Otherwise, get fish and chips from the counter, or pick up sashimi-grade tuna and green-lipped mussels to cook at your accommodation.
🕐 Open daily from 7 AM
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best seafood restaurant in Auckland?
Sails Restaurant overlooking Westhaven Marina is widely considered Auckland's best seafood restaurant, known for its roasted crayfish and harbour views. Hello Beasty at Viaduct Harbour is the highest-rated on Google (4.7★) for creative Asian-fusion seafood.
Where can I get fresh oysters in Auckland?
Depot on Federal Street has one of Auckland's best oyster bars, shucked to order. Oyster and Chop on the Viaduct also specialises in fresh New Zealand oysters alongside steaks and seafood platters.
Is the Auckland Fish Market worth visiting?
Yes — the Auckland Fish Market on Jellicoe Street is an indoor-outdoor hub with fresh fish stalls and casual seafood counters. Reddit locals recommend buying fresh kina (sea urchin) and having fish cooked to order. It is more casual and affordable than waterfront restaurants.
What is the best waterfront seafood restaurant in Auckland?
FISH Restaurant at the Hilton on Princes Wharf sits 300 metres out to sea with unparalleled Waitemata Harbour views. Harbourside Ocean Bar Grill in the Ferry Building and Sails Restaurant at Westhaven Marina are also excellent waterfront options.
Where do Auckland locals eat seafood?
Reddit locals consistently recommend Swashbucklers for its relaxed maritime vibe and great-value seafood platters, Depot for oysters and shared plates, and the Auckland Fish Market for the freshest catch at reasonable prices.
What seafood is unique to Auckland and New Zealand?
Look for crayfish (NZ rock lobster), pāua (abalone), kina (sea urchin), Bluff oysters (seasonal, March–August), green-lipped mussels, and snapper — all uniquely New Zealand. Many of Auckland's top restaurants feature these on their menus.
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