The 38 Essential Restaurants in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland, New Zealand)

"To say too much would be to ruin the magic of an evening spent at Pasture and Boxer, two distinctly different venues that offer the country’s most unique eating and drinking experiences. Pasture is a six-seater restaurant helmed by chef Ed Verner, where diners watch from barstools as the kitchen creates memorable tasting menus over open fire. Next door, Boxer offers a range of complex, seasonal drinks concocted by the chefs of Pasture, based on spirits distilled in-house using a rotary evaporator. Beverages are accompanied by a lavish tasting of snacks that are often fresh, raw, and Japanese-leaning. Look for the signature tuna (eel) and tītī, an endemic seabird with an anchovy-like flavor that’s harvested by Māori hunters on Rakiura (Stewart Island), usually preserved in salt but here cooked fresh. Every element of Pasture and Boxer — from the soundtrack to the bespoke interiors — is carefully curated by the creative team. — LJ Note: Hillary Eaton has a personal affiliation with Pasture and did not author elements related to Pasture, Boxer, or Alpha." - Hillary Eaton, Leisha Jones