Bar Magda

We recently enjoyed dinner here, organised by our very good friend Sheila, and it was a truly memorable experience. We opted for the set menu with numerous additions. To start, we had grilled chicken and duck liver parfait with smoked cherries and brioche; Barry’s Bay parmesan custard with preserved pimento; paua and squid kikiam with quince sambal; and lumpia of crab and prawn with plum sweet chilli. For the cold dishes, we enjoyed bigeye tuna carpaccio with coconut vinegar, soured cream, and nashi pear, as well as suglao of grilled lechon pork terrine with bigeye tuna, nashi pear, macapuno, and crème fraîche. The hot dishes were equally impressive: Noel’s Fare game charcoal steak (200g) with soy butter and scallion; wild wapiti venison steak with soy butter and scallion; barbecued red cabbage with pickled daikon, miso cream, and sauce Kanto; barbecued asparagus and eastern greens with coconut ricotta and lemongrass vinaigrette; and a seasonal vegetable dish to share. For dessert, we had the tres leches with queso ice cream and the chocolate marquise (“Miann Fiji 60%”) with potato mille-feuille. Each dish was beautifully presented and delicately delicious, thoughtfully incorporating Filipino influences. The cocktail and drinks menu is also impressively extensive and complements the food perfectly. We especially enjoyed meeting the owner, Carlos, who was incredibly gracious and took the time to explain each dish as it was served. From the food to the service and atmosphere, this was a truly outstanding evening. Easily a more-than-five-star experience and one we would recommend without hesitation. A heartfelt thank you to Carlos and his team for an evening of refined hospitality and exceptional culinary artistry! The accolades are well-deserved.

One of the best food experiences in Auckland. We went for the $85 trust the chef menu which was the perfect way to sample the unique flavours Bar Magda has to offer. I was really impressed with all the dishes we had and it was awesome value. The steak was melt in your mouth with a tonne of spring onion in an addictive soy based sauce. Really enjoyed the slightly sweet venison tartare. The cheese spread reminded me of Obatzda from Germany, so yum. Value wise I think its very good for the quality you get. There is a $65 set menu option aswell.

See photos. We arrived early, don’t be put off by the downstairs night club vibe. Not my go to cuisine, but it could be now. Staff are great, discrete service, but always available. Thursday night was under half full, but on a busy night the place would humm. Worked for my hearing aids!

My second time dining at Bar Magda and it was even better than the first dinner! Our family enjoyed a lovely reunion over the $88 banquet menu, which was generous, delicious and beautifully presented. Carlo, the gracious and attentive co-owner and chef served us and carefully explained each dish, often highlighting his families rich Filipino food heritage. Featuring locally procured seafood, meats and house made pasta & bread. The wine matches were perfect and our non- drinkers loved their mocktails. We were seated in the atmospherically lite dining space which features an amazing charcoal triptych on the walls and leadlight lamps that cast a soft glow. Everyone really enjoyed the evening. Thank you Carlo & the crew for a memorable evening.

For my husband and I, as NZ Born South East Asians, it wasnt just a meal, it was like experiencing our heritage and identity thru food. My husband is a huge chatty foodie, plus he's only in recent years started to embrace his South East asian identity... He enjoyed speaking with Carlo about food, history and flavours. We could tell Carlo is extremely passionate about what he does and we found it very inspiring. My self too, I'm not much of a foodie, but I can attest every dish we had that night felt like familiarity... it was a really eye opening experience to 2 people who grew up in NZ without that connection to our parents' countries. I know for some it was just a restaurant, but for us, the ingredients, history and passion touched us personally. We will be sure to come back often and bring friends and family to experience Bar Magda and Carlo's wonderful food and hospitality again!

Dining at Bar Magda was an exceptional experience from beginning to end. The food was outstanding — thoughtful, beautifully executed, and unlike anything else. The menu is truly unique and original, showcasing creativity and depth in every dish. What elevated the evening even further was the personalised and genuine hospitality from Carlo. My friends and I thoroughly enjoyed how he explained each dish he curated and created, sharing the story, intention, and inspiration behind every plate. That level of care and connection is rare and incredibly special. It was deeply moving to experience flavours inspired by the southern part of the Philippines — where I was born — presented with such respect, artistry, and pride. To taste those roots expressed in such a refined yet soulful way made the evening even more meaningful. This was not just a meal, but a truly unique culinary journey, and a beautiful example of what true hospitality looks like. An unforgettable experience — highly recommended.

Would definitely return with friends and family. First-time last Friday evening with my partner. We ordered the four-course dinner option and enjoyed every bit of it. We sat at the chef's bar, looking into the kitchen as the chefs cooked the meals. We were able to engage with the chefs; learn more about the food and restaurant. Great service and drinks - wine selection and cocktails - on point. Look forward to returning.

Great drinks menu - a lot of the cocktails look really interesting but we opted for wine in the end. Service was excellent. The food was ok - there were some nice dishes but the drinks and service were the highlights for us