Jacob Briars

"Slightly harried service but better than the other Midtown options. Espresso machine much more popular than Drip, because of those queues, might be a rare spot where pour-over is faster than espresso"

"Really good Australian coffee shop with friendly staff. They use the Southern Hemisphere terms - an 'espresso' is a 'Short Black'. They serve great coffee in stylish cups."

"One of the most spectacular pool bars on earth. Check out the great Cachaça range, have the signature Caipirinha with Leblon Cachaça"

"This might be the best rum bar on earth. The brilliant staff are fast and friendly. Try a Tiki drink, or keep it simple with a classic Daiquiri or a Rum Old Fashioned with Bacardi 8"

"Great spot for a morning jog. Water not as clean as most Auckland beaches so save the swims for better spots. In summer worth walking all the way to the water to check out the pohutukawa in bloom"

"Slick Britomart cafe, good coffee. For breakfast try the delicious granola, bet on the excellent pastas for lunch"