Alice Rich

The central tenets of winter are, inarguably, mulled wine, bubbling raclette and settling in for the night at a hidden bar. And you can find all of those things here, here, and here respectively. But there’s another vital ingredient to a winter’s night out on the town; an essential element that’ll tempt even the most rugged up homebodies off the couch, and it manifests in the form of a roaring fireplace. Here are Auckland’s best restaurants with fireplaces for winter-proofed plans.

Matariki approaches, this year landing on Friday 10 July. Marking the arrival of the Matariki star cluster in the sky, and the dawning of the Māori New Year or 'te mātahi o te tau', the celebration is all about gathering together with loved ones to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and look to the future. Only recognised (mortifyingly) as an official public holiday in 2022, the event has been warmly and widley embraced, with more and more celebrations popping up every year.

The mercury might be plunging in Tāmaki Makaurau, but there’s one spot in the city that’s only getting hotter this winter. Certain to entice you off the couch, step through the iconic doors of The Civic and you’ll fall into a wonderland of sugar, spice and all things saucy. Back for its second year after an extended hiatus, the Auckland Live Cabaret Festival is one of the most magical, transportational events in the annual arts calendar.