Bar Magda

Bar Magda is an underground bar and bistro on Cross Street, near Karangahape Road, that brings together modern Filipino cooking, New Zealand produce and an excellent drinks list. It was founded by friends Matt and Carlo, who started planning it in 2020, and it opened in June 2021, only to close for a lockdown about two months later before reopening and building a loyal following.

The drinks are the reason it belongs in any list of Auckland's best bars. In the 2026 Cuisine Good Food Guide it was named Drinks List of the Year, and it holds a hat in the same guide. Cocktails change with the seasons, with sours in combinations such as pistachio and peach or cherry and tarragon, and the Magdarita, a margarita built on elderflower, agave and mezcal, is the most popular drink. The Magdatini is another house cocktail. The wine list focuses on organic and low-intervention producers.

The food makes it more than a bar. The menu changes seasonally and is divided into snacks, small plates and larger dishes for sharing. Signature dishes include a parmesan custard, Carlo's take on a Filipino cheese dip, and lamb ribs with green sambal, which were included in a list of Auckland's top 100 signature dishes. Meat comes from Grey Lynn Butchers. The restaurant is listed in the 2026 Michelin Guide New Zealand.

The setting is a basement with exposed brick, dim lighting and wooden seating, divided into three areas: the bar, an open kitchen with a more intimate dining section and a mixed space of bar leaners and tables. Counter dining is available, and the space works well for groups as well as couples.

It opens in the evenings from 5pm, closing at midnight on Wednesdays and Thursdays and at 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, with an earlier close on Sundays; check the current days before visiting, as published hours differ for the start of the week. Bookings are handled directly by the venue.

Bar Magda suits couples on a date, groups of friends and anyone curious about Filipino flavours. Its position near Karangahape Road means it fits easily into an evening that might also include Gemmayze Street or a gig at Whammy Bar in St Kevin's Arcade.