Auckland

Photos by Adam Bryce

If you’ve ever visited his site, SlamXHype, you know Adam Bryce has streetwear locked down. Let him tell you what’s amazing about his hometown, Auckland.

Adam Bryce Bio

Age: 27

Brief bio, occupation: I’m a former stylist who graduated from London’s Central St. Martins. I now write for numerous fashion and streetwear magazines and founded the streetwear website SlamxHype. I’m going to launch my own streetwear brand, Grams, this fall.

How long you’ve lived in your city: I grew up in Auckland. I spent considerable time in London and NYC, but have been back in Auckland for two years, and I intend to stay. What other city can you work where there is some of the world’s best fashion, and you are still 30 minutes away from the world’s best beaches!

Eat & Drink

Favorite high-end restaurant:

The Grove
St. Patrick’s Square, Wyndham Street
New Zealand is famous for its homegrown wines. The Grove offers some of the finest selections in Auckland.

The French Café
210 Symonds Street, Auckland
Regarded as one of the finest restaurants in New Zealand.

Best deal restaurant:

Otto Woo
47 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby
A clean and healthy alternative to takeaway, you can choose your own ingredients.

Burger Fuel
214 Dominion Road, Mt. Eden
This place started 12 years ago as a small gourmet burger joint and now has numerous locations, even in Australia. They managed to keep their home cooked feel while offering wholesome healthier alternatives. Try the Kumara Chips!

Best street food:

Street Food isn’t something you see in Auckland, but you can find some great food markets. Markets are a great way to sample Auckland’s cultural diversity and New Zealand’s famous fresh produce. Check out the City Farmers Market on Saturday mornings at the Britomart Complex in Downtown. Corner of Galway and Gore St.

Favorite cafe:

La Cigale
69 Georges Bay Road, Parnell
This French market store sells delicatessen foods alongside handmade mens’ shirts. It also hosts my favorite café, where you can eat a meal or just grab coffee. La Cigale is hidden in a quiet spot, which gives it a refined ambiance.

Best place to work on laptop with free wi-fi:

Finding free wireless in New Zealand can be a struggle. If you’re visiting NZ, expect to pay a little more than you’re used to, and it will probably be a little slower.

Best bar:

Tabac Bar
6 Mills Lane
Located in a hidden spot in the city. Only those who know it will know how to find it. This makes it a great place to relax. It also hosts some of the country’s best DJs.

Read

Best bookstore:

Unity Books
19 High St
The space is run down, and the books are all over the place, but it really is an old eclectic bookstore full of hidden treasures. The best selection of art and fashion books in the country.

Best magazine stand:

Auckland doesn’t really offer a streetside culture; boutiques are more the norm. The best spot is:
Magazzino
6 Morrow Street Newmarket
It’s a fashionable magazine retailer-cum-café Ponsonby has a huge selection of international art and fashion covers.

Shop

Best boutique:

Richardson
279 Parnell Rd, Parnell
A great selection of Richardson’s own brand, famous for its vintage graphics, as well as vintage cameras, watches, books, and toys. It also sells Kathryn Wilson Footwear, NZ’s finest shoes and Japanese imports.

Wunderkammer
76A Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby
Small, eclectic store, which carries Comme des Garçons, Hussein Chalayan, Costume National, Demeulemeester, a great selection of jewelry, as well their own handmade Kiwi Knitwear.

Made
30-32 Customs St, Britomart
A new space, which offers clothes for men and women. Carries Perks and Mini, Gorman, Levis and MAW. Stockroom is a streetwear store housed in a shed within Made; it carries Undefeated, Vans, and New Zealand’s premier streetwear label: Huffer.

Zambesi
Cnr, Vulcan Lane and O’Connell St.
Zambesi is an institution in New Zealand. It first opened 28 years ago, importing some of the world’s best labels like Margiela, Comme des Garçons, Demeulemeester, and New Zealand’s Nom D. It now has its own brand, which is carried in international retail stores. Zambesi played an important role in influencing my fashion career.

Sightsee

Best touristy thing to do:

Catch the ferry to Waiheke or Devonport. Devonport is a great little suburb that takes about 10 minutes to get to by ferry from the central city. There are some great secondhand bookstores, cafes, and beaches there! Waiheke Island is about 40 minutes by ferry. On the way, you’re bound to see some dolphins! When you get to Waiheke, check out the vineyards, cafes, beaches, and secondhand stores.

Favorite art space/gallery/museum:

Gow Langsford Gallery
Corner Kitchener & Wellesley Streets
Small, but with the best exhibitions.

The Auckland Museum
Domain Drive, The Domain, Parnell
I grew up visiting The Auckland Museum, situated in the Auckland Domain. It wasn’t until after living overseas did I realize just how amazing a museum this is. As well as being the home of many of New Zealand’s most treasured artifacts, it hosts international exhibitions and events.

Favorite outdoor space:

The Domain
Park Road, Grafton
A large park in the center of Auckland. With hills, the Auckland Museum, cafés; it’s always thriving with activity.

Piha Beach
Beach Valley Road, Piha, RD., Waitakere
New Zealand is famous for its beaches and Piha is the best of them. It’s a great place to spend those lazy summer days.

The must see thing in your city:

Auckland’s Sky Tower. Corner of Victoria and Federal St. The Sky Tower is one of the tallest buildings in the Southern hemisphere. Some locals see it as an eyesore, but the view from the top is amazing: you can see almost all of Auckland. There’s a great restaurant that looks out over Auckland’s surrounding ocean. You can even bungee jump from the top!

Events

Best events each season:

I can’t think of a better city in the world to spend summer! Skating, visiting the beaches. Summer Series is an amazing series of free concerts in Auckland’s city parks: showcasing great local acts as well as international artists.

In the winter, check out New Zealand’s national sport: rugby. Go to Eden Park. Reimars Ave, Kingsland.  It’s home of the Auckland Blues, and catch one of the best teams in the world compete in one of the world’s most physical sports.

Tips

Best website for local info:

The best way to find out where to eat or shop, or what’s going on, is to ask at stores or by stopping locals on the street. Everyone is super friendly and stores will almost always carry a wide selection of flyers of what’s going on!

Only local does or knows about:

Conch
115a Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby
Owned by New Zealand’s best hip-hop DJs, it’s a great record store, which specializes in imported music. It also offers a great selection of vinyl toys and tees.

Superette
18 Drake Street, Freemans Bay
Superette is a fashion boutique in an abandoned warehouse. It’s a large space with one of Auckland’s best cafes in it. I’d say the café has become more popular than the store! It stocks labels such as Ksubi, Perks and Mini, and their own label, Sample Only, famous for women’s boots.

How would you spend a day off in your city?

Piha! Escape the city! If I don’t feel like driving, I’d just chill in the city: High Street, Vulcan Lane, and Ponsonby. I’d catch up with friends who own boutiques near great outdoor cafes and parks, maybe get some takeaway and head to Albert Park for lunch.