Bar Magda
Karangahape Road / Cross Street (Newton/Auckland CBD), Auckland
Restaurant in Auckland, New Zealand
Book with PearlThe Read
Price
$50–100per person
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Book Bar Magda for a small Auckland dinner where cocktails and modern Filipino cooking both matter. At about $60 per person, it works better as a shared, food-led night in a dim downstairs room than as a quick drink stop, with set-menu options making group ordering easier.
About Bar Magda
Is Bar Magda worth booking in Auckland? Yes, if you are looking for a modern Filipino bar and bistro built around an evening meal rather than a generic restaurant choice. The essentials are direct: chef/owner Carlo Buenaventura, a $60 per person price point, smart casual dress, evening hours, and Michelin Guide Plate recognition in 2026.
The main reason to book is the cooking. Bar Magda is a modern Filipino bar and bistro, with signatures including the Magda Feast set menu, Trust the Chef menu, green-lipped mussel escabeche, charred octopus, and Parmesan custard with preserved pimiento and garlic focaccia. Those details give the venue a clearer identity than a broadly defined Auckland night out.
The move here is an evening meal
For a first-timer, the safest way to approach Bar Magda is as an evening meal at a modern Filipino bar and bistro. The signatures point in the right direction: Magda Feast set menu, Trust the Chef menu, green-lipped mussel escabeche, charred octopus, and Parmesan custard with preserved pimiento and garlic focaccia.
The menu information is strongest around those named dishes and menu options. If you want to understand the kitchen, start there rather than treating the venue as only a stop for drinks. The Michelin Guide Plate recognition in 2026 adds confirmed external recognition, but the core appeal remains the food itself.
At $60 per person, Bar Magda sits in a useful middle ground for a planned dinner in Auckland. It is not described here with claims about lunch, takeaway, delivery, dietary accommodations, or a broader beverage program; the grounded reason to go is the modern Filipino bar-and-bistro experience and the confirmed signature dishes.
Plan around the menu details
Bar Magda is best understood from the information as an evening venue with a smart casual dress code and a dinner-oriented schedule.
For planning, the most reliable menu details are the Magda Feast set menu and Trust the Chef menu, both listed signatures. Those options give diners confirmed anchors for the meal, alongside named dishes such as green-lipped mussel escabeche, charred octopus, and Parmesan custard with preserved pimiento and garlic focaccia.
Plan around the price, hours, dress code, chef/owner, recognition, and signature dishes.
Book when the kitchen timing matches the night you want
Bar Magda opens Monday 5:00pm–10:00pm with the kitchen to 8:30pm; it is closed Tuesday; Wednesday and Thursday are 5:00pm–12:00am with the kitchen to 9:30pm; Friday and Saturday are 5:00pm–1:00am with the kitchen to 10:30pm; and Sunday is 5:00pm–10:00pm with the kitchen to 8:30pm. Smart casual dress fits the confirmed guidance.
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: 5–10 PM · Tuesday: Closed
- Location
- 25B Cross Street, Auckland Central, Auckland, 1010, NZL
- Reservations
- Book on the venue's website
- Website
- barmagda.co.nz
- Phone
- +64 21 127 9377
Venue details
Ambiance
Dimly lit, subterranean bar and bistro with a speakeasy feel, combining an intimate, cozy atmosphere with professional service and discovery-driven, inventive Filipino-inspired dishes and cocktails.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Small
- Kitchen
- Seasonal
- Menu Format
- A la carte, Small plates, Set menu, Tasting menu
- Wine Program
- Deep wine list
- Drinks Focus
- Cocktails, Wine
- Dietary
- Vegetarian friendly
- Private Dining
- Available
- Opened
- 2021
Signature Dishes
- Magda Feast set menu
- Trust the Chef menu
- Green-lipped mussel escabeche
- Charred octopus
- Parmesan custard with preserved pimiento and garlic focaccia
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 25B Cross Street, Auckland Central, Auckland, 1010, NZL
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- 5–10 PM
- Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday
- 5 PM–12 AM
- Thursday
- 5 PM–12 AM
- Friday
- 5 PM–1 AM
- Saturday
- 5 PM–1 AM
- Sunday
- 5–9 PM
Location
25B Cross Street, Auckland Central, Auckland, 1010, NZL · Directions
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Bar Magda guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a first-timer know about Bar Magda?
Go in treating Bar Magda as an evening meal at a modern Filipino bar and bistro. The $60 per person price point, chef/owner Carlo Buenaventura, and Michelin Guide Plate recognition in 2026 are the key facts.
Is Bar Magda good for a special occasion?
It can be a good choice for a planned dinner in Auckland if you want modern Filipino cooking and a smart casual setting.
Is Bar Magda worth the price?
Yes, if the $60 per person price point matches what you want for a modern Filipino dinner in Auckland. The strongest reasons to go are the signature dishes, the menu options, and the Michelin Guide Plate recognition in 2026.
Are the menu options worth considering at Bar Magda?
The menu information includes the Trust the Chef menu and the Magda Feast set menu as signature options. If you want those confirmed formats, they are the menu options to consider.
What are alternatives to Bar Magda in Auckland?
For an alternative, look for other Auckland dining rooms with a clear dinner focus. If you specifically want modern Filipino cooking, Bar Magda is the venue here.
