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Tasting the World and Explore Handmade Shop in Auckland: Britomart Saturday Market

  • Writer: Aya
    Aya
  • Apr 13
  • 4 min read

It was a beautiful autumn day with the perfect mild temperature that’s typical for this season in New Zealand, so I parked at Commercial Bay and decided to take a walk around the Britomart Station area.


Tents set up on the grassy area of the Britomart Saturday Market, surrounded by people. In the background, tall buildings line the skyline. Families and shoppers are seen relaxing and enjoying the sunny day.


“EKIBEN” – Auckland’s Newest Japanese Lunchbox Shop at Britomart Station


Britomart Station, one of Auckland’s main transport hubs, originally opened in 2003. Lately, the area has been going through major redevelopment, with newly renovated shops and construction underway both inside and around the station.


Interestingly, the station building was originally constructed in the early 1900s as the Auckland Chief Post Office, which gives it a grand and historic look — it feels more like a museum than a train station!


The station looks especially beautiful when lit up at night ✨


If you're interested in architecture, I highly recommend checking out the Heritage New Zealand website:

「Chief Post Office, Auckland (aka Britomart Transport Centre)」 https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/101/Chief%20Post%20Office

Once inside the station, I spotted a flower shop, Starbucks, and a few cafés — and then came across a new addition: “EKIBEN”, a Japanese lunchbox shop inspired by Japan’s famous train station bento culture.


The exterior of a Japanese bento shop called "EKIBEN," featuring a glass storefront and a wood-textured counter. The shop's logo sign "EKIBEN" is displayed on the ceiling, and natural light streams in through the windows. Menus and signs are visible on the right side.
EKIBEN – Japanese-Inspired Lunchboxes at Britomart Station, Auckland

It looks like EKIBEN opened earlier this year (2025), and their menu is impressively diverse.


They offer a variety of bentos such as Unagi-Tamagoyaki (eel and egg), Yakiniku (grilled beef), seafood bento, chicken katsu, mapo tofu, yakitori, bacon kimchi fried rice, and gochujang BBQ chicken — just to name a few!

A large in-store menu board displaying photos and descriptions of various rice bowls, including seafood, grilled beef, eel, and fried chicken. On the right side, the menu features udon and side dishes, along with a QR code for placing orders.

One item that stood out was the seafood bento, which includes sashimi and is priced under $20 NZD — surprisingly affordable.


Honestly, it might be cheaper than dining at a Japanese restaurant in the city.

A menu board featuring colorful images of sushi rolls, nigiri sushi, and desserts called "scoop cakes." In the center, there are photos of assorted sushi packs, while on the right, small dessert cups are neatly displayed.

They also have a wide selection of sushi rolls, which are popular in New Zealand, and you can even add udon noodles for an extra $5.50.


I had a buffet reservation at EBISU right after, so I didn’t buy anything this time to save room in my stomach… but next time I’m in Auckland, I definitely want to try one of their bentos!


It’s also a great option if you’re traveling around Auckland by train — I’m so happy to see more convenient and affordable Japanese food choices available here.


Tasting Global Street Food at a Local Market – Britomart Saturday Market in Auckland


Just a short walk straight through Britomart Station, I stumbled upon the vibrant Britomart Saturday Market!


An A-frame sign placed on an asphalt sidewalk. The top half shows baked goods like muffins, while the bottom half displays a photo of colorful market tents. Bold text at the center reads, "WELCOME TO THE BRITOMART MARKET."

Markets like this one, held all over New Zealand, typically feature stalls selling handmade crafts, artworks, and street food from around the world.


I often visit the Night Market in Hamilton, but this was my first time experiencing the Britomart Saturday Market in Auckland — and I was impressed by both its size and variety of food.


It’s the kind of multicultural experience that’s unique to a diverse country like New Zealand.


Britomart Saturday Market (Every Saturday, 8AM-) https://britomart.org/market/

Photo Highlights: Britomart Saturday Market


Here are some of the most eye-catching stalls I found at the market📸


A super popular açaí bowl stall, especially among teens and women — the line was huge!


OH AÇAÍ!

A purple-bordered sign featuring a colorful photo of an acai bowl topped with fruits, granola, and berries. Nutritional labels like “fibre,” “omega,” and “antioxidants” are written next to each ingredient. A crowd of people is visible in the background.

A popcorn vendor from Raglan that I’ve also seen at the Hamilton Night Market — and yes, it’s absolutely delicious!


Raglan Kettle Korn


A vendor stall selling sweet and salty popcorn under a red tent labeled "RAGLAN KETTLE KORN." Bags of popcorn are stacked at the front of the stall, and several customers are lined up to purchase.

For egg lovers, there was a Japanese-style Omurice stall — a popular comfort food in Japan featuring fluffy eggs over rice with flavorful sauces.

ULYSSES KITCHEN - Japanese Cuisine - OmuRice Shop Instagram：https://www.instagram.com/ulysses.kitchen/


A food stall with a black tent labeled "ULYSSES KITCHEN Japanese Cuisine." The stall offers dishes like omurice and curry, with a photo menu displaying ordering instructions and popular items. On the left, a customer is seen placing an order.

 A Hungarian pizza stall serving freshly baked, chewy pizzas with unique toppings. The texture was super addictive!


ELEPHANT EARS


A woman stands under a red and white tent labeled "ELEPHANT EARS," serving Hungarian-style fried bread. The menu board displays items such as “Basil Pesto” and “Tomato & Feta.”

The pretzel stand BLOOM'S PRETZELS, offering a wide variety of flavors. We took home the Traditional Rock Salt and Pesto Cream Cheese pretzels.

A standing market menu sign for Bloom’s Pretzels, displaying photos of various types of pretzels. Each item is labeled with a name and description, including filled, sweet, salty, and traditional varieties. At the bottom of the sign, market location details and contact information are listed.

The next morning, we toasted them at home, and they were delicious — crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside.

A variety of Bloom’s Pretzels displayed in a glass-front showcase at the market stall. The pretzels are placed in baskets, each labeled with its type—such as cheese-filled, salami-filled, and plain salted.

The Traditional Rock Salt one had just the right level of saltiness — perfect!


Two freshly baked pretzels served on a white plate. One is topped with sesame seeds, and the other with coarse salt. Both are golden brown and have a soft, fluffy appearance.

The shop was called BLOOM'S PRETZELS, and we bought ours around 10 AM. When we came back around 12:30, most of them were sold out — so we definitely recommend going early! 🌟


BLOOM'S PRETZELS


Also… their website design is super adorable💘


They mainly sell at markets around Auckland, so if you're based nearby, definitely check them out!


BLOOM'S PRETZELS – Market Locations https://www.bloomspretzels.co.nz/markets



Aside from food, we also came across a fun and eye-catching stall called DRAGON DADDY (yes, Dragon Daddy!).

A table filled with colorful dragon figurines, with a sign reading "DRAGON DADDY" in the background. The dragons vary in design—some with wings, some without—and come in a range of sizes from small to large.

These cute dragons are made using a 3D printer, and each one has its own personality. They were a hit not only with kids but also with adults!


DRAGON DADDY


We also discovered G.A.Bags.NZ, a brand offering handmade canvas bags created by a Japanese artisan living in New Zealand.


A tent by G.A.Bags NZ at the Britomart Saturday Market in Auckland, New Zealand. Hand-dyed, colorful canvas tote bags and shoulder bags are neatly displayed on wire racks. A vendor is assisting a customer, and the background shows a grassy area with market visitors.

Canvas bags are surprisingly hard to find in NZ, so I was really excited to see these — and the designs were so varied and stylish! I’d love to take a closer look next time. They also have an online store, which is great!



here were also plenty of locally grown fruits and veggies, including fresh feijoas and strawberries — a perfect way to support local farmers while enjoying seasonal produce.


An outdoor market fruit stall displaying packs of strawberries, figs, and blueberries arranged in blue containers. A handwritten cardboard sign reads “Figs $15 each / 2 for $28.” A vendor is visible in the background behind the stand.

There were also plenty of sweet treats to discover — from cream puffs and cakes to a variety of baked goods, the market was packed with tempting dessert options!


Perfect for a Sunny Day Walk – Britomart Saturday Market


Since Britomart Saturday Market is held outdoors, it’s the perfect destination on a sunny day. In the center of the market, there’s a grassy area with benches where people were relaxing and enjoying their food in the fresh air.


Tents set up on the grassy area of the Britomart Saturday Market, surrounded by people. In the background, tall buildings line the skyline. Families and shoppers are seen relaxing and enjoying the sunny day.

Near the entrance, you’ll also find many handmade stalls, offering accessories, wooden toys, soaps, and aromatherapy goods.


It’s a great chance to discover one-of-a-kind handmade items you won’t find anywhere else ✨


A scene from the Saturday market held at Britomart in Auckland. White tents are lined up as market stalls, with people walking around shopping. In the background, tall buildings are visible, and string lights are hanging overhead.

And just along this street, there’s the famous New Zealand ice cream shop, Duck Island — their Britomart location is right next to the market!


Duck Island Britomart



That wraps up my latest update from the Britomart area in Auckland (2025 edition)!


Britomart Saturday Market is held every Saturday from 8AM, but keep in mind — by around midday (12 PM), many food items are already sold out.


So if you want the best selection, I highly recommend going early!


Britomart Saturday Market Instagram



Curious about the Hamilton Night Market? I’ve written about it here:


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