Best restaurant for dinner with friends?
Hong’s in Takapuna is always a great visit. They have many bulk combo deals and their tangsuyuk and jajangmyeon never miss.
The place to take a visitor to?
The Kiri Te Kanawa Centre at Aotea to catch a New Zealand Opera production, or the Auckland Opera Studio for a more intimate setting of song.
Best spot to finish a night out?
I like to finish a night out at home with some late-night ice cream from Duck Island and The Office on the TV.
Best coffee?
Whenever I’m rehearsing at New Zealand Opera on St Georges Bay Rd, I like to grab coffee from Simon and Lee during breaks. Great coffee and the staff are very welcoming and friendly.
Favourite spot to unwind?
Cafe Ditto in Mt Eden has a very relaxing and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere. I believe the space was designed to serve both as a cafe and creative workspace. They also do late nights, making it the perfect spot to park up and work on projects, catch up with friends or get through that list of admin! They also sell fun trinkets – still have one attached to my everyday bag, which can put a smile on me.
Favourite fish and chip shop?
To be honest, I’m not much of a fish and chips person, but my friends and I are huge fans of the five-spice chicken from Avachi on Queen St.
Venue for a gig?
Definitely the Auckland Town Hall. It doesn’t happen very often, but each opportunity I’ve had to sing as a soloist in that wondrous building has been monumental for me. Most of the opera singers I look up to have performed on that stage, and you can really feel a sense of the building’s history once it’s filled with an audience and it’s time to perform.
Best spot for a bargain?
Nothing gets much better than finding a bargain at the Korean skin care store, Hikoko. They have a range of reliable products and I’m always able to find something that works for me at a good price. Hydration for less!
Alfred Fuimaono will perform at Opera Gala 2026 on Sunday, June 28, at Auckland Town Hall, alongside the Manukau Symphony Orchestra and Auckland Choral Society. Presented by Auckland Opera Studio, the one-night-only gala brings together powerful choruses, full orchestral works and some of Aotearoa’s rising opera talent for a large-scale celebration of opera that is world-class and welcoming to new audiences. Tickets available at www.aucklandoperastudio.co.nz.
