Nocturnalists: Sophie Gilmour has a genius tip for a great night out

The Nocturnalists series shines a light on Auckland after dark. Restaurateurs and chefs, comedians and creatives, performers and punters – Nocturnalists are spirited members of Auckland’s nighttime scene. In this series, they take us on a tour of their favourite spots and all this city has to offer after 5pm. Today: Sophie Gilmour has plenty of good advice.

Photos by Sophie Miya-Smith shot on location at Fatimas Commercial Bay and Panacea.

Hospitality entrepreneur Sophie Gilmour has a full plate. She splits her time between consulting and catering, running the Ponsonby co-working space The Village and three food charities: Everybody Eats, DineAid and The Bread Collective. “It's all go,” she says. Fatimas, which she co-owns, takes up half of her week, with a footprint that includes Ponsonby, Takapuna and Commercial Bay. She knows the city well – including how to enjoy it – and has a finely tuned perspective on Auckland’s hospitality landscape.

Commercial Bay is bustling, how’s trade down there?

That site has just got busier and busier for us, particularly over the last two years. I think more and more people are coming to the city. And when we have something big at Spark Arena, that gives us a real boost in trade. Cruise ships give us a boost too. And the City Rail Link is such a vibe... It makes me feel like Auckland's finally grown up. I was really emotional about all those hospitality venues and retail that have had to operate with hoardings in front of their spots, and now the people are coming.

When you go out, is it hard for you to take your hospitality hat off?

I'm definitely noticing everything. There is an antenna that you can't turn off… [but] although I'm picky about atmosphere, food, wine and service, I'm pretty able to enjoy myself in any restaurant environment.

Talk us through your dream night out.

OK, I’d probably start at Queens Rooftop for a drink because the view is just beautiful. I recently had a delicious Negroni there whilst watching the sun set and boats sail across the harbour, it was a beautiful thing! I'd probably go to Alma for dinner. I'm actually not really a fine dining gal, but I think that's what fine dining should be… It's just a beautiful restaurant experience. I also love Cafe Hanoi as well. I think their food is bloody delicious and always has been. Caretaker is a bit of fun, particularly if the weather's shit or you're looking for somewhere cosy. I think Kingi is one of the most beautiful restaurants I've ever been to, just to sit in. Kemuri Hi-Fi is fun – going in the secret door, down the stairs and then when you're in there. I really like immersive, experiential hospitality places – the ones that do it well and are convincing.

Any other favourite restaurants we should know about?

I LOVE Cassia, Sid's food is fantastic and I can't wait to check out their new location.

Do you have any insider tips for having a really good night out in Auckland?

A strong cocktail is a good place to start! I think if you're having a longer night out, it's quite nice to eat entrees rather than main courses … with entrees you get to taste lots of small things and have yummy drinks.

That's a great tip. Would you do entrees at multiple restaurants in one night?

Yeah, I like to book two or three dinners in a row… I'll do a 6.30pm dinner and have an entree and a cocktail, then I'll do an 8pm dinner and have an entree and a cocktail, and then do another one and have dessert and a cocktail.

That is genius. Who does the best late-night dessert? 

Does an espresso martini count? Panacea is a huge vibe post-dinner for a cocktail and chill. It's the perfect spot for when you've finished dinner and you're not quite ready for home. Plus because they treat cocktails like a restaurant does their menu – each day they make all the mise en place for the evening ahead – you're not waiting 20 mins for a drink!

Where do you go for a late-night feed?

I'm not afraid of a White Lady Burger, but it's been a while ...

What’s your favourite cheap and cheerful spot for dinner in the city? 

Fatimas, obviously. Fattoush salad, potato kofta and a beer.

Where’s the best place to go for a debrief?

Let's go to Gilt for this – very versatile, can be quick, serious, long or debaucherous, it's great.

And where would you go to dine alone? 

Amano, up at the bar, for a plate of pasta and a glass of Soave.

Are there any meals you've had in the city that have really stayed with you?

When we finished the Fatima's cookbook last year we went for dinner at Alma… I was completely thrilled the whole time I was there. With every bite, with every piece of service, with all of it – I just loved it. That was probably the most thrilling restaurant experience I've had in Auckland for ages.

What did you eat?

I remember getting the classic stuff like the anchovy toast that everyone talks about. There was a dessert there that had toasted rice on a sorbet or an ice cream. I remember that being really amazing. We had really great drinks. I had the tomato martini and the sommelier was recommending the perfect wine to go with every snack… I'm in absolute heaven when that kind of thing's going on.

That anchovy toast is arguably iconic. Do you have any other favourite 'famous-in-Auckland' dishes?

I love the dumplings in spicy sauce from Eden Noodles. Sichuan flavours are a favourite.

What do you love about Auckland CBD after dark?

I think what I like about it is that it enables you to be around all different types of people. I think that it's very easy in Auckland to stay in your neighbourhood and then just be surrounded by people that are like you. And every time I go out in the city, I'm reminded of all the different types of people and interesting and cool people that live in the city.

Do you go to many shows or events?

I go to the Writers Festival. My mum is an avid everything-goer – she does a Writers Festival bender and she'll always buy extra tickets and get us in. I've been to a few things at Aotea Centre recently – the last was actually the Cuisine Food Awards. I go to plays at Basement Theatre; I went to a play that Liv Tennet put on at Her Festival at Basement last year, which I thought was really amazing. I went to quite a lot of the comedy that was at that festival as well. I also saw an Irish comedian recently, Kyla Cobbler, it was just absolutely hilarious.

Do you go to the Comedy Festival?

Yeah, I love that too. [A visit to] The Classic is quite a fun thing to do on a night out. Last time we were literally just walking past and thought, "Shall we have a hoon on some comedy?” and went in. Laughing is good for you, isn't it?

It really is. Do you have any favourite theatre venues in Auckland?

Q and Basement, they're both awesome. The Town Hall is a beautiful venue, I went to a Teeks show there. The Civic – I took my daughter there and she said it was the most magical place she’d ever been.

No matter how many times you've been, you sit down and look up at that ceiling and just go 'wow'. What upcoming events are in your calendar?

I have tickets to Lily Allen later this month at Spark Arena. There is a food festival called Feast Auckland that’s coming up in November that I'm looking forward to – I'm sure we'll partake in that. And the food charity that I run, DineAid, has a campaign in November and December. We collect money through restaurants for the Auckland City Mission and that always gets me pumped about going out and around the city… Baduzzi raised the most money last year, and Hello Beastie was second.

You work very hard between all the different hats you wear. How do you relax?

East Day Spa on Albert Street is outrageous. My dad died last year and my friend bought me a package with facial, massage and a sauna. It was like two and a half hours and it was unbelievable! And do you know what I've done a couple of times? A staycation in Auckland.

Tell me more.

I really recommend that. I went to Hotel Britomart with my husband and we kind of lived in the city for three days. We went to Kingi for breakfast each day. The hotel has bikes so we biked along Tamaki Drive. We walked around all the shops in Britomart, which isn’t something I’d normally do. We went to the Britomart Farmers Market. We went to a different place for lunch or dinner each night – Mr Morris was great. I just think there's something about a staycation, because we are not necessarily aware in our day-to-day lives how routine we become, so you kind of narrow your focus. Anything you can do to broaden your focus is great.

Do you think central Auckland is cooler than people give it credit for?

Yeah! Whenever I'm on K Road, I get that feeling for sure. K Road just pops off in the evening and there's just like cool shit happening left, right, and centre. There's people going to gigs, there's live music, there's restaurants that are packed to the brim. Then you go to restaurants that you haven't been to in ages and they're super busy. That's what I love about the city, you discover what all these other people are getting up to, too.

This content was created in paid partnership with Auckland by Night. Become a Nocturnalist – head to Discover Auckland to find out what that the Auckland city centre has to offer after 5pm.