Dining Alone at Pici

A restaurant story in Auckland, NZ.

I sauntered into the beautiful art deco shopping mall, Saint Kevins Arcade, one evening. Thanks to a cancelled flight out of New Zealand I was stranded in the country. More specifically, I was stranded in Auckland which turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I was discovering that twenty-four hours in Auckland can be just delightful.

But cancelled flights— especially cancelled international flights— are stressful! It had been a long day spent finding new flights and a last-minute place to stay in the city, and I was starving. Consummate wanderer that I am, I did not forget to stop and smell the roses, however. In this case, that meant stopping to marvel at the architecture of Saint Kevins Arcade. This old shopping mall has been around since the 1920’s, and it now houses trendy restaurants, bars, and op shops. The current occupants are nestled into the art deco setting, celebrating its old beauty instead of altering or overshadowing it. As I stepped off of busy Karangahape Road into the arcade, I felt myself stepping back through time. It was an old refuge from the bustle. How many young people have met up here for a drink or to look for a cute new outfit over the years? I had yet to find the restaurant I was looking for, but I was already feeling welcomed in by the old building. The stress of the day began to melt away even before I found my destination.

The restaurant I was searching for is called Pici (pronounced “peachy”). They do pasta and wine… two of my favorite things. After the morning I’d had, comfort food was in order, and I was so excited to check out this restaurant.

I walked past it twice before I spotted it.