Pavlova is the meringue dessert with a crisp shell and a marshmallow centre, topped with whipped cream and seasonal fruit. New Zealand and Australia have claimed origin for a century.
Pavlova is named after Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, who toured Australia and New Zealand in 1926. The first documented New Zealand pavlova cake recipe is from 1929, with a fuller version printed in The Evening Star in 1934. Australia's competing claim points to Bert Sachse at Perth's Esplanade Hotel in 1935. Researchers now trace pavlova's origins to the Austro-Hungarian Spanische Windtorte, adapted through meringue desserts in both nations. The dispute remains informally settled; the dessert keeps appearing on Christmas tables on both sides of the Tasman Sea.
2 editor picks for Pavlova in Auckland, ranked by editorial score. All Auckland signature dishes · Pavlova across every city.
Amano ★ 4.7
britomart · 68 Tyler Street, Auckland CBD 1010
Amano runs Italian-leaning seasonal cooking from a heritage brick warehouse on Tyler Street in Britomart, with a connected bakery next door in Auckland.
Daily Bread Ponsonby ★ 4.6
ponsonby · 108 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland 1011
Daily Bread Ponsonby runs sourdough and pastries from 108 Ponsonby Road, Auckland. Coffee Supreme drinks, deli sandwiches, long-fermentation loaves.