I had my 29th birthday on Friday night in Besos Latinos and we LOVED IT !!!! Such a great ambient.

The service was great it wasn’t extra pro but they tried their best witch was really nice to see.The waiters are young people that need more training but smile on their face and great communication made all of that less relevant. Restaurant manager was doing a great job as she made her self visible but didn’t hover over her team ( sometimes managers tend to hover over the team and then make them even more nervous causing them to make entire service tense experience )

There was a live music during the whole dinner.
It was really nice surprise to see whole restaurant singing happy b day song at the end of the night and I even get to blow the candles on my cake. Honestly I’ve been out for my b day in nice restaurants but this was the first time I felt it was really special as the band played and staff all came out making it very personal !

Food was amazing I am not sure what the other reviews were all about but I think most of these people have never eaten in ethic restaurants and don’t really now what to expect. This is the place in Auckland were you enter and you feel like you are in somewhere in Latin America everything is authentic even the staff , it is not fine dinning (as that is not Latin cuisine in first place ) it is true mix of tastes while keeping it simple. Portions are measured just fine, we had 4 guys and 4 girls and we were all full at the end of the night (we had Mexican platters and nachos)

Great job team Besos Latinos you got your self 8 ppl that will come back for more and at least 20 others that will come after we recommend you to our friends and family !!!!

And thank you for making my b day experience great !!! Despite the fact it was Friday 13 th . Besos

I don’t know who’s writing all these great reviews of Besos Latinos, but it’s all spin. Do not be deceived: this is one of the worst restaurants I’ve ever been to.

I went as part of a group, and we had a set menu. I ordered beef empanadas for my entree. What arrived was a single empanada. It was luke-warm and obviously not freshly prepared; in fact I suspect it was reheated (or maybe even defrosted) to order.

My main was a completely unremarkable dish of stewed beef on rice (I can’t remember the name of this dish). The rice contained what appeared to be mixed vegetables, cooked from frozen. The beef was edible, but mediocre in every possible way. It reminded me of eating a frozen TV-dinner from the supermarket.

My partner had a fish dish for her main. She said it was unpleasant, and she didn’t finish it.

The set menu had a choice of two salads, but one salad was not available the night we went. The available salad was nothing more than plain, undressed vegetables.

This set menu was priced at an astonishing $45, including a pretty average glass of wine. For the food I received (excluding the wine) I would expect to pay about $10-12 at any other food court.

The atmosphere is nothing special. The service was dour almost to the point of rudeness.

The toilets were so filthy that I found myself too disgusted to use them. To be fair, the bathrooms aren’t part of the restaurant per se, they’re outside in Elliott Stables.

All in all, this restaurant is a complete rip-off. It would still be a rip-off at half the price! The only reason I didn’t send my food back at the time is that I was worried about embarrassing my friends.

The owners should be ashamed to call Besos Latinos a restaurant. It’s nothing more than a tourist trap.

Had an excellent lunch at Besos Latinos on a Sunday. I had the ceviche as an entree, which was very good with right amount of garlic and lime juice I had the Bendeja Paisa as a main. It was like a Colombian steak and egg, but with fried banana, avocado and beans thrown in. It was very tasty and too much food to finish. My partner had the taquitos, which were literally little tacos ( and not the taquitos we were used to). He said they were excellent with marinated chicken charbroiled but still juicy. More casual dining than fancy, the prices were not more or less than other comparable restaurants in central Auckland. Service was prompt and attentive. Good meal!

I have covered many many restaurants in Auckland and would have to say Besos Latinos was the most disappointing I have been to.
Definitely over priced which we wouldn’t mind paying normally if food tasted even half good. Very plain food no flavours, even the fish special was drowned in too much sauce. Out of 8 of us only 1 enjoyed her meal. They forgot my salad and two at our table waited 15 minutes for their fish meal after the rest of us had been served our meals. Most disappointing to what started as a great birthday night for me.

Awesome place.. Must visit. I called Besos and left a message for a booking the same morning. They called me back when it was open to confirm. Visited Besos with my wife on a lovely Saturday evening of the Easter weekend. Located right at the back of Elliot Stables. Nice lively atmosphere inside. great latin décor. The young team of staff were all very friendly and also very helpful to suggest to us a few favourites from the Latin American menu. All meals from entrées to mains were very delicious and full of flavours we asked the chef to make it hot and it was great. The serving size is very good as well, we couldn’t finish our mains. Must try the prawns and fish of the day. Had the Mango Chilli Margaritas…that was rocking. Overall we had a wonderful experience at Besos. Will definitely come back again with friends. Keep up the great service.

My friends took me here for my birthday for lunch. Great time, service was great. Even got a free slice of cake! Food was average but staff were very friendly. I would go back again.

Fantastic!!!! Everything just great – menu, food, atmosphere, friendly helpful staff.

We can highly recommend this restaurant and will be back for sure. Had an absolutely enjoyable and relaxed evening!!!

Thanks a lot!!!!

This little gem is hidden behind a discrete black door alongside many other little restaurants, Which made it quite hard to locate initially.
Nevertheless, this was the first Latin-Americana restaurant experience that my partner and I have had and let me tell you, It was definitely a positive experience. The atmosphere was bright and energetic, the ambient lights set the mood quite well. In addition, the staff were great and even took a lovely photo of my partner and I, something we quickly uploaded to facebook.

The food was great and something we’d usually never choose to eat whilst out. We ordered the “Mexican platter for two” totaling $38.I preferred the Angus beef tacos, whilst my partner loved (LOVED) the enchiladas and all the side dishes. We didn’t order any drinks purely because we were going to the movies and late night skating afterwards so needed to be sober LOL, nevertheless they looked wonderful and we’ll definitely indulge next time.

The only awkward part of the whole experience, which truthfully upset the rest of the night at no fault to the restaurant was when a “hen’s night group dared the [to-be-wife] to come and casually flirt with my partner whilst I was in the bathroom”. This alone left us both feeling somewhat embarrassed and awkward, luckily we both saw the humor in it and walked away smiling.

We’ll return again, provided the “hens-night wife isn’t there again”..lol.

The best Guacamole I have had outside of Mexico – enchiladas like home cooking from the gulf of Tehuantepec.
love it, love the restaurant’s title and ambience – very romantic

Cant wait to come back and try more

Viva
and thank you for bringing your talents from Mexico to share it in New Zealand.

at last

yum

Dinner at Besos Latinos last night was a wonderful experience. I had a perfect Pisco Sour cocktail (and trust me I have had many in my life) at the start while perusing the menu. I picked the Mexican Alambra de Arrachera as main course. This was a perfect prepared beef dish. Tasty, cooked correctly and the portion was sufficient to fill my tummy. During the dinner I/we were entertained by a couple dancing the tango. Very professional (I’ve seen many and danced it myself) and they were amazing to watch. To finish the meal I had (the by my friend recommended) Brazilian coconut pudding, a delicious dessert. The atmosphere in the restaurant is wonderful and the waiting staff was friendly, professional but not too formal. For $100 for 2 people it was a well worth experience and I’ll be back with other friends.

Besos Latinos was superb! The service was fantastic always smiling when served and everything was out in a timely manner! Nice portions too – not too big and too small. Loved every bit of it from the music to the decor…I felt like I was in Mexico or somewhere exotic and homely! Great vibe and I would recommend Besos Latinos to anyone who wants to try authentic cuisine!! Definitely a great place if you want to be alone with your loved one or party up with a group of girlfriends! EXCELLENTE!

This restaurant is fantastic. From the food through to the service and atmosphere, I couldn’t recommend Besos Latinos enough.

Yes, it is quite pricey, but that’s what you get for food this amazing, and this is a top notch Auckland restaurant serving authentic cuisine, so I’m unsure why people are so shocked at the prices. (It’s not a cheap tex mex place which I think others reviewers have been confusing it for.)

So I say if you’re looking for something different, that won’t disappoint and you’re willing to spend a little extra for a a great experience, then Besos Latinos is where to go.

We had the Restaurant of the month menu which was very good!!
Entree: good – veggie humitas very popular around the table.
Mains: were a great size and very yummy.
A great introduction to the menu and the cuisine.
Service was fantastic- very friendly, chatty,accommodating and made us feel very welcome.
Definitely recommend to anyone interested in trying some Latin food.
I am going back for the Colombian Bandeja Paisa

Went there Saturday night with anticipation of something pretty special – ordered the Mexican Tapas for 2 – $19 each, $38 total & got very average food – we will not recommend to anyone.

We expected a decent amount of food for $38 & something quite special but it was only just warm, looked like came from a packet & didn’t strike us as authentic.

We were told it would be a 30-40 minute wait, 50 minutes later it turned up.

Compared to the other meals our group ordered elsewhere it failed to impress.

We complained but it basically fell on deaf ears. Will not be returning nor recommending..

The differential is the service, an attentive and friendly staff without over bearing makes us feel very welcome!! Always with a smile and a can do attitude, and that is what everyone expect when dining out! The food is great, as a born kiwi and never had the experience to travel to South America, it made great impression on the Argentinian Asadito, yumm! And since I can´t afford a ticket to Argentina at the moment, I will keep coming back to Besos Latinos!!!

My husband and I went to Besos Latinos for a second time late last month. Staff are very friendly & provide great service. The food is delicious and you get what you pay for. We’ll definitely be back again

Went there tonight (Thursday night) and were really disappointed and will not recommend to anyone.

First it wasn’t busy at all; and the drinks came pretty quickly (positive and was the only positive point); then we had to wait half an hour before asking the waiter if we can order our meals; he took our order and then we had to wait more than an hour and ask about our main to 2 different waiters. We got them an hour and a half after ordering and when we finally got them, what wasn’t the disappointment ! My friend ordered the vegetarian meal and it was tiny !!! Mine (anchiladas) was flavourless !

Also, while going to pay the bill, we express our disappointment to the manager and what wasn’t our surprise when she said, you didn’t book ! (there was nobody in the restaurant !). To that my friend who came along a previous time answered she came once with a booking and the problem was the same. The answer to that from the manager was “oh well that’s your opinion….” And she took the money and disappeared with no thanks nothing ! waouh !!! Obviously we were bothering her.

Honestly, I’m French from Paris, being here in Auckland for almost 2 years (it’s the first time I’m posting a review on a place here); and I know in Paris, waiters can be rude; but at least when you complain, they do apology and or try to do something for the customer to leave happy; this one was just unbelievable ! I’ve never seen that.

And finally, it was pricey for what it is.

So, if you have time and money to waste, then it’s the place to go although I do think there are better ways to waste money and time.

Besos Latinos. As you walk into the highly atmospheric mood lighting, you are greeted by an array of musical prowess; the strong, yet smooth, male voices, rich guitar melody, and the cha-cha-cha beat sweep you away to the sights and sounds of Latin America; forgotten are the busy Auckland streets outside.

Overcome by the overwhelming shock to your senses, you find yourself lead to the rustically decorated, candlelit tables with sparkly, black sombreros on the backs of the chairs- and of course, the waiters are gorgeous too. Wearing tango hats, they exude mystery, and with their sexy foreign accents, you begin to understand the well thought-out name of the restaurant- who wouldn’t want a beso latino?

The menus, creatively embossed with a culturally significant Aztec image, are well structured and although the prices are slightly upper-budget, the authenticity is astounding. You relay your choice of a platter for two and relax again, caught away in the euphoric intoxication of a Spanish-fever-induced reverie, anxiously anticipating the feast that awaits you.

And then the illusion shatters, like a mirror forcibly thrown from a 7th story balcony, and the dismay felt is comparable to being hit with 7 years of bad luck all at once.

The Mexican Platter, which once sounded so amazing, is but a fraction of what your overstimulated mind imagined (maybe they are hiding an experimental shrink ray in the kitchen?). While the charro beans were tasty, the rest of the meal was not, consisting of a handful of corn chips, a few slices of quesadilla, four baby-palm-sized tortillas and an almost microscopic amount of “angus beef” that was essentially flavourless. Let’s not forget the “trio of dips”; about one tablespoon each of chipotle salsa, overly-onion-tasting guacamole, and sliced jalapeños, all sitting on a useless amount of grated carrot and mesclun salad.

Now for the best part, the price… $38 ($19 peMorer person). Yes, you read correctly. Does that not seem a bit excessive? Especially considering you could make four times the amount that was on the tray for about $10 at home.

So there you have it, Besos Latinos. They lull you in, with their awe-inspiring Latin atmosphere and leave you with nothing but trepidation. Maybe they should try and put a little more energy into making their food since, you know, it is a restaurant.

This is by far the best service and food I have ever tried in Auckland City, the atmosphere is very unique and special, I’ve been there at least 5 times and Besos never disappoints.

Looking forward to my next visit on Wednesday.

Gracias amigos!

Had a great time there last night…went with a group of 8 and shared a wide range of dishes which were all exceptional….fresh, vibrant and diverse. Really enjoyed the staff who were attentive, relaxed and really keen to make sure we had a good time.

The venue itself is superb – feels really authentic.

Hadn’t been to Elliot Stables before, but will definately be back.

Shockingly bad value, utterly substandard quality. $18 for a small plate of beans, a few corn chips, a tiny amount of salsa, guacamole, sour cream, a few bits of meat at least one of which was a chunk of gristle, and grated carrot to give it some colour is not up to standard. Places like this are the reason Mexican food has such a bad name in NZ.

Not moderate price range at all, $34 mains, and expensive underwhelming starter platters. Food was nice, but not at that price.

We went to Besos Latinos last night to celebrate my birthday, I had seen photos of it online the place matches every pic we saw, it is beautiful made me feel as if I was in Mexico! How ever, the service was shocking!! We were seated imedietly but waited 20 minutes before we were even asked what we would line to drink! And this was only beacuse we had asked for a waiter ! Drinks took another 20min and the food took an extra hour ! Beacuse according to are waitress they were busy ! Still not good enough ! Startes were over over priced and extremely small ! Salsa was tasteless I would get a better one from a store! We ordered the pandeja paisa a Colombian dish a d coming from a Colombian backround letme just say, did no justicie ! Their platter are small and you have to order a minimum of 2 people , but really is only for one person , bit Hey How Will they make money if they dont convince you it’s for 2 people big dissapointment!!! We were offered water at the end of our meal but no water glasses ! Service was horrible!!!! Manager didn’t seem worried about it, we would get better service in McDonalds ! Food was average and experience was extremely dissapointing ! The only thing in their favor is the decor and atmosphere ! I will never go back there and will make sure know one I know will spend their money there !

Service was a bit slow, had to remind waiters of drinks ordered a couple times, but the food was great!!!

If you are looking for a great Latino American restaurant with atmosphere to match,then Besos Latinos is “The Place” where you should go.
As soon as we entered the restaurant our table was suitably set for the birthday celebration along with sombrero’s for each of our guest to participate in the joyous occasion.
Cecilia our waitress welcomed us with the traditional greetings “Buenos Dias” and attended our requests all evening , always with a beautiful smile.
The Argentinean empanadas and also Argentinean red wines and beers! suitably fitting with the atmosphere of the night.
I would recommend anyone wanting to be taken on this journey to “The Latin Americas” should go have the experience because you won’t regret it.. from the very beginning till you leave you will be enchanted by the dancing on a Thursday, music, atmosphere, traditional food, wine & beer and the customer service.
Well done Louis & Cecilia on your achievement’s in making this experience to life in New Zealand! I will be back soon
Gracias!Chau! Kathryn Lovelidge

The food was amazing and service excellent. All the atmosphere in the restaurant is very good.All the best for the owner and chef

Wondering where to celebrate my friend B-day around the city I found the unimaginable! Inside of the well know Elliott Stables is a fantastic hide space where is set a Latin restaurant.
As a 1st impression you can really feel the Latin style. My friends and I decide to explore more and try a different option this time. We’ve been sitting beside a rustic fountain at the center of the floor the place is quite big, colorful and I believe is a casual cool concept, service was great, we try a Mexican Platter for 4 (19p/p) and then we all try different Latin dishes from Argentina, Cuba and Chile, I choose a tender and tasty Cuban style prawns that were amazing! We sip a big glasses of Margaritas and finish the night with a impressive Happy B-day in Spanish sung by the staff. Highly recommended if you are looking for a great and different experience. * no easy to park you have to look options at sky cinema or Victoria car park.

Just fabulous! If you are looking for authentic (not tex mex) southern american food then this is it. The restaurant is in the back corner of the Elliott Stables and the service is pleasant and not too fussy.
The food is created with the real passion that only comes from a committed professional; chef.
Well done. I hope you are as successful as your food is good. AAA

This is one of the best places to eat. i enjoyed the food, service and the decor of the place. They need a 5 star rating. Luis and his entire team take care of you from start to finish. i will recommend this place to anybody who wants to try different food.

*Romantic settings. It was a beautiful restaurant.
*Live Latin music was fantastic (Friday night only, apparently) *The best Margarita Ive ever had in my life! *food tasted great

*Serving size is too small!! Over priced. They should either put down the price for the size or make them bigger. We had 3 prawns sitting on some rice for $34. We would love to go back there for Margarita and some nibbles.

We came here with a group of friends last month and tried the menu that offered a little taste of every country in South America. Service was great – we found the staff to be both friendly and helpful. However, I felt that the food was pretty much average. I’ve only been to Mexico, so I can only speak with limited knowledge here. To me, the dishes had the same ‘base flavour’ – so despite it being Cuban or Argentina or whatever, it didn’t matter to me as they tasted the same. Perhaps I’m a bit of a Philistine when it comes to food appreciation, but this is my experience.
The quantity was so-so, I’ve observed that they reduced the price of the menu that offers a taste of every country. So I think price-wise, you shouldn’t be judging your experience based on quantity but taste.
Despite the food being an average experience, the impeccable friendly service made up for it – so that’s always a crowd pleaser.

I find a bit unfair that a lot of obviously friends of the owner gather here to write good reviews to level up the average rating of the restaurant. However I am going to write my own critique to give people an idea of what to expect from this restaurant.
I am going to start by presentation, my experience started with very nice and friendly staff ready to take the order as soon as I sat down. First thing I noticed was that the place is very nice, it is comfortable and very authentic. They had hired a live duet that sung authentic latin music while i was there. The menu came, I started doubting the experience when I saw the fact that the menu had very poor presentation, however I told myself it is not important since It is all about the food. I ordered the entrees, ( I must say that I’ve been to Mexico, Argentina, Guatemala and Chile and tried all of these dishes before) I ordered the chilean tamales, and the empanadas. The first thing I noticed when they came was presentation, they were very beautiful and look delicious, however I couldn’t believe my eyes on the size. I basically paid 12 dollars for almost a supermarket sized bite. The empanadas were not what i expected since I have tried empandas in Mexico and argentina and they are totally different from each other and they never specified this on the menu. I must say I got really scared since everything was so tiny that I stood up paid and went to eat at another place. I had 2 drinks and two bite size samples for 50 dolars. With all the regret I must say it is not very pleasant to pay so much for simple food one can achieve at home for an eight of the price.

It is a nice and exclusive latin american corner.

I went to Besos Latinos with my brother last night and my first impression was that it felt I was in a colonial street somewhere in latin america. The environment was amazing. Good music, friendly staff and colourful decorations.
Then… we sat down and ordered. The service was efficient and the food was great! good serving size, fresh ingredients and very nice wine selection.
The restaurant must be advertised more, because it is really good..!

We had a great night here before a show. Lovely atmosphere, great service and lovely Malbec and Pisco Sours! Only two of the food items were disappointing.
For $16 the Queso Asado al Sésamo is a rip off with very tiny pieces of haloumi being served on a small salad.
Also having been to Bolivia there is nothing really Bolivian about that salad.
The rest of the food was great! I’d just suggest the entrees are too expensive for what you get.

What a good place, I loved the decoration, music and excellent service, not to mention the food, they serve the best ceviche in town and the arracheras are fantastic. This is probably the only place in NZ that cooks the tortillas just when you order them. My wife order the latin american culinary tour, highly recomended, very tasty and affordable. I am definitely coming back!!

I went with my husband on a Friday night. The restaurant is in a hidden corner and it’s a bit hard to find. However it is a beautiful place with nice settings. We ordered the ceviche and pato taco for starters. The pato taco was really yummy. For mains, we ordered the fish and the prawn. My fish was cooked nicely with delicious rice. The prawn dish was a bit dear for it’s presentation. Overall, I liked the presentation of all dishes. They were clean and creative. It is not a cheap place to eat though.

I would struggle to give this restaurant even one star but I had to to put this review in. I was very surprised to see such positive reviews on here at all!

I had the unfortunate experience recently of being part of a large group that dined at this restaurant – I have never felt compelled to write a review but the evening was so bad I felt I had to warn other diners.

Once we were seated at 7.30pm, it took well over half an hour to even get some water to the table or be even given menus, then over another half an hour to get any drinks ordered or our food orders to be taken. Other diners came in while we were waiting and were seated and fed and had left before we were even allowed to order our meals!! There were no table nibbles available to order during the wait, breads, corn chips or anything like that would have at least filled some time in but no, and when it took another hour or so to serve entrees alone, you can imagine we had a pretty hungry frustrated (and somewhat bored!) lot of people. When we finally got the mains after literally hours of sitting there, the food was less than ok so was very disappointing. I had the fish and it was half cold and didn’t taste very fresh so I was nervous about eating it despite being starving at this point.

We were the only customers in the restaurant by 9.30pm and we still hadn’t eaten and were still getting no service. Needless to say when we finally ate it was about 10.30pm and noone was interested in sticking round to order dessert! All in all an absolutely appalling night, would have to be the worst experience I’ve had dining in Auckland, AWFUL service, dubious food, lacking menu and I would never ever return to this restaurant and I doubt the other 20 or so people I was with would either, ruined what was meant to be a great evening out. Very disappointing.

With such great reviews on here I expected more than we got on Friday night. We had a deal voucher which entitled us to a $50 spend and were really looking forward to something a bit different. As per the norm with these vouchers we mentioned it when booking and then again when we arrived. We were seated in what I would describe as a very nice space – great ambience, with a pretty lighting and a central fountain. The music was a good level for conversation and added to the atmosphere, and the service was smiling and attentive. Menus were fetched along with a Special Deal which gave one a selection of entrees, mains and a salad with a glass of wine for $35. It was pointed out to us that if we were to order it however it would be $45 because we were using a voucher. My husband ordered the empanadas for his entree which clearly stated on the menu consisted of 2. When they came out there was 1. We watched a nearby table receive their’s – and they got 2. Clearly they were not using a voucher! As mains we ordered the two steak dishes on the menu. My husband had Alambre de Arrachera – Traditional marinated Flank Steak Grilled with, bacon, peppers, onion, field mushrooms and Kapiti Edam Cheese. It was priced at $34 on the menu. When it came it was a very small serving of what was mostly rice, with a tiny amount of steak finely chopped through it and the salad which was extra. He thought it tasted ok but was left really feeling hungry as it was such a small serving. I had the Arrachera Norteña y papa horno – Mexican grilled flank Steak marinated with oregano, thyme, garlic and salt served with oven stuffed potato, artisanal handmade corn tortilla and Charro Beans which was $32 on the menu. The meat was very tasty but again not much of it – although more than my husband got for sure! The accompaniment was some chopped panfried potato – not the stuffed potato on the menu and the beans & corn chipsMore were a tiny dish on the side – about 4 chips and a smattering of mild flavoured beans in a light tomato sauce. We ended with desserts as we were still quite hungry and these were fine but I suspect bought in. All in all, I feel that it represented terrible value for money – and there were deliberate attempts to “level the score” regarding our use of the voucher – hence the lack of one empanada and the tiny amount of steak. This is crazy! Establishments offer these vouchers to tempt diners into their restaurants – clearly something that has really taken off in the city – it’s just like spending money on advertising – and then to deliver substandard fare and tell you you have to pay a premium because you have a voucher is ridiculous. They have a chance to impress and gain a regular client but instead, as in this case, only succeed in assuring we won’t be back. So silly. We have been to other restaurants that have really wowed us with their service and food when using a voucher – restaurants new to us – and we are now regulars. THAT’S how the vouchers work – the restaurant takes a hit the first time – gets you through their door and IMPRESSES so much you tell all your friends and you return again and again! Not really rocket science.

I went there for the first time last night. It was amazing, the atmosphere, the outlay of the restaurant, the staff….

The food was amazing….the service 5 stars….The staff were amazing.

Thank you for the great evening.

Besos Latinos is “The Latin-American Restaurant in Auckland”. I have worked along side with Chef Luis Cabrera and I can say He is an enthusiastic chef in pursuit of excellence when designing a dish. you don’t need to worry about food when Luis is in charge of the kitchen. I am 100% sure he is going to overtake your expectations!!
This restaurant got the warm atmosphere similar to the one you can get in Latin America, and for me this is the touch and difference from Other Latin restaurants.
Service is very friendly and almost personalized, always with a smile and good service attitude.

Thanks for the lovely food and service.
this restaurant is 100% recommendable.

Saludos!!

Besos Latinos is a true Latin restaurant, owned by Latin American people that want to share our culture.
I just got to NZ three days ago after a long trip from Mexico, and some Filipino friends told me about this place and took me to the restaurant. I would never have found it by myself… It’s a bit hidden, but once you know about it you’ll feel like never going anywhere else.
The food is great, the price is reasonable and the staff is very friendly.
My comments:
The restaurant seems a bit exclusive and expensive, which is great, but during lunch times there should be some “student meals” with affordable Price’s. This might attract students that like southamerican culture. I will definitely come here if it had student meals at lunch time, and if I had a date, this will be the perfect place to spend my money at dinner time.
The food can easily be compared with the great food made in southamerica…! in my case, I’m Mexican, I know about Mexican food!!
I’d say next time you eat on a southamerican restaurant outside latinamerca, compare it with Besos Latinos, if it’s as good as Besos then you could say it’s southamerican food. If it wasn’t as good as Besos Latinos then it was “tex-mex”… which is cheap and just OK food.
Overall, an excellent restaurant with possibilities to be even better.

I took my mum to Besos Latinos for her birthday. We are both Mexican immigrants in NZ and have been waiting for 5 years to find an authentic Latin flavour at a a restaurant. Moreover, the quality was excellent; not your usual Californian version of Latin food, the one that makes us think of take-aways and cheap meals. This is a restaurant that is here to show NZ that Latin food can be an all-rounded experience. That it can be gourmet food. My mum and I ordered a dish from the Mexican selection and another from the Cuban selection- and we got more than value for money! Even though we were full and extremely happy with our meal, we found the strength to squeeze in some dessert: flan. A Mexican custard dish that had us filled with nostalgia for our country. Thank you, Besos Latinos, not only for giving us a piece of home, but for doing so with style.

We thought the food was EXCELLENT! We had a wonderful evening. Friendly and efficient staff, hot cocktails and delicious food. The atmosphere was lovely and the Latin dancing set the mood. A wonderful Valentines – thank you so much!!

Had a dinner special at Besos Latinos for $28!! It included a glass of spectacular Argentine wine, a beef dish, salad and an appetizer. What a great deal for dinner and to top it off it was truly delicious; lots of flavor yet simple. Finished the meal off with a mouthwatering Flan (Mexican Custard with Caramel dessert).
Very authentic food from the heart and the decor is spot on-really takes you back on a journey to Latin America.
Can’t wait to go back and try their lunch specials.

Finally some proper South American food in Auckland!

Gracias por todo!
Muchos besos!

WOW ! what a fantastic place. The decor is superb and the food even better. Cant quite remember the name of the meal i had, but basically it was mexican style beef and it was awesome. With a couple of glasses of some superb Argentinian wine, an outstanding ceviche, the night was a winner. Fantastic hostess in Ceci, and Chef Luis make for a friendly, relaxed place to sample some authentic South American cuisine. (i’ll be enjoying that bottle of wine shortly!) Two Thumbs Up !

I was recommended to try this restaurant because I was looking for an authentic Latin American restaurant in Auckland. Besos Latinos did not disappoint. They have an interesting menu with authentic dishes and the decor fits perfectly as well. The staff were friendly, enthusiastic and helpful.

just a fantastic place where to go! the food and service is amazing and the atmosphere great…
expect me to be coming back soon!!

thanks so much for a great evening.

My partner and I were looking for a real latinoamerican place where we could enjoy the same food we have at home, yes we are latinoamericans and we are from Argentina!!!
As soon as we entered the restaurant Cecilia welcomed us with a big smile and these two beautiful words “Buenos Dias” we sat down and started to read the menu and wine list… they had all we needed..homemade Argentinean empanadas and also Argentinean wines and beers! We also had taco pato and Arrachera nortena both Mexican plates and it was delicious! For dessert we had flan which is like a cream caramel and for whoever know what Dulce de leche is… believe it they have it!
As a latinoamerican person I hardly recommend you to come and try it because you won’t regret it.. from the very beginning till you leave you will be enchanted by the music, decoration, food and customer service!
Hope you like it! Gracias chicos y volvere!!! Chau!!!