In Auckland’s Commercial Bay, Ahi is celebrating the best of New Zealand cuisine. Led by acclaimed chef Ben Bayly, the restaurant has become one of the country’s most celebrated dining destinations having recently earned One Michelin Star in the inaugural Michelin Guide New Zealand 2026.
It’s an impressive achievement for a restaurant built around a relatively simple idea: showcasing the very best of New Zealand’s ingredients, producers and culinary heritage.
Meaning ‘fire’ in te reo Māori, Ahi takes its name from the wood-fired hearth at the centre of its open kitchen, but it also reflects the passion behind the restaurant. Traditional New Zealand flavours meet contemporary techniques, with a strong emphasis on seasonality, sustainability and knowing where the ingredients actually come from.
For Ben, who grew up in Te Awamutu, before spending almost a decade working in acclaimed kitchens across France, Italy and the UK, Ahi represents a long-held ambition to explore what truly defines New Zealand cuisine.
Alongside fellow owners Chris Martin and Lucile Fortuna, Group Executive Chef Gideon Landman and Executive Chef Mikhail ‘Mike’ Shatura, Ben has created a dining experience that celebrates the people and places behind every plate.
Much of the produce comes directly from Ahi’s own four-acre garden in Patumāhoe where organic and sustainable growing practices provide seasonal vegetables, herbs and other ingredients for the restaurant. The garden also forms part of a wider commitment to regenerative agriculture, with kitchen waste composted and returned to the soil.
That dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. Alongside its Michelin Star, Ahi retained Three Hats and a score of 19/20 in the Cuisine Good Food Guide 2026, while Ben received the Michelin Guide’s Mindful Voices Award for his contribution to more sustainable and thoughtful hospitality.
A carefully considered wine programme is also overseen by co-owner and Beverage Director Lucile Fortuna, showcasing both New Zealand wines and international selections.
With its sophisticated yet welcoming atmosphere, harbour views and a menu that tells the story of Aotearoa, Ahi offers something distinctly New Zealand.