Auckland’s dining scene is about to get even more exciting. The new food festival brings together some of the country’s best chefs, restaurants and culinary experiences for 11 days of delicious discoveries.
Running from 12 to 22 November, Auckland FEAST powered by Mastercard will feature around 30 unique events across Auckland, from intimate chef’s tables and long lunches to culinary cruises, cooking masterclasses and late-night feasts.
One of the festival’s headline events is The Long Table Lunch at Ellerslie on Friday 20 November, where Nadia Lim will join Dariush Lolaiy of San Ray and Cazador, alongside Ellerslie Racecourse Executive Chef Paul Barrett, to create a special three-course menu for 300 guests.
The afternoon will begin with drinks before guests settle in for a shared feast featuring ingredients from Nadia’s Royalburn Station, paired with wines. The celebrations will then continue with music on the covered Cuvée Lawn.
A feast beyond the ordinary
While Auckland is certainly no stranger to exceptional dining, FEAST is taking things a little further, offering experiences you won’t find on a typical restaurant menu.
For two nights only, acclaimed two-hatted chef Jack Cashmore will bring his renowned Chef’s Table experience from Blue Duck Station to Kauri Bay in Clevedon, hosting just 10 guests each evening.
Out on the Waitematā Harbour, Michael Meredith of Mr Morris and Metita, along with MasterChef NZ winners Kārena and Kasey Bird, will host special culinary cruises, combining beautiful harbour views with memorable dining.
For something a little different, Cassia will host a Chai Rave with Sacred Society, bringing together chai, canapés and music, while Matchbox will welcome night owls for The Midnight Chef, a late-night dining experience kicking off at 10pm. There’s also an Aryeh x Trivet collab at the beautiful Piha Beach.
Those keen to sharpen their own culinary skills can join Prego Head Chef Lennox Bull for a lesson in the restaurant’s famous duck risotto, or head to Cazador for School Nights with Dariush, combining a cooking tutorial with a four-course dinner.
Elsewhere, the programme includes one-off restaurant collaborations, a progressive Sunday lunch with Sid Sahrawat, an intimate eight-seat kaimoana omakase at Cocoro and a Thanksgiving inspired banquet at Culprit.
“Auckland has an incredible food and hospitality scene and Auckland FEAST is about giving people a reason to really explore it,” says festival founder Rob Eliott. “You can learn directly from chefs, travel somewhere unexpected for dinner, experience restaurants working together for the first time or simply gather your friends and do something completely different.
“We wanted to create experiences you can’t have on an ordinary day out.”
With events stretching from Ponsonby to Piha, Birkenhead to Clevedon, Auckland FEAST is shaping up to be a celebration of the city’s culinary creativity, and a very good excuse to get out and try somewhere new.
Auckland FEAST powered by Mastercard runs from 12 to 22 November 2026. Mastercard cardholders can save $10 on festival event tickets and enter daily draws for one of four $250 dining vouchers. Terms and conditions apply.
Programme highlights:
Thursday 12 November
Osteria Uno x The Burnt Butter Table – Birkenhead
Live Fire – Meat Sommelier Dinner – Mt Eden
Khu Khu x Urbanaut Collaboration – Ponsonby
Sunset Feast: Gather & Graze – Auckland CBD
Saturday 14 November
Risotto Masterclass with Head Chef Lennox Bull – Prego, Ponsonby
Queso Fresco and Oaxaca by Tacoteca – Auckland CBD
Mr Morris at Sea – Viaduct Harbour
Bistro Saine x Château Garage Wine Dinner – Auckland CBD
Sunday 15 November
All You Can Eat BBQ & Bottomless Drinks – Grey Lynn
Cheffy Snacky Sunday – San Ray, Ponsonby
Five-Course Spring Inspired Sunday Feast – Ada, Grey Lynn
Sid’s Sunday Session – The French Cafe, Eden Terrace
Monday 16 & Tuesday 17 November
The Chef’s Table x Jack Cashmore – Kauri Bay, Clevedon
Tuesday 17 November
Tequila Tuesday – San Ray, Ponsonby
Giving Thanks Banquet – Culprit, Auckland CBD
Spring Sips & Snacks at Mrs Morris – Auckland CBD
Wednesday 18 November
Farina x Poderi Crisci: Italian Feast – Ponsonby
Thursday 19 November
Duo x Marrow: The Butcher’s Table – Birkenhead
Kasey & Kārena Bird at Sea – Viaduct Harbour
School Nights with Dariush – Cazador, Mt Eden
Friday 20 November
The Long Table Lunch at Ellerslie – Ellerslie Racecourse
Trivet x Aryeh – Piha
Katsubay Japanese Seafood Experience – Mt Eden
The Midnight Chef: Fire, Tortillas & High-Spirits – Matchbox, Ponsonby
Saturday 21 November
Risotto Masterclass with Head Chef Lennox Bull – Prego, Ponsonby
Curio x Panacea – Auckland CBD
Chai Rave – Cassia x Sacred Society – Auckland CBD
Pici x Londo – Auckland CBD
Sunday 22 November
Cazadogs at the Deli – Cazador, Mt Eden
Sunday Session: Down Low x Bon Pinard – Birkenhead
Kaimoana Omakase Sushi – Cocoro, Ponsonby
For tickets and the full programme, visit aucklandfeast.co.nz/festival-events.