It was a packed 2025 for Auckland’s food and drink scene and the momentum isn’t slowing down. From shiny new openings to fresh menu overhauls, the city is serving up plenty of reasons to head out. Here are the newest restaurants, bars and bites worth putting on your must try list.
Kureta
Kureta brings a serene, elemental take on dining to Auckland with a teppan house that celebrates simplicity, fire and the flavours of land and sea. At the helm is Chef Aki, who trained in Tokyo and blends omakase tradition with modern teppanyaki flair after years honing his craft here in New Zealand. The menu is clean and seasonal with little flashes of surprise, all cooked live so the experience feels part theatre, part quiet ritual. It’s a place where every course tells a story and the whole meal unfolds with calm, crafted intention.
Daphnes menu makeover
Daphnes isn’t new to Ponsonby but its menu has had a serious glow up thanks to new head chef Stevan Bailey, whose dishes are all little postcards from places he’s cooked, travelled or eaten his way through. Stevan is bringing big experience from kitchens around the world and it shows in plates like the super fresh prawn saganaki served sizzling in cast iron with tomato, lemon and whipped feta, and the confit pork belly that’s brined for fifteen hours, cooked for nine and finished with a seasonal jam and a crackling crumb.
The whole menu leans into sharing and easy price points and everything plays nicely together which suits the warm, European spirited dining room Joost and Clare van den Berg dreamed up. It’s very much a fresh era for a Ponsonby favourite. Check out the new menu here!
SkyCity Summer Garden
SkyCity is giving midtown a sunny little revival with its new Summer Garden, a three month pop up that turns Federal Street into an open air hangout under the Sky Tower. Expect cocktails on ice, live DJs, classic ice creams and Fed Deli favourites, all wrapped in greenery and good summer energy. It’s designed for those easy moments you always talk about organising after work drinks, a simple date night, a quick catch up in the warm evening air. With giveaways, weekend treats and a backdrop you can’t miss, it’s set to be a go to spot right through to March.
Pie & Pinot
Pie & Pinot in Remuera puts a refined spin on the humble pie, turning it into the star of a whole new dining spot. Having opened in 2025, if you haven’t heard of it, well, you’re welcome! Their pies are made with locally sourced ingredients and big, honest flavours, backed by a menu of seasonal small plates, handcrafted cocktails and a tight wine list that actually does pair beautifully with pastry. It’s comfort food done with care and a little polish. Perfect for anyone who thinks a great pie deserves its own stage – we do!
Truth or Dare
Truth or Dare is a cosy new cocktail bar in the heart of the city, run by industry talents Theo and Yovin, who blend classic technique with a playful, modern edge. The menu leans into premium spirits, inventive signatures and seasonal small plates that are designed to spark a bit of conversation as much as they satisfy. It’s an intimate spot that works just as well for an after work wind down as it does a date night or a late catch up with friends, inviting you to settle in and discover a new favourite each time you visit. We can confirm – these cocktails are damn good!
High Tea at Advieh
Advieh has reimagined high tea with a Middle Eastern twist, rolling out a $75 per person afternoon spread that blends classic indulgence with bold, fragrant flavours. You’ll get complimentary Zealong tea and Kokako coffee, plus the option to add a glass of something a little stronger… Set inside the InterContinental with views of the Waitematā Harbour, the experience is shaped by partner chef Gareth Stewart, who brings almost three decades of global culinary chops to the table. It’s luxe, aromatic and makes an easy gift too thanks to their instant eVouchers. Book your table here.
Estelle’s
Estelle’s has arrived on level one of the Grand Millennium, bringing a moody Mediterranean lounge vibe and a big hit of Spanish flavour to the city. The space is all rich mahogany, garnet red and golden glow, while the menu leans into raciones, premium jamón, anchovies on toast and seasonal plates designed for fast, lively sharing. Drinks range from Estrella Damm and souped up sangria to an extensive wine list and a theatrical cocktail program with Spanish twists. With chefs and bartenders prepping everything in full view, it has that buzzy tapas bar energy wrapped in a polished, sultry setting.
Bar Ziti
Bar Ziti has landed in Britomart with a breezy laneway vibe and an easygoing mix of ice cold Peroni, playful cocktails and a wine list that hops between local and international picks. The menu leans Italian with pastas, wood fired pizzas and a few extra snacks that suit anything from after work hangs to a night out that rolls on longer than planned. With polished service, a come as you are feel and walk ins always welcome, it’s shaping up to be one of those spots you slip into once and then keep coming back to.