AUCKLAND
Good Spirits Hospitality, the group behind stalwarts such as Doolan Brothers, The Cav and many more, is set to purchase The Nourish Group, owner of renowned hospitality venues Soul Bar, Jervois Steakhouse, Andiamo, The Brit and Shed 5. Coming soon to Commercial Bay is Green Door Pizza, and in the meantime it’s popping up with next-level slices at The Candy Shop in Newmarket. With a small but good menu for breakfast and lunch, and a truly stop-and-look- again selection of bread, tarts and pastries, Knead on Benson is a welcome addition to the Remuera neighbourhood. Double-patty smash burgers to feed your soul are at Burger Geek’s new digs in Grey Lynn with a backdrop of neon and fairy lights. Commonsense Organics (which turns 30 this year) is opening its second Auckland location in Kitchener Road, Milford with a wide range of fresh organic produce. Point Chev is the latest on the list for the Good Dog, Bad Dog brand of hotdogs with everything and we hear on the grapevine that Onehunga is next. Victorian with a NYC Lower East Side street alley vibe – that’s the go at The Broken Lantern, a mural-decorated Ponsonby beer hall with a garden oh-so- ready for the summer. We’ve been a fan since the food truck days, so we’re more than excited to hear The Rolling Pin has not one but two new venues at Greenlane and Onehunga. Fabio Buonomo and Lena Solomon are the folk behind Parnell Road newbie Cornelia, a charming daytime spot offering made-to-order Italian paninis that will keep you coming back. Life returns to the CBD with new opening Bardello, on the corner of lower Albert and Quay Streets – whatever your style they’ve got breakfast, brunch, all-day tapas and sharing plates and cocktails.
WHANGAMATĀ
Channelling the 1920s in a character building in the centre of town, Rassasy has a hint of the speakeasy, and we bet the fresh seafood will keep you talking.
HAMILTON
Brought to us by the people at Hayes Common and Whiz Bang Bao, Weave Eatery is the new ever-so-smart eatery at the Sky Point Building at Waikato Innovation Park – looking good.
TAUPŌ
Overlooking Lake Taupō, Jimmy Coops is the town’s newest craft beer and burger bar, a partnership between James and Elissa Cooper of Lakeman Brewing and Vaughn and Lee Nairn of Vine Eatery, Finn’s Gastro Pub and popular café Baku.
WELLINGTON
Industrial chic with a fresher, brighter edge is what’s happening at Egmont St Eatery which has reopened after a refresh with a new more relaxed menu. Look out for Little Grump on Featherston St (where Tommy Millions used to be) for awesome baked goods and a sleek and shiny fit out. As if Korean fried chicken weren’t enough, drop by Zzan on Kent Tce for all that and your favourite arcade games and karaoke. At Next Door in Newtown, the beer’s cold, the seats are comfy and the snacks are delivered through a weird little hole in the wall from sister bar-restaurant Mason which is literally next door. Jacob Brown and Sarah Bullock of the Larder in Miramar bring us Myrtle, housed in the old Boquita site on Kent Tce. And at Koji on Majoribanks St, chef Johnon MacDonald is taking classic Asian flavours in a totally new direction.
CHRISTCHURCH
New bistro The Lane has opened its doors with a menu of simple, modern flavours by chef Troy Tolentino.
WANAKA
In the space vacated by Ode, we usher in Muttonbird by George and Jonty, two ambitious young chefs who have their focus on creative cooking giving delicious, bold flavours in an informal restaurant with accessible pricing.
QUEENSTOWN
You’ll need bags of party poppers and buckets of margaritas to celebrate Margo’s first birthday – it’s Mexican-inspired, colourful and rustic and now it’s fiesta time. And Rātā welcomes new head chef Michael Bickford to the team.
DUNEDIN
Amigos has brought their much-loved Mexican fare to town, opening a funky new eatery in a heritage building down Bath Street. Steamer Basin is a fab new working brewery and taproom tucked down No Name Alley in the old Bond Quarter. Look out for Pizza Bar on Stuart St, from the team behind Side On.