AUCKLAND
Smales Farm on the North Shore is the home of new dining destination GOODSIDE, a collection including Ripe Deli, Goodness Gracious, & Sushi, The Grange, Shake Out burgers, Soho Thai restaurant, Fantail & Turtle and a new pop up every month.
Perched in a prime spot in the Viaduct Harbour, SAINT ALICE is a new offering from Callum O’Brien, Kristian Lloydd and Andrew Roborgh of next-door Dr Rudi’s Rooftop Brew Co. Part eatery, part brasserie, part bar it’s a relaxed spot to graze. If Chinese-style quick bites are what you fancy, swish through the beaded curtain to the hidden Asian-inspired BANG BANG CHINA CAFE.
Sandringham has a new ‘local’. MORNINGSIDE TAVERN, housed in an old carpet factory, has 20 beers on tap, pub food and cocktails all to be enjoyed in the spacious outdoor area.
CROWN RANGE CELLAR is a new members-only wine lounge recently opened in Parnell. Tastings are by appointment and the venue also promises food and wine masterclasses and wine and music experiences.
A facelift for AUCKLAND FISH MARKET sees it reopen not only with a marketplace offering an amazing array of fresh fish and seafood to buy, but there’s a cooking school, eight varied eateries and a light-filled courtyard bar.
A favourite at Parnell’s La Cigale French Market, DUMPLINGS WITH WINGS now has a permanent home on Remuera Road, so watch out for their tradition-busting filling combos and rainbow-hued wrappers.
Aussie craft brewer LITTLE CREATURES comes to Catalina Bay, Hobonsville Point. Set in an old seaplane hangar, there’s plenty of room for eats, too including KITTYHAWK, an officer-mess style café, and SALTY’S specialising in seafood.
HAWKE’S BAY
Havelock North welcomes SMITH & SHETH OENOTHÈQUE in the Porters Hotel complex (an oenothèque is the French term for a wine shop, cellar or collection of wines or a wine bar). And next door is the SMITH & SHETH HERETAUNGA STUDIO where wine connoisseurs can enjoy a world-class wine-tasting experience.
WAIRARAPA
Occupying the old BNZ bank building in Martinborough, THE WINE BANK is a new luxe wine lounge with more than 60 varieties to taste from local and out-of-town growers.
Featherston’s beloved C’EST CHEESE (pictured) is having a revamp expanding the retail space into the vacant site next door. The new store will feature a large retail area with an increased range of cheeses, a dedicated cheese-tasting spot and a range of cheesy café treats.