The Feed | The New Zealand Food News You Need To Know
Molly Codyre
New Zealand Editor | Urban List
It's that time of the week again. Get ready to feast your eyes on all the hottest food news from around Aotearoa. We’ve got the inside scoop on all the latest and greatest openings, collabs, events, products and more so you can spend less time researching and more time munching (because priorities, people).
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Onslow Are Hosting A Special Krug Dinner Celebrating All Things Food, Champagne And Music
Image credit: Onslow | Supplied
There are few things we love more than a good glass of fizz, but it’s a particular winner when it’s a glass of Krug. Luckily for us Aucklanders, Josh Emmet—one of just a few global Krug ambassadors—is hosting a special, one-off Krug dinner at Onslow in 23 July. Celebrating the intersection between champagne, food and music, Emmet has designed a special five course menu with each dish served alongside a glass of Krug and a dedicated original music composition for a full 360 sensory experience. Menu highlights include include roast duck with preserved Cromwell cherries and cassoulet Toulousain, paired with Krug Rosé 28ème Édition. For more details and tickets, click here.
Auckland’s Favourite Coffee Just Got A Boozy Counterpart
Image credit: Juno | Instagram
It’s safe to say Vienna mania has hit us hard here in Tāmaki Makaurau. And while cold foams are sweeping the city, it’s Juno on Williamson Avenue that we have to thank for putting the cold, indulgent coffee firmly on our radars. Not content with just occupying our mornings, though, Juno has now taken that drink and given it a fun after dark twist. Now, when you head to Juno on their wine bar evenings—Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays—you can order a tipsy Vienna. The same coffee, spiked with a bit of booze to start your night the right way.
It’s Manhattan Time At Rooftop At Qt
Image credit: Rooftop at QT | Supplied
Rooftop at QT are partnering with Monkey Shoulder on a special winter menu of cocktails making the most of the Speyside whisky. Think Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, and Boulevardiers, plus Hendrick’s Gin Lychee Martinis and Sours for those who prefer their spirits crystal clear. Running until 28 August, the menu will coincide with Wild Card After Dark every Friday evening where everyone who orders off the special Monkey Shoulder menu will get the chance to pull a special card from the deck and potentially win a range of prizes, from lucky dip bags to a staycation at the QT. Plus, with complimentary fries served at 8pm each Friday, everyone’s a winner.
The Early Bird Catches The England V Argentina Semi Final
Image credit: The Fox | Instagram
The All Whites campaign may have come to an end, but the Fifa World Cup is still in full swing, and well into the knockout stages. Thursday’s semi final is going to be a big one, with Argentina and England going head to head at 7am NZ time. Early? Perhaps, but some of the city’s best sports bars will be open. Head to Schapiros, The Fox, Full Time or Tyler St Sport who will all be throwing their doors open at the early hours to feed and water keen fans. Coffee anyone?
Aarth Are Opening A Deli During The Day For A Limited Time Only
Image credit: Aarth | Supplied
Aarth has only been open for five short months, but it has already cemented itself as one of the city's restaurants to watch. Chef Vicky Shah has turned his wealth of experience at the pans into one of Auckland's most exciting Indian restaurants (and that's no small compliment in a city that has a strong Indian dining scene). Now, Shah is taking things one step further and finally utilising the outdoor space at Aarth, opening a limited-time-only deli and toastie shop during the winter months. There will be the restaurant's Toastie Takeover entry, alongside a rotating selection of flavours and potentially even a few pies, plus coffee and tea to wash it all down. They'll be open from 10am until 2pm, Fridays-Sundays until 16 August.
Bear Gelato Are Collaborating With Dominion Road Friends On Four Unique New Gelato Flavours
Image credit: Bear Gelato | Supplied
As Aucklanders, we don’t always know how lucky we are to have Dominion Road. Stretching from the city fringe all the way out to Mount Roskill, it’s dotted with incredible eateries all the way down. One of those is Bear Gelato, easily one of the city’s best gelato shops (and this is a town where competition is high). This winter, in an effort to highlight the kitchen talent in the area, they’re pairing up with four of their neighbours at the city end of the street on special edition gelato flavours inspired by the signature dishes at those restaurants. The idea, they say, is to “discover somewhere new for dinner, then wander down the road for dessert.”
Announced today, those four collaborators will be Forest, Ralphs, Famous Eddies and Oohfa. From 7 July until 30 August, each fortnight there will be a new collab, kicking off with Forest (who are no strangers to unique ice cream) and a pairing of frozen treats—goats cheese gelato and pickled rock melon sorbet with a drizzle of fresh dill oil. It’s a good sign of what to expect from these collaborations—that is, the unexpected. We can't wait.
Solera Is Running A Month-Long Spanish Dinner Series
Image credit: Solera | Supplied
This July, Solera is running A Taste of Spain—a month-long celebration of Spanish food, wine and culture at the Bay of Plenty's only two-hatted restaurant, from today 6th July, to 2nd August. The month-long pop-up will feature a dedicated Spanish-inspired chef's menu on Friday nights (with the optional add on of a dedicated Spanish Wine Experience), and a series of pintxo afternoons on Saturdays that share bites influenced by the country's regional flavours and traditions. Expect bold flavours like Solera house-made Morcilla sausages, Iberico ham, Spanish omelette and salt cod croquettes, with pintxo and tapas aplenty. Head to the Bay of Plenty this month, and transport yourself to this summery culinary snapshot of Spain this winter. Book here.
MICHELIN New Zealand Has Announced Their First Restaurant Selection, MICHELIN Stars, And Special Awards
Image credit: MICHELIN | Supplied
It’s been a long time coming since their announcement last year. The inaugural MICHELIN Guide Restaurant Ceremony New Zealand 2026 took place last Tuesday 30th June at the New Zealand International Convention Centre. Aotearoa is MICHELIN’s first-ever destination in Oceania (as well as the furthest the Guide has ever travelled to), highlighting Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown for the initial selection.
The ceremony saw industry leaders, media, chefs, restauranteurs, local and global partners flying to Tāmaki Makaurau for the event, as well as internationally acclaimed chefs from the MICHELIN Guide community attending (including Chef Nobu Lee of NOBUO joining the evening), and an incredible celebration of Aotearoa kai after the ceremony too. The ceremony revealed their first Aotearoa restaurant selection, MICHELIN stars (one and two stars were awarded, pictured above), Bib Gourmand, Selected distinctions and special individual awards (Mindful Voices, MICHELIN Guide Young Chef, Service and Sommelier Awards) celebrating Aotearoa talent and leadership in hospitality. Read all about the ceremony and awards here.
Check Out These Dry July Mocktails To Support Kiwis With Cancer
Image credit: Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic | Supplied
In it’s fifth year, Lyre's Non-Alcoholic has partnered with the Dry July Foundation, bringing back ‘Cocktails for a Cause’ menus across Aotearoa to raise funds for Kiwis affected by cancer. Order a Lyre's non-alcoholic cocktail at any participating venue throughout July, and $1 goes directly to the Dry July Foundation. This year, Dry July is supporting Cancer Support NZ(home of Look Good Feel Better), Cancer Rehabilitation Foundation (PINC & STEEL) and Prostate Cancer Foundation NZ.
For those in Tāmaki Makaurau, Gilt, Juno Ponsonby, Nightcar, Onslow and Soul Bar & Bistro will be participating this month, as well as the Intercontinental (as well as Intercontinental Pōneke), and Sugo in Tauranga.
Fire Up The Sandwich Press—The Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover Is Back
Image credit: Burgernaut/Ubernaut Morningside | Supplied
The Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover, created by Cook & Nelson and McClure’s Pickles, is New Zealand’s biggest celebration of comfort food, with 2026 marking its 9th year. Starting on Wednesday 24 June (til 5 August), participating cafés, restaurants, bars, food trucks and pop-ups around the country will put their best toastie forward in a nationwide celebration of the humble toasted sandwich. There will be over 150 sandwich presses and grills firing up across the country—check out the full toastie line-up here.
Aotearoa’s Biggest Food Festival Is Back—Get Ready For International Guest Chefs And Local Collabs, Burgers And More
Image credit: Visa Wellington On A Plate 2026 | Supplied (Rodney Scott from Charleston | Photography by Angie Mosier)
The programme is officially live for Visa Wellington On A Plate 2026, and we’re drooling over all the burgers (yes, all 240+ of them), events (with Tāmaki Makaurau faves hitting the capital plus international guests George Motz headlining burger culture and Pitmaster Rodney Scott with his iconic whole-hog barbecue), and craft beer heaven a.k.a. Beervana at Hnry Stadium. With the festival kicking off in just less than two months time, keep up to date with all the key dates here. In the meantime, drool with us as we choose our picks from the festival here.
Update: The Visa Presale has already been and gone, and general release tickets to the public have now opened as of Monday 29th June.
We’re Excited For Cassia’s Restaurant Residency in Grey Lynn Ahead Of Their City Opening
Image credit: Cassia x Ozone Grey Lynn | Supplied (Photography by Sahil Patel)
Award-winning modern Indian restaurant Cassia has entered an exciting new chapter, with restaurateurs Sid Sahrawat and Chand Sahrawat announcing a new Grey Lynn residency at Ozone Grey Lynn, ahead of the re-opening of Cassia’s new forever home on Albert Street (in Auckland’s CBD). From Wednesday 17th June to 15th August, diners will be able to experience a special Cassia and Ozone residency menu while their flagship restaurant is being completed. It’s a full-circle moment for Ozone Head Chef Karol Troncoso, who previously worked at Cassia and is now back in the kitchen alongside Sid, Cassia Head Chef Ketan Joshi and the team.
Along with a special tandoor, new menu highlights feature Delhi style butter chicken, alongside fan faves such as pani puri and their famous Mughlai lamb chops (pictured above, as the cover image). Plus, they had me at Moreton Bay toast and ghee lamb sausage rolls too. Save room for dessert: there’s lychee and yoghurt sorbet, and a decadent chocolate kulfi featuring cumin caramel and Ozone’s coffee ganache—this residency is definitely not one to miss.
The residency runs on Wednesdays to Sundays, from 5pm to late (and we hear there’s an Ozone lunch special on the menu with Cassia chicken kebab during the day too, plus great coffee). Walk-in’s welcome, but book to make sure you definitely have your seat here.
Truffle Season Is Here—Tāmaki Makaurau Has All The Truffle-Infused Dishes From Breakfast To Dinner
Image credit: Bar Albert’s Truffle Cocktail | Supplied
While the winter weather is coming in brisk and cold, let truffle season be the answer to go out and treat yourself to something decadent. From fresh NZ truffle on hollandaise over poached eggs with culatello at Duo to start the day (only available for a limited time on their specials board), truffle-laden pizza for lunch at Mozzarella & Co., and then for dinner—freshly-shaved truffle added on to any dish at Bossi. Finish back at Duo with their truffle-infused and truffle-topped tiramisu—back on for another season.
Round off the night with a truffle-infused vodka cocktail overlooking the city at Bar Albert. Plus, Bar Albert has an exclusive single-serve whole-baked truffle camembert from Over the Moon Dairy that’s just arrived on the menu (think oozing cheese and truffle, with pretzel sticks). Get a taste of ‘black gold’ from the South Island while you can these next few months (a.k.a. Black Périgord truffles—incredibly fragrant, and one of my faves).
Hungry for more? Check out the hottest new openings you need to know about here.
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