AUCKLAND

We just can’t wait for the opening of Return, the new venture from Matt Lambert (ex-Musket Room in NY and The Lodge Bar) – few details yet, but keep an eye out on Ponsonby Rd for an early April opening. Aarth (pictured above) is the debut solo restaurant from chef Vicky Shah (ex-Cassia, Sidart, The French Café) so pop over to Parnell for top-notch modern Indian dining. Royal Oak welcomed Wagyu Shogun, a Japanese-style wagyu yakiniku restaurant, co-founded by Makoto Tokuyama (Cocoro) and Daizo Yamada (founder of the Taste of Japan Group) which offers  wagyu in a modern, more-affordable way. Looking ahead, Cassia will move to a new location on the corner of Albert and Wyndham Sts on 5 June, saying goodbye to to the SkyCity premises to which it relocated in 2023 after the Fort Lane premises closed due to the January 2023 floods – it’s business as usual at Cassia SkyCity until then. Bravo has bedded in on Westhaven Drive, offering all-day dining with a warm welcome and a prime marina-side location. Recently opened in Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter, Aoi brings casual Japanese dining, including an express lunch menu, with a welcoming feel and all the bites you’d expect. Already a firm favourite with the locals, Sfera in Northcote Point (right next to Bridgeway Cinemas) has Matt Ross (previously of Candela) on the pans with a café and modern Italian-style trattoria menu. Congrats to Rocco Pezzullo of Napoli Contemporanea in Parnell, which has been named on the 50 Top Pizza Asia Pacific list.

TAURANGA

Look on the Strand for The Grocer, a seaside topper for brunch, lunch, dinner and drinks – it’s headed by Ian Harrison, so you know it’s going to be good. Cuisine TasteCurator Stacey Jones has more at cuisine.co.nz

LOWER HUTT

The Angus is back! Rebranded as Carnmore Hotel Lower Hutt, the renovation – which will launch in stages throughout 2026 – will include 75  modernised hotel rooms, with all the amenities of a four-star hotel, event spaces and The Angus Restaurant & Bar.

WELLINGTON

Normanby Fine Wines is establishing in the capital within Webb’s Auction House – a space for curious drinkers, seasoned collectors and everyone in  between, it’s a retail store paired with a wine bar, whose character evolves throughout the day. See Lyall Bay at its best from the lovely Hotel Catalina, a relaxed beachfront option open all day (the two- storey building was originally built in the 1930s as the first terminal at Wellington Airport!). When you’re craving Mexican street cuisine and ice-cold craft beer it’s time to get yourself to Teddy’s Tacos on Cuba St – we promise you won’t be  disappointed. We’re up for a Monsoon Guava, Passionfruit, Lime, Coconut & Vanilla Smoothie Sour anytime, so we’re hotfooting it to Three Sisters Brewery on Blair St, and picking up snacks, tacos and burgers, too. Look out for the dachshund on the door in Hataitai and you’ve found Cutie Pie, the pizza spot from Tommy Kirton and Alicia Mendez – we’re huge fans of their American East-Coast-style pizza done  exactly right.

REEFTON

Change is in the air at Reefton Distilling Co, as Patsy Bass takes on the role of Founder & General Manager Marketing, handing the CEO reins to Lachlan Boyle, formerly CFO at Pics Peanut Butter.