AUCKLAND

Brioche doughnuts, cinnamon buns, cookies, pandan cake (pictured right) and Singaporean kuehs alongside Flight coffee – all ready to takeaway at Butter Baby HQ on Northside Dr in Westgate, West Auckland. Congratulations to Swati Karabu who becomes the new head chef at Bossi and is joined by Guilherme Parise as sous chef. In the space that used to be Alta, Flor is a new dedicated wine bar with more than 150 different varieties on offer and a rotating selection of by-the-glass pours, and it boasts great food, too, thanks to Tushar Grover and Josh Letele both formerly of Pasture. Hideaway – Ponsonby’s newest venue and only microbrewery – is inspired by European garden bars designed to enjoy good food, good drinks and good company. Firm neighbourhood favourite Orphans Kitchen has resumed evening service, segueing into a cosy, delicious bar with a delicious menu designed with wine in mind. Shio Bakery in Henderson is an Indonesian and Korean-inspired bakery with a nifty line in Japanese shio pan (salt bread), New York rolls, pandoro buns and coffee from Birkenhead-based roastery Be Speciality. Browns Bay welcomes a new venture, the Zero Japanese Ramen Sake Bar by Joji Saito (ex-Kazuya). After a successful year of delivery and pop-up events, Mor has a bricks-and-mortar store in Remuera, stocking its famously flaky pastries, cakes, slices and biscuits. You can’t fail to have noticed that Korean fried chicken is still riding top of the popular- delicious list, and the newest spot to get your fill is Munch on Lincoln Rd in Henderson. Think Palm Springs meets Milford at The Milford Motel – no, not a motel but a so-cool spot that promises all-day sunshine alongside laidback beers and cocktails and a fuss-free menu of favourites. Crowd favourite Eden Noodles has a new Commercial Bay outpost within Harbour Eats, ready to wow city dwellers with its hand-pulled noodles and delectable dumplings. Tappo, a cosy new wine bar/shop in St. Kevins Arcade, (from the team behind Pici and Ooh-Fah) showcases wines from small, biodynamic and organic producers from around New Zealand and Italy with simple snacks alongside. Located in Rose Alley (the newly-opened food and drink space in Grey Lynn) Bar Beluga is a relaxed and casual spot full of greenery, minimalist furnishings and a glass ceiling giving a courtyard feel. Also in Rose Alley, head to Pizza Monkey for wood-fired pizza by the slice. What was Pasture will become Tala, Auckland’s only restaurant dedicated to contemporary Samoan cuisine, and will feature a traditional umu, a Samoan above-ground oven of hot stones, to cook dishes in front of diners.

MOUNT MAUNGANUI

Executive chef Perrin Yates (ex Picnicka and Clarence Bistro) is behind the super-yacht-inspired menu at Sailor Galley and Rum Bar on Maunganui Rd

HAMILTON

After two successful summers hosting bakery pop-ups in Whangamatā, artisan bakery Rudi’s Bakehouse has made a home in the Hamilton Central arcade.

HAVELOCK NORTH

Formerly Village Green, St Martha has emerged after a refresh and rebrand, and it’s definitely worth a revisit.

NEW PLYMOUTH

The team behind urban winery Known Unknown are opening a new wine bar, House Wine to serve as a cellar door for Known Unknown, featuring wines from its urban winery and offering a focussed wine list including organic wines from New Zealand and around the world.

MARTINBOROUGH

Te Kairanga, Martinborough Vineyard and Lighthouse Gin all come under one roof on the edge of the Martinborough Terrace at The Runholder, a restaurant, tasting room and distillery offering Wairarapa’s best. Nara was invented as a vineyard-travelling food truck but has now evolved into an all-day restaurant in a historic building in Memorial Sq, serving delicious Middle Eastern-style food.

QUEENSTOWN

At Queenstown’s newest restaurant, Soda, tear your eyes away from the majestic views and you’ll be rewarded by a menu inspired by Spanish, Italian and Middle Eastern flavours.

WELLINGTON

We were so sad when Amok closed its doors earlier this year, so delighted to hear that Thom Millet is joining the kitchen at Egmont St Eatery – watch out for new exciting items on the menu. Rosella Wine Bar is the new venture of Johnon Macdonald of Koji and promises dishes inspired by the flavours of the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Middle East. Head underground at the intersection of Willis Street and Lambton Quay to discover Willis Lane, with minigolf, a fairground and 14 eateries and bars. Victoria McDowall and Harry McArthur, the team behind Fred’s Sandwiches, are opening The Ram just a bit down the road, a simple cosy pub with good drinks and good food – all you need. Next time you’re in Island Bay pop in and say hi (‘coucou’ in French) to the folk at Coucou – good coffee and a tempting range of cabinet goodies will keep you satisfied, including doughnuts from Sixes and Sevens Deli in the city run by the same owners. After seven great years on Taranaki Street, popular Wellington restaurant Mr Go’s has relocated to 3 Eva Street (Hannah’s Laneway) in Te Aro – the new restaurant focusses predominantly on Chinese and Taiwanese-inspired dim sum-style dishes and seats 140 diners and features a large, all-weather outdoor seating area. Mean Doses new taproom on Tory St (in the space that was formerly Lone Star) is a little bit retro, a little bit 80s and neon so there are arcade games and a pool table, but also excellent Burmese snacks from Mabel’s downstairs.

CHRISTCHURCH

From the team who brought you Lux Espresso and Doubles Café comes Akin, an achingly cool spot on High Street to satisfy all your brunch needs. We’re excited to see what’s happening on Welles Street, Ōtautahi where new restaurant Kokomo is taking shape. There’s a little blue door, hidden down Guthrey Centre Laneway in Christchurch, behind which could be the cutest hole-in-the-wall food you’ve seen – go to the Tiny Door website or app to order from a rotating roster of small eateries that take over the hidden commercial kitchen, then collect from behind the blue door.