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Food & Drink
Winter hosting doesn’t need to end in dishes and regret. With a little help from Popeyes, feeding the group chat just got way easier. Click here to check out what’s on the menu. 
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).
Image credit: Bowler | Instagram
Everybody's favourite lunchtime staple has officially opened their third site in Takapuna. Following on from the success of the Wynyard Quarter and Victoria Street locations, Bowler has taken a trip across the bridge to Hurstmere Road, bringing their cult-favourite salads to the shore. Grab a number two with beef brisket and a broth to go and head down to the beach to make the most of this incredible winter weather. You can order through their website now. 
Image credit: New Zealand International Convention Centre | Instagram
It’s been a long time coming—since their announcement last year, the inaugural MICHELIN Guide Restaurant Ceremony New Zealand 2026 will officially take place tomorrow, 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.
With 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), the ceremony will reveal the full restaurant selection, MICHELIN stars, Bib Gourmand, Selected distinctions and special individual awards celebrating Aotearoa talent and leadership in hospitality.
The ceremony will be livestreamed globally via the MICHELIN Guide’s official YouTube channel on the night—we’re so excited for Aotearoa hospitality. 
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.
Image credit: Bare Wine | Instagram (Photography by Alex McVinnie @alexmcv)
You may have seen the news—Bare Wine is moving from Brown Street to their new soon-to-be cave à manger at La Buvette around the corner this July. Celebrate with one last hurrah from Bertrand and Romain jumping back in the kitchen at their O.G. Brown Street spot this week, bringing back some of the Bare classics from the kitchen (big fan of the pâté en croûte and tartare frites) and cellar. Grab a table this Wednesday 1 to Saturday 4 July (and make your way for a coffee and Copain pastry from La Buvette the next morning, too).
Image credit: Roll’d New Zealand | Supplied
Roll’d New Zealand is making their way to Botany Town Centre this Wednesday 1st July—with a special free food day. Sign up to their club on the day and enjoy a free bún bowl at lunch, or free pho in the evening. We’re a big fan of their family pho recipe—packed with warming spices, it’s one of our go-to pho picks. Jump on their socials for all the details ahead of their opening day. 
Image credit: Mulan Cafe & Restaurant | Instagram
For those who haven’t been to Mulan in Birkenhead—consider this your sign to go (and check out their new, spacious eatery on the corner) on Thursday 2nd July, for their special collaboration with local Kingsland brewers, Urbanaut Brewing Co. With an eight course set menu matched with craft beers, expect shared bites like crispy chicken (we hope it’s their sambal fried chicken), to wild tahr rendang (the latter, paired with Urbanaut’s maple pecan chilli stout) to name a few tasty treats. Tickets are $90 per person—head to Mulan to book, stat. 
Image credit: Chefs Rewi and Rex at SO/ Auckland | Supplied
Chef Rex Morgan is back on the tools for two nights this Thursday 2nd July to Saturday 4th July, with Hāngī Master Rewi Spraggon for Tūhono Matariki Dinner—a full à la carte takeover at SO/ Auckland’s 15th floor restaurant, Harbour Society. Expect authentic hāngī techniques from Chef Rewi and Chef Rex’s fine-dining, to create a special Matariki menu with dishes like Hāngī Potato Vichyssoise, Roast Chicken with Hāngī Stuffing and a Hāngī Vegetable Terrine. There’s also a Hāngī Steamed Pudding with pineapple salsa, custard and banana butterscotch for dessert. Book your special Matariki dinner early here.
Image credit: SkyCity Matariki Festival | Website
The SkyCity Matariki Markets kick off this Friday 3 and Saturday 4 July (from 4pm to 10pm) at the SkyCity Atrium and Plaza. Wander through the city and check out the vibrant art installations from local artists, then make your way to the markets to check out (and taste your way through) Māori and Pasifika kai, alongside stalls from Māori enterprises supported through SkyCity Community Trust partnerships, showcasing a range of local products, creativity and culture. The markets are back the following Friday 10 and Saturday 11 July, on Matariki week. 
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.
Image credit: Khao Soi x SO/ Auckland | Supplied
Change up your lunchtime routine with Khao Soi’s lunchtime pop-up at SO/ Auckland’s corner cafe Javalab. Having expanded to their new venture Khao Soi in Pōneke last January (after three years at the popular Yor Yak Thai Eatery in Pōneke), Alicha and Mon have also brought Khao Soi to Tāmaki Makaurau too with their second site in Remuera earlier this year.
Named after Alicha’s Northern Thai roots, Khao Soi is a unique curry soup from Northern Thai, which happens to be their signature item based on their family-secret recipe—which will also be on offer at the Javalab pop-up (which kicked off last Thursday). Choose from the signature Khao Soi coconut curry noodle soup or their saucy, pan-tossed noodles, with your choice of protein (we recommend the crispy chicken) for $25 each, along with with their signature drinks like the fragrant Khao Soi Signature Thai Tea ($12 each). Better yet, the pop-up is offering a lunch special, with any Khao Soi Bowl and any drink for $32.
The pop-up will run on weekdays from 11.30am-2pm, or until sold out. Walk-in’s only—get there early for your Khao Soi noodle soup fix. 
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.
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.
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.
Urban List The Feed has our highest stamp of approval—curated lists of the very best recommendations for you to eat, do, see, buy or book, carefully chosen by our Editors.
Main Image Credit: Cassia | Supplied
Urban List acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, live and play. We pay our respects to the Elders past, present and future, and acknowledge the Māori of Aotearoa as traditional Tangata Whenua.
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