Cassia

Restaurants key icon.
Restaurants key icon.

MondayClosed.

Tuesday5:00 – 9:30 pm.

Wednesday5:00 – 9:30 pm.

Thursday5:00 – 9:30 pm.

Friday5:00 – 9:30 pm.

Saturday5:00 – 9:30 pm.

SundayClosed.

90 Federal Street, Auckland Central, Auckland

09 379 9702

Fans of one of Auckland’s finest restaurants, Cassia, breathed a sigh of relief when the much loved contemporary Indian restaurant reopened within the SkyCity precinct. After the flooding events of early 2023, Cassia’s premises on Fort Lane were damaged to the point of needing to relocate, and just a short eight weeks later, the doors opened at its new, permanent home. 

Cassia’s present housing is reminiscent of the Cassia we all knew and loved: fun, cozy and warm, with a kitchen lending itself to cooking with charcoal powered tandoors - a tool so essential to the iconic flavour of Cassia’s food. There are some additions, however, but in the pursuit of sustainability and to retain a sense of familiarity, much of the old fit out was carried across. 

Anyone who has been to Cassia knows there is a focus on respecting the traditional flavours of Indian cooking whilst marrying them to seasonal New Zealand produce and modern cooking styles. The idea blossomed from lazy afternoons spent in the kitchen. Sid would be whizzing up a confit duck leg or quail while Chand worked her wonders making a traditional Indian curry. The magical pairing made Sid and Chand question why there wasn’t a restaurant offering this kind of food in Auckland, and in 2014 Cassia arrived on the scene. 

Cassia challenges perceptions about what Indian food is and what it’s meant to be. The team at Cassia are passionate about introducing people to new flavours and extending palates with their innovative dishes. Over time, the lamb chops have become nothing short of legendary, and a few years ago, when the Delhi Duck was rotated off the menu, customers demanded it returns permanently. Vegetarians swear by the roasted carrot and vindaloo. If the choice is too much, opt for the ‘Journey menu’, a degustation that invites visitors on a regional tour of India and showcases the differences within Indian cuisine. 

It wasn’t closed for long, but for locals, it felt like forever, though fortunately, the much loved Cassia is here to stay.

Words by Nicole Mudgway & Photography by Jerome Warburton

Information not correct? Report an error

Location

90 Federal Street, Auckland Central, Auckland

Nearby Places

Hotel Britomart

A view of a hotel room on a sunny day in Auckland.
Place Auckland
Accommodation key icon.

Contemporary and chic, The Hotel Britomart opened in October 2020, but its journey had started long before.

Gow Langsford Gallery

Close up of an artwork.
Place Auckland
Galleries and museum key icon.

Offering viewers an opportunity to hone their artistic appreciation into more specific areas away from mainstream exhibition

Culprit

Plates of food next to a menu that sees 'Culprit' in black and white.
Place Auckland
Restaurants key icon.

Tucked away up a narrow central Auckland staircase lies Culprit, a trendy and sophisticated inner city hideout serving nostalgic New Zealand cuisine with a modern global edge.

Norma Taps

A man and woman chatting to a staff member at the counter at Norma Taps in Auckland.
Place Auckland
Bars key icon. Goods key icon.

Sustainability and creativity combine at Norma Taps, an innovative space making its home in Auckland’s City Works Depot.

Similar Places

Vaniyé Pâtisserie

Full sized tarts for sale at Vaniyé Pâtisserie, Auckland.
Place Auckland
Cafes key icon.

Those with a penchant for French finery won’t want to miss a decadent trip to Vaniyé Pâtisserie. This award-winning patisserie is the passion project of husband-and-wife team, Sonia and Laurent Haumonté.

Bestie

Bestie exterior.
Place Auckland Editor's Pick
Cafes key icon.

A very good addition to Auckland’s ever-burgeoning café scene.

Pici Pasta

Exterior image looking through the big glass windows into Pici Auckland.
Place Auckland
Bars key icon. Restaurants key icon.

Pasta fiends unite; you simply can’t miss a meal at Auckland institution, Pici.

The Book Exchange

Old fashioned black typewriter.
Place Auckland
Cafes key icon.

The next time the Auckland drizzle gets too much for you, forget your troubles with a trip to the Book Exchange.