ICYMI: New and Neat Openings Across Aotearoa

As cool as cafés come, this coffee shop opened in the heart of Grey Lynn late last year. Owner Daniel Kim wanted to create a relaxing space that served really great coffee with some smooth tunes on the side. At the end of the counter, there’s a turntable set up and spinning vinyl all day long. As well as nailing the standard coffee orders, Café Richmond’s drinks list is creative and fun, featuring creamy einspänner, strawberry matcha, London fog (earl grey latte), and a Lotus latte (espresso coffee infused with Biscoff flavours). You’ll find freshly made sandwiches and delicious baked treats in the cabinet.

The closure of Williams Eatery was a blow – but quickly softened by the opening of Bowler in its place. Run by the same crew behind those famous Williams eggs (IYKYK), Bowler is a fresh and fun salad bar that has already made lunch 100x more interesting for nearby workers. Grab a delicious flavour-packed salad, a wholesome breakfast on the go, smoothies, or pastries and cookies – a salad bar with sweet treats is a friend indeed.

Currently open for breakfast through to lunch, Juno is gearing up to become an all-day eatery with a focus on cocktails and wine in the evening. There’s lots to enjoy while you wait for their opening hours to extend, with a menu of simple and classic dishes presented with finesse, from anchovy, egg and mayonnaise on seeded toast, to house-made granola and fresh seasonal salads. Sweet treats sit atop the sleek counter space, the perfect addition to your morning coffee. Juno’s space is modern, calming, and undeniably beautiful – the work of one of NZ’s leading interior designers, Katie Lockhart.

Located in a piazza-inspired setting, 269 Parnell is an exciting new food and beverage destination, with seven permanent food stalls open all week and a bustling Saturday market brimming with European, Mediterranean, and Latin American flavours. Expect authentic birria tacos, colourful mezze dishes, Peruvian plates, and an outdoor bar serving coffee in the morning through to wine, beer and cocktails as the day goes on.

Red Rabbit has returned to the city, taking over the former Bread & Butter Café in Auckland's Grey Lynn. The site has been transformed to accommodate their slick new roasting HQ and cafe, offering great coffee (of course) alongside a light menu of fresh sandwiches, breakfast plates, and baked goods from Bread & Butter Bakery (which still operates on site).

Edie's is an intimate and inviting European-style café and wine bar taking over the beloved Annabel's space, established by head chef and owner Charlie Lodge who brings a wealth of experience from notable kitchens in London, San Sebastian and Melbourne. Edie's is currently open Wednesday to Saturday from 8am-3pm with a "Marley Sarnies Pop-Up" featuring fresh focaccia sandwiches and delicious baked goods. By the end of March, the opening hours will extend late into the evening with an extensive selection of wine and classic wine bar snacks.

Overlooking Ghuznee Street, Regent is a cocktail pub with a cool, relaxed environment. Open since last October, they’ve already made a name for themselves for pouring the coldest martini in town (served straight from the freezer) and a stand-out pint of Guinness on tap. If you’re peckish, take a look at the snacks menu for a plate of crisps and dip, pork scratching, scampi fries and more. Slide into a cosy red booth inside or find a sunny spot on the balcony and watch the world of Welly go by below.

Well, well, well… Would you look who’s back in town. After a four-year hiatus, this Wellington institution has returned to the Courtenay Place precinct with a slick new look and culinary offering. Warm and welcoming as ever, Hummingbird is the place to go for classic cocktails and sophisticated snacks, or a full feast of luxe dishes worthy of any celebration.

Following the sale of the iconic Olive Restaurant on Cuba Street late last year, the building's new owners have arrived in style. Cuba St Tavern is a friendly bar, courtyard and kitchen serving great drinks in all forms – coffee, tap beers, epic wines, cocktails – as well as an all-day food menu that shifts between brunch, banging bar snacks, hibachi dishes, and elevated pub feeds.

The team behind Grater Goods has moved into High Street, with a Euro-inspired plant-focused restaurant and deli offering. Expect a line-up of delicious wines, perfect for accompanying a plant-based feast or mini charctueries.

Set in the beautifully restored Sumner Post Office, this is a restaurant you’ll certainly want to write home about. The Mediterranean-inspired sharing menu is designed to bring people together around a vibrant feast of fresh seafood, seasonal produce, perfectly puffy pizzas, and much more. Opened by Shining Peak Brewing, the brews are obviously delicious – but they do a lot of good in the community too. Every month 5% of Sumner Post Office’s beer revenues is donated to a different New Zealand organisation.

From the same people behind Kokomo, Ciao is located just a few steps away inside The Welder. Defining itself as a neighbourhood European dining bar, the menu bursts with Italian flavours presented in modern and playful dishes. Go for the handcrafted pasta, pillowy focaccia with a hefty quenelle of parmesan butter, and a good negroni.

We hope your palette is ready to party. Opened by Carlos, a well-known chef in the local food scene, and Karla, Xolo is bringing the vibrant flavours and rich traditions of Mexican cuisine to Christchurch. Fresh and delicious is the aim of the game here. Yes, tacos, quesadillas, and guacamole feature here (all extremely yum) but you’ll also have the pleasure of meeting other less familiar dishes. In true Mexican style, the drinks list is just as exciting, with the tequila cocktails you know and love.

What are the odds of finding a great coffee in Christchurch’s industrial suburb? Pretty good actually, as of this month. Tucked next to Switch Espresso Roastery, Odds Coffee is a blue oasis amongst a sea of garages, serving 10/10 brews and delicious food. The glass cabinet is full of fresh baking, from tomato, dijon and parmesan tarts to apple galettes, with a menu of gourmet paninis and other dishes on the way.

This bright green cart opened its window last December and is already attracting a line of thirsty patrons in Merivale. Parked outside Beauty at the Vale, Gigi’s serves your standard long black or flat white, but it’s undeniably the specialty drinks causing a stir. Turn your coffee into a cinnamon roll latte or s’mores mocha, or jump on the matcha trend with options to infuse your green brew with strawberry, macadamia maple, and more.

Side On may be gone, but its legacy lives on in a new bakery setup. Big Lizard is a takeaway shop dedicated to sandwiches and pastries. What more could you want? Look for the fluorescent lime-green entranceway on Vogel Street, and step into carb heaven. In the morning, the line-up consists of breakfast focaccia and potato rolls, alongside a sweet range of pastries. Come lunchtime, it’s all about the sandwiches, with fillings that vary from timeless classics to adventurous combos. 

An idyllic weekend retreat has recently opened along the Otago Peninsula, just 25 minutes from the city. Established by Gus and Jana at the end of 2024, Augustines of Portobello invites guests to reconnect with nature and enjoy fresh, farm-to-table food. The Farmstore & Kitchen is home to the Augustines of Central range, award-winning preserves, jams and chutneys that Gus has been producing for over a decade now. The cafe menu features dishes that highlight the delicious preserves – with jars of Black Doris plums, tomato chutney and more available to take home too.

Located along The Octagon next to Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Commons Eatery blends all the best ingredients of a restaurant, bar and cafe. Open morning, noon and night, the space was designed to adapt to every moment of the day: early morning coffees, leisurely brunches, after-work cocktails, special dinners and everything in between. Working with as many small and local suppliers as possible, the breakfast menu has all your favourites (dippy egg and soldiers, anyone?) moving on to European-inspired sharing plates later in the day.

Arriving on the scene late November, Goldie’s is a laid-back local eatery in Napier. Fuss-free, family-friendly, and fun is the vibe, where nostalgia comes to the table with just the right amount of elegance. Co-owner and chef, Grant Soeberg, is on the tools – and with his experience cheffing at everywhere from Elephant Hill to Black Estate, it’s no surprise the food is joyful and delicious. It’s a place where you can happily enjoy a basket of shoestring fries and chicken schnitzel sandos alongside whole flounder, beef tartare tostada, and a bottle of bubbles. 

Serving up the holy trio of good beer, wine and snacks, this new addition to Wānaka’s bar scene won’t leave you wanting. The brainchild of Luxy Wilson, a well-known figure in the local hospitality scene, Verve offers a rotating drinks list of tipples not often found elsewhere in town. Beer taps flow with liquid gold from breweries all over the country, not just Wānaka, and the wine is an exciting mix of local and small independent producers from New Zealand and international vineyards. Keep an eye on their social media for upcoming kitchen takeovers.