On October 15th, Bivacco plays host to one of Sydney’s most exciting culinary voices, Mitch Orr, for a one-night-only dinner presented by Penfolds. Celebrated for infusing Japanese and South Asian flavours into Italian foundations, Orr will bring his irreverent, flavour-first style to Auckland for the very first time, and we’ve got a table for four up for grabs.
The evening features four imaginative courses, each paired with a Penfolds pour, from Champagne Brut Cuvée to the legendary Bin 389 Cabernet Sauvignon. The menu is yet to be revealed, but given Orr’s pedigree, it will be a feast to remember. To win a table for four (valued at $660) and experience this rare culinary collaboration, enter below.
With each new release, Baya refines the language of living, elevating soft furnishings from final details to foundational elements of a well-designed space. The luxury textile brand’s Summer 2025/26 collection (which launches this month) continues this evolution with quiet confidence, presenting a study in texture, tone, and form that invites spaces to feel both grounded and alive.
Baya’s head designer Hannah Middleton leads with restraint and intention, focusing on material integrity, sculptural silhouettes, and enduring palettes that reject the transience of trend. This season, wool, linen, cotton, and velvet once again form the foundation, celebrated not just for their tactility and durability, but for their capacity to bring depth and resonance to contemporary interiors.
The season’s palette is intentionally muted, designed to foster a sense of restoration. Deep greens, soft browns, and pale blues are punctuated by chestnut pink, a gentle counterpoint that lifts without overwhelming. “These colours work best when paired with natural textures like wool, timber, and ceramic,” notes Middleton, emphasising the sensory impact of immersion.
Beyond the interior, Baya’s outdoor collection continues to expand with pieces entirely made from recycled PET. Durable yet decadent, these cushions and rugs are designed with the same aesthetic integrity as their indoor counterparts, bringing a sense of ease and intention to open-air living.
Here, we share our editors’ picks from the collection, as well as a few updated pieces that have our attention, all of which have the capacity to transform a space.
Anchoring the Summer 2025/26 collection is the Marlow rug, a striking introduction to Baya’s growing design lexicon. Its architectural profile and interplay of clay-pink loops against burgundy cut pile create a dialogue between softness and structure, crafted entirely from New Zealand wool.
This season, the much-loved Sandringham rug returns in new hues of Aquamarine and Rosewood, expanding the palette with rich washes of colour that subtly soften the brand’s earth-driven aesthetic.
The introduction of two new cushion formats — Elliot, a bolster, and Edward, a boxed design, underscores Baya’s commitment to comfort as an art form. Rendered in decadent velvet tones of chocolate and thyme green, each piece is detailed with striped linen gussets, bringing layered contrast and a subtle architectural edge to familiar forms.
Woven from recycled PET fibres, the Lonsdale rug (a favourite of Baya designer Hannah Middleton) lends durability and warmth to outdoor spaces. Available in cumin, eucalyptus, or olive, its contemporary yet timeless flatweave design is crafted from 450 saved plastic bottles. This season, a new 300×400 size offers an expansive foundation for larger settings.
In mottled slate or teak, the Rhodes rug brings soft texture and casual ease with its handwoven PET yarn and relaxed fringe. Repurposing 759 bottles, it’s both resilient and refined — now offered in a generous 300×400 size to suit larger living or entertaining zones.
As always, Baya’s summer edit continues the brand’s quiet progression. Centred on rigorous design and crafted for the rhythm of everyday life, the collection reaffirms Baya’s place at the intersection of heritage craftsmanship and contemporary expression.
Whether cosied up by the fire or sprawled in the sun, there is always occasion for a good book, no matter where the season may take you. Here, we deliver a line-up of recently released, unmissable reads that run the gamut from moving memoirs to gripping novels to escapist reads.
It feels fitting that Trent Dalton’s latest novel bears the word gravity in its title, given the weight his stories always hold. Set in suburban Brisbane, this work — which Dalton describes as “his most personal book yet” — follows journalist Noah Cork in the wake of the greatest scoop of his career: an exposé on a cold-blooded killer. But what Noah uncovers reaches far beyond the crime itself. The novel evolves into a meditation on love and marriage, the transformative power of storytelling, and the search for life’s true meaning — all delivered in Dalton’s trademark prose that is at once gripping, heartbreaking, hilarious, and profoundly life-affirming.
From the National Book Award–winning author of Hell of a Book comes a stirring meditation on identity, grief, and the stories we inherit. Two Black writers’ intersecting journeys blend reality with surreal, dreamlike turns, revealing humour, loss, and the true power and impact of love.
In a future shaped by virtual reality and corporate power, content moderator Girlie Delmundo is climbing the ranks — until an unexpected connection forces her to reckon with reality. Witty, inventive, and razor-sharp, this is a love story tangled in algorithms, ambition, and the hazy landscape of human interaction.
Set in 17th-century Amsterdam, this sensual, atmospheric novel traces the tangled bond between two women — artist and muse, master and servant, lover and rival. Blurring the lines between obsession and devotion, I Am You is a richly painted story of art, identity, and power.
Set against the glittering backdrop of 1960s L.A., this electrifying novel charts the complex friendship between two ambitious writers — until one vanishes, and the other sees an opportunity to rewrite her life as fiction. A fierce exploration of art, envy, and the price of betrayal.
In a quiet Wisconsin town, a boy of impossible size and unexpected grace grows up hidden from the world — until fate intervenes. What follows is a luminous story of buried secrets, hard-won faith, and the extraordinary ways one life can transform many.
Translated from Swedish by Alice Menzies, this tender bestseller follows Bo, an ageing man facing the loss of his beloved dog — and his independence. A stirring, soul-deep journey of love, regret, and the fierce fight to hold on.
Spanning the turbulent years when Bombay became Mumbai, this luminous debut follows the unlikely friendship between a retired historian and a fisherman’s daughter. Evocative and emotionally resonant, it’s a story of shifting coastlines and the search for home in a changing world.
At one excruciating dinner party, a woman is forced back into the orbit of her estranged best friends — an artist and a curator who epitomise everything she loathes. This sharp, merciless debut skewers materialism, self-obsession, and the sometimes shallow ambitions of the cultural elite.
One Thanksgiving weekend, three sisters reunite — each hiding a secret. When Cait invites a figure from their past to dinner, long-buried tensions erupt, forcing the Ryan girls to confront the events that shattered their family decades earlier and find a path to forgiveness.
What to read
International Booker Prize
Heart Lamp written by Banu Mushtaq & translated from Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi
Winner of the 2025 International Booker Prize, Heart Lamp illuminates the everyday lives of women and girls in southern India through 12 sharply observed, richly textured stories. With wit, compassion, and quiet fury, Banu Mushtaq crafts a vivid, unforgettable portrait of resilience and resistance.
Perfection written by Vincenzo Latronico & translated from Italian by Sophie Hughes
Anna and Tom have everything a modern millennial couple could want — creative jobs, a cool Berlin apartment, and a lively social life. But behind the façade of conscious living and Instagrammable moments, disillusionment festers. Perfection is a sharp, stylish portrait of a generation lost in its own reflection.
Eurotrash written by Christian Kracht & translated from German by Daniel Bowles
In this semi-autobiographical novel, a writer and his eccentric mother (fresh from a psychiatric clinic) set off on a chaotic road trip across Switzerland to rid themselves of her tainted fortune. Darkly funny and unflinchingly personal, Eurotrash is a razor-sharp reckoning with family, guilt, and legacy.
The mesmerising first instalment in Solvej Balle’s acclaimed septology sees Tara Selter stuck in a time loop. As the world resets around her every single day, she alone carries memory forward, unti 365 days into the loop, she decides to look for an escape.
In this incisive new essay collection, Zadie Smith turns her sharp, humane gaze to art, politics, film, grief, and place. From North-West London to New York, Dead and Alive is a brilliant meditation on culture, connection, and the texture of modern life from one of the most critical literary voices of our time.
Renowned Stanford neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman delivers a clear, science-backed guide to mastering your brain and body. Protocols offers practical, customisable strategies to boost mental clarity, mood, energy, and physical performance — transforming everyday challenges into opportunities for lasting change.
In her first memoir, Booker Prize–winner Arundhati Roy reflects on a life shaped by the formidable presence of her mother, Mary Roy — a trailblazing educator and uncompromising force. Tender, sharp, and unsparingly honest, it’s a story of love, rupture, and the making of a writer.
Written from inside prison walls, this groundbreaking work blends personal memoir with immersive journalism as Lennon shares the stories of four men who have killed — revealing their complex lives, search for redemption, and the human truths often lost in our true crime obsession.
A revelatory portrait of James Baldwin through the relationships that shaped him. Blending archival research with lyrical insight, Boggs traces the emotional and creative bonds that fed Baldwin’s art — offering a deeply human perspective on one of the 20th century’s most vital voices.
Part biography, part cultural reckoning, Make It Ours traces Virgil Abloh’s extraordinary ascent — from outsider to Louis Vuitton menswear’s first Black artistic director. With sharp insight and rare access, Givhan explores how Abloh reframed luxury.
Founded by Sarah Lindsay, Sala offers a deeply personal approach to Pilates, where rhythm, mood, and movement intertwine to create an experience that transcends the physical.
“From the beginning, I didn’t want Sala to feel like a gym,” explains Lindsay. “I wanted it to feel like a sanctuary. A space you enter to come home to yourself, not perform for anyone else.” With its warm hues, natural light, and tactile interiors, the studio feels more like a community hub than a fitness space. And that’s the point.
At Sala, Pilates is just one part of a rich, rhythm-driven offering underpinned by a movement philosophy that blends discipline with softness, form with feeling. “We approach movement as something sacred,” says Lindsay. “It’s not about fixing your body — it’s about returning to it.”
Language plays a significant role in the experience, “We refer to our clients as students and our instructors as teachers. It creates a dynamic of curiosity and learning, not instruction and correction.” Lindsay notes a clear transformation in students who commit to regular practice. “It’s not just about physical change, though that happens too; it’s about presence. You start to see people soften, then strengthen. They stop asking, ‘Am I doing it right?’ and start saying, ‘This feels right for me.’ That’s the shift.”
Lindsay advises anyone starting or restarting their movement journey to let go of perfection. “You don’t need to overhaul your life. Just start with one class. Let it be about how it feels, not how it looks.” Her favourite practice right now? “Chroma followed by mobility. One builds heat and joy, the other brings space and calm. Together, they’re the arc of aliveness.”
Step into a world of wonder at Artland, the Auckland Art Gallery’s playful new installation by renowned Korean artist Do Ho Suh and his young daughters. Crafted from colourful modelling clay, this evolving, hands-on experience invites families to shape their own fantastical landscapes.
When:Saturday 20th September 2025 — Sunday 19th July 2026 Where:Te Aka Matua | The Creative Learning Centre — book here
Making its highly anticipated return for 2025, Dance For Abilities‘ lively event is back and better than ever. For anyone unfamiliar with the work that Dance for Abilities does, it’s a charity that seeks to create inclusive, fun spaces in which those with disabilities can cut loose a little, have a dance and express themselves. Started by brothers Jonathan and Daniel Hopkirk who saw very few opportunities for their sister with Down Syndrome to go out in the same way they did, Dance For Abilities has facilitated a number of highly-popular social events both here and in Australia.
This year, DFA is hosting its popular dance party on Tuesday 7th of October, from 5.30pm at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club. For 2025, the theme is Disnee Danceoff — a fan favourite that’s been requested time and again. Guests are invited to step onto the red carpet in their best character-inspired looks, ready to light up the dance floor alongside celebrities, special guest performers, and showcase dancers. From pamper stations to dessert and lolly bars, themed venue fit-outs to fabulous prizes, this promises to be one of DFA’s most spectacular nights yet.
“Disnee Danceoff is all about creating a fantastical experience for the unique ability community — a chance to get glammed up, walk the red carpet, and feel like rockstars,” says Daniel Hopkirk, DFA Director. “The popularity has continued to soar, and we are learning more each time we throw an event about how we can cater for the needs of the community to form unforgettable nights across New Zealand and Australia.”
And while the event itself is free, it needs donations to take place. So, anyone who is in a position to help out, we encourage you to do so. As DFA is a not-for-profit, crucial events like this can’t happen without the kindness of strangers, with a donation of just $50 enough to cover drinks, food and entertainment for one guest. Donations can be made to DFA’s Givealittle page, here.
Tickets are available now for anyone aged 18+ with an intellectual disability (or those supporting someone who would love to attend), here.
For design purists, cordless lamps hold their own aesthetic power by removing the visual clutter of wires, and allowing the space for creativity to flourish. With ECC’s current sale offering up to 40% off all portable lamps, now is the perfect time to invest in a piece that feels as functional as it is beautiful.
Here, we’ve rounded up our top picks from the sale, from sleek, sculptural lamps that double as design statements to practical companions for everyday use.
From Ralph Lauren’s minimalist masterclass to Khaite’s cinematic showcase to Veronica Leoni’s sophomore outing for Calvin Klein, here, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite looks from the NYFW S/S 26 collections.
Meaningful moments warrant equally meaningful gifts. From timeless keepsakes to covetable collectibles, modern heirlooms to dazzling diamonds that will endure for decades, regardless of the number of candles on the cake, let our ultimate milestone birthday gift guide lead you in the right direction.
21st Birthday
Coming of age celebrations call for timeless, meaningful gifts they’ll treasure long after the party’s over.
SkyCity has long been known for its unique ability to cater to any kind of occasion, so diverse is the precinct’s array of award-winning eateries. The dazzling dining experiences at SkyCity run the gamut of cuisines, while the many vibrant venues ensure there’s something for everyone — and this October and November, the destination’s culinary celebration, Served, returns for its second series.
Bolder and more flavour-packed than ever, Served spotlights SkyCity’s acclaimed dining precinct and chef talent with two months of bespoke menus, special events, and unmissable experiences. The 2025 programme launches with SkyCity’s first-ever progressive dinner, an exclusive evening that will see Masu, Metita and Cassia close their doors to the public for one night only. Guests will embark on a culinary tour hosted by Nic Watt, Michael Meredith and Sid Sahrawat, with industry names Chand Sahrawat, Kelli Brett and Nicola Chan leading each group through this extraordinary dining journey.
Throughout the series, each restaurant will showcase what it does best with unique menus and offers that speak to its culinary identity. Cassia will present a Diwali menu in celebration of the festival of lights, while Metita revisits its most iconic snacks for a flavourful Pacific journey. The Grill is championing a five-course beef menu that celebrates the skill of its chefs and the craftsmanship of its artisan suppliers. With further highlights to come — including a special collaboration for Metita’s second birthday and a Huami x Perrier-Jouët Garden celebration in November — Served promises an unforgettable season of dining at SkyCity.
Three restaurants, three chefs, three unforgettable courses. Travel from Japan at Masu, across the Pacific at Metita, and into India at Cassia on a hosted progressive dinner. With premium wine pairings and personal hosting from Nic Watt, Michael Meredith, and Sid Sahrawat, this one-night-only event is the ultimate dining adventure.
Get ready for a gritty, flavour-packed night as Al Brown serves up New York soul with a Kiwi twist. Expect bold flavours, cult classics, and plenty of personality in this one-off set menu with beverage matches.
Nic Watt for Masu
Issho Ni — Masu x Tunki
When:Thursday 9th October, 6pm — $168 pp — book now
One night. Two chefs. Five courses of fire. Krish Dutt reunites with Nic Watt to create a Japanese–Nikkei collaboration bursting with energy, heat, and flavour. A rare opportunity to experience two culinary talents pushing the boundaries together.
The Grill: Wild at Heart with Torbreck Wines
When:Tuesday, 28th October, 6pm — $250pp — book now
A feast for serious food and wine lovers. The Grill’s nose-to-tail menu meets the bold flavours of Barossa Valley’s Torbreck Wines, guided by winemaker Sacha Timaeus. An evening of trans-Tasman excellence showcasing the best of Aotearoa produce and Australia’s iconic reds.
Huami
The Champagne Garden Perrier-Jouët x Huami
When:Details to be announced!
Celebrate the season in style with an elegant afternoon in the Huami Garden. Perrier-Jouët Champagne flows alongside delicate dim sum bites in a sparkling floral setting. Full details coming soon.
Metita Turns Two
When:Details to be announced!
Join Michael Meredith and the team at Metita for a special evening honouring Pacific flavours, community, and connection. Expect a collaborative menu and celebratory atmosphere, with more details to be revealed.
SkyCity Served
Exclusive Offers
Cassia
Cassia
Offer:Biryani Thursdays (must be pre-ordered 48 hours in advance) for $49pp — book now. When:Thursdays, 5pm — 9.30pm
An elevated take on a timeless favourite. Enjoy chicken biryani served in a clay pot with your choice of three sides — perfect for two to share. Available Thursday evenings only.
Offer:A festival of flavour for $95pp — book now When:Tuesday — Saturday, 5pm — 9.30pm
Celebrate Diwali at Cassia with a vibrant menu that reimagines festival favourites. Designed for sharing, this feast brings family and friends together over aromatic snacks and Sid Sahrawat’s contemporary interpretations of India’s most beloved traditions.
Metita
Metita
Offer:An exploration of the Pacific for $83pp — book now When:Tuesday — Saturday, from 5pm
Journey through the Pacific with Michael Meredith’s flavour-packed menu. Begin with iconic Metita snacks, move through fresh dishes like kingfish with mandarin and okra, and share hearty mains from roasted chicken to crispy pork hock. A Pasifik koko dessert completes this island-inspired experience.
The Grill
The Grill
Offer:Five-course set menu for $95pp — book now When:Sunday — Thursday, 5pm — 9.30pm, Friday & Saturday, 5pm — 10pm
Discover a nose-to-tail celebration of sustainably farmed beef from Mapari Meats. This five-course menu champions local craftsmanship, from rump tartartlette and oxtail ragù to grilled oyster blade steak, finishing with a decadent chocolate dessert elevated by beef fat caramel.
Masu
Masu
Offer:Three-course set menu for $77 — book now When:Monday — Sunday, from 5pm
Experience the freshness of spring with Masu’s seasonal menu. Highlights include sashimi with yuzu granita, udon with dashi beurre blanc, and a flame-grilled wagyu skewer from the robata — each dish crafted with Nic Watt’s signature precision and flair.
Huami
Huami
Offer:Three-course set menu for $70 — book now When:Wednesday — Sunday, 5.30pm — 9.30pm
Step through Huami’s red doors for a modern journey through China’s regional cuisines. From fruit wood roasted duck with Australian mango to Mānuka honey black pepper beef and ginger-scented steamed fish, this sharing-style feast finishes with your choice of dessert.
Fed Deli
Fed Deli
Offer:A classic match with complimentary sides — book now When: Weekdays from 11.30am, Saturday — Sunday all day
Straight from NYC to Federal Street, Fed is bringing the diner nostalgia. Tuck into chopped cheese sandwiches served with a side of cherry pie, and score a free side with any Coca-Cola classic drink purchase. No frills, just comfort done right.
Depot
Depot
Offer:Oysters your way — book now When: Lunch and dinner daily from 11.30am
From freshly shucked to flame-licked, Depot is serving oysters every which way. Go classic with a Depot Doz, or mix it up with Buffalo Oysters, Kilpatrick style, or Bloody Mary shooters.
Shaken, stirred, or spritzed, find your flavour across SkyCity venues with $18 cocktails, thanks to Suntory. From bold twists to refined classics, each pour is inspired by international flavours and crafted to sip with a story.
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