If you’ve walked through Commercial Bay’s Harbour Eats recently, you’ll have noticed the queue — a sure sign that Mokki, the city’s newest wellness-meets-indulgence spot, has quickly found its following. Riding the dual waves of our ongoing matcha and açaí obsession, this sleek new spot is bringing both trends together under one minimalist, pastel-toned roof.
From the team behind the much-loved Oh Açaí market stall, Mokki takes its cues from matcha bars and açaí spots globally, bringing the two together with an emphasis on both quality and aesthetics. Here, ceremonial-grade matcha is whisked to velvety perfection in classic lattes or layered creations like the strawberry matcha, complete with real fruit purée, or the very well-Instagrammed ‘Matchamisu Latte’ — a tasty hybrid of dessert and drink that feels suitably decadent yet virtuous enough to justify a second round.
Matcha is accompanied by their signature organic açaí bowls. Mokki’s tasty, antioxidant-rich açaí soft serve base is topped with a host of fruit, granola, nut butters and more — a feast for the eyes as much as they are for the palette.
Whether you’re fuelling up between meetings or simply after a midday mood boost, Mokki offers the kind of easy, feel-good ritual Auckland’s been craving — and if the line out front is anything to go by, this is a spot worthy of your attention.
Words Sjaan Askwith | PHOTOS Alice Mahran | 10 Oct 2025
In a wedding as deeply considered and rich with meaning as the love story that underpins it, Ashley and Jordan Elcham vowed their forever in Rome.
Ashley and Jordan Elcham’s story began at university, where they shared a study group and later, a friendship group long before romance blossomed. “We were friends for a good year before we even thought about dating,” Ashley recalls. “Being friends first really grounded us — it built a strong foundation of trust and understanding that has been so integral to our relationship.” It’s a friendship that remains at the heart of their love, and on the day they married a decade later, that same study group stood alongside them as witnesses.
They finally took the leap from friends to something more during a holiday in Italy, but there were already feelings there, “Because we’re both third-generation Lebanese, our core values are ingrained in our heritage, but we both definitely have a modern approach to our culture,” Ashley tells me, “It was really nice to meet someone so level-headed that struck that same balance. It all just felt so organic.”
As seems to be a central thread in the Sydney-based couple’s journey, the evolution to couple from friends was more a natural progression than anything. “I landed in Nice, and [Jordan] came to the airport to pick me up. We drove to Portofino, and that same day he asked me to be his girlfriend,” says Ashley, “Because that’s where our next chapter began, there’s always been this resonance with Italy for us — it’s always been an important part of our story.” Years later, in the heart of Rome, surrounded by the people who know them best, they tied the knot.
The connection to Rome was something that, according to Ashley, felt predestined. “It was meant to be,” she says with a smile, recounting the moment it all began, when Jordan proposed to her at the Nobu in Santorini as a string quartet played on the balcony below. The next destination on their holiday itinerary was Rome, where they spent a week with Ashley’s sister and her Roman-born partner, who showed them how the locals live. The connection was instantaneous, and the pair began exploring venues right then and there.
“We’d always wanted a destination wedding,” says Ashley, “It was something we spoke about a lot because, while our culture is beautiful, there’s a phrase in Lebanese which essentially speaks to this obligation that you feel to invite your grandmother’s neighbour to your wedding,” she laughs. “Because Jordan and I are quite private, we didn’t want a huge event, and a destination wedding meant intimacy.”
Upon returning from their engagement trip, Ashley — a visual merchandising and store planning executive for Van Cleef & Arpels, and Jordan, who works in his family’s luxury property development business, set to work planning, employing the consultancy services of renowned Australian planners, After the Rock. It was this team who put the pair in touch with destination wedding planner, Chiara Raine of Avenue Cipresso, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Just over a year later, they returned to say yes to forever. Ashley and Jordan were married on the eighth day of the eighth month — a date chosen not just for its auspicious symbolism in Chinese culture (depicting eternity, among other things), but for the fact that it also marked eight years since they made it official.
The celebrations began two days prior to the official ceremony at Ristorante Da Meo Patacca in Trastevere — a rustic, authentic Roman eatery discovered through Ashley’s sister’s boyfriend the year prior. With its simple wooden tables, alternating-colour tablecloths, and live guitar and tambourine music, the restaurant’s charm needed no adornment, and in fact set the tone for the entire four-day celebration: authentic Italian, with a touch of the Elchams. Ashley wore a lace Rabanne dress with Valentino shoes and Dior earrings, while Jordan opted for a bespoke Tailor & Co. suit. A vintage teal Fiat Spider ferried the couple through the cobblestone streets to the venue, a detail Jordan took great pleasure in planning.
The following day was quiet and intimate, with Ashley and Jordan sharing private vows — captured by their videographers, Plus Two Films. Later, they wandered the city with photographer Alice Mahran, capturing iconic locations from the Spanish Steps to the Jardin de Russie. Ashley wore a Mirror Palais dress, Tiffany pearls, and Valentino heels, and Jordan wore Rag & Bone paired with custom Tailor & Co.
On August 8th, the ceremony unfolded in the 17th-century Chiesa di Sant’Ignazio di Loyola, its soaring ceilings and frescoed walls offering a dramatic, sacred backdrop to their vows. “It’s one of the city’s most historic churches,” Ashley tells me. “We wanted a place that felt timeless, and that carried the story of the city with it.”
A string quartet played throughout the ceremony, with a close friend’s debut tenor performance of Ave Maria adding to the emotion of the occasion once they’d said I do. The aisle was lined with flickering candles; the entranceway flanked by vases brimming with white roses and an abundance of wild greenery in garden vases. Ashley worked closely with Australian designer Jessica Andreatta to create a gown that felt entirely her own — a blend of 1950s couture silhouettes, Grace Kelly elegance, and vintage Christian Dior with a hint of McQueen drama. Her scalloped, three-metre mantilla veil swept the floor, and lace gloves echoed the old-world reverence of the church setting in a seamless blend of vintage romance and modern grace. Bridesmaids wore simple halter necks in soft pastels, created in collaboration with Australian label Redrew, inspired by ’90s Ralph Lauren to complement the timeless mood.
Jewellery held deep personal meaning for both the bride and groom: Tiffany & Co. studs borrowed from Ashley’s mother, a diamond pendant gifted from her father, and her engagement ring completed the bride’s ensemble. Jordan wore heirloom touches, including a family diamond ring and a Zodiaque pendant from Van Cleef & Arpels, gifted by Ashley in the years prior.
One of the most poignant moments of the ceremony was also the most unexpected. The exchange of crowns — a beautiful tradition symbolising equality and unity in marriage, was a surprise to the bride and groom on the day, “Wearing the crowns felt so special; it was about honouring not just our love, but the partnership we’ve built.”
Family and heritage — foundational to both Ashley and Jordan; another bond that binds them — was woven through every moment. “Food and dancing are so important to us, and also key to our culture,” Ashley shares. “It was essential for us to bring those elements into the day.” Their reception, held at the iconic Hotel De La Ville, was an Italian feast that honoured those values, with a warm and intimate atmosphere that felt both celebratory and deeply personal. In lieu of a welcome sign, Ashley and Jordan had a welcome poem titled ‘The Meaning of Marriage’, which perfectly depicted their union. There, against the backdrop of Rome’s skyline, they joined their bridal party for a final photoshoot before their guests descended into the Mosaico Garden Courtyard for an elegant reception dinner.
The evening was punctuated by personalised details, from custom pasta bowls inscribed with ‘The Elchams’ to hand-lettered menus by Eau De Papier Illustration; all carefully conceived details that were designed to honour the union of marriage, their own unique journey, and the city of Rome itself. Custom fans were embellished with the inscription: ‘When in love, do as the lovers do,’ — the closing line of a poem titled ‘When in Rome’ that became a sort of overarching sentiment woven throughout the celebrations.
As twilight fell, Ashley changed into a simple Victoria Beckham slip — a gift from Jordan that he suggested she throw on at the last minute for their first dance (nervous, after seeing her wedding gown, that he wouldn’t be able to pull off a lift with such a voluminous dress). The dance went off without a hitch; they feasted on pasta and gelato, drank champagne and limoncello spritz, and danced the night away with the ones they love the most.
The following day, they gathered their guests for a recovery brunch in the courtyard of Hotel de Russie, another famous Roman venue, to conclude a truly perfect celebration.
In the end, it wasn’t just the city, the settings, or even the meticulous detail that made their wedding unforgettable — it was the feeling of joy in its purest form. “It’s hard to describe,” Ashley reflects. “I just remember waking up when it was over, looking over at Jordan, and thinking — that was perfect.”
As was always the intention, their wedding, at its heart, was a reflection of everything they’ve built together: a quiet confidence, a shared vision, and a love grounded in the solid foundation of friendship — destined to endure as eternally as the city where their future together truly began.
After shuttering its doors a few months back, beloved Korean eatery Ockhee left a void in Auckland’s dining scene, particularly when it comes to authentic-yet-approachable Korean food. Luckily, the owners have opened a new venue in the exact same spot, this time solely focused on takeaways. The basis of Double Dog the same as Ockhee, to a degree — Korean favourites approached through a modern lens, but the format has shifted to lend itself to grab-and-go fare that still packs a punch on the flavour front.
The ‘K-spag’ bowl
On the menu you’ll find the likes of rice bowls, noodles, fried chicken, and perhaps the star of the show, Korean hot dogs, as well as a slew of satisfying sides. The rice bowls run the gamut from gooey BBQ tofu or chicken to bulgogi beef, gochujang pork or chicken, and the more traditional bibimbap, while the noodle bowls lean a little more adventurous, with a hero ‘K-spag’ bowl featuring a mix of knife-cut noodles with stir-fried pork crumble, veg, and gochujang sauce. Ockhee’s beloved ‘Japchae’ also appears on the menu.
Left to right: The BBQ Tofu Gooey & Fried chicken glazed in Sweet Chilli sauce
Fried chicken comes either with or without the bone, and is available in an array of flavours from honey-glazed to butter fried, and sides span chilli cheese crinkle-cut chips to dumplings, ‘tofu munch’ (crispy tofu bites and rice cakes (tteokbokki) glazed in sweet chilli sauce with roasted peanuts) to house-made kimchi.
The ‘Chilli Cheese Dog’
But, the pièce de résistance is the Korean-influenced hot dogs. Available in three flavours, Double Dog’s take on an American hot dogs is anything but ordinary. The ‘Chilli Cheese Dog’ pairs cumin and cayenne-spiced beef chilli with chopped onion and tomato, while the ‘Pizza Dog’ features pork sausage, DD tomato paste, capsicum, onion, cheese, and pepperoni. The most intriguing of the bunch, however, is the ‘Smokey Pork Dog’ — a flavourful mix of pork sausage with gochujang and soybean paste, Korean soy sauce, tomato paste, onion, zucchini, spring onion, and cabbage. All three invite you to step outside of your culinary comfort zone (just a touch) and try something unique.
Ultimately, Double Dog follows in the footsteps of its predecessor Ockhee, offering vibrant, balanced, and satisfying Korean food that is made for how we eat today — on the go.
On Tuesday, November 4th, The Wine Room is set to reimagine the Flemington experience with all of the intimacy and polish of a luxury corporate box. From 11am, guests are invited to settle in for an afternoon that blends racing tradition with the venue’s signature refinement — complete with live coverage of every moment from Flemington.
In keeping with the spirit of the original event, fashion remains firmly at the fore, with the sundeck transformed into a catwalk — a nod to the iconic Fashions on the Field. Those wishing to partake can expect a stylish interlude to the racing action, as guests vie for best dressed, providing a hard-to-come-by excuse to don your finest.
The Wine Room’s sundeck
Back at the table, Executive Chef Ryan Moore will be on-hand to curate a set menu inspired by the indulgence of Cup Day’s famed front lawn. Elevated barbecue and cocktail-style dining anchor the offering, complemented by the restaurant’s much-loved à la carte menu.
Executive Chef Ryan Moore
Fittingly, the celebration begins with a glass of the newly-released Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2016 — an elegant prelude to an afternoon of racing, dining, and revelry. With capacity limited and demand for the nation’s most celebrated race day expected to be high, securing a table early is essential.
The Wine Room’s Melbourne Cup celebration is not ticketed; instead, table reservations ensure your place within this exclusive vantage point. Whether arriving early to bask in the full atmosphere, or slipping in ahead of the main event, this is an occasion designed to be savoured —where fine food, flowing champagne, and the thrill of the Cup meet under one roof.
Bookings are now open online for Tuesday, 4th November. Secure your spot here.
This October, ECC Auckland becomes the stage for a rare encounter with one of Australia’s most quietly influential tailoring houses. P.Johnson, long admired for its effortless refinement and modern interpretation of sartorial codes, will host an exclusive trunk show at ECC’s Grafton showroom from 22nd — 26th October. While the brand has presented in New Zealand before, this marks the first time its womenswear collections will be seen here — an evolution that underscores its widening scope while retaining the ease and precision that have defined Patrick Johnson’s vision since founding the label in 2009.
P.Johnson founder Patrick Johnson & his wife, interior designer Tamsin Johnson
P.Johnson’s showrooms are located in cities like Sydney, Melbourne, London, and New York, with tailoring made in an atelier in Tuscany, so the opportunity to experience the craft first-hand in Auckland, is a rare one. For five days, New Zealand clients can step into the world of P.Johnson through made-to-measure and ready-to-wear appointments, guided directly by the brand’s team. Expect fluid suiting in muted neutrals, relaxed silhouettes that read as both contemporary and timeless, and collections spanning essentials, eveningwear, tailoring, and swim.
ECC will play host to the upcoming trunk show alongside custom USM modular furniture
The setting is, unsurprisingly, as considered as the clothing. Styled by Johnson’s wife — lauded interior designer Tamsin Johnson, the ECC showroom will feature the brand’s summer arrivals alongside custom USM modular furniture. The pairing is deliberate, with P.Johnson and USM sharing a commitment to clarity, longevity, and understatement. “Interior design has always been central to our identity,” Thomas Walsh, partner at P. Johnson tells me, “Partnering with ECC and USM felt natural. Collaborating with ECC allows us to connect with our New Zealand community in person — an audience with an innate sense of design. This partnership embodies the intersection of fashion and design, a dialogue that lies at the heart of the P. Johnson brand.”
P.Johnson’s September Collection
Just as USM’s modularity reflects permanence and adaptability in design, P.Johnson’s tailoring is created to live fluidly in the rhythm of its wearer’s day. Both reject excess in favour of quiet precision — a philosophy ECC, too, has long championed in its curations. “ECC is proud to partner with USM for the P. Johnson Trunk Show, with wardrobes chosen for the occasion by Creative Director and Interior Designer Tamsin Johnson. A modern classic, USM embodies timeless, sustainable design — pieces crafted to endure, echoing P. Johnson’s own ethos of craftsmanship,” says Richard Thorburn, Director at ECC.
For those attuned to design and detail, this trunk show is not merely a shopping opportunity but a moment of alignment, with fashion, furniture, and space coming together to create an atmosphere of rare refinement. Appointments are essential.
If you would like to purchase one of the custom USM units chosen by Tamsin, or design your own unit, email [email protected], or head into the showroom to discuss your requirements.
Let’s be honest, truly great modern Indian food is rare. When you find a place that nails it, it’s sure to end up on your weekly dining agenda. That’s the deal with Times of India, a modern Indian eatery in the heart of the city from the team behind 1947 Eatery. Times of India takes everything you love about Indian cuisine, the fire, the fragrance, and the theatre, and dials it into a fresh, elevated experience.
Left to right: aloo chaat & Koliwada prawns
Kebabs charred to perfection
The menu runs the gamut from street-side snacks to Mughal-inspired feasts. Bhel on a puri bursts with tang and crunch, while aloo chaat is a riot of textures — crisp potatoes, tamarind, mint, and pomegranate. Paneer Maska layers cottage cheese with spiced cream cheese and apricot, while Koliwada prawns deliver a crisp, spicy punch. From the tandoor, lamb seekh kebabs, garlic malai chicken, and stuffed mushrooms come charred to perfection.
Left to right: Zafrani Dum Biriyani & Lamb Chops
Butter Chicken
For mains, the classics sit comfortably alongside more adventurous plates. Sure, there’s butter chicken — creamy and nostalgic — but also rarer finds like Bhuna Gosht (a rich Deccani goat curry), South India prawn curry simmered in coconut masala, and the knockout Rara Pepper Chicken in a fiery mince gravy. Vegetarians are spoiled too, with Paneer Lababdar, vegetable kofta, and slow-simmered dal makhani.
Negroni Sour
Drinks-wise, bespoke cocktails and a global wine list keep pace with the food’s big flavours, and dessert seals the deal, from gulab jamun with ice cream to mango kulfi, or gajar ka halwa made with imported Indian carrots.
Dine in for the full sensory journey or takeaway when the craving hits, either way, this is modern Indian that will keep you coming back.
Opening Hours: Lunch: Monday — Friday, 12pm until 2pm Dinner: Monday — Sunday, 5pm until 10pm
Words Sjaan Askwith | PHOTOS Shayan Asgharnia | 2 Oct 2025
Known for his work that sits at the intersection of realism and abstraction, George Byrne is a multi-faceted artist with a lifelong connection to creating. From a suburban Australian upbringing to years spent on the road as a musician, to now, living in LA as a full-time artist, Byrne has developed a distinct style that draws on the rich tapestry of his life, infusing urban photography with constructed abstraction. Here, he reflects on his craft, career, and the next chapter in his creative evolution.
George Byrne is not an artist who stumbled into his métier by accident. His path — winding and, at times, unruly — has always been fuelled by a deep curiosity and innate sensitivity to art, shaping both his work and the broader trajectory of his life. Raised in suburban Sydney in the 1980s, with Emmy-nominated actress Rose Byrne as a sister, the artist recalls a wonderfully free-range upbringing, marked by the vivid chaos of a big family and a natural pull toward creativity. “I think from a young age I was quite sensitive to music, atmosphere, and aesthetics,” he reflects. “I didn’t have the language for it at the time, but I was always noticing things — colours, moods, light. That stuff stuck.”
Yellow Door by George Byrne, 2021.
It was music that first moved him, inciting that visceral, full-body recognition of beauty. “One of the first pieces of music I recall being hit by was the chorus of the Beatles song Penny Lane,” Byrne recalls. “I must have been seven or eight… I felt it in my body and thought, wow that feels good.” Music was his first love, with photography arriving later, and much more stealthily. “I was always fascinated by composition and structure. In music, I was drawn to layering, mood, and space,” he says. By his late teens, this fascination shifted to visual arts. “I started taking photos seriously in my late teens and immediately felt a kind of intuitive pull. There was something about framing the world that made sense to me. It was quiet, solitary, and a bit mysterious.”
This connection to photography only intensified in his early twenties. Despite early forays into drawing and painting, it was photography that beckoned with its unique duality — the power to both document and distort reality. “On one hand, it’s this objective medium, capturing what’s in front of you, but on the other, it can be incredibly abstract and interpretive.” After an early solo exhibition at 21, built from photographs taken on a trip to India and drawing on inspiration found at a Grant Mudford and Wim Wenders exhibition at the MCA in Sydney, where Byrne realised photography’s potential to live in a gallery context and still carry poetic and conceptual weight, he seemed destined to make a name in visual arts. But then, life pulled him in a different direction.
Do Not Enter by George Byrne, 2019
“I poured about ten years into [music] — made records, toured, lived that life — and while it was incredible in parts, I never quite got where I wanted to get to,” he shares. Burned out and seeking change, Byrne moved to Los Angeles. “I was still broke, but I was genuinely happy,” he says of those early days, working odd jobs, making stock music, and taking photographs on instinct. The camera, once again, became a means of processing the world. “I was seeing fragments of beauty everywhere: colours, structures, weird details in the LA light.”
It was through Instagram that Byrne’s work found an audience, an early show following soon after and solidifying his return to visual arts. “From there, I focused everything on developing a visual language. Shooting on film, scanning, editing, constructing scenes from multiple sources… It became more like building paintings than taking photos, part documentary, part invention. I drew on my music background a lot, thinking in terms of albums and series, rhythm and tone. That structure gave me clarity, and I just ran with it.”
“I think I’ve always had a bit of a tension between inner restlessness and a desire for stillness. The work is a way to settle things, to slow the world down.”
Today, Byrne’s photographs sit at the midpoint of realism and abstraction — a blending of real urban elements and constructed compositions that feel both tangible and dreamlike. “Place is central,” he says, speaking of how location, especially Los Angeles, continues to shape his work. “But it’s always filtered through my perception… I collect fragments from all these places and rebuild them into new compositions.”
George Byrne in his studio
As an Australian in America, he possesses a unique perspective which lends itself to his style, “Growing up in Australia, I had a romanticised view of America, especially California. Then you get here and it’s grittier, stranger, more layered.” Being from outside of America, he tells me, has definitely sharpened his sense of observation. “I think I still carry a kind of outsider’s gaze. I notice things that locals might not, which is evident in my work.”
There is a meditative slowness to Byrne’s art — a deliberate quietness amidst the urban sprawl. “I think I’ve always had a bit of a tension between inner restlessness and a desire for stillness. The work is a way to settle things, to slow the world down,” he explains. His process is intuitive, guided less by strict intention and more by instinct. “I shoot instinctively, sometimes hundreds of images in a day, then months of nothing… Then in the studio, I start sorting, matching, and building.”
Liquor Store Yucca Valley by George Byrne, 2024.
Byrne’s relationship with colour is equally instinctual. “If I’m photographing something, it’s because it’s moved me in some way, and colour is part of that… I’m really just trying to translate that feeling — to pass on whatever resonance or emotion I felt in that moment, as faithfully as I can.” Indeed, though his imagery is deeply personal, Byrne never seeks to dictate meaning. “I don’t go into a piece thinking, ‘I want the viewer to feel this exact emotion.’ What I aim for is to create a space — a tonal world — where a viewer might pause, breathe, and project something of their own onto it.”
Over time, his themes have shifted from purely aesthetic compositions to something more layered. “Especially after going through things like the pandemic, becoming a father, losing loved ones, the work started carrying more emotional weight. There’s still quietness and stillness, but also a kind of melancholy, or searching. I think the older I get, the more I’m interested in mystery.”
Desert Collage by George Byrne
This begs the question whether, in a world saturated with visual content, Byrne struggles to stay inspired and maintain that sense of wonder. “If anything, I often feel stressed that I don’t have enough time in my life to do all the things I want to do!” he laughs. “But image saturation is real, and that can be overwhelming. I think each person has to figure out their own threshold, what’s inspiring, what’s numbing, and build a relationship with that.”
“…going through things like the pandemic, becoming a father, losing loved ones, the work started carrying more emotional weight…”
He recognises, and has experienced first-hand, the double-edged nature of digital platforms. “Social media gave me a critical platform early on, but it’s also a noisy, addictive time waste. It’s very sticky.” Likewise, on newer frontiers like AI, Byrne is pragmatic. “It’s fascinating… I think the artists who’ll thrive are the ones who know how to use it as a tool, not a crutch. You’ve got to have something to say, not just a clever way of saying it.”
When it comes to what Byrne hopes his own work communicates, it’s a reminder to take pause in the often chaotic world we live in. “A sense of stillness. Maybe a moment of seeing something ordinary in a new way. I hope it reminds people to look, to notice light, to feel things they can’t name. For me, it’s more about transmitting a state of mind — a kind of stillness, or reverie. If someone else feels that too, then it’s done its job.”
Washington Blvd by George Byrne
In return, his artistic practice has been a mirror for his own evolution. “Art has a way of revealing your inner architecture. I think it starts with me — with trying to express something I can’t quite put into words. I’ve also learnt I’m happiest when I’m deep in the process, when I’m chasing something I don’t fully understand.”
More recently, Byrne has returned to the practice of painting. “It’s energising, and has reminded me that reinvention is part of the process.” I can’t help but wonder whether recently becoming a father has inspired this shift back to a practice so deeply rooted in feeling, “[Fatherhood] has slowed me down in the best way. Made me more deliberate, more protective of my time. It’s also softened me, maybe cracked something open. There’s a whole new emotional range to draw from now, and a whole new level of chaos to navigate.”
Ace Hotel Sth Broadway by George Byrne, 2015
For Byrne, being an artist is, above all, a privilege. “Whether this ride lasts one more year or thirty, I’ll never take it for granted.” Asked who inspires him, in both work and life, Byrne’s answer speaks volumes of his character: Hockney and Matisse, musicians who have evolved over decades, and most importantly, his wife and daughter. “My daughter reminds me what pure happiness looks like daily, and my amazing wife (actress Rose McIver) — one of the most emotionally intelligent people I know — inspires me daily.”
Temple St. by George Byrne, 2015.
And as for what comes next, outside of enjoying watching his baby grow and savouring a slower pace, Byrne is in no rush to limit himself. “Painting is a big one… sculpture and installation interest me too. I’d love to create work that occupies physical space in a more immersive way.” Ultimately, Byrne’s future is not about perfecting a single vision, but about staying alive to evolution. “To keep evolving, to keep loving it, to build a body of work that feels like a real contribution — something people come back to.”
And it’s clear that no matter the medium through which Byrne communicates his inner world, he was always destined to be an artist who offers us not only a way to see, but a way to feel.
While the weather is certainly still a mixed bag, daylight savings is in full swing — and we think lighter nights and longer days are certainly worth celebrating. What is also worth celebrating is the sheer number of delicious foodie events and goings-on taking place over the next month. From exceptional events to unmissable dining deals and more, this is Denizen’s comprehensive October Dining Guide.
This October, Kingi’s laneway is the place to toast spring with Rosés & Canapés. For a modest $39 per person, enjoy a glass of The Landing Rosé alongside three elegant seafood bites from head chef Stefania. Extend the evening with a tasting flight of The Landing wines — or opt for a non-alcoholic Rosé — with every glass purchased putting you in the draw to win a wine tasting and lunch at The Landing.
After seven years on Jervois Road, stalwart eatery Andiamo is taking a short pause for a makeover. Expect more space, a fresh new menu, and, yes, a revamp of the powder rooms. The neighbourhood favourite is set to reopen in mid-October, ready to welcome you back with its signature warmth and charm. Keep an eye on Denizen for updates!
Gloria’s is serving spring on a plate with its October special: a moreish Chicken & Peas sandwich. Think poached chicken salad, ricotta salata, smashed peas, dressed lettuce, and yoghurt ranch. Light, fresh, and unbelievably satisfying.
SkyCity’s Served festival continues this October and November, bringing bespoke menus, wine pairings, special offers, and one-off events across its top dining destinations. Must-dos this month include Masu’s Issho Ni event on Thursday the 9th — a rare Japanese-Nikkei collab with five fiery courses from Nic Watt and Krish Dutt, Al Brown’s Down and Dirty “Dego” at Fed Deli on Tuesday the 21st, pairing bold flavours, cult classics, and matched drinks, and The Grill’s Mapari Beef x Torbreck Wines event on Tuesday the 28th — a nose-to-tail beef feast paired with Barossa’s Torbreck. Serious food and wine lovers, take note.
Takapuna Beach Cafe’s beloved Fish & Chip Shop is back on October 8th for a second seaside summer, dishing up elevated classics with a playful twist. Expect everything from John Dory and hapuka to whitebait fritter butties, seafood baskets, and even a deep-fried pineapple-lump chocolate fish — all served beachside from 3–8pm daily, October through May.
After a sell-out debut, The Wine Room’s Le Club series returns on Friday 31th October. Expect cabaret-style performances, DJ sets, Champagne, caviar, and chef Ryan Moore’s refined canapés — all in a sumptuous late-night setting.
Soul Bar & Bistro is heating up Viaduct Harbour for Campari Month with a series of standout events. Alongside a bold menu of bittersweet cocktails and Campari-infused dishes, there is a Masterclasses on the 15th of October where folklore meets flavour, and a lavish Campari Long Lunch on the 18th — perfect for those who like to linger over food, cocktails, and great company.
On the 29th of October, The Hotel Britomart is set to host a special three-course dinner by chef Andrew Lautenbach using rescued ingredients from The Kai Ika Project. Held around communal tables, the night blends great food with generosity, with 100% of proceeds funding dining vouchers for families in need.
Make the most of the final month of Savor Festival with a line-up of unmissable dining moments. On 15th October, Bivacco hosts Peroni Aperitivo Sessions with acclaimed Australian chef Mitch Orr, who’ll be serving exclusive bites alongside $10 Peronis on tap from 4–6pm. Across the city, festival menus are still in full swing, with $35 two-course lunches and $55 dinners at standout spots including Ebisu, Ortolana, Non Solo Pizza, Bivacco, and Azabu’s Ponsonby and Mission Bay outposts. Round out your calendar with Bivacco’s Aperol Ladies Lunch or abundant Sunday Feast, sip your way through Azabu Ponsonby’s high-energy Sip & Savor, indulge in Ebisu’s Oki No Sushi Saturdays, or linger at Ortolana’s Cork & Fork. Plus, enjoy $15 cocktails at some of the city’s most-loved venues. A bold, flavour-packed finish to an epic culinary celebration.
Every Tuesday night, Somm sets the mood with live jazz from 7–9pm. Think soulful vocals, sax, keys, and a rotating line-up of local talent — from Amanda Bovo & Friends to the Flying McNicoll Brothers. Pair the music with your favourite wine and seasonal plates, and sink into the easy buzz of this cosy wine bar.
October at Atelier means one thing: Champagne. The Karangahape Road wine bar is celebrating with an entire month dedicated to bubbles, including four exclusive pairing dinners. The first, on Wednesday 8th October, sees Louis Roederer Champagne matched to a four-course menu — think prosciutto croquettes with NV Collection 246, market fish ceviche with 2017 Rosé, wagyu bavette alongside 2016 Vintage, and pavlova with 2016 Blanc de Blancs, with three more events following a similar formula across the month on the 16th, 22nd, and 29th.
Celebrate the sweet nostalgia of Hokey Pokey at Giapo’s first-ever Hokey Pokey Day. On Thursday 2nd October, from 11.30am — 1pm, the beloved ice cream atelier is giving away free cups of its golden crunch creation at its Britomart outpost. Just download the Giapo app, redeem your voucher, and scoop it up while stocks last.
On the 16th of October, Origine is joining forces with Thea Matcha for a one-off giveaway that’s sure to brighten your morning. From 8am, the Commercial Bay brasserie will be serving up 100 complimentary matchas — available until they’re all gone.
This October, Takapuna is serving up a month-long celebration of flavour with Taste of Takapuna. From exclusive showcase dinners and foodie crawls to progressive feasts, the neighbourhood’s top eateries are coming together to highlight the chefs, dishes, and stories behind the menus. Plus, cast your vote in the People’s Choice Awards and be in to win dining vouchers.
Queens Rooftop is ushering in spring with a vibrant new menu from Executive Chef Maia Atvars, where seafood takes centre stage. Think grilled scampi with shellfish aioli, crisp prawn lettuce cups, and the playful whitebait toasty — all designed to share against the city’s best skyline views.
This sprawling neighbourhood gastropub recently opened its doors in Onehunga, much to the delight of locals, and is already proving the area’s most buzzing destination. The perfect spot for kids (with an outdoor sand pit, arcade games, an enclosed courtyard, and plenty to offer on the food front), its an ideal perch for a catch-up with friends knowing everyone dining will be well fed and suitably entertained. The little’s menu spans the usual suspects, from fish and chips to pizza, while the rest of us will find options for any taste and proclivity, from a Sunday roast with all of the trimmings to pub classics and more elevated salads and mains.
All October long, Advieh is keeping things easy with $10 pours of Sawmill’s crisp, refreshing Hefeweizen. Available daily from 12–6pm, it’s the perfect excuse to swing by and toast the season.
On Thursday 9th and Friday 10th October, head to Market Square in the Viaduct between 7am — 10am for a free breakfast worth waking up early for. Breakfast purveyors Oat Bros are serving their signature creamy oats, supercharged with The Science Of’s revolutionary gut health powder. To round things out, Ozone Coffee and Anew water will be on hand to keep you caffeinated and refreshed.
For those residing in Central Otago, The Bakehouse at Ayrburn is reviving the traditional Sunday roast every week from 3pm, complete with Yorkshire puds, crispy potatoes, and all the trimmings (plus seasonal specials). Think comfort, nostalgia, and a Sunday well spent.
Sugar has a knack for slipping into more of our meals than we realise. Beyond the obvious suspects — chocolate, pastries, fizzy drinks — it lurks in sauces, cereals, even ‘healthy’ snacks. While the occasional indulgence is hardly a crime, consistently high sugar intake has a way of making itself known, and not always subtly.
One of the first signs is the energy rollercoaster. That mid-morning muffin or afternoon hot chcocolate may deliver an instant surge, but the aftermath often feels like someone pulled the plug. Blood sugar spikes and crashes don’t just leave you sluggish; they can feed a cycle of cravings that has you reaching for the next hit almost automatically.
Your skin, too, can start to make its objections known. Breakouts, dullness, or a lack of elasticity may stem from sugar’s impact on hormones and collagen. Inside the body, the consequences are just as insidious: excess sugar can trigger low-grade inflammation, encourage fat storage, and put strain on the systems designed to keep everything in balance.
Cognitive sharpness doesn’t escape unscathed either. Regular sugar highs and dips can cloud concentration, leaving you with that ‘brain fog’ feeling where tasks seem harder than they should. Add to this an increase in thirst, disrupted sleep, or the creeping onset of stubborn weight gain, and the message becomes hard to ignore.
The good news is that small shifts make a big difference. Start by trading out sugary drinks for sparkling water or herbal tea, and look twice at labels — condiments and cereals are often stealth offenders. Building meals around protein, fibre, and healthy fats helps steady energy levels and quell cravings. Even something as simple as swapping dessert for fresh fruit a few nights a week can recalibrate your palate.
The aim isn’t to exile sweetness altogether (we’re not insane), but to reframe your relationship with it, making sugar an occasional pleasure rather than an everyday default. Your body, skin, and focus will thank you.
There’s a low-key eatery slowly and quietly becoming one of the top spots to find a true taste of Mexico in Auckland. Taco Amaiz, now with outposts at both Elliot Stables and in the heart of Parnell at 269, is a taqueria centred on good, hearty, authentic Mexican cuisine — no frills, just delicious, quality food.
Taco Amaiz owners
Founded by two Mexican chefs, Taco Amaiz is built on roots that run deep in Northern Mexico. It’s here that recipes were learned by the duo the traditional way — in family kitchens, around crowded tables, and always with a sense of community. That same spirit now permeates Taco Amaiz’s two Auckland outposts, where every detail is designed to feel warm, humble, and above all, authentic.
The menu centres around hand-pressed corn tortillas, layered with slow-cooked meats and vibrant toppings that showcase the richness of time-honoured cuisine. Birria takes pride of place — the aromatic, slow-braised beef that’s a cornerstone of Mexican cooking — and at Taco Amaiz, it’s celebrated in inventive forms too, like their already cult-favourite birria ramen. There are additional favourites to be found too, such as fresh, tasty quesadillas, burritos, and flavourful rice bowls. These are dishes that refuse shortcuts, cooked low and slow, with flavour unfolding in every bite.
Left: Birria Tacos
While the food sings of heritage, the philosophy is equally contemporary: source locally, cook seasonally, and keep it uncompromising. The result is an experience that balances simplicity with soul. It’s designed not just an eatery, but a gathering place, somewhere to linger with friends, order another round of tacos, and feel transported without leaving town.
For those seeking a place where food feels both familiar and transformative, Taco Amaiz is a reminder of why honest cooking, done well, always amazes.
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