Hollywood’s biggest night once again delivered a red carpet rich with spectacle, polish and the kind of sartorial theatre the Oscars does best. For the 2026 Academy Awards, the prevailing mood leaned toward refined drama, with sculptural silhouettes, luminous fabrics and quietly confident tailoring dominating the arrivals. Designers favoured fluid gowns that moved with ease, punctuated by moments of bold colour and intricate embellishment, while classic black remained a steadfast favourite among those embracing understated elegance. From ethereal romance to sharp architectural statements, this year’s fashion proved that Hollywood still knows exactly how to dress for the occasion.
Gwyneth Paltrow in Giorgio Armani Privé and Tiffany & Co. Jewellery
For a short time only, First Mates, Last Laugh is serving a crayfish roll worth rearranging your plans for. It is the sort of limited offering that doesn’t linger; some dishes are better left as a fleeting indulgence.
Arguably one of our most beloved kaimoana, crayfish, is a sort of local delicacy that’s rarely treated with this kind of ease. More often reserved for indulgent long lunches and special occasions. But for a limited time, the clever chefs at First Mates, Last Laugh have made it something that’s generous, unfussy, and designed to be eaten with your hands.
The crayfish roll delivers exactly what it promises. A soft, pillowy bun packed with sweet crayfish meat, sharpened with chilli-lime mayo and finished with a glossy hit of lemon butter. It is rich without being overworked, indulgent without tipping into excess. A side of crisps adds crunch, though the focus never strays far from the main event.
For those inclined to lean all the way in, there is the option to add a tin of caviar. If you’re going to go, you may as well go all the way, as they say.
Set within Westhaven Marina, First Mates, Last Laugh knows how to frame a moment. As autumn draws the light out longer and softer, the pull toward the water becomes harder to ignore. Here, sunsets land properly, cocktails arrive cold, and seafood does exactly what it should.
And while you’re there, it would be silly to ignore Bluff oysters, which are currently in season and, in very short supply. Like the crayfish roll, they reward those who get in early.
Whether it is an after-work detour that turns into an evening, or a deliberate booking to chase the last of the season’s golden light, this is one to act on. The crayfish roll will not be around for long, and missing it would be irresponsible.
Every home has an armchair that is instinctively claimed, understood without discussion to belong to one person alone. Generously proportioned and upholstered in supple leather or soft fabrics, it wraps around the body with a quiet, architectural embrace. Its low, cocooning profile invites listening, reading, thinking. More than seating, it is territory. A place where comfort meets design integrity, and where the rituals of daily life unfold in private, enveloped ease.
Tiffany & Co. has unveiled a new short film starring its latest global House ambassador, Natalie Portman. The Academy Award-winning actor, producer and director takes centre stage in a cinematic portrait that reflects on strength, legacy and the quiet power of self-belief.
Directed by Mona Fastvold and Brady Corbet of Magna Studios, and shot by acclaimed cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, the piece presents Portman as herself rather than a character. For the first time in a luxury project of this kind, she appears not in costume or role, but as the woman she is today, navigating the many identities that define her life beyond the screen.
The film unfolds through a letter Portman writes to her daughter. In it, she reflects on the lessons that shape a life, from resilience and vulnerability to the importance of curiosity and courage. The tone is intimate and thoughtful, aligning with Tiffany & Co.’s long-held belief that jewellery often carries meaning far beyond its material form.
At the heart of the story is the HardWear by Tiffany collection, a design line that has come to symbolise modern strength. Rather than serving simply as adornment, the pieces become a visual metaphor for the idea that strength is something built gradually over time.
An original interpretation of “Moon River” weaves softly through the film, offering a subtle nod to Breakfast at Tiffany’s and the enduring cultural mythology that surrounds the House.
The film premiered during the 98th Academy Awards before debuting globally across Tiffany & Co.’s channels, marking Portman’s first appearance as the brand’s newest global ambassador. The result is a restrained, quietly powerful portrait that feels closer to cinema than to spectacle.
There comes a point in the season when Auckland’s appetite for the new and noteworthy softens slightly, replaced by a more primal craving. Not for theatre, nor culinary gymnastics, but for the steady, deeply civilised comforts of a proper steakhouse. Which is precisely when the idea of revisiting Jervois Steak House begins to feel less like a suggestion and more like common sense.
For years now, the Ponsonby institution has been doing what very few restaurants manage to sustain: consistency with swagger. While the dining scene pirouettes through trends, reinventions and occasional bouts of edible performance art, Jervois Steak House simply carries on delivering the sort of meal people actually want to eat. Excellent beef, generous sides, strong wine and a dining room that hums with the contentment of people who know they have chosen well.
Gochujang-glazed calamari, kimchi, and gochujang aioli
Walking through the doors feels rather like slipping into a familiar club. The lighting is flattering, the tables are alive with conversation, and the whole room carries the warm, confident rhythm of a restaurant that has long understood its purpose. It is not trying to be the cleverest table in Auckland. It is far too busy to be one of the most satisfying.
Chef’s selection, three of JSH favourite cuts
Naturally, the beef remains the headline act. Jervois Steak House has built its reputation on sourcing exceptional cuts and treating them with the kind of reverence usually reserved for rare watches or vintage Bordeaux. The Chef’s Selection remains the move for those unwilling to choose just one. Three premium cuts arrive together on a board like a small symposium on carnivorous pleasure, each offering its own argument for why steak remains the most persuasive food group.
Seared scallops, green garlic, shallot, Champagne butter sauce
Before that, however, there are the scallops. Seared and glossed with Champagne butter, green garlic and shallot, they are rich without tipping into excess. A gentle warm-up act before the main event begins, flexing its muscles.
The supporting cast performs its duties with equal conviction. Truffle mac ’n’ cheese is unapologetically indulgent. Onion rings arrive crisp, golden and dangerously easy to demolish. A serious red appears in the glass, and suddenly the notion of leaving any time soon feels deeply misguided.
Truffle mac ‘n’ cheese
Which, ultimately, is the magic trick Jervois Steak House has always performed so well. It reminds you that dining out does not need to be complicated to be memorable. Sometimes all it takes is a beautifully cooked steak, a generous pour, and a room that understands exactly how to look after you.
In a city forever chasing the next big thing, there is something wonderfully reassuring about returning to a place that already perfected its craft years ago.
Unveiled in Michael Rider’s Printemps 2026 collection, the New Luggage signals a poised revival of one of Celine’s most recognisable forms. Reworking the Phantom Luggage introduced under Phoebe Philo in 2010, this iteration softens the structure, lending the silhouette a more fluid, rounded ease while retaining its architectural authority.
left: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley wearing the Celine Phantom in 2012. Right: A$AP Rocky wearing Celine New LUGGAGE in 2026
Crafted in supple, high shine lambskin, the bag retains its signature front zip, including a subtle Smile variation that gestures to the house’s quiet wit. Heritage is referenced rather than replicated, with proportion and polish carefully recalibrated.
LITTLE LUGGAGE IN GRAINED CALFSKIN Sandcastle from Celine
LITTLE LUGGAGE IN GRAINED CALFSKIN Syrah from Celine
LITTLE LUGGAGE IN GRAINED CALFSKIN Black from Celine
Function remains integral. The Small transitions seamlessly from crossbody to shoulder, the Medium favours hand or elbow carry, and the Large offers everyday structure without rigidity. A pared-back Flat Cabas completes the offer. Rendered in classic black and deep brown alongside citrus, oxide blue, suede calfskin and Porosus crocodile, the New Luggage reasserts Celine’s ability to evolve an icon without diluting its edge.
There are homes that make you forget, almost immediately, that you are inside at all. Darling Point Penthouse, the latest Sydney project from Melbourne-based Mim Design, is one of them. Perched above one of the harbour’s most coveted stretches, the two-level apartment was conceived as a forever home for clients with a clear sense of how they wanted to live: calmly, beautifully, and as close to the water as possible.
The clients, a developer and an artist, came to Miriam (Mim) Fanning, Principal and Founder of Mim Design, having moved from a sizeable nearby property and were ready to distil their lives into something more considered. What they found was an apartment with spectacular views across Sydney Harbour and a compact footprint that demanded both discipline and imagination. The brief was simple in spirit if not in execution: create something calm and restorative. Arrival at the apartment sets the tone: a bespoke shiplap-clad entry door, the first of many finely wrought details, opens to immediate sightlines across a timber-lined stair and straight out to the glittering bay beyond.
The material palette does much of the emotional work. Pale oak floors and cabinetry, sea-foam green quartzite stone benchtops and splashbacks, light linen textiles and shimmering silk carpets combine to create an interior that feels, at every moment, like it is in quiet conversation with the harbour outside. In the kitchen, that quartzite runs the full length of the wall in one monolithic sweep, its undulating surface mimicking the movement of water with an almost uncanny precision. The island bench, with its tiered panelled cabinet fronts recalling the clinker planking of traditional boat building, anchors the space with both beauty and purpose. Finely profiled Vitrocsa glazing suites dissolve the boundary between the kitchen, dining and living areas and the expansive tiled terrace beyond, where the owners’ love of outdoor entertaining finds its natural home.
The living spaces are generous with light and restraint in equal measure. Deep rust and ochre artworks punctuate the walls of creamy plaster, providing warmth against the cool harbour palette without ever disrupting the sense of calm that pervades the entire apartment. A rendered fireplace and open shelving alcove with rounded profiles soften the linear geometry of the kitchen stone behind, while the furniture throughout speaks to a collector’s eye: pieces chosen for character as much as comfort, arranged with the kind of ease that only comes from genuine confidence. “We wanted the clients to feel like they were taking off on a voyage and getting lost in views of the ocean and clouds,” Fanning muses.
Upstairs, the main suite occupies a luxuriously scaled footprint that opens directly to the view, a non-negotiable from the outset. A generous walk-in robe finished with leather doors, stitching details, brass inlays and timber accents leads through to a bathroom that earns its own quiet reverence: swirling green marble forms a rounded double vanity of sculptural weight, slatted timber lines the walls, and a freestanding bath sits beside a hammam-style steam shower with the bay spread out beyond. It is the kind of room that persuasively makes the case for never leaving.
Darling Point Penthouse is, in the end, exactly what a forever home should be: deeply personal, quietly extraordinary, and entirely itself.
Wynyard Quarter has quietly gained a new neighbourhood Japanese spot that is refreshingly unpretentious.
There is a certain pleasure in restaurants that do not attempt theatrics. No grand unveiling, no overwrought concept. Just good cooking, an easy room and a menu that people actually want to eat from. AOI fits neatly into that category.
Recently opened in Auckland’s ever-evolving Wynyard Quarter, AOI leans toward the casual side of Japanese dining. The sort of place you drop into after work, before a waterfront stroll, or when the craving for sashimi and something grilled becomes impossible to ignore.
The kitchen draws on classic Japanese techniques but keeps the tone relaxed. The menu reads like a well-balanced tour through familiar favourites, beginning with small bites designed for sharing. Tuna and salmon tacos offer a playful opening, while plates of fresh sashimi arrive clean and precise, exactly as they should.
Sushi rolls follow, including a flamed salmon version that brings just enough theatre without veering into excess. From there, the menu moves naturally toward the grill, where richer dishes take centre stage. Stone-grilled wagyu beef delivers the kind of savoury satisfaction that needs little embellishment, while seared scallops offer a lighter but equally indulgent counterpoint.
Dessert keeps things simple and crowd-pleasing. A Basque cheesecake paired with azuki cream finishes the meal on a warm, softly sweet note, the sort of finale that encourages lingering rather than rushing for the door.
For daytime diners, AOI also offers an express lunch menu designed for the nearby office crowd. It is quick, well-priced and a welcome alternative to the predictable midday rotation.
In a waterfront precinct increasingly filled with polished hospitality concepts, AOI brings something slightly different. It is relaxed, approachable and built around the quiet confidence of good Japanese cooking.
As the evening sun gets lower, embrace the last of lingering summer evenings at SkyCity’s much-loved Golden Hour. From now until 30th April, the early evening dining experience invites guests to settle in at one of their award-winning restaurants, to enjoy specially curated menus and seasonal offers. Whether it’s a spontaneous catch-up with friends, a post-work bite, or an early dinner before a show, Golden Hour offers the perfect excuse to make the most of the last of the season. These are our picks for the best dining deals.
Available Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm — last order by 6pm. Three-course set menu for $75 pp
Leave the menu in the hands of Chef Sid Sahrawat with a curated three-course journey through Cassia’s rich Indian flavours. Moving from long-loved favourites to seasonal creations, the experience unfolds with a few thoughtful surprises. Book here.
Available Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm — last order by 6pm. Two courses and wine for $50 pp
Take a journey through the Pacific with a menu centred on Metita’s vibrant island flavours. Choose from roasted chicken leg, wood-fired snapper with umala and turmeric, or smoked potato and tarua gratin, before finishing with either Pasifik koko or a bright passionfruit dessert. Book here.
Available daily from 5pm — last order by 6pm. Two-course set menu for $55 pp
Begin with the chef’s sashimi selection and a nori taco maki, then choose between teriyaki king salmon, pork belly, or lamb rack, each served with rice and furikake. It’s a concise showcase of Nic Watt’s refined approach to Japanese flavours. Book here.
Available Wednesday to Sunday from 5.30pm — 6pm only. Two-course set menu for $60 pp
Step behind Huami’s red doors and settle in for a menu that celebrates the restaurant’s signature flavours. Begin with the famed tabasco prawns before sharing their iconic fruitwood-roasted Peking duck with pancakes. To finish, a bright citrus finale arrives in the form of mascarpone cheesecake with lemon sorbet. Book here.
Available daily from 5pm — last order by 6pm, bookings required. Three-course set menu for $70 pp
Begin with Mt Cook salmon crudo, then choose between seasonal ravioli, Angus flat iron steak with garlic butter, or the fish of the day. A side of triple-cooked beef fat potatoes is served to share, bringing a satisfying finish to this considered early evening menu. Book here.
Golden Hour also brings a more relaxed side to the evening, with a selection of light bites and shareable plates designed for casual grazing. Perfect for easing into the night, it’s an invitation to drop in after work for a drink and something small before dinner plans unfold. Guests can also sip on a signature Golden Margarita, crafted with 1800 Silver Tequila, golden kiwifruit, lime, honey and a hint of jalapeño spice, available for $19 throughout Golden Hour.
Available daily 4pm – 5pm, $19 1800 Margaritas during 4pm – 5pm.
Choose from a trio of $19 margaritas, including the signature Golden Margarita, a magenta-hued version with lychee and dragon fruit, or a refreshing green blend of cucumber and elderflower. Best enjoyed high above the city at SkyBar, where the fleeting golden light feels even more spectacular at 182 metres up.
Ease into the evening with a selection of Huami’s refined dim sum and dumplings, from Shanghai xiao long bao and XO chilli siew mai to squid ink prawn dumplings and pan-fried leek and pork parcels. Settle in by the bar or dine amongst the garden as the afternoon glow gives way to evening.
Catch the afternoon glow at Cassia with a selection of signature snacks, from prawn toast and goat cheese pao to a spiced lamb taco. Pair it with something from the curated drinks list and settle in as the evening begins to unfold.
Ease into the evening at Depot with a lineup of Kiwi classics, from buffalo fried oysters and Regal King Salmon tartare to wood-fired green-lip mussels with nori and miso butter. Perfect for sharing as the light begins to change.
Few pieces of furniture have achieved the cult status of the Togo. Designed in 1973 by Michel Ducaroy for French furniture house Ligne Roset, the instantly recognisable form has defined relaxed, modern living for more than five decades. With its low-slung profile, sculptural folds and signature pleated upholstery, Togo strikes a rare balance between visual impact and deep comfort.
Togo fireside chair and togo footsool from Ligne Roset
Togo small settee and togo footstool from Ligne Roset
Togo large settee and togo footstool from ligne roset
This weekend, the Ligne Roset Auckland showroom is presenting a Togo Flash Sale. For two days only, selected Togo pieces will be reduced by up to 60%, with Alcantara fabric designs discounted by up to 40%. (Sale excludes leather and limited-edition fabrics).
The sale runs Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th March and is available in-store only. Don’t miss your chance to secure one of the most beloved and enduring original furniture designs. This is a rare opportunity for those who have long admired the design classic.
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