From a month-long central city celebration to mouth-watering events, seasonal set menus, long lunches and more, here we present our definitive August Dining Guide.
Try the Winners: Fork & Fame at Commercial Bay
The results are in — and now it’s your turn to taste them. Commercial Bay’s Fork & Fame Awards have crowned the top dishes across six crave-worthy categories. Start with Eden Noodles’ Dumplings in Spicy Sauce (the Bang For Buck winner), then dial up date night with oysters and Champagne from BillyPot. Craving comfort? Don’t miss Loco Bros’ Chicken Tinga Tacos (aptly dubbed the winner in the Don’t Wear White category), or the Tiramisu Donut from Doe Donuts for dessert. With standout bites from Fatima’s, Wise Boys, and more, there’s only one rule: come hungry.
Darling on Drake’s New Winter Menu
Darling has unveiled its new winter menu, filled with everything from comforting classics to bold new favourites, and a whole lot of deliciousness in-between. Expect the likes of silky mushroom parfait, glazed lamb ribs with smoked mayo and dukkah, a zesty cured Mount Cook Salmon and an unmissable roasted beets dish that is as beautiful to . All of which is best enjoyed alongside a mezcal margarita, of course.
An Exploration of Spice at Cassia
Spice and smoke collide in this unmissable courtyard takeover at Cassia, running Tuesday to Saturday evenings (5—9pm) until September 30th. Expect Johnnie Walker whisky cocktails and curated pours, each paired with contemporary Indian bites that reveal layers of flavour — from honeyed heat to slow-building spice. A bold, sensory experience designed for dusk-hour sipping and snacking.
Takapuna Beach Cafe Launches Dinner Service
After 15+ years of beachfront brunches and gelato by the sea, Takapuna Beach Cafe is stepping into evening service. For the first time ever, the North Shore icon is serving dinner — and pouring wine — thanks to its newly acquired liquor license. Expect seasonal sharing plates by Head Chef Devon Pizarro (think Moreton Bay bugs, crayfish XO, and truffle pasta), plus a boutique New Zealand wine list and local craft beers. But despite this new elevated offering, there’s still something for everyone, from a bowl of chips and a beer on the deck to a long, convivial dinner with friends or celebrations with a side of Champagne.
By the Fire at Viaduct Harbour
As part of By the Fire — Viaduct Harbour’s month-long celebration of the season across the waterfront precinct, restaurants are turning up the heat with limited-edition menus and fiery specials that celebrate the bold, warming flavours of the season. From smoky cocktails to perfectly charred mains, By the Fire is a precinct-wide invitation to eat, drink, and embrace the season.
Bivacco delivers a cocktail made for the colder months — a smoky, spiced blend of rum, port, citrus and chilli that’s as fiery as it is fresh, best enjoyed fireside with views across the water. At Esther, the QT Auckand, Chefs Sean Connolly and James Laird lead a Mediterranean-inspired offering of flame-grilled meats and ember-roasted veg, served by day for $39, or opt for the full fire-and-flavour feast every Tuesday night ($130pp), featuring flame-seared cuts and a cherry galette, with the option to add a wine pairing that matches the smoky depth of the fare.
Just steps from Angus Muir’s alluring bonfire installation, Hello Beasty brings serious sizzle to Market Square with its flame-fuelled food cart — firing up hibachi skewers and prawns for four nights only (15th, 16th, 22nd, and 23rd August). They’re also serving a chilli margarita in-restaurant, spiked with lime and just enough heat to warm you through. However you choose to dine, this is winter dining at its most dramatic.
Final Sundays for JSH’s Wagyu Sunday Roast
It’s your last chance to experience Jervois Steak House’s legendary wagyu Sunday roast — a winter ritual worth booking for. Think 12-hour slow-cooked wagyu rump with all the trimmings: Yorkshire puds, wagyu-fat roasties, seasonal veg and rich house-made jus. $79pp (min. two), with a $15 wine add-on. Available from 5pm every Sunday until end of August.
Edible Conversations: A Farm-to-Table Collaboration
Following their sold-out Farm Dinners, Kelmarna Farm returns this August with Edible Conversations — a two-night dinner series in collaboration with Ozone Coffee across the 13th and 14th of August. Held in Ozone’s cosy Grey Lynn space, each evening features a four-course menu by Head Chef Dean Lewis, celebrating low-waste, seasonal ingredients from Kelmarna. Enjoy a welcome drink, hear from the team, and support sustainable local food systems.
Two-for-One Pizzas at Somm
Somm’s beloved pizza nights are back — and better than ever. Every Tuesday from 4pm, settle in by the water and enjoy two-for-one woodfired pizzas, made with 72-hour poolish dough for that perfect soft-yet-structured bite. From classic margherita to raclette with ’nduja and honey, there’s something for every craving. Walk-ins welcome, bookings encouraged.
Wednesday Bingo at Norma Taps
Bingo is back at Norma Taps — a monthly night of epic prizes, great drinks, tasty food, and plenty of laughs. There are prizes for every round, and booklets are $6 a pop — kicking off at 6.30pm on the first Wednesday of each month. Grab your crew and make a night of it, the team at Norma Taps always make a visit worth your while.
Perrier-Jouët Garden Lunch at Huami
For one day only on Thursday 7th August, Huami is hosting an elegant garden lunch with Perrier-Jouët’s Champagne Ambassador Andrea Giraud, visiting from France. Guests will enjoy three tasting pours — Grand Brut, Blason Rosé and Blanc de Blancs — alongside Huami’s signature birdcage stacked with XO chilli siew mai, prawn dumplings and more. A refined, $100-per-person experience (minimum two).
Lechon & Pickletini at Bar Magda
For one night only, Bar Magda is turning up the heat with an alluring Dinner & Disco celebration. In partnership with Pickle Gin and Peddlers Gin, they’re serving a one-off cocktail menu to match a bold, flavour-packed dinner feast — think cured and rillettes of Ōra King salmon, lechon pork tocino with atchara, a vibrant winter salad, and kumara-potato galette with caper sauce and crisps. $88 per person includes two bespoke gin cocktails, a delectable shared dinner, and entry to the winter disco, which kicks off after the fare at 9.30pm.
Meet the Makers at Swiftsure: A Journey South
On Friday 15th August, Swiftsure is hosting an indulgent evening of wine, food and storytelling — guided by Man O’ War Winemaker Duncan McTavish and Viticulturist Sam Taylor. Journey from Waiheke to Central Otago over five courses (plus petit fours) by Head Chef Yann Robert, each paired with wines from Man O’ War and Swiftsure. $190pp.
Soul Cha Sundays at Soul Bar & Bistro
Soul Bar & Bistro is bringing a playful twist to the classic weekend yum cha with Soul Cha — launching Sunday 17th August. Think wagyu skewers, cheeseburger spring rolls, buttery crab toast and truffle fries in bite-sized form. Running every Sunday from 11am–2.30pm, trays roam the floor and bites start from just $8. No set menu, no rules — just leisurely grazing with a little extra soul.
Coco Lane Cookies’ New Posse
Cult‑favourite Coco Lane Cookies, born in a family kitchen and famed for its gigantically gooey, New York–style chunky cookies, has opened an outpost on High Street — much to the delight of sweet-toothed city-siders. Expect oversized cookies packed with Belgian chocolate and New Zealand butter, alongside premium drinks and a friendly, nostalgic vibe.
Après at Ayrburn with Sin & Brook
Ski boots off, party mode on: Ayrburn’s turning up the après. On Saturday 16th August, The Manure Room becomes the hottest spot in Arrowtown with a one-night-only ski season celebration hosted by George FM’s Sin & Brook. Expect a high-energy soundtrack spanning house, techno, and garage, stellar local support, and the kind of food, drink and dancefloor vibe that makes you forget the mountain ever closed. Tickets from $40 — don’t miss out.
