The Aotearoa Art Fair returns to Auckland’s waterfront from 30 April to 3 May, and if you’re planning to spend your days immersed in the country’s most compelling contemporary art, you’ll want to eat accordingly. The Britomart and waterfront precinct has you well and truly covered, with five restaurants that between them handle everything from a long Italian lunch to a sharp Japanese cocktail, all within easy walking distance of the fair. Here’s where to book.
Amano
The anchor of Britomart’s dining scene and the restaurant that still sets the standard for produce-driven eating in the city centre. Amano’s menu shifts with the seasons and treats its ingredients with serious intention. The pasta programme alone is reason enough to book: think Hawke’s Bay suffolk lamb ragu with pappardelle, scampi chitarra, and a cacio e pepe that knows exactly what it’s doing. Whether you’re after a considered dinner after an evening preview or a relaxed lunch between gallery sessions, this is the table that consistently delivers.
Book here.
Ebisu
When the art has sharpened your senses, and you want a meal that matches, Ebisu is the answer. Ebisu’s menu is precise, generous, and endlessly rewarding, whether you’re working through a sashimi selection or settling in with something from the robata grill. It’s the kind of place built for sharing, where plates arrive and the table gets involved. The cocktail edit here deserves particular attention too. It’s one of the more quietly accomplished drinks lists in the precinct, and the kind of place where one round becomes two without anyone complaining.
Book here.
Bivacco
Situated right on the water, and the one with the most options for building an Art Fair day around. For Thursday and Friday art fair goers, Bivacco’s aperitivo hour is made for you: running from 4pm to 6pm with $15 margaritas, $15 limoncello spritzes, $10 Peronis, and complimentary bites. It’s the waterfront equivalent of easing into an evening the Italian way. A spritz in hand, a few plates on the table, and absolutely no rush.
For those visiting over the weekend, Bivacco’s Ladies’ Lunch on Saturdays is worth planning for. A three-course Italian-style menu with cocktails for $49 per person, available from 11am to 3pm. Book it before or after the fair and turn a Saturday gallery visit into something significantly more indulgent.
Book here.
Ortolana
A light-filled conservatory setting in the heart of Britomart that feels a world away from the bustle outside. Ortolana’s menu is built around seasonal, locally sourced produce, and every dish is beautifully executed and designed for sharing over a long table. It works just as well for a late brunch with friends as it does for a relaxed dinner after a day on your feet, and the wine and cocktail list is pitched perfectly for either occasion.
Book here.
Bar Ziti
If you’re after something sharper and more spontaneous, Bar Ziti is the answer to the post-fair wind-down. The happy hour runs Monday to Friday from 4pm to 6pm and all day on Sundays, which aligns neatly with an Art Fair exit strategy. With cocktails, wines, and pizzas all at happy hour prices, it’s the kind of offer that turns a quick drink into a very good evening.
No bookings required.
The Aotearoa Art Fair runs from 30 April to 3 May at the Auckland waterfront.
