The news may have been dominated by a series of notable closures this year, but if you take a look back at the state of play in the hospitality industry, we’ve been lucky to add a number of exceptional new venues to the country’s already robust list of great places to eat and drink.
New Zealand has always punched well above its weight when it comes to our restaurant industry, but this year has taken things up a notch, from modern Filipino dining in Matakana, to authentically modern Thai food in a suburban pocket of Auckland. If the sheer calibre of new additions to our country’s scene over the last 12 months is anything to go off, it’s clear that there has never been a better time to eat out in Aotearoa. Here, we round up our pick of the best openings of 2025, your ultimate hitlist to tick off as we head into the new year.
RESTAURANTS
Billy’s
ALL DAY DINING
Mother
CASUAL DINING
Bar Ziti
The Grey Lynn Firehouse
WINE BARS
