Why cook on Christmas Day when you don’t need to? Spare yourself the stress and the mess – these restaurants will be open in Auckland.
Trivet
22 Albert St, central city
$195 per person
If you’re feeling fancy, JW Marriott’s signature restaurant in the city, Trivet, is always
Diners can look forward to a Christmas cocktail on arrival, and the first course includes housemade flatbread with coconut, green-lipped mussels, chorizo piquante and rare beef tartare.
There’s a selection of proteins for the second course, including a lamb belly with gochujang, cauliflower and apricot.
For dessert, expect a curated selection of Christmas indulgences. And here’s the bonus – Christmas crackers are included.
Trivetdining.co.nz
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Advertise with NZME.Takapuna Beach Cafe
22 The Promenade, Takapuna
The iconic cafe of the North Shore will be open on Christmas Day bright and early for a good time, not a long time, opening at 6.30am and closing at noon. Pray you don’t sleep in.
Satya
17 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn
For the 15th year in a row, Satya’s Ponsonby branch will open its doors and provide free meals to those struggling most with food insecurity at Christmas. While the exact dishes will be revealed on the day, you can count on there being delicious South Indian curries and a warm, festive atmosphere.
Metita
Inside The Grand by SkyCity, 90 Federal St, central city
$235 per adult, $109 per child
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Advertise with NZME.Named after his mother, Michelin-starred chef Michael Meredith’s Metita honours his Samoan heritage and brings a fresh take on Pacific cuisine and fine dining.
The sample Christmas menu shared on Metita’s website lists natural oysters, corned beef steamed bun and tuna tartare to start. There are also kingfish oka and scallops served with paneer and a spice dressing. Mains are likely to include a pork roast, chicken leg, umala sourdough and roasted carrots. For dessert, there’s a panipopo with spiced rum caramel and banana sorbet.
Masu by Nic Watt
Inside The Grand by SkyCity, 90 Federal St, central city
$195 per adult, $65 per child
When you want the best of Japanese cuisine, head to Masu. Nic Watt’s restaurant offers an immersive, family-friendly dining experience and on Christmas Day, a bold five-course, sharing-style menu is available, with a selection ranging from sashimi to pavlova.
Kingi
29 Galway St, central city
$185 per person
You can expect seafood decadence on Christmas Day at Kingi, the restaurant at the award-winning Hotel Britomart. The restaurant will offer a four-course, sharing-style menu, with a Te Matuku Bay oyster, granita, makrut oil sashimi platter, dry-aged kahawai, trevally and a pāua sausage – and that’s just for starters. Swordfish with bisque butter will be the hero, and the finale offers a Christmas trifle with cherries from Otago.
Eight Restaurant at Cordis
83 Symonds St, Grafton
Champagne Breakfast: $115 per adult, $57.50 per child aged 5-12
Lunch and Dinner: $299 per adult, $159 per child aged 5-12
If you want freedom in your options but still want it fancy, you can have both at Eight. For lunch and dinner, Eight will throw a tremendous banquet featuring a selection of Mediterranean dishes, tandoori, homemade cold cuts, tapas, salads, dim sum, rotisserie and more. If you’re up and about early, a Champagne breakfast is in the mix, too.
Esther
4 Viaduct Harbour Ave, central city
$249 per adult, $99 per child up to age 12
Chef Sean Connolly and team have put together a delicious menu so you can avoid touching the stove. In between the start and the finish, enjoy a beautiful Cloudy Bay Diamond clam risotto, a Speckle Park ribeye off the bone or a Waitoa free-range roast chicken, with duck fat potatoes and Cambridge asparagus en papillote.
Saint Alice
1/204 Quay St, central city
$220 per non-veg adult, $160 per vegetarian/vegan adult, $60 per child up to age 12.
The chic waterfront spot is planning to serve up a festive storm. Start with a selection of seafood and breads, including poached prawns and focaccia with whipped rosemary butter. The main will be a board full of meat: a delicious lamb rump, twice-cooked pork belly, wagyu beef rump cap, and half a roast chicken, with cranberry sauce, mustards, gravy, mint jelly and garlic butter served alongside.
There’s also a board full of sides like duck fat potatoes and charred greens. Dessert is served with a traditional Christmas log and an Eton Mess. Bliss.
Morningside Tavern
16 McDonald St, Morningside
$155 per adult, $85 per teen aged 13-17, $55 per child aged 5-12, under 5s eat free
This family-oriented tavern is offering all the Christmas classics in its buffet lunch. The main offers a Christmas ham with a honey mustard glaze, house-smoked salmon, rolled turkey with cranberry sauce and seared beef sirloin with red wine jus. Finish it off with a Christmas mince pie, pavlova or a Christmas trifle.
Cook’s Restaurant and Bar
Inside Fable Auckland, 58-60 Queen St, central city
$199 per person
This year, Cook’s restaurant is running a five-course set menu for dinner, paired with a complimentary glass of Champagne. Start with a herb-crusted lamb rack and roast New Zealand king scallops. The main-course options will be fillet mignon with parsnip puree, chioggia beetroot dill mayo, micro rocket and jus, and Aoraki salmon with sweet corn custard, champagne vinaigrette, broad beans, cherry tomatoes and fondant potatoes. Finish with a Chocolate Nemesis.
The CUT Restaurant & Bar
59 Federal St, central city
$215 per adult, $99 per child aged 12-17; $54 aged 5-11, under 5s eat free
The Cut’s Christmas buffet’s main attractions include a herb-crusted prime beef scotch, Moroccan spiced chicken, a zesty grilled salmon and an oven-baked pumpkin and feta cannelloni. It comes with several hot side comforts, including steamed greens and broccoli in chilli garlic butter. An assortment of festive desserts is also offered, including a traditional Christmas pudding and buttery mince pies.
