This Christmas, take a step back and let someone else do the cooking. The city centre is home to some of the best restaurants in Auckland, and many of which are offering indulgent festive menus to celebrate Christmas day in style. Whether it be a Christmas breakfast, lunch or dinner, with the whole family or an intimate Christmas day for two - the heart of the city is the place to be on the 25th of December.
Let Saxon + Parole do all the work for Christmas lunch and join them for their Festive Feast. For $120 per adult and $55 per child (under 12), Saxon + Parole's set menu will delight you by bringing all the love of a traditional Kiwi Christmas with all the trimmings - Oyster + Seafood Specials, DIY Bloody Mary Station, Christmas crackers and a festive beverage on arrival. Santa even has plans to drop off a little surprise for the kids! Book, here.
Celebrate Christmas at Esther, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant by chef Sean Connolly at the brand new QT hotel. Enjoy a decadent spread of mouthwatering delights with a signature QT twist, so you can stay away from the kitchen this Christmas Day. Drift from starters like Pacific rock oysters and Sean’s steak tartare, to chorizo and seafood paella and slow roasted lamb shoulder. Save room for their house made farmhouse pudding selection served tableside. Available for lunch at $159 per adult (or $210 inclusive of beverages) or $80 including soft drinks per child. Book, here.
Enjoy a relaxing Christmas Day indulging in panoramic sea views at FISH restaurant on Princes Wharf. FISH's sumptuous menu for Christmas lunch and dinner includes three courses paired with their sommelier's finest ($199 per person). Plus, a dessert buffet awaits so you can truly treat yourself this Christmas! A vegetarian menu and kids menu is also available, making FISH the best place to accommodate the whole family. Book, here.
Celebrate Christmas Day with a delicious meal at kingi in Britomart, where you will savour the terrior of New Zealand's oceans, dunes, river mouths and reefs, and enjoy a delicious glass of wine. This popular new restaurant's Christmas Day Long Lunch includes a delicious four course menu with a custom wine match at $90 per person. Availability is limited. Make a reservation online here.
Christmas High Tea. Image credit: Hotel Grand Windsor Facebook page
Nestled within Auckland's Hotel Grand Windsor, Cooke's Restaurant & Bar is the perfect venue to celebrate Christmas. With options of a Christmas Day High Tea, Champagne Christmas Breakfast or a traditional Christmas Day Menu, Cooke's Restaurant & Bar is hard to beat this festive season. For $90 per person, enjoy a Christmas Champagne breakfast, or dine in for lunch or dinner with Cooke's indulgent Christmas Day menu at $195 per person. Check out both the breakfast menu and day menu to see what tickles your fancy. Book, here.
This year, Hotel DeBrett have a fantastic Christmas Eve dinner offering as well as Christmas Day seatings for both lunch and dinner, featuring a delicious 4-course menu with a selection of festive dishes including traditional old English roast turkey and Christmas steamed pudding with brandy butter. DeBretts festive dining is $165 per person and includes a delicious Christmas cocktail on arrival. Book, here.
Christmas Day is all about special celebrations, and what better way to celebrate everyone's favourite day of the year than with a dining experience you'll never forget at The Sugar Club. Take in the uninterrupted views of Auckland City from 53 floors up inside the Skytower, and toast to the season with loved ones. This Christmas enjoy a set menu with a glass of bubbles for $195 per adult and $79 per child (under 14). Book, here.
The Grill
The perfect setting for meat lovers, The Grill by Sean Connolly has a special lunch and dinner menu for Christmas and you're going to love it. From tender pasture-fed meat to succulent, sustainable seafood and our favourite Christmas dessert, the famous pav, there's something delicious here for everyone. The Grill's festive menu is $150 per person. Book, here.
A perfect place to celebrate with large groups in style, SkyCity's Gusto at the Grand is a place to share fresh Italian dishes with family and friends with a delicious menu designed by renowned chef Sean Connolly. For $130 per person, Gusto's Christmas menu is available for both lunch and dinner and includes outstanding dishes like cloudy bay clams and a popcorn semifreddo. Book, here.