Where To Dine Out In Auckland On Christmas Day

Have a proper Kiwi Christmas with a slow-cooked BBQ dinner. Smokin Cole is here to make all your Christmas wishes come true with their legendary barbie skills. A few crowd favourite dishes include the infamous pork jowl meat candy, the incredibly tender Memphis dry-rub pork ribs and the chicken wings, enjoy them with buffalo sauce, BBQ, or naked. We are beyond excited to see what Smokin Cole cooks up for Christmas, and we know it will be divine. For those of you who still want to enjoy the succulent and tasty cuts that Smokin Cole has on offer while in the comfort of your home, pre-order the Christmas ham. The whole baby Bordeaux ham comes smoked and with a mouth-watering pomegranate glaze.

Kick the day off with a sparkling start; the Champagne breakfast will be in the brand-new Jade room at Eight restaurant inside the Cordis hotel. The restaurant will be decked out with beautiful Christmas trees, festive decorations and Christmas classics will play the entire day. Dine upon a selection of fun and festive treats, including caper brioche, smoked salmon, and chicken and cranberry muffins. During lunch service, a special guest will make an appearance; Santa Claus! In the evening, diners will receive a lavish gourmet feast with all the Christmas trimmings, from succulent turkey, roast ham on the bone and wild boar steaks.

Indulge in a set 6-course degustation extravaganza at the beautiful Mela restaurant; open for lunch service on Christmas Day. The sleek and elegant restaurant has carefully crafted a culinary experience that delights the senses with tastings of various cuisine. The dinner will include samples of signature dishes like the Kingfish with seaweed butter, the fermented chilli and sunflower seeds and the venison loin. This experience will be one-of-a-kind and a remarkable way to celebrate the season.

Splash out and spend your Christmas in the clouds; the iconic Orbit promises an unforgettable night; the restaurant rotates once every hour for a unique experience with breath-taking 360-degree views of Auckland city. The set menu includes outstanding dishes like Cambridge quack ‘A’ duck breast, NZ turkey and pistachio terrine and the Hauraki gulf snapper fillet. Save space for dessert; the Keke Tiakarete is a layered chocolate cake with raspberry jelly and paleo raspberry sorbet. Enjoy a bottle of Mumm Rosé, a pink haze cocktail with tequila, or a nice cold beer.

Esther has prepared a festive feasting menu designed to inspire Christmas cheer with a dash of QT magic. Chef Sean Connolly and his award-winning team have created a delightful Christmas menu, pop bubbles and pull crackers between courses; leave the cooking to Esther. The cuisine weaves flavours from the French Riviera, Sicily and magnificent Morocco. Begin the celebrations with Te Matuku Waiheke Oysters, served naturally with a wedge of lemon. Move on to a selection of duck fat potatoes, chargrilled asparagus and harmony farms roast porchetta with chicken jus and fennel. With feasting and beverage packages for lunch and dinner, you can choose the option that best suits your needs.