Why Parnell 2026?
Leading Auckland publications tell us why Parnell is The Space to Be, from endless hospitality options to leading design.
Explore some of our press coverage from 2026.
Issue No50 — Welcoming Committee
Disability heritage guide: Jubilee Building
In this Disability Heritage Guide, Tewai Halatau revisits her childhood at the Jubilee Building, which was once a school for blind children and adults.
Henry Onesemo’s stellar year continues with Chef of the Year honour
Hospitality Business, 25 August 2026
Michelin-starred Samoan restaurant – TALA – is celebrating after chef/owner Henry Onesemo was named Chef of the Year and his restaurant was again awarded a 3 Hats status at the Cuisine Good Food Awards.
Sāmoan chef Henry Onesemo named NZ's 2026 Chef of the Year
Pacific Media Network, 25 August 2026
The TALA chef is being recognised for bringing Sāmoan culture, tradition, and hospitality to fine dining, helping reshape how Pacific food is seen.
The Cuisine Good Food Guide Awards For 2026 Have Been Announced, Here’s All The Winners
For over 22 years, the Cuisine Good Food Guide has been celebrating the very best of New Zealand’s hospitality scene. This year’s awards recognised Henry Onesemo as Chef of the Year, and Tala was awarded 3 hats.
Jesse Mulligan: The 6 Best Restaurants I’ve Eaten At So Far This Year
From standout newcomers to enduring favourites, Jesse Mulligan shares the Auckland restaurants that have delivered him the most memorable meals so far—including a trip to Oh Calcutta.
Reinstate the Sunday family lunch with these three exceptional deals
Non Solo Pizza’s Nonna’s Sunday Table takes a traditional Italian route. For $65 per person, groups of four or more begin with an antipasto tower before moving on to rigatoni alla vodka or pizza, followed by lamb shoulder or porchetta and sides. It’s available for both lunch and dinner.
The Savor Festival events you’ll want to book now, plus win a Denizen-exclusive gourmand’s dream worth $1,000
Spend an evening in the company of one of New Zealand’s sporting greats as Sir John Kirwan brings JK.14 Wines and a wealth of compelling stories to Non Solo Pizza. Italian-inspired aperitivo, generous hospitality and relaxed conversation set the scene for a memorable event dedicated to great wine and even better company.
Your guide to the best events and experiences this August
Natalie Guy’s latest body of work a Foenander Galleries, Plischke and the Architecture of Suspicion, considers the uneasy relationship between modernist architecture, surveillance and the act of looking.
The Must-Save Hidden Haunts To Discover Across New Zealand In 2026
A leafy local neighbourhood just outside the CBD, Parnell is filled with boutique stores, galleries, cafes and hidden dining spots. Spend a few hours exploring its charming streets before relaxing in one of its many restaurants and wine bars.
Jesse Mulligan Reviews Napoli Contemporanea: It Would Be Hard To Find Better Pizza Than This
Looking for authentic Napoli pizza? Head to Napoli Contemporanea in Parnell, writes Jesse Mulligan. The top-notch – and slightly inventive – food here more than makes up for the decor.
Jesse Mulligan Reviews Oh Calcutta: Why They’re Still Getting It Right After 32 Years
Oh Calcutta may not be the hippest place in Auckland, but you don’t survive 32 years by being fashionable. It is simply a restaurant with very high standards, where you feel good as soon as you walk in; where curry-obsessives and butter-chicken eaters can break bread together in a room that will make both feel happy and comfortable.
What’s a strange food combination that you swear by?
Roe combines soft serve ice cream finished with fish sauce caramel and pretzels. It’s a food combination that seems to work even when it shouldn’t.
The Michelin-star Auckland restaurant turning Samoan memories into fine dining
Sunday Star Times, 4 July 2026
Tala was one of 15 restaurants to be awarded a Michelin star in the inaugural New Zealand awards last Tuesday, and is the first-ever Michelin star for Samoan food.
Samoan chef Henry Onesemo celebrated after historic first for Samoan cuisine
Samoans everywhere are celebrating the success of one of their own, top chef Henry Onesemo, after his Samoan-inspired restaurant achieved a world first. The 44-year-old’s Tala restaurant, in Parnell, Auckland, made history after receiving a Michelin Star at the inaugural Michelin Guide New Zealand 2026 ceremony on Tuesday night.
Jesse Mulligan Reviews Sambal Station: You’ll Struggle To Find It, But You Won’t Forget The Food Here
Hidden above Parnell Rd with barely a sign to its name, Sambal Station is almost comically difficult to find. But those who make the effort are rewarded with some of Auckland’s most satisfying Malaysian food.
Henry Onesemo: Tala restaurant founder on the business being awarded a Michelin star
There’s been a surge in bookings for the world’s first Michelin star Samoan restaurant. Tala was awarded a single star at last night’s New Zealand Michelin Guide awards, alongside 14 other star-winners.
Sāmoa makes Michelin history as TALA earns the first-ever star for Pacific centred cuisine
Pacific Media Network, 1 July 2026
Parnell restaurant TALA has become the first Sāmoan eatery in the world to win a Michelin star with its chef saying it proves traditional Pacific cooking belongs on the global fine dining stage.
Much-loved Parnell favourite, Rhu, introduces its new sibling, Roe, serving comfort food done right
Parnell restaurant Rhu has turned its attention towards one of New Zealand’s most enduring culinary institutions. Their newest venture, Roe, has opened at 269 Parnell, offering a considered take on the neighbourhood seafood eatery that feels both familiar and refreshingly current.
Planning a family outing? These are the best kid-friendly restaurants in town
Long lunching at Parnell’s Non Solo Pizza need not be reserved for the grown-ups, with this Italian institution’s ‘Bambini’ menu offering plenty to satisfy smaller appetites.
Italians in Residence: Molteni&C opens its first New Zealand flagship
The Molteni&C flagship is open now at 99 The Strand, a space where the Italian house’s ninety-year commitment to architectural furniture can be read not from a catalogue but from the room itself.
Michelin Guide New Zealand reveals 110 top restaurants in debut list
The best dining establishments in New Zealand have finally been recognised on the world stage, with 15 restaurants being awarded prestigious Michelin stars during a glitzy event. Parnell’s Tala became the world’s first Michelin-starred Samoan restaurant, with chef Henry Onesemo brought to tears as he received a standing ovation.
From Mumbai to Parnell: The chef who made his dream happen before 30
Vicky Shah knew he wanted to be a chef since he was a teenager in Mumbai, India. He had a dream to open his own restaurant before the age of 30. And in March, he did just that, opening the intimate 12-chair space Aarth in Parnell.
New Zealand Opera Wins Innovation Award
New Zealand Opera has been named winner of the prestigious Positive Change Award at the Parnell Business Innovation Awards last week. The accolade recognises the company’s sector-leading initiative, Live Language Access: Reimagining Opera Through Inclusive Technology, which delivers real-time, multilingual translations and world-first braille capabilities directly to audience members’ personal devices.
Exhibitions revisit the past to transform the present
Allan McDonald’s exhibition, entitled Western Line 2003, is a photographic series documenting the “terrain vague of railway margins as a counter-response to the widespread commodification of Tāmaki Makaurau in the 2000s”. The work is presented at the Te Tuhi Billboards at Parnell Station in central Auckland.
Aotearoa Artswire: Thousands of NZ songs used in AI training datasets
News on the wire: At the Parnell Business Innovation Awards last week, New Zealand Opera (headquartered in Parnell) won the Positive Change Award, recognising the company’s sector-leading initiative, Live Language Access: Reimagining Opera Through Inclusive Technology
16 Of The Best Sandwiches in Auckland in 2026
Head into the golden sandy oasis that is 269 Parnell, and make a beeline for Roe. Having just opened last month from the team at Rhu, you’ll know they have a knack for doing classics right—elevated and dialled in with attention to all the textures and layers, and in this case, to make the ultimate fish sando of sando dreams.
Four reasons to explore Pukekawa paths
Pukekawa / Auckland Domain has pathways for everyone! Whether you’re keen for a meandering stroll, or want the most direct route to your destination, check out the recently upgraded walks in the domain.
My Secret Auckland: Alfred Fuimaono shares his favourite spots in the city
Opera star Alfred Fuimaono says his favourite brunch spot is easily and by far Winona Forever in Parnell. Their menu is exquisite, and we haven’t even started on their cabinet food! Ten out of 10. Strongly recommend to all.
Hit the pavement with Auckland city’s best running routes
Whether it’s a quick lunchtime jog you’re after or an epic race along the waterfront, behold a round-up of the best runs in the CBD, commencing at Panrell’s Auckland Domain. Dust off your running shoes and leave the excuses at home.
13 Of The Best Sports Bars In Auckland So You Can Catch The Big Game In Style
Parnell’s The Paddington has a medieval-meets-industrial vibe with wooden pillars, tiled walls, numerous light fixtures and a warm ambience. Broadcasting everything from rugby and soccer to UFC, their bartenders get up seriously early to accommodate all sorts of sport-crazed fanatics.
20 Of Auckland’s Best Bakeries Right Now
Here are the best bakeries to try in Tāmaki Makaurau! The cabinets at VANIYÉ have all your laminated pastry, hand-rolled baguette and beautiful French and Asian-inspired petit cakes from both their Parnell and Onehunga locations.
Where To Find Auckland’s Best Hot Chocolates in 2026
What began as a pop-up chocolate shop in 1996 is now part of the Parnell Road fabric—Chocolate Boutique Café is a Tāmaki Makaurau institution, offering handmade chocolates and a dedicated hot chocolate service.
PIZZA, FRIENDS, AND FUN
There’s a reason Parnell has quietly become Auckland’s most compelling pizza destination. Within a few walkable blocks, New York slices sit alongside true Neapolitan craftsmanship, Northern Italian classics, indulgent Chicago deep dish, and neighbourhood institutions that have perfected the art of long lunches and late-night comfort food.
The Best Museums In Auckland To Visit This Year
When it comes to the best free museums, Auckland War Memorial Museum is a very clear winner. For an alternative museum experience, slip into the Domain Wintergardens.
The Best Art Galleries In Auckland To Check Out Right Now
Parnell Gallery is one of the Best Contemporary Art Galleries In Auckland! You’ll find some of the best contemporary art Auckland has to offer at Parnell Gallery, which has been operating since 1976. It is perfectly placed to exhibit both art and Auckland’s fabulous scenery.
55 Of The Best Things To Do With Kids In Auckland All Year Round
Here are the picks for the best things to do with kids in Auckland, all year round. Play real-life Little Einsteins with a trip to the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Nothing beats a walk through the Wintergardens followed by a picnic in the Domain either lakeside or in the rotunda, with geese, ducks, and other feathered friends for company.
The Best Vegan And Vegetarian Restaurants And Cafes In Auckland
Get your mitts on deep-fried momo, and a succulent array of other Nepalese-Indian fusion morsels like Aloo Chop and veg Manchuria at Everest Dine, a Parnell restaurant that dishes up a modern twist on traditional cuisine and vegan platters.
Issue No37 — Chefs of the Compliment
Featured in ‘New Openings’: The team at Rhu have opened a fish and chip shop, Roe, at the 269 Parnell food market. “There’s a lot of things I want to eat here, including a hot tempura fish in a milk bun, and creamy soft serve with fish caramel and a pretzel.”
Denizen’s definitive guide to the best Italian restaurants in Auckland
Denizen rounded up the best Italian Eateries that Auckland has to offer, including Non Solo Pizza, Cornelia, and Napoli Contemporanea.
Henry Onesemo: The chef using his childhood memories to put Samoan cuisine on the map
At Tala, chef Henry Onesemo turns childhood memories into high-end dishes that are reshaping how Auckland — and the world — think about Samoan cuisine. He talks to George Fenwick about identity, ambition and giving back.
The new additions to Non Solo Pizza’s long lunch that you’ll want to know about
The Italians understood something the rest of us are still catching up to: lunch should never be efficient. Non Solo Pizza’s weekend Italian Long Lunch, every Saturday and Sunday from midday, takes this philosophy seriously.
Where To Find Auckland’s Best Matcha, According To Two Matchaholics
Laid-back, counter-serve cafe ‘biskit is a local go-to for breakfast but it also serves up both classic and strawberry matcha. Have your matcha and eat it too with matcha-stuffed croissants, muffins, and more. It’s the perfect spot to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Your May culture guide: Everything to see, do and book tickets to this month
Extended through to June due to exceptional public interest, Auckland Museum’s blockbuster touring exhibition ‘Sharks‘ from the Australian Museum remains one of the best things to do in the city.
Traffic May 2026
Aarth is the debut solo restaurant from chef Vicky Shah so pop over to Parnell for top-notch modern Indian dining. Congrats to Rocco Pezzullo of Napoli Contemporanea in Parnell, which has been named on the 50 Top Pizza Asia Pacific list.
The best restaurants for a Mother’s Day celebration she deserves
Non Solo Pizza’s Italian Long Lunch is back for Mother’s Day, and at $55 per person it’s one of the most approachable ways to treat your mum to a proper Italian spread in Parnell. Aarth is opening during the day for the very first time on Mother’s Day, offering limited seats and first access to a new daytime format.
Auckland’s Best Pizza, For Every Kind Of Craving
From Neapolitan and New York-style to nostalgic pies and coeliac-friendly crusts, this is your beginner’s guide to Auckland’s best pizzas. Featuring Napoli Contemporanea and Hello Chicago.
The Italian cocktail you didn’t know you loved, and where to try it
Reimagining the traditional sour, Pineapple on Parnell‘s Deconstructed Sour cocktail deconstructs the classic down to its core elements. Expect a silky, clarified body made with Disaronno and Irish whiskey, topped with a beautiful sour Disaronno meringue that is brûléed to perfection.
The Best Things To Do With Mum This Mother’s Day In Auckland
Karigar Lane has just opened in Parnell, a craft cafe where you order arts and craft instead of food. Touted as a third space for creatives, you simply pull up a pew, select an activity, then get crafting, sipping on chai, hot chocolate or coffee while you do so.
Review: Heaven in Aarth
Tucked into a little corner across a bricked courtyard off Parnell Rd, Aarth is a fine-dining offering that showcases India’s varied cuisine.
Auckland’s Best New Restaurant Openings Of 2026 You Need To Know About
The Best Markets In Auckland (Updated April 2026)
Held at the Jubilee Building every Saturday morning, grab a coffee and stock up on fruit, veggies, meat, flowers, cheese and other deli produce. Rain or shine, you’ll find the Parnell Farmers’ Market in the car park of the building that is home to the Parnell Community Library.
Jess Swney’s ‘I Think My Pig Is Whistling’ brings tactile rebellion to Föenander Galleries
Tufted textiles become unlikely vessels for memory, tension and quiet rebellion in Jess Swney’s upcoming exhibition at Foenander Galleries, where softness disguises a far sharper cultural conversation.
Denizen’s definitive guide to the best Vietnamese restaurants
Auckland is truly spoilt for choice when it comes to world-class Vietnamese fare, and both Papa Viet and Hello Mister were included in Denizen’s list.
Aarth and Soul
There is something a little compelling about Aarth before you’ve even stepped inside. Perhaps it starts with Chef Vicky Shah whose reputation across some of the city’s most respected kitchens precedes him. Or perhaps it’s that what he’s created here feels far more personal than a CV could capture.
Auckland’s Most Epic Easter Treats For You To Hunt Down In 2026
Vaniyé Patisserie has a stunning Easter Collection each year and this year is no exception. Their Easter cake is an Easter chocolate lover’s dream, with caramelised milk mousse, dark chocolate ganache, and fluffy marshmallow layers on a chocolate sponge.
Denizen’s April culture guide: Everything to see, do and book tickets to this month
April arrives loaded, and with the school holidays stretching across the middle of the month, there’s every reason to fill the diary early. Included in Denizen’s culture guide is the new exhibition by Gavin Chai and Rupert Travis at Foenander Galleries.
The votes are in: These are the finest buns in town, as decided by you
In the weeks leading up to Easter 2026, Denizen asked readers to weigh in on the city’s best Hot Cross Buns. The results are decisive, occasionally surprising, and entirely reader-driven, with Pandoro Panetteria making the final ranks.
Auckland’s Best Hot Cross Buns For Easter 2026
In no particular order—here are the best hot cross buns (so far) in Tāmakai Makaurau, including Parnell’s own Vaniye Patisserie.
The Best Auckland Flower Delivery And Florists For Mother’s Day
As one of the few Auckland florists that are open at either end of a working day, Flowers After Hours is a saving grace for busy bees looking to spoil a loved one. Simply pop online or into their Parnell boutique and explore endless options of bloom bags, boxes and bouquets.
Auckland restaurant makes it onto '50 Top Pizza Asia-Pacific 2026' list
A Parnell restaurant has made it onto the ‘50 Top Pizza Asia-Pacific’ list for the second year in a row. Owner of Napoli Contemporanea Rocco Pezullo flew to Tokyo in March to accept the 37th placing for 2026.
Things to do in Auckland this weekend: Pasifika, boat fest, Kumeu Show
The only thing we as a species love more than a good shark story is a risk-free opportunity to explore their world. Enter the Auckland War Memorial Museum’s blockbuster shark double header: the exhibition – simply named Sharks – and the live theatre experience Swimming with Sharks.
Auckland’s Tala Makes Time Magazine’s 100 World’s Greatest Places List
Viva Top 50 Supreme Winner Tala has been named as one of the world’s 100 greatest places to visit by Time magazine. The award-winning Auckland restaurant, which has been lauded for its impressive modern Samoan cuisine, received the international accolade on Thursday.
The World’s Greatest Places of 2026
Each year, TIME solicits nominations of places—including hotels, cruises, restaurants, attractions, museums, parks, and more—from its international network of correspondents and contributors, as well as through an application process, with an eye toward those offering new, exciting, and relevant experiences. Included in this year’s list in Parnell restaurant Tala.
We challenge the concierges at five top hotels to put together the perfect 24 hours in Auckland
NZ Herald asked concierges from some of Auckland’s top hotels to describe their perfect 24 hours in Auckland. Included in their recommendations were Parnell-based attractions, including The Fantail House, Auckland Museum, Parnell Rose Gardens, and Holy Trinity Cathedral.
13 Of The Best Auckland Markets For Weekend Wandering
Viva are headed on a tour of Auckland’s best and brightest local markets, including Parnell Farmers’ Market. This indoor-outdoor market is one of the most varied situated in the central city, hosting a range of friendly vendors. There is a long list of bakeries, food trucks and stalls offering up breakfast. Smaller pantry specialities, such as honey, coffee, sauces, muesli and olive oil, are also presented proudly for tasting.
Aotearoa New Zealand's Top 50 most influential & inspiring women in food & drink 2026
Each year, Cuisine compiles a list of the women set to influence our food-and-drink scene in 2026. Included in this year’s list is Sachie Nomura, the founder, chef and educator behind Elemental Cooking School by Sachie, through which she shares her love of Asian cuisine by demystifying its techniques for the home kitchen.
Italian furniture brand Molteni&C to open flagship in Auckland
Dawson & Co will open a flagship store for Italian furniture brand Molteni&C in Parnell, expanding Auckland’s premium retail furniture offering. Dawson & Co director Scott Fisk said the move reflects sustained growth in the high-end segment.
The free garden with 5000 roses and a view I wasn’t expecting
Travel journalist Emma Stanford is exploring hidden wonders across New Zealand, and her journeys took her to the Parnell Rose Gardens.
A Vibrant Art Experience Returns to Parnell for One Night Only
A vibrant art experience is returning to Parnell, bigger than before, for one night only. After a successful debut in 2025, Parnell Business Association is proud to host ‘Rediscover Parnell Village’ on Thursday 12 March, from 5pm until late.
Aarth: Thoughtful, Modern Indian Dining in Parnell
There’s a new name on Parnell Road, and it’s one that comes with real intent. Aarth has just opened this February, offering a modern Indian dining experience that feels deeply personal, confident and refreshingly unexpected.
Molteni&C flagship store to open in Auckland as Dawson & Co expands
Dawson & Co is set to open a flagship store in Parnell for Italian designer furniture maker Molteni&C in the latest expansion of Auckland’s luxury retail offerings. The dedicated gallery is currently under construction next door to Dawson & Co’s Parnell showroom in the now vacated building at 99 The Strand.
A Landmark Sale marks the start of a new big future for Dawson & Co
In Parnell, Dawson & Co. is furthering its footprint, creating a bold destination for design. A dedicated home for Kett. A flagship Molteni&C gallery next door, this new precinct is designed to give each brand the space, clarity and context it deserves, and offer clients a more immersive, design-led experience.
Things to do in Auckland this weekend: Pride, AfroFest, Chinese New Year
Take in some art this weekend at Black Door Gallery, where Otago-raised artist Gaen opened his latest exhibition earlier this week. The pieces have a calm, reflective quality, and viewing them may just have that same effect on you and your weekend.
10 Of Auckland’s Most Romantic Restaurants For Date Night
Urban List rounded up ten of the most romantic restaurants in Auckland, including Parnell’s own Tala. The Samoan word Tala means ‘story,’ or ‘tale,’ and Chef-owner Henry Onesemo is telling the story of his food memories growing up in Samoa, but with a modern and fresh twist.
In love's Domain
This weekend, the place for Auckland lovers to meet is the old band rotunda in the city’s Domain. NZ Opera is presenting a Valentine’s evening edition of its outdoor concert series “Opera in the Park” in the rotunda with sopranos Michaela Cadwgan and Katherine Winitana, tenor Ipu Laga’aia and baritone Joel Amosa, all accompanied by pianist David Kelly.
Fire Horse, the new Exhibition at Föenander, ushers in a bold new era
Each new year, Föenander Galleries takes the opportunity to heighten our artistic focus with an annual Summer Exhibition. On view from 28 January to 28 February 2026, the exhibition titled Fire Horse is a curated constellation of new works by gallery artists and invited guests, in a considered selection of bold new works that feel both responsive to the moment and grounded in strong individual practices.
Aarth Brings Modern Indian Dining to Parnell
Auckland is no stranger to refined, contemporary Indian food. Restaurants like Cassia and Sidart have already reshaped expectations, and in many ways, Aarth begins from that same lineage, but redefines and refines it through a deeply personal lens.
Aarth, Parnell: First Look Inside Vicky Shah’s New Modern Indian Restaurant
Chef Vicky Shah has cooked at Cassia, Kol and Sidart. Now he’s going it alone with a modern Indian restaurant in Parnell, Auckland. With financial backing from family and partner Julia Benton as restaurant manager (the pair met when they worked at Cassia), Shah has opened Aarth – Auckland’s newest modern Indian restaurant.
Aarth Begins New Chapter of Indian Dining
Restaurant & Cafe, 11 February 2026
A new chapter in modern Indian dining arrives in Auckland with Aarth, welcoming diners from 11th February 2026, a restaurant shaped by meaning, memory and meticulous intent. Aarth has introduced a modern take on traditional Indian Cuisine in the heart of Parnell, where every detail tells a story.
Where To Wine, Dine And Treat Your Lover In Auckland This Valentine’s Day
Here are the most romantic places to wine, dine and treat your lover in Auckland this Valentine’s Day (or live it up while revelling in singledom). In Parnell, attend ‘Be Mine, A Valentine’s Candle-Making Class With Sybs’ at Residium, or ‘Candlelight: Valentine’s Day Special’ at Holy Trinity Cathedral.
The Best Flower Delivery And Florists In Auckland Right Now
As one of the few Auckland florists that are open at either end of a working day, Flowers After Hours is a saving grace for busy bees looking to spoil a loved one. Simply pop online (or into their Parnell boutique—which is generously open from 7.30-7pm during the week) and explore endless options of bloom bags, boxes and bouquets.
Parnell Neighbourhood Guide
Parnell is one of Auckland’s oldest suburbs, full of leafy streets, historic charm, and a mix of old and new. Whether you’re after a lazy brunch, a stroll through beautiful gardens, or some boutique shopping, spending a day in Parnell is always a treat.
