In the middle of February, ripples of intrigue began to emanate from the heart of Parnell Village. Tucked away down one of the suburb’s iconic cobbled paths, Aarth opened its doors to the public, and immediately captured the attention of media outlets and foodies alike.
Aarth is the latest hospitality venture of chef Vicky Shah, who has previously worked for renowned hospitality institutions such as Cassia, Sidart, The French Café, KOL, The Sugar Club, The Grill and Ki Māha. Now, Shah is branching out into running his own restaurant, serving modern Indian cuisine to Parnell.
“Aarth comes from a place of meaning, memory, identity, and evolution. It was inspired by Indian food as it exists today, not as a fixed idea from the past. Chef Shah wanted to honour heritage without being nostalgic, and to cook food that reflects where he is now, in New Zealand.”
—Restaurant & Cafe, ‘Yes Chef | Vicky Shah, Aarth’
“The name Aarth translates to ‘deeper meaning’, and that idea runs through everything here. From the menu to the interiors, this is a restaurant designed to move beyond surface level dining. It’s about heritage, symbolism and memory, reinterpreted for Auckland right now.”
—The Nook, ‘Aarth: Thoughtful, Modern Indian Dining in Parnell’
“Dishes move between comfort and surprise, edging the known into the unexpected, whether it’s white bait bhaji or heirloom tomatoes infused with a pav bhaji palate. Aarth invites diners to let go of what they think they know, and experience Indian cuisine as fluid, modern and quietly daring.”
—Restaurant & Cafe, ‘Aarth Begins New Chapter of Indian Dining’
“Early in its journey, Aarth is already looking forward. Rooted in Indian culinary heritage and shaped by New Zealand sensibility, it offers a more intimate, more considered expression of modern Indian dining in Auckland.”
—Denizen, ‘Aarth Brings Modern Indian Dining to Parnell’
“The food alone would be enough to rave about Aarth, but it’s the intention behind it, too. Each dish is considered not just in flavour, but in story. It challenges what you think you know about Indian cuisine, but it certainly doesn’t lose that sense of comfort.”
—Verve, ‘Aarth and Soul’
“Aarth’s menu is a love letter to flavour and texture inspired by heritage, a delicate balance of spices and pleasantly unexpected combinations of ingredients at each bite.”
—Urban List, ‘Auckland’s Best New Restaurant Openings Of 2026 You Need To Know About’
