Lazy Susan festive dining guide
Who’s open on key dates this festive season? Plus a list of gourmet gifting options I know the Susans will love as much as I do.
Christmas and NYE dining
Christmas Eve Long Lunch – Festive 4-course long lunch. Kids welcome, with a special kid’s menu. $175 per adult | $85 per child (under 10)
New Year’s Eve – Enjoy a 4-course set menu with a glass of Champagne on arrival for $250 per person. Choose from two seatings: 5.30pm–8.00pm or 8.00pm till late. Dining available in the beautiful courtyard under the stars or indoors.
Park Hyatt
Christmas at the Living Room – 25 December | Seating sessions at 12:00 PM and 2.30PM | Lavish waterfront dining, featuring interactive food stations and festive canapés. A glass of Louis Roederer on arrival to toast the occasion. $249 per adult | $125 per child.
New Year’s Eve Celebration – 31 December | Seating sessions at 8.00 PM, 8.30 PM, 9.00 PM, 9.30 PM Gourmet food stations, curated canapés, live music and fireworks by the harbour. $298 per person.
New Year’s Eve dining at Onemata – 31 December | Seating sessions from 7:00 PM | Black-tie evening with canapés on arrival, a four-course dinner and champagne. Live music. $398 per person
San Ray & Cazador
These sister venues are both open NYE. Menus as follows:
Cazador
Venison consomé, makrut lime
Gnocchi fritti, heritage pork pancetta, parmesan
Venison bresaola, goats cheese, whiskey honey
Duck and pistachio terrine w/ pickled cherry
Grilled venison heart, almond, guajillo chilli
Wagyu beef tongue tonnato
Chargrilled wapiti venison, celeriac
Cucumber, buttermilk ranch, dill, nigella
$140pp two sittings from 5PM
San Ray
Te Matuku Oysters, tequila & lime granita
Sourdough, chipotle butter
Prawn, passionfruit, cucumber, green chilli
Heritage Tomato Salad, yellow tomato salsa, pickled chilli, quinoa, pepitas
Wood Fired Sweetcorn, mezcal, chipotle, cotija, lime mayonnaise
Chargrilled Rib Eye, cognac jus, pink peppercorns
Baby Gem Salad, chilli crisp, apple
Shoestring Fries, housemade tajín, buttermilk mayo
Buckwheat Churros, espresso chocolate sauce
$110PP open breakfast/lunch/dinner
NYE dinner – Champagne and a four-course seasonal menu | Start with fresh oysters and crispy chicken skin, then enjoy king prawns with Hawke’s Bay stonefruit, aged duck breast with verjuice and cherries, and finish with summer berries pudding and honeycomb. $175 per person.
Other festive dining events
Bar Magda
Noche Buena – 21 December. Returning to Bar Magda again this year, Noche Buena pays homage to the feast enjoyed in homes throughout the Philippines after Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. The menu (see pic) includes traditional favourites including a section dedicated to Carlo’s Gradnma Lola Ludy. $78pp, minumum of two persons but best for groups of four or more if you would like a whole stuffed chicken for your table | Special prices on cocktails and bottles of wine and BYO with a $10pp corkage.
Dec 21, 6:30pm and 7:15pm sittings.
Bar Magda
Nanam
Noche Buena – 24 December | Lunch and dinner sittings. Chefs/owners Jessabel Granada, Andrew Soriano and team recerate favourite dishes from this Filipino occasion, with a Nanam twist. Highlights include lechon pork belly, lechon ‘baka’ beef belly, paella Valenciana, chicken relleno, and plenty of desserts including ube leche flan cake, and a halo-halo station. An absolute feast is in order! Adults $85; kids 7–12: $40; kids 2–6: $25; Under 2: free.
Charitable & Community Events
Stacked Burger Bar
Everyone’s Christmas – A free event on Christmas morning hosted by Stacked Burger Bar and Charli’s Ice Cream Parlour. 600 burgers, 1200 cookies, plus gift bags and treats, free to anyone who needs a bit of cheer. No bookings, just show up and enjoy. 119 Richardson Rd, Mt Albert, 9-11.30am
Festive catering
Duo Eatery
Duo’s owners Sarah and Jordan MacDonald are renowned for their flair at creating delicious dishes everyone wants a piece of, so this year they’re offering to prep some of their own favourite festive dishes for the good people of Auckland. Think prawn cocktails, whole poached crayfish, succulent steak, and trifle.
Christmas day salads – Classic Potato or Scarlet Slaw | Pre-order by Dec 12 for collection on 24 Dec.
Frozen meals – Take a break from cooking over the holiday period by ordering a selection of frozen meals to have handy. There are loads of dishes to choose from and they taste as good as homemade if home had a chef in the kitchen.
Festive gifting and provisions
Casual Foodie
Bespoke hampers suitable for corporate gifting, full loads of Xmas treats like jams, pickles, and small-batch handmade mince pies. Plus you can order items individually.
The Kitchen Project
Ketes for Christmas – Three options for ketes filled with delicious artisan treats made by emerging entrepreneurs here in Tāmaki Makaurau. Choose from the Sweet Kete, Savoury Kete or Everything Kete. GET IN QUICK, ORDERS CLOSE DEC 8!
The renowned lineup of festive desserts from The Pantry at Park Hyatt is back for online ordering. Executive Chef Callum Liddicoat and his team’s creations for holiday season are bursting with the vibrant flavours of summer berries and tropical fruits, featuring indulgent roulades, dessert jars reminiscent of classic trifle, cakes, and tarts.
