Restaurant Ari

08/06/2026

04/06/2026

Get the Ari experience, even when you've only got an hour before a show.

Our Pre-Theatre Express Menu is perfect before these performances at Toitoi:

Hayley Sproull | Friday 5 June
NZSO - Romeo & Juliet | Thursday 11 June
Judy's Encore | Friday 26 June

Laugh Your A** Off Festival | 16 - 18 July
Social Animal, A Court of H***y Roses, Guy Williams

02/06/2026

Your lunch break shouldn't happen at your desk.

Step out of the office and into Ari for two courses of seasonal cooking, warm hospitality and a proper pause in the middle of your day.

Designed for professionals who want something better than a rushed sandwich and a coffee.

Two courses for $45.
Back to work in under an hour.

31/05/2026

🍂 On the Autumn menu at Ari 🍂

Duck breast | persimmon | fesenjān sauce (walnut + pomegranate) | roasted pumpkin

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28/05/2026

Welcome to Ari’s Sunday Roast Club.

Three course lunch for $55pp, built around a proper roast with the menu changing each month.

Our first Sunday Roast Club is on Sunday 14th June, with Roast Beef taking centre stage.

Cold days, warm dining rooms, slow lunches that roll into the afternoon.

Second Sunday of each winter month. Bookings recommended: http://bit.ly/4tWVcfX

12/05/2026

🍂 On the Autumn menu at Ari 🍂

Black pepper and juniper venison carpaccio | pinenut cream | roasted beetroot | pickled beetroot

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06/05/2026

Due to popular demand we've put on another night for the
GreekWorld Series - Thursday 25th June.
Bookings available online now

P.s. There's only a couple of tables left for Nigerian,
Brazilian and Japanese!

05/05/2026

⭐Meet the Ari Team! ⭐

Hey! My name is Zara, I'm the apprentice chef at Restaurant Ari.

I've always had an interest in cooking with foraged or locally grown ingredients, and experimenting with fermentation and preserving.

Since finishing school I have spent the last three years working in a few different kitchens around Hawke’s Bay, such as Craggy Range Restaurant, or Vincis in Napier. I have fallen in love with hospitality and have truly found my spot here at Ari.

Out of the kitchen I am a massive arts and crafts person, from painting and drawing, tattooing and body art, to traditional urush*tsugi - fixing broken plates. When dining at Ari, if you notice a striking red spot or line across your plate or bowl it's previously been broken or chipped, then repaired!
I look forward to continuing to grow and learn with the team here at Ari, and to make memorable experiences for our guests.

04/05/2026

One of our absolute favourites! The wine, and the one and only .

2026 marks Jenny's 31st consecutive vintage in Hawke's Bay, and the 48th of her career. Each season still brings the same mix of excitement and quiet anticipation - a reminder that no two vintages are ever the same.

We are proud to showcase some of Jenny's collection of rare wines from Hawke's Bay producers she has worked alongside for over 30 years - an exclusive for Restaurant Ari on our 'Library Wines' feature. Pop in and learn about Jenny's story, and check out the range of six wines spanning 2013 - 2025 🩶

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2016 Fiano by Jenny Dobson - an ancient southern Italian variety, first planted in New Zealand on Ngatarawa Road in 2010. This wine reflects both site and time, with the 2016 vintage offering excellent ripeness despite a challenging season.

Now beautifully developed, showing roasted hazelnut, apricot, golden apple and honeysuckle, balanced by freshness and fine structure. A powerful age-worthy white suited to robust and flavour-driven dishes.

It's absolutely delicious!

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30/04/2026

Tomato-marinated & charred octopus | kumara miso puree | parsley & shallot salad | toum

🍁 On the new Autumn á la carte menu at Ari 🍁

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