Esther

At Esther in the QT Auckland, Sean Connolly brings the vibrant spirit of the Mediterranean right to the heart of Auckland. With talented executive chef James Laird at the helm, this restaurant transports with a menu inspired by sun-drenched travels. You can’t go past the baked saganaki and the spectacular puff bread, both of which have become crowd favourites, nor the bucatini pasta with truffle butter, confit egg yolk, parmesan and perigord. On the heartier side, the veal osso bucco alla Milanese with saffron risotto is sure-fire comfort guaranteed. The burnt Basque cheesecake with orange marmalade and chocolate sorbet is a definite gift from the cheesecake gods. Open kitchens are still on trend and at Esther's you can watch the culinary magic unfold from nearly any seat in the house. The focus on locally sourced ingredients means you’ll be treated to fresh, daily-caught seafood, all prepared with a commitment to sustainability and premium ingredients. Open for breakfast, lunch and then dinner – that can seamlessly transition to cocktails at the rooftop bar – Esther is one you don't want to miss.