kingi
Why go
Sitting on Tuawhiti Lane just off Galway Street, kingi is one of Britomart's most considered restaurants — a thoughtful, ingredient-led kitchen attached to The Hotel Britomart but with its own distinct identity. The philosophy is rooted in sustainability and provenance: locally sourced, seasonal ingredients from independent fishers, farmers, hunters and growers, with a clear focus on the bounty of New Zealand's oceans and land. Started life as a seafood-led bistro and the ocean still anchors much of the menu, but the kitchen also reaches inland — red deer tartare, considered land dishes — for those after something other than fish. The interior carries the same warm, considered design language as the hotel, but the space feels properly its own — never an awkward "hotel restaurant" energy.
What to expect
A confident, all-day dining room serving from 7am till late, seven days a week. Hotel guests can take breakfast here (paid inclusion) or order room service from the kitchen, but the restaurant pulls a steady local and CBD crowd of its own — plus a through-fare of diners passing into the courtyard for Ghost Street or Cafe Hanoi, which gives the seating a buzzy, well-trafficked feel without losing intimacy. The menu rotates with the seasons, and the wine list is properly thought through.
A few specific things worth knowing about. Steak Frites is the standout midweek lunch deal — Monday to Friday, 12–2:30pm, billed as "the best hour of your workday." Martini month runs seasonally with rotating additions to the cocktail list. Taste of Tuawhiti is a tasting-led experience for those who want to settle in for the full kitchen showcase. And kingi Private is a brick-lined private dining and conference room for groups, with a menu echoing the main restaurant.
