Coming Soon: The Swish Intercontinental Auckland Is Preparing To Open, Complete With Flash Middle Eastern Restaurant

Aussies crossing the ditch will soon have a new place to stay in Auckland. From Tuesday January 30, the new-build Intercontinental Auckland is welcoming guests to its prime waterfront real estate in the billion-dollar (NZ) Commercial Bay precinct. Here, there’s luxury shopping, dining stops and community hubs, plus office blocks with some of the best vistas in the city. The new digs anchor the project, taking over floors six to 11.

Acclaimed UK-born chef Gareth Stewart (a fixture in New Zealand’s dining scene, heading up Soul Bar & Bistro and co-hosting My Kitchen Rules ) was announced as partner chef in 2023 , and now we have specifics: Advieh, a 140-seat contemporary Middle Eastern restaurant.

Translating to “spice” in Persian, Advieh will champion local produce and take a simple approach – the share-style menu has been in development for months. “The cuisine takes inspiration from the Middle East and my travels there,” Stewart tells Broadsheet. “It’s come from my own experiences. I’m really looking forward to seeing our team come together – when service is running perfectly and there’s a beautiful hum in the dining room.”

The dining experience will impress – across breakfast, lunch and dinner – in part to both the menu and the space. Warm, artful lighting glows against dark tones, and floor-to-ceiling windows offer far-reaching views over the harbour. Stewart shares that local Philbe Design has created a bespoke gueridon trolley, too. “It will allow us to finish dishes tableside, which is pretty special,” Stewart says. While the menu is yet to be released, there’s a duck tagine that the chef thinks will star. The bird is aged before being broken down: the legs braised into the tagine and the breast roasted on the bone and carved tableside. “We’re looking forward to showcasing this flair to our guests.”

Advieh reaches further than the expansive restaurant, with the spices and Stewart’s touch influencing the Club Intercontinental lounge (set to open in June 2024) and the in-room menu too. “This was all about striking a balance, making sure that the in-room dining classics have been met, but with my flair.”

The 139-suite, five-star Intercontinental Auckland will house a largely Māori art collection, focusing on local artists. New Zealand photographer Fiona Pardington has works displayed in each room, and there’s a whariki (woven panel) in each too, created by Beronia Scott and Te Pūawai Ōrākei Marae, the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei weaving collective. There’s an all-hours gym, plus a rooftop bar coming later in the year.

Intercontinental Auckland will open at 1 Queen Street on Tuesday January 30. Bookings are open now.