Overview
You can now sample the best pizza in Oceania as part of your pre-flight ritual.
As part of a 30-year vision to build "the airport of the future," Melbourne pizzeria 400 Gradi joins a lineup of 27 new and redeveloped in-terminal restaurants at Auckland Airport, including already established Auckland eateries Better Burger, Mexico, Orleans and Best Ugly Bagels.
400 Gradi is Melbourne pizza royalty. Back in 2014, founder Johnny Di Francesco's margherita was famously crowned best in the world at the Campionato Mondiale Della Pizza (Pizza World Championship), beating 600 competitors from across the globe. This year, the pizza enthusiast added a few more trophies to his cabinet including the title of Best Pizza in Oceania at the second annual 50 Top Pizza Awards in Naples, and the unofficial record for the world's cheesiest pizza — the limited edition pie is topped with a whopping 150 different cheeses.
Di Francesco's first New Zealand restaurant is situated airside at Auckland International Airport (after airport security). The Auckland opening marks his third international restaurant launch within the last 12 months. With the goal of offering in-transit diners the full 400 Gradi experience, it will showcase some of the restaurant's favourite dishes across an all-day menu, including freshly baked pastries, traditional pasta and, of course, the world famous pizza.
Dishes worth turning up three hours early for include sweet pancake rolls filled with vanilla mascarpone; arancini bolognese risotto balls; homemade potato gnocchi with napoli sauce; pappardelle with mushrooms, truffle cream and pecorino; and Di Francesco's famed margherita.
You'll find 400 Gradi at the international terminal on the first floor, after security. It will be open daily from 4.30am to 11pm.