Overview
Whether you're after a glass of Champagne to gram beside your boarding pass or a three-course meal in anticipation of a long haul, dining goes hand in hand with the pre-flight ritual. Those who have already ticked off the limited number of eateries and fast food joints inside Auckland Airport will be happy to know that 27 new food and beverage outlets are scheduled to arrive in the domestic and international terminals over the next 12 months.
The roster, including 21 completely new dining options and six redeveloped outlets, will start opening from next month. The overhaul is part of a 30-year vision to build "the airport of the future." Auckland Airport's general manager retail and commercial, Richard Barker, says, "There will be something for everyone, with a choice of in-terminal restaurants, casual dining, fast food and grab-and-go outlets."
The lineup in the international terminal will include already established eateries Better Burger, Mexico and Orleans from Britomart Hospitality Group and Al Brown's Best Ugly Bagels.
They will be joined by Tea Garden, a high tea concept developed by tea company Dilmah and celebrity chef Simon Gault; Oma, a bakery and café which has been developed in collaboration with Bread & Butter director Isabel Pasch; and 400 Gradi, an authentic Neapolitan restaurant from Melbourne which boasts the "world's best pizza". Further openings will cover Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese cuisines.
There will also be a wide range of New Zealand-themed bars and restaurants, including Glamp Grounds — "an innovative bar and eatery, designed as an iconic Kiwi outdoor campground."
The new arrivals will open up a raft of employment opportunities for the local community, with 370 new management, operations and retail roles provided to cater for the millions of passengers that travel through Auckland Airport each year.