Honouring New Zealand Restaurants That Closed in 2024

For those who don’t know, I live and breathe hospitality.

On a daily basis, I get to see the passion, the grit, the early starts and the late finishes that go into creating those magic moments around a table. It’s why you find me championing the incredible people who make this industry tick on this blog. So, when I hear of a door closing for the last time, it hits close to home.

While pressure was definitely felt right across the country in 2024, we'll be focusing on some key closures in Auckland, Wellington, and Queenstown that really stood out. It’s easy to just see the headlines, but behind each closure is a story of a dedicated team, customers, and often, years – even decades – of being part of a community's fabric.

This isn't a piece about doom and gloom. Instead, let's take a moment to raise a glass and celebrate the legacies, the unique flavors, and the indelible memories these specific restaurants and cafés gave us in the regions we can focus on.

Auckland Farewells

SPQR (Ponsonby)

For 32 years, SPQR wasn't just an Italian bistro; it was a Ponsonby institution. Opened way back in 1992 in a former motorcycle repair shop by founders Stuart Dryburgh and Dorthe Scheffmann (later owned by Chris Rupe and Paula Macks), it became synonymous with Auckland's vibrant social scene. Its "brutalist" interior, remarkably unchanged since '92, featured iconic light fixtures, chairs, and a famous copper bar that often doubled as a dance floor.

Celebrity sightings were common – Mick Jagger famously ordered a margarita pizza and wine. With staff like maître d’ Johnny Caracciolo and Esther Lamb adding to the unique atmosphere, and a focus on thin-crust pizzas and rustic Italian fare enjoyed at its prime people-watching outdoor tables, SPQR cemented its legend. Its closure on July 11th, 2024, followed liquidation, owing over $2 million to creditors (with reports noting owner Chris Rupe withdrew $1.4M and lent $1.2M to related entities). Rupe expressed being "really sorry," acknowledging the venue's significance to Aucklanders. While the site prepares for a new life as 'Jacuzzi' (aiming to retain the copper bar and mosaics), SPQR's three-decade chapter has definitively closed.

Pilkingtons (CBD)

After nearly a decade gracing Shortland Street, the upscale bar and eatery Pilkingtons closed its doors on July 31st, 2024. Launched in 2015 by owners Paul and Vanessa Lomax, it quickly became a popular spot, particularly amongst CBD professionals, lawyers, and the corporate crowd, drawn to its sophisticated indoor-outdoor terrace offering harbour views.

Described as a "garden oasis – a utopia of calm, elegance and sophistication," its design was a collaboration between Ministry of Architecture + Interiors and Cheshire Architects, featuring bold patterns, creative lighting, hand-tooled joinery, bespoke fabrics, natural stone accents, and an emphasis on natural light. Regularly featured in Metro’s Top 50 Restaurants and a finalist in Hospitality NZ awards, its closure came as the Lomaxes chose not to renew their lease. They described it as an emotional decision, ending its run as a "place of laughter and celebrations" through a strategic exit rather than financial collapse.

Homeland (Wynyard Quarter)

Celebrity chef Peter Gordon, alongside partner Alastair Carruthers, launched Homeland in November 2020 after Gordon's return to New Zealand. More than just a restaurant, this waterfront venue in Wynyard Quarter was a multifaceted hub encompassing a cooking school and a fresh produce shop, all underpinned by a strong focus on sustainability and championing local, seasonal Kiwi ingredients.

Workshops on techniques like fermentation were part of its unique offering. However, its closure wasn't driven by typical economic pressures but by external forces: the landlord sold the premises to a major property developer for redevelopment. The dining room ceased service on April 28th, 2024, with the cooking school closing its doors by July 2024, bringing its distinctive 3.5-year contribution to Auckland's food scene and education to an end.

MoVida (Britomart)

The New Year 2024/25 period saw two prominent Savor Group establishments in Britomart close simultaneously. MoVida, opened in late 2022 in the historic Masonic building, brought Melbourne chef Frank Camorra’s renowned Spanish tapas concept to Auckland, adapting it with local Kiwi ingredients like pāua and octopus alongside traditional croquetas and grilled dishes.

Bar Non Solo, an Italian wine bar, had been a fixture in Britomart for 13 years, serving as a stylish social spot likely complementing its sister restaurant Non Solo Pizza. Both venues, under Savor Group CEO Lucien Law, ceased trading explicitly because the company couldn't secure new long-term leases with the Britomart landlord, Cooper & Co.

Other Auckland Closures

Other notable Auckland spots also shut their doors in 2024. Love Exposure, an Asian street-food venue on Dominion Road known for its neon-lit aesthetic, closed in July with its interior gutted. Conch Kitchen and Bar, a Ponsonby Road fixture for 26 years offering Latin-Caribbean flavours, closed abruptly on March 28th.

Wellington's Farewells

Wellington experienced a particularly tough year, with numerous closures impacting well-loved institutions and newer players alike, often linked to specific local challenges.

Nikau Café (Civic Square)

A true Wellington stalwart for 25 years, Nikau Café, nestled beside the City Gallery Te Whare Toi at 101 Wakefield Street, served its last customers on December 16th, 2024. Famed for its fresh, seasonal, and often organic breakfast and lunch fare – including iconic dishes like kedgeree and corn fritters, sometimes using produce from its own rooftop garden – it garnered a loyal following and high praise (rated in TripAdvisor's top 10% globally).

Owner Shelley Addison attributed the difficult closure decision directly to years of disruption from nearby Civic Square construction decimating customer access, compounded by the gallery itself closing earlier than expected (June 2024) and the building requiring earthquake strengthening from February 2025. While expressing hope to find a new site meeting their "unique requirements," the closure of this minimalist, artsy café marked a significant loss for the city.

Bordeaux Bakery (Multiple Sites)

After being a fixture in the capital for 30 years, Bordeaux Bakery shuttered all three of its Wellington locations (Thorndon Quay, Featherston St, Lambton Quay) along with its wholesale operation on October 13th, 2024.

Owner Tony Bates placed the blame squarely on Wellington City Council's "ongoing removal of car parks" for cycle lanes, particularly impacting the Thorndon Quay site, claiming this led to a dramatic 60-70% drop in turnover as customer access was severely reduced (he referenced council documents outlining plans to cut area parking from 333 to 202). The closure resulted in approximately 40 staff losing their jobs.

Pandoro (Multiple Sites)

Another long-serving name, Pandoro, known for its Italian artisan breads, cakes, and pastries, closed its three Wellington bakeries (Willis St, Allen St, Woodward St) on September 5th, 2024, after nearly three decades.

Director Tony Beazley cited a "perfect storm" of contributing factors: the broader economic downturn, customers working from home reducing foot traffic, significant public sector redundancies ("2500 people were made redundant one Friday, we sold a lot of cakes, but we didn't see anybody in the next Monday," he noted), the impact of new cycle/bus lanes on access, and Wellington City Council policies. An attempt to sell the business in 2023 had failed, leading to the closure and over 20 associated job losses.

Egmont St Eatery (Te Aro)

Located at 11 Egmont Street in Te Aro, Egmont St Eatery closed at the end of September 2024 after nine years in business (having evolved into a Deli & Diner).

Known for its cozy, community feel (and housing a bronze pigeon sculpture from a local campaign), management cited the "huge challenges and changes" brought on by the "current economic climate" as the reason for closure. This resulted in approximately 15 staff members losing their jobs.

Concord (Te Aro)

Operating from a distinctive 1950s Modernist building at 81 Victoria Street, the European-inspired bistro Concord closed suddenly around the end of July/early August 2024. Opened in 2021 by restaurateurs Sean Golding and Shepherd Elliott (also known for Shepherd restaurant), it offered sophisticated comfort food in a retro-chic setting.

Their closing announcement candidly addressed the struggling environment: "The current appetite for dining out is understandably low and the city's hospitality scene is hurting a great deal... priorities change under [economic] duress." High costs and reduced spending in the CBD were cited.

Mabel’s (Te Aro)

Opened in 2022 by Marlar Boon and Ian Boon at 126 The Parade, Island Bay (in the historic Globe Printing Building), Mabel’s quickly garnered acclaim as an award-winning petite Burmese eatery.

Serving communal dishes like chickpea tofu fritters and mohinga, with vegan/GF options, in a space featuring a moss green facade and a textile wall of family longyi (a tribute to Marlar's grandmother), its success made the announcement of its final service on Christmas Eve 2024 a surprise to many fans. While specific reasons weren't detailed, the site was later taken over by Apache restaurant.

Myrtle Bakery (Te Aro)

In a particularly surprising turn, Myrtle Bakery announced its closure for December 21st, 2024, just a week after being crowned Wellington's Best Bakery in local awards. The closure of this award-winning artisan bakery shocked the community, and the owners did not publicly detail the reasons behind their decision.

Field & Green (Te Aro)

After opening in 2015 at 262 Wakefield Street, the cozy, one-hatted eatery Field & Green closed its doors around the New Year period (late 2023/early 2024), marking the end of its 8+ year run.

Known for its comforting "European Soul Food" drawing inspiration from France, Italy, the UK, and Jewish diaspora cuisine (with dishes like chicken liver parfait and fish pie), the owners stated in late 2023 that hospitality had been "very tough." With their building lease ending, they made the decision to move on to their next chapter, which included plans for consultancy and pop-ups.

Queenstown’s Farewells

Early 2024 brought a particularly difficult period for Queenstown's central business district, with a rapid series of closures occurring within weeks of each other. A reported "perfect storm" of escalating operating costs & post-Covid staffing difficulties:

Paddy Gaddy

Located centrally in the Queenstown Mall, this vibrant spot offered Southeast Asian fusion cuisine with bold sweet, salty, and sour flavours. Known for shareable plates, creative cocktails, and notable dishes like lamb ribs and seafood options, it participated in deals like "First Table" for early diners. It permanently closed in early 2024, caught up in the challenging mix of economic pressures and access issues impacting the CBD.

Taco Medic (Searle Lane and Five Mile)

Both the Searle Lane and Five Mile Queenstown branches of this popular craft Mexican eatery closed in February 2024. Praised for blending NZ ingredients with Mexican flavours – think Baja-style tacos featuring Oaxacan-spiced local fish or prawns – it had earned a reputation for some of the country's best tacos and ran popular $7 Taco Tuesday deals.

The directors cited rising costs, parking problems, and the impact of roadworks as key challenges leading to the closure of all their outlets (including Auckland) after nearly a decade that began with a food truck.

Hell Pizza (Searle Lane)

The Searle Lane franchise of the well-known national pizza chain, offering quirky toppings like tandoori chicken and Moroccan lamb alongside budget-friendly $12 snack-sized pizzas, also shut its doors in early 2024.

Its closure was linked to seasonal tourism challenges, rising rents, supply costs, and the added complication of being under sale negotiations at the time. Its casual, street-food vibe made it popular with budget-conscious diners.

Joe’s Garage (Searle Lane/Camp Street)

The very first Joe’s Garage, operating since 2000 out of the historic Post Office building on the corner of Searle Lane and Camp Street*, closed its doors in early 2024. Famous as a brunch-focused spot with an American diner theme, hearty sandwiches like its spicy bratwurst roll and "JFC" (Joe’s Fried Chicken), and a laid-back retro vibe, this flagship location succumbed to economic strain and parking challenges.

While the brand continues at its Five Mile and airport locations, the original site was later taken over by Black Burger, marking the end of an era for this Queenstown icon.

Takeaways

The tough economic climate, rising operational costs, inflation, staffing shortages, and critical lease negotiations were recurring threads woven through many of these stories. It's vital to remember the people behind these names.

The owners who invested dreams and capital, the chefs who poured creativity onto plates, and the front and back-of-house teams who delivered the experience day in, day out. The specific job losses mentioned – around 40 at Bordeaux, 20+ at Pandoro, 15 each at Egmont St and Armadillo's – underscore the human impact.

To all the teams, owners, and operators of the establishments mentioned here – thank you. Thank you for the food, the service, the atmosphere, and the memories.

The best way we can honour the legacy of those farewelled in 2024 is by actively supporting the venues still pouring their hearts out for us today.

Cherish your locals, try somewhere new and experience all that New Zealand hospitality has to offer.