The Hotel Britomart has officially opened its doors, and with its highly-anticipated arrival it has brought much more than just great design to the downtown precinct.
The impressive and visually-stunning development is the first 5 Green Star hotel in New Zealand, denoting an exceptional sustainability focus across design and construction. Many elements throughout the rooms follow suit, and so does the crown jewel in the hotel’s hospitality offering: Kingi.
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Situated steps away from the hotel lobby in the atmospheric laneway of the heritage Masonic House (refurbished as part of The Hotel Britomart project), Kingi is an exciting all-day restaurant led by Tom Hishon and Josh Helm of Orphans Kitchen.
With a focus on sustainable seafood, Kingi is serving up inventive, yet accessible dishes, all with locally-sourced and organic ingredients whenever possible.
Walking down the intimate cobblestone walkway into Kingi, even as it’s just opened it’s palpable how much of a buzzing atmosphere the eatery will command from patronage of both locals and tourists alike.
The Cheshire-designed space is exquisite, rendered in light tones and a harmonious combination of brick, stone, marble and tiles softened with well-chosen furnishings and warmed with a cosy fireplace. The centrepiece of the space is an arresting hand-blown glass sculpture that was crafted in West Auckland, dangling from the high ceilings in semi-opaque shards that almost resemble frozen droplets of water.
On the menu, diners can always expect plenty of outstanding, line-caught fish and seafood. One of the signature items is the Buttermilk Blue Cod Wings, a moreish dish that uses blue cod caught by a third-generation family of fishers in the Chatham Islands.
Elsewhere, on any given day you might find the likes of a crayfish roll with carrot kimchi and Kaitaia Fire hot sauce; whole yellow belly flounder, or venison. Dishes are apt for sharing, with an additional antipasti section full of appealing offerings spanning seafood, charcuterie and inventively-prepared vegetables, plus a raw bar with various oysters and other shellfish.
Welcoming patrons for everything from early-morning coffee to drinks, snacks and fuller plates whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner, Kingi also offers The Hotel Britomart guests selected items as a room service menu 24/7.
With such a thoughtful offering and superb space, we can already predict how popular Kingi is set to be, so just one course of action is to be recommended: book a table, fast.
Opening hours:
Monday to Sunday: 7am – late
