Mitchell HagemanMultimedia Journalist·NZ Herald·24 Aug, 2026 09:00 AM4 mins to read‌Blue Cod at Essence, New Zealand's only two-star Michelin restaurant.Four of New Zealand’s newly anointed Michelin Star restaurants can now add three Cuisine Good Food Award chef’s hats to their long list of accolades.

NZ’s only two Michelin Star restaurant Essence, Auckland institution Paris Butter,

, and Ben Bayly’s Commercial Bay restaurant Ahi were all recognised as “outstanding, world-class dining destinations”, receiving the highest level of the Cuisine magazine chef’s hat rating system.