Aryeh Restaurant

Aryeh Restaurant is a Modern New Zealand restaurant in Piha from executive chef and restaurateur Lucas Parkinson, formerly of Ode in Wānaka. For diners looking for a more considered meal in Piha, the essentials are direct: the price is $55 per person, the dress code is smart casual, the summer schedule runs from December through April.

The restaurant is best planned around its listed summer hours: Wednesday to Friday dinner from 5:00pm until late, Saturday lunch from 12:00pm to 2:30pm and dinner from 6:00pm until late, Sunday long lunch from 12:00pm to 5:00pm, Monday to Tuesday closed. Its confirmed recognition as World Culinary Awards Oceania's Best New Restaurant 2025 #1 adds a clear reason to put it on a Piha dining shortlist.

Book for the summer schedule, not just a casual stop

The decision point is timing. During summer, Aryeh Restaurant offers dinner services on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, both lunch and dinner on Saturday, a Sunday long lunch. That makes it workable for either an evening meal or a daytime Piha visit, depending on the occasion.

For a special occasion, choose the service that best matches the pace you want: Saturday lunch or Sunday long lunch for a slower daytime meal, or dinner for a more evening-focused visit. The dress code is smart casual, so the tone is polished without requiring formal dress.

The value case is strongest for diners who specifically want Modern New Zealand cooking in Piha. The restaurant’s confirmed World Culinary Awards recognition as Oceania's Best New Restaurant 2025 #1 is a meaningful trust signal, but the practical reason to choose it is simpler: Aryeh Restaurant is a clear choice when the meal itself is the point of the Piha visit.

What to try across two visits

The signature dishes include fish and chips, ceviche, venison tataki, duck, gazpacho. A first visit should focus on those known signatures and on the restaurant’s Modern New Zealand identity rather than on expecting a long list of fixed dishes.

On a second visit, use the different summer services to change the experience: a dinner visit will feel different from a Saturday lunch or Sunday long lunch.

For comparisons, treat Aryeh Restaurant as the relevant reference point in Piha. Other dining in Piha may suit a simpler meal, but Aryeh Restaurant is the option here for Modern New Zealand cooking at $55 per person.

Who should choose it

Choose Aryeh Restaurant if you want a smart-casual Modern New Zealand meal in Piha and are comfortable planning around the summer opening pattern. It suits diners who care about the chef behind the restaurant, the confirmed 2025 Oceania new-restaurant recognition, a concise set of known signature dishes.

It is less useful for diners who need confirmed details on services not listed in the information, such as takeaway, delivery, bar seating, dietary accommodations, or a separate drinks program. For those needs, confirm directly with the restaurant before visiting.