Ahi is Ben’s debut restaurant in downtown Auckland and the realisation of a career long dream of discovery to the question of “What is New Zealand cuisine”?

The te reo Māori word ‘Ahi’ means ‘Fire’. The open kitchen is centered around the historic wood-fired hearth. The cooking connection is obvious but, for us, Ahi also speaks of the fire in our bellies to deliver the best New Zealand kai in the most authentic way.

Ahi’s menu and wine list explores New Zealand’s amazing culinary culture, hero’ing the special suppliers and unique ingredients from every part of this great country. Organic vegetables are supplied by the Ahi Kitchen Garden in South Auckland.

At his side is GM and business partner Chris Martin and lifelong friend and executive chef – Mike Shatura.

You’ll find Ahi nestled in Commercial Bay, Downtown Auckland – One of New Zealand’s premier shopping and dining destinations. With numerous exceptional reviews, you’ll be dining here again and again at one of Auckland’s best restaurants.

Inspired by the techniques, seasonally and terrior of France. French cuisine has been a major inspiration for Ben who spent 4 years in his 20s in France travelling and working in the French regions ; Haute-Savoie, Jura & Paris. Ben learned how to extract flavour and get the best out of ingredients over this time. The French were the food culture to define their cuisine, creating restaurants and turning cooks into chefs. The Original Cuisine.

You’ll find Origine located in the vibrant hub of Commercial Bay, Downtown Auckland.

In 2019 Ben Bayly and Sir Michael Hill collaborated out of a shared love for Italian food. Aosta restaurant is named after an alpine valley in Northern Italy. With a defined four seasons, flora, fauna and soils very similar to Central Otago. Aosta and Central Otago both lie on the 45th parallel, and the synergies between the region’s terroirs are striking.The cuisine of Aosta is inspired by the cooking techniques of Northern Italy, paired with ingredients carefully selected from growers, breeders, suppliers and wine grown on the land around Central Otago, Southland and Arrowtown.

Aosta Restaurant is situated in the quaint, charming town of Arrowtown, a 20 minute drive from Queenstown. Make sure to include a visit to Aosta restaurant in your list of must-do activities in Arrowtown.

Tucked in behind Aosta is its little sibling! Little Aosta (affectionately known as LA to locals) is Ben’s family restaurant serving delicious Nonna’s style Italian cuisine in a casual environment. Known for food from its wood fired pizzas and meatballs, charcoaled grilled meats and simple yet tasty pasta.

Next time you visit Arrowtown, make a booking at Little Aosta – we promise you’ll have a fantastic time.

Built in 1911 on Wakatipu Beach, Queenstown. The Beautiful Coronation Bathhouse was commissioned to celebrate the Coronation of King Edward V and as a place for early Queenstown settlers to change before a dip in the freezing lake!

In 2022 Ben Bayly, along with great friend and business partner Vicki Onions and executive chef Steven Stepsy fully renovated the rundown Bathhouse to her former glory.

The Bathhouse restaurants’ central lakefront location next to the playground and Botanical gardens is the perfect venue to enjoy food that harks back to great British nostalgia along with a glass of champagne!

Down a discrete alleyway in Arrowtown is the perfect hidden speakeasy. Rumoured to be the location of an old opium den of the first settlers and gold miners. Now punters enjoy cocktails, Central Otago pinot, craft beer or a single malt from the neighbourhood mountain distillery. Low Hobbit-esk ceilings, stone walls and a roaring fire, The perfect place to après-ski or to start and end an evening in beautiful Middle Earth. There is regular live music, DJ’s & tiny concerts.