In early 2027, Rita in Wellington’s Aro Valley will relaunch as Super Rita. This new chapter transforms the award-winning restaurant into a bespoke urban pantry, offering fresh, considered meals and seasonal produce that celebrate local growers.
Super Rita invites a new way of thinking about food and its origins, encouraging customers to nourish their households while supporting local producers. Alongside its own range of pre-prepared meals and specialist food lines, the pantry will offer a curated selection of staples. Most meals are intended for home, though some can be enjoyed on site. The space will become a welcoming local deli, continuing Rita’s presence on the sunlit side of Aro Street.
Rita will remain open until December 2026, so there’s still plenty of opportunity to enjoy the quintessential Rita experience, described by Jesse Mulligan as “20/20 … in a breathtaking class of its own” and Lucy Corry as “Perfect in every way”.
Super Rita will foster creativity in the kitchen, offering weekly or monthly subscriptions, as well as one-off boxes and kits delivered to the door. It is an invitation to explore new dishes at home, without the formality of dining out.
Kelda says they always knew Rita would evolve: “We want to preserve the Rita DNA – and we’ve done a lot of thinking about what comes next,” she says. “With Super Rita, our plan is to make food shopping and meal planning a more serene experience by removing a lot of the hard bits.”
Super Rita’s branding and packaging will be designed by local Douglas Johns, with the back-of-house and prep kitchen located nearby. Paul says, “I’m really looking forward to forming everyday connections with our customers and community. Super Rita will expand our focus on delivering fantastic ingredients, meaningful relationships and excellent service.”
