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Restaurant

MAPU Test kitchen

8A London Street, Lyttelton 8082, New Zealand

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Find MAPU Test kitchen

8A London Street, Lyttelton 8082, New Zealand

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HoursMonday: 12:30 – 11:00 PM Tuesday: 12:30 – 11:00 PM Wednesday: Closed Thursday: Closed Friday: 12:30 – 11:00 PM Saturday: 12:30 – 11:00 PM Sunday: Closed

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About MAPU Test kitchen

Hidden off a Lyttelton lane behind an iron sign, Giulio Sturla cooks directly in front of just six diners at an open counter. Guests take in an unscripted, ever-shifting tasting menu shaped by wild coastal foraging and produce from his garden. Diners watch Sturla slice and sear right across the timber—turning out plates like steamed green banana noodles with crayfish, barbecued mackerel kissed with finger lime, and ash crackers topped with native kawakawa tofu and wild plum. The room feels less like a commercial dining room and more like a shared dinner party, where each course arrives alongside conversational backstories. Pours move from regional North Canterbury Pinot to custom non-alcoholic elixirs brewed from purple shiso, black tea, and fermented botanicals.

  • Six-Seat Open Counter: Chef Giulio Sturla preps, cooks, and plates an ever-shifting tasting menu directly across from just six seats.
  • Foraged Regional Ingredients: Dishes spotlight hyper-local finds like native kawakawa, wild plum, garden herbs, and hand-steamed banana noodles.
  • Bespoke Beverage Pairings: Courses match with regional wines or house-crafted non-alcoholic infusions made from botanicals, teas, and fruit.
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What's On at MAPU Test kitchen

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

Why Choose MAPU Test Kitchen

Why diners choose the intimate six-seat counter at MAPU Test kitchen

  • Front-Row Interactive Counter Theatre

    Diners sit directly around Giulio Sturla's open cooking area at a dedicated counter seating just four to six guests, viewing every technique up close.

    Mapu Test Kitchen caters for just six diners at a sitting, the high table surrounding the cooking area so that chef and owner Giulio can explain his thoughts and processes while you watch him create breathtaking dish after dish.

    Izzy Irvine

  • Direct Insight Into the Chef's Creative Process

    Each course is assembled before your eyes while the chef shares the origins, foraging stories, and philosophy behind the menu.

    to have this very intimate experience, where Guillo prepares the food right in front of you and shares his thought process that went into creating each dish, is truly exceptional.

    Ralph Marburger

  • Bespoke Handcrafted Beverage Pairings

    Alongside curated local and international wines, diners receive handcrafted non-alcoholic infusions designed to complement individual courses.

    The true sorcery, however, lay in the five handcrafted non-alcoholic pairings. This was no mere accompaniment; it was a parallel narrative of equal brilliance.

    Perth Food Review

  • Garden-Grown and Hyper-Local Produce

    Dishes combine garden-grown produce, local foraging, and inventive culinary methods like banana fruit noodles and charcoal dust.

    we got their a tad early and explored the garden where a large portion of the ingredients for the night’s meal come from.

    Nelson Rodriguez Rivas

  • Communal Dinner-Party Ambiance

    The micro-seating counter setup fosters easy conversation among dining companions and neighboring guests, creating a warm communal gathering.

    We had a lot of fun getting to know our fellow diners as well--overall it felt like a dinner party that was exceptional in every way!

    Anne Heltzel

  • Shared Celebration Around Intimate Hospitality

    Guests share a one-of-a-kind culinary journey with fellow food lovers that creates lasting memories together.

    It was a 6 course culinary luncheon, a custom made chef d'oeuvre that was unique and truly memorable.

    Julian Lofts

Handcrafted dishes prepared directly in front of diners at the test kitchen counter

  • Banana fruit noodles

    banana fruit noodles with chive oil

    Izzy Irvine

  • John Dory Fish

    John Dory Fish, pea pod butter, pickled onion, red chicory seaweed: A coastal masterpiece, clean and profoundly satisfying.

    Perth Food Review

  • Barbecued blue mackerel

    barbecued blue mackerel with finger lime…perfect, amazing dish after dish

    Izzy Irvine

  • Ash cracker with Kawakawa tofu

    a beautiful Ash cracker with Kawakawa tofu, wild plum, purple peach salt, and borage

    Perth Food Review

Beyond the menu

Signature hospitable touches that elevate MAPU Test kitchen beyond a standard tasting menu

  • Intimate Four-to-Six Guest Counter Theater

    With seating limited to just four to six guests directly facing the open prep station, chef and host Giulio Sturla prepares each dish in front of you while discussing his philosophy and culinary techniques.

  • House-Crafted Non-Alcoholic Pairing Flights

    Alongside standard wine pairings, the kitchen crafts bespoke house-made non-alcoholic drinks such as fermented purple shiso, mate, cacao, black tea, and saffron with elderberry to pair with specific dishes.

  • Chef's Eclectic Personal Dishware Collection

    Dishes are served on Giulio's eclectic personal collection of tableware, adding a uniquely personal and unpretentious character to the fine dining format.

  • Pre-Dinner On-Site Garden Exploration

    Guests are invited to arrive early to explore the dedicated on-site garden where many of the herbs, greens, and ingredients for the night's meal are cultivated and harvested.

Before you head over

Key practical advice for planning your visit to MAPU Test kitchen

  • Reserve Early for Micro-Seating

    Seating is restricted to around four to six diners at the prep counter, so booking well in advance is essential to secure a place.

  • Consider the House Non-Alcoholic Pairing

    If you don't drink alcohol, the dedicated handcrafted non-alcoholic pairing features fermented botanicals, teas, and house infusions created to complement each dish.

  • Spot the Hidden Entrance

    The venue is tucked away in Lyttelton off the main street and marked only by a small iron sign near a sheet metal door, so keep an eye out when arriving.

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