Good food comes with the territory in Dunedin. Otago, known far and wide for its dedication to world-class wines, is also the home to some of the best eats in the country. Where better to hold your upcoming gala dinner? Thankfully, Dunedin sports a wide array of choices for gala dinner venues, all with the city’s signature hospitality and particular charm baked right in. Pick between historic, awe-inspiring venues or more modern ones with a little pizzazz for your gala dinner - we’re sure you’ll find the right ambience alongside the right menu for your Dunedin event. If you’re looking for the full guide to Dunedin’s venues, you can find it here.

St Margarets

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Located within the University of Otago, St Margarets offers a charming Dining Hall for your gala dinner. St Margarets is the best of both worlds, blending classic architecture with modern facilities. The Dining Hall seats up to 180 guests, while the in-house chefs take great pride in providing unpretentious cuisine, focusing on seasonal and locally sourced ingredients.

Knox College

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Stately and serene, Knox College makes itself available to one and all during the summer break. You can hire out this Dunedin venue on an hourly, daily or live-in basis over a set period, making it a flexible and fantastic choice for your upcoming gala dinner. Accommodating up to 150 guests, Knox College boasts manicured lawns and plenty of heritage buildings, bringing you a series of classic spaces for your Dunedin gala dinner. In addition to their multitude of rooms for hire, they also offer their historic Ross Chapel, seating up to 120 guests, ideal for weddings and performances. This Dunedin venue is as comprehensive as it gets, with on-site catering, accommodation and parking options, as well as high-speed WiFi and audiovisual equipment of every kind. Just a quick stroll to all the most attractive parts of the city, you've got a real winner with Knox College.

Olveston Historic Home

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You’ll be adding some historical charm to your function with Olveston Historic Home, New Zealand's finest historic mansion and Garden of National Significance. Built as the family home of collector and philanthropist David Theomin (a connoisseur of the 'finer things in life'), the house was gifted to Dunedin in 1966, complete with all the original furnishings and contents. Hosting up to 180 guests, Olveston Historic Home has a variety of rooms and spaces to choose from when planning your Dunedin gala dinner, including their immaculate lawn, Great Hall, Drawing Room and more. This Dunedin venue serves as an option for personal and corporate events, with a knack for hosting incredible gala dinners. Your external caterer will have the time of their lives planning a menu for an affair to remember at Olveston Historic Home.

Larnach Castle & Gardens

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Larnach Castle & Gardens is a revered gala dinner venue in Dunedin that has sat on Otago Peninsula since 1874. Carefully restored over the years, this Dunedin venue now plays host to a wide array of fun and fabulous gala dinners and other events. With award-winning gardens, luxury accommodation and incredible cuisine, it's hard to pass up. They have several spaces to choose from, from the main castle to the green gardens to Camp Estate, hosting up to 350 people. As New Zealand's only castle, Larnach Castle & Gardens offers an extraordinary and gorgeous experience as a venue option, filled with architecture of old, sparkling chandeliers and marbled floors. The team at Larnach Castle & Gardens is as refined as the venue, with a dedicated Events Manager on hand and on-site catering options for your gala dinner.

Petridish

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Chic, cosy and available for exclusive hire for your upcoming Dunedin gala dinner, Petridish is as cool as it gets when it comes to funky gala dinner venues. Catering for up to 100 guests, this diverse space offers various options for your Dunedin gala dinner. Featuring fabulous catering (tailored to your needs and palate), audiovisual equipment and assistance, as well as an events management team that loves making memories with you, you're guaranteed a gala dinner to remember with Petridish, whether it's a handful of your nearest and dearest or a hundred of your coworkers raising a glass in celebration.

The Longhouse

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Host your gala dinner overlooking serene views of Karitane beach and the Otago coastline at The Longhouse, a private gala dinner and events venue in Dunedin that has so much to offer. Secluded, spacious and stylish, this flexible venue is the ideal choice for gala dinners of every size, boasting a capacity of up to 100 guests. Their catering options are locally-sourced and freshly made, offering you the very best in wining and dining when it comes to your gala dinner. The Longhouse also doubles as a convenient Dunedin venue due to its built-in accommodation, featuring a handful of cosy guest rooms for you or your guests to use.

Otago Museum

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You won’t be disappointed with Otago Museum when you’re planning your Dunedin gala dinner. Located in the middle of Dunedin, Otago Museum is an icon of the city and a fantastic venue option for gala dinners and more. Versatile and unique, the museum boasts a total of 10 spaces to choose between. It can accommodate a total of 850 guests and features 8 breakout rooms. Otago Museum is a favourite when it comes to Dunedin gala dinners, from the flourishing Tropical Forest and spacious Atrium to the Theomin Balcony and Hutton Theatre. The team at Otago Museum is available for complete event management - they can help you organise and plan as you go, offering equipment hire, on-site audiovisual assistance and on-site catering. Otago Museum is a hub for education, learning and discovery; they will undoubtedly lend your Dunedin gala dinner an excitement that few others can.

Wingatui Function Centre

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Surround yourself with blue skies and fresh air at Wingatui Function Centre. This Dunedin gala dinner venue has it all: on-site audiovisual supplies and assistance, tailored catering options, and a varied selection of spaces for your upcoming Dunedin function. These spaces include the Winning Post Lounge, Kumai Room, Baghdad Note Bar, Skipper Wilson Room and Noble Bijou Room - you'll be spoiled for choice when planning your gala dinner. One of Dunedin's favourite options for gala dinners, cocktail parties and more, Wingatui Function Centre is part of the busy Wingatui Racecourse and is a grandstand building that offers itself as a venue for elegant gala dinners for up to 250 guests.

Vault 21

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Versatility is the name of the game with Vault 21, bringing you a curated selection with their array of function spaces for your upcoming gala dinner. This Dunedin venue rests 40km outside of the CBD and 35km from the airport, offering tons of spaces for up to 180 guests at your gala dinner. Branded as Dunedin's premier dining experience, their catering is an experience in itself, bespoke and beautifully-plated for your enjoyment. Vault 21 has played host to a number of elegant events in Dunedin, both personal and corporate, including several fabulous gala dinners that'll knock your socks off. They understand good food and good times, which is precisely why they’re Dunedin’s go-to choice for gala dinners and other events.

Fable Dunedin

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Since 1862, Fable Dunedin has been a beacon of elegance in Dunedin, making it an ideal choice for gala dinners and other events. This hotel venue is as plush as it is pragmatic, boasting scrumptious catering choices, plenty of audiovisual equipment and assistance, a total of 50 guest rooms, as well as 4 spaces for your upcoming Dunedin gala dinner. Fable Dunedin is renowned for its stylish and modern interior - a direct contrast to its traditional exterior - bringing a touch of glamour to each and every gala dinner they host. With a capacity of 250 guests, your gala dinner is sure to be a hit surrounded by old-world charm and with a tailored menu suited to your tastes.

Teschemakers Resort

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Want to do something a little different with your gala dinner? Teschemakers Resort is a rural escape that can facilitate just that. Located in rural Northern Otago, Teschemakers Resort is settled on 70 acres of rolling greenery and fresh air. A scenic drive from Dunedin, this gala dinner venue hosts up to 200 guests in a historic space. Charming and warm, its atmosphere lends itself to gala dinners with a certain finesse, ensuring that your function runs to perfection. As a rural Dunedin venue, Teschemakers Resort is the perfect getaway option for your upcoming gala dinner, offering on-site accommodation for your convenience. Allow your preferred caterer to take care of the menu from top to bottom while the team at this Dunedin venue takes care of everything else.

The Longroom

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One of Dunedin’s first-choice gala dinner venues, The Longroom is as cosy as it is convenient. This multi-functional space can adapt to host just about any gala dinner event, big or small. Centrally located, The Longroom can host up to 200 guests and offers serene views of their international cricket ground. They can provide on-site catering courtesy of their superb kitchen, offering the choice of tailored or set menus; the varied selection of drinks will be free-flowing at their fully-licensed bar. With audiovisual equipment and assistance available, The Longroom is also an excellent option for you to host gala dinners and other events. This elegant Dunedin event venue welcomes you to drop by during the week for viewings and chat to their team about planning your upcoming function.

Glenfalloch Restaurant and Garden

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No doubt, the perfect Dunedin venue for a gala dinner must be a restaurant. Glenfalloch Restaurant and Garden is right up that alley as one of Dunedin's most highly-rated restaurants. Fortunately for us, they are also a beautiful venue option set amid a historic woodland garden. Their cuisine is created with the help of local, fresh ingredients and artisan suppliers, and award-winning chef Hannes Bareiter. It's no surprise Glenfalloch Restaurant and Garden maintains its number one spot as the best restaurant in Dunedin. Their garden space gives home to over 140 years of botanical heritage. The garden proves a popular spot when choosing to host your gala dinner at this Dunedin venue. Host an unforgettable gala dinner with Glenfalloch Restaurant and Garden. You will blow your guests away with their bespoke menu options and dreamy surroundings.

The Savoy

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A timeless Dunedin events venue that lends itself best to gala dinners, The Savoy is centrally located in the middle of town. The building has been a functions centre since 1910, so you can rest assured that your gala dinner is in capable hands. Classically romantic, The Savoy is filled with oak panels, open fires, chandeliers and ornate ceilings. A popular place venue for gala dinners, cocktail parties and more, they can cater for up to 250 guests. Within The Savoy, The Tudor Hall is a particularly beloved space for larger gatherings, boasting a dance floor and live band included in the events packages - a surefire way to give your gala dinner a little something extra. They have an in-house kitchen team to cook up the dining feast of your dreams, ensuring that your Dunedin gala dinner will be taken care of from start to finish.