Restaurants in Nelson Region
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Shoreline
A spiffy, modern cafe-bar-restaurant right on the beach. Punters chill on the sunny deck, lingering over panini, pizzas, pasta or fresh fish, but you can also just pop in for coffee and a jumbo muffin. Erratic winter hours; take-away booth out the back.
reviewed
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A
Indian Café
This open-plan, saffron-coloured Edwardian villa houses an Indian restaurant that keeps the bhaji raised with impressive interpretations of Anglo-Indian standards, such as chicken tandoori, rogan josh and beef madras. Share the mixed platter to start, then mop up your mains with one of 10 different breads.
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B
Hot Mama's Cafe
Hot Mama's Cafe This breezy, open-fronted food room is the funkiest café in town, and the best spot to down a few local lagers to boot. Repair last night's damage with a Hangover Brekkie (eggs, bacon, spicy sausage etc), or close out the day with a Hardcore Prawn or Bombay Chicken pizza before adjourning to the bar, hip lounge area or balmy courtyard. Plenty of laughter; excellent wine list; live bands, jam nights and DJs on summer weekends.
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C
Lambretta’s
Feeding what seems like half of Nelson, Lambretta’s is a continually busy diner-style joint with ample seating inside and out. Family friendly, the big-eatin’ offerings include breakfast, lunch and dinner (pizza, pasta, salad) and hearty counter food along the lines of humongous muffins, pies, filled croissants and sandwiches. Good coffee, too.
reviewed
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Jester House
A perennially popular highway stop, as much for its tame eels (which you can feed) as for the peaceful sculpture gardens that encourage you to linger over lunch. A short, simple menu puts a few twists into the staples (wild pork burger, lavender shortbread), and there’s Mussel Inn beers and local wine. It’s 8km to Mapua or Motueka.
reviewed
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D
Hopgood’s
Tongue-and-groove-lined Hopgood’s is perfect for a romantic dinner or holiday treat. The food is decadent and skilfully prepared but unfussy, allowing quality local ingredients to shine. The Asian crispy duck followed by pork belly with watercress and apple purée was a knockout. Desirable, predominantly Kiwi wine list.
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Park Café
Pretty much on the start of the Abel Tasman Coast Track, this breezy, licensed cafe is perfectly placed for fuelling up or restoring the waistline. High-calorie options include egg breakfast, fat cake, toasted sandwiches, nachos and pizza. Fine views and decent drinks make this a good spot for your sundowner.
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E
Chokdee
Chokdee is Siamese for ‘good luck’, but you shouldn’t need it at this reliable and homely Thai restaurant. Plenty of spicy and fragrant offerings including tom yum soup, technicolour curries and oodles of noodles and rice dishes. The $9 lunch specials are great value. Takeaways are available.
reviewed
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Hooked on Marahau
This place has the natives hooked – dinner reservations are prudent. The art-bedecked interior (local stuff) opens onto an outdoor terrace with meal-distracting views. Lunch lurks around sandwiches and salads, while the dinner menu hauls up fresh fish of the day, green-lipped mussels and NZ lamb.
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F
Zippy's
Zippy's décor is a confronting combo of purple, teal and red, and service is zippy indeed. Strictly vegetarian food includes burritos, salads and the ‘locally famous' chocolate afghans. Drinks include ice-cream shakes, chai and heart-startlingly rich, full-flavoured coffee.
reviewed
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Stefano’s
Located upstairs in the State Cinema complex, Stefano’s wouldn’t win any awards for its decor. This Italian-run joint, however, does get top marks for traditional pizza – thin, crispy and delicious. Escape the movie-time madness and smell of popcorn on one of two balcony tables.
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H
Up the Garden Path
Perfect for lunch or a peppy coffee, this licensed cafe-gallery kicks back in an 1890s house amid idyllic gardens. Unleash the kids in the playroom and linger over your cheese platter, seafood chowder, laksa, pasta or lemon tart. Vegetarian, gluten- and dairy-free options, too.
reviewed
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I
Simply Indian
As the name suggests: no-nonsense curry in a no-frills setting. The food, however, is consistently good and relatively cheap. Expect the usual suspects such as tikka, tandoori, madras and vindaloo, and the ubiquitous naan prepared eight different ways. Takeaways are available.
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Yaza Cafe
Adjacent to the weekend markets, Yaza is a colourful, kid-friendly café with all-day breakfasts and live music most summer weekends (folk, blues, punk, pop and reggae). Food is free-range and organic (quiches pizzas, frittatas, wraps, soup); patchouli lingers in the air.
reviewed
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Smugglers Pub & Café
This maritime-themed pub was shipshape when last boarded during research, with friendly staff dishing out hearty meals to hungry landlubbers. A dependable family option serving pub grub favourites such as roast-of-the-day, burgers and fish and chips. Good patio area.
reviewed
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K
Stingray Café
From its ecofriendly ethos to sunny courtyard, well-priced meals and smooth tunes, Stingray embodies Nelson's upbeat mood. Drop by any time for relaxed vibes and to snaffle a pizza or salad. Later on, settle in with a cocktail and some live acoustic twanging or DJ.
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Morrison St Café
Part cafe, part gallery, Morrison St is a polished operator, with a menu that sticks out of the cafe crowd. Enjoy raspberry and cinnamon butter pancakes for brekkie, then sneak back for a zingy Burmese chicken salad or an afternoon pick-me-up of coffee and cake.
reviewed
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M
When in Rome
With its swanky Roman-chic fit-out, you might expect to pay Euro prices here. Fear not, the food at this new Italian joint is reasonably priced and darn tasty too. Ample portions of proper pasta, interesting salads and thin, crispy pizzas: bellissimo.
reviewed
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Smokehouse
Hamish the white heron surveys proceedings at this water’s-edge eatery, which serves fresh, wood-smoked fish and a bevy of seafood dishes in salty surroundings. Its shop next door has excellent fish and chips as well as smoked fish and pâté to go.
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DeVille
Indoor-outdoor DeVille is a cool place, with a pebble-covered courtyard dotted with couches, mirror mosaics and established greenery. Feast on bagels, veggie burgers, nachos and thumpin’ breakfasts away from hustle and bustle.
reviewed
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Beached Whale
Adjacent to Kaiteri Lodge, Beached Whale is a casual, family-friendly affair serving palatable mains (wood-fired pizzas, steaks, fish and chips), with the lodge owner strumming a guitar most evenings. Closed May to September.
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Swedish Bakery & Café
Delicious breads, croissants, pastries and cakes from the resident Scandinavian baker. Lovely fresh filled rolls such as meatball and beetroot relish, or smoked-salmon bagels. Take your goodies away or eat in the bijou cafe.
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Red Beret
Slick and chic family-run affair that’s raised the bar of Mot’s cafe scene. Tasty and generous à la carte menu – egg brekkies, steak sandwiches, BLE (egg) T – plus salads galore and the best counter food in town.
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Q
Swinging Sultan
Chunky chicken, falafel and beef kebabs from early until late at this hard-working nook. Coffees to go, blaring techno and a bit of banter with the boss.
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Penguino Ice Cream Café
Queuing for Penguino’s superb gelato and sorbet, made daily on the premises, is a Nelson ritual. The boysenberry sorbet is a medal winner.
reviewed
