East Cape
Decent coffee and excellent savoury pies make Cottle's an essential stop on Tologa Bay's main drag. The bacon-and-egg pie is deservedly popular all around…
Must-see restaurants in North Island
Taranaki & Whanganui
Inglewood is a noteworthy stop for a pie at Nelson's, and if you're about to head up Mt Taranaki, you're gonna need some fuel in the tank. The classics…
Wellington
Time for tea? This quaint little tea room offers club sandwiches, cakes, freshly baked scones with raspberry jam and cream, and tea in fine bone china…
Hastings & Around
A high-ceilinged organic cafe in central Hastings, Taste Cornucopia serves filling breakfasts, organic coffee, smoked fish pies, curries, vegetarian…
Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
This friendly and stylish Italian restaurant covers all the bases, with a fireplace in winter and a courtyard in summer. Speaking of bases, there's a…
Coromandel Peninsula
Housed in a cute little wooden building with punga-shaded outdoor seating, Ti-Tree serves fair-trade organic coffee, cooked breakfasts and delicious fruit…
Parnell & Newmarket
Rosie is a swish spot for a cooked breakfast, an inventive bistro-style meal, or coffee and cake after a stroll around the rose gardens. Service is…
Wellington
The hottest thing in coldness is the gelato and sorbet made by Graham, who grew up in a fruiterer's shop and sure knows his apples (and raspberries, and…
Wellington
In need of a mid-evening gap-filler? Roll into this long-running, no-frills Lebanese joint for authentic falafel, shish and shawarma (and equally no…
Bay of Islands
Set back from the street in an old wooden house, this dependable restaurant offers a massive list of subcontinental favourites, including lots of…
North Island
This very ‘Wellington’ cafe delievers both light and substantial meals made with relish: fishcakes, BLTs, salads, sandwiches, colourful vegie options… The…
Wellington
This is not your average curry joint. While a tad more expensive than its competitors, Great India consistently earns its moniker with its distinctly…
Bay of Islands & Northland
Filled with expectant divers in the morning and those capping off their perfect day on the water in the evening, this cafe-restaurant-bar, with a tropical…
Napier
Crammed with Indonesian curios, this intimate space oozes authenticity. Lip-smacking Indo-Dutch rijsttafel smorgasbords are the house speciality (14…
Coromandel Peninsula
On a corner facing the harbour, this informal restaurant offers good-value seafood meals in a prime location. Steamed mussels, smoked seafood platters and…
Hastings & Around
Rush Munro’s is a Hastings institution, serving locally made ice cream since 1926. Our favourite is the manuka honey flavour, best licked among the…
New Plymouth
Expanding waistlines since 1972, this is an easy pull-over off the main road through town. Hefty pies, buns and sandwiches, as well as calorific slabs of…
Taranaki & Whanganui
Housed in a very slow-moving 1917 railway carriage set back from the main street, this is an unusual stop for good-value breakfast stacks, bacon-and-egg…
The Far North
Locals dismiss this place as overpriced and full of tourists, but there's no denying the appeal of downing fish-and-chips and a cold beer on the deck…
Bay of Islands
Locals flock to this casual cafe-restaurant-bar for good food – including lots of local seafood – and live music from 3pm to 6pm every Sunday afternoon…
Bay of Islands
In summer it does a steady trade in ice-cream cones, smoothies and milkshakes. In the depths of winter, this humble coffee counter is the prime local…
Waiheke Island
If you're bored with eggs Benedict, try one of the piquant breakfast tagines at this stylish cafe/mezze bar. Paninis, wraps and salads are served along…
Whanganui
This bright and exotic Thai restaurant is clean and group-friendly, with on-theme silk table runners and keen-to-impress staff. Catch the daily lunch…
Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula
This excellent industrial-chic cafe offers great coffee and tempting food – try the bacon-wrapped meatloaf with greens or the tasty chicken wraps. The…
Waiheke Island
With a spacious outdoor area and ocean views, Solar is a relaxed choice for the first coffee – or beer or glass of wine – of the day. Lots of local…
Whanganui
Duck into the quiet Victoria Court minimall on the main street and discover this sweet little Japanese restaurant serving great-value sushi, ramen noodle…
Coromandel Peninsula
Classy cafe fare including pizza, counter food (tarts and quiches around $7), superb coffee and tummy-taming breakfasts. Craft beer from Hamilton's Good…
Ponsonby Village International Food Court
Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
Japanese, Malaysian, Chinese, Turkish, Thai, Lao and Indian flavours are all on offer here, and excellent Vietnamese and Indonesian. Beer and wine are…
New Plymouth
A drool-worthy emporium for picnic-basket essentials: meats, wines, olive oil, relish, fruit and veg, cheeses, jams and prepackaged meals (try the fish…
City Centre & Britomart
Fresh and bright, this little cafe is a popular coffee-and-pastry stop for harried office workers. Look forward also to a concise menu of French classics…
Napier
If you’re the type who needs cutlery, you'll appreciate the sit-down meals served in the dining room here. Otherwise, grab some takeaway fish and chips…
Rotorua
A coffee and a stonking sausage roll could be just the thing when you've been walking or mountain biking in the nearby Redwoods. It also sells muffins,…
Kingsland & Mt Eden
Gourmet pies, healthy salads and wraps, and drool-inducing cakes. Arrayed across several levels in an old house, there's plenty of room to stretch out and…
The Far North
Waterfront has water views and old-world charm, although the service can be hit and miss. A pizza menu kicks in at lunch and extends into dinner, when it…
Taranaki & Whanganui
For a fine lunch or dinner, try this spicy-smelling, black-and-white diner, serving decent curries in upbeat surrounds. Love the lurid murals and the …
Napier
Fine dining on Marine Pde: a concise and tightly edited menu features the likes of confit duck leg with duck and blue cheese risotto. Sensuously shaped…
Coromandel Peninsula
Smoked fish and seafood for cooking and snacking. Also available is excellent Coromandel artisan cheese and the fiery Uncle Dunkle's chilli sauce made…
Taranaki & Whanganui
In need of a refurb, funky Funkfish is still one of the better options in Inglewood, serving fish and chips and burgers. Doubles as a bar at night. Swap…
Gisborne
If you're into sushi, Yoko will surely lure you in (even if your name's not John). Commendable sushi, along with the usual miso-llany of extras including…
Bay of Islands & Northland
As gaudy as every good Thai restaurant should be, Pimarn features all of Thailand’s blockbuster dishes, including an excellent yum talay (spicy seafood…
