Waiheke Island
Head to this combination seafood retailer and deli selling local gourmet produce for the freshest and best-value oysters on the island. Just $26 will get…
Must-see restaurants in North Island
Bay of Plenty
Around 2km south of Mauao, this beach-facing cafe is removed from the Mount's occasional bustle. Savvy locals crowd in for coffee in bright morning…
Tauranga
Nourished’s slow-cooked jackfruit burger and salted caramel French toast add real panache to this vegan menu. The colour scheme is probably a little too…
The Wairarapa
Gladstone, 18km south of Masterton, is less a town, more a state of mind. There’s very little here except a handful of vineyards and this classic old…
Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula
A great place to try the local speciality of whitebait is this classic Kiwi diner. Look for the quirky statue of the whitebait fisherman on the roof…
New Plymouth
With a dozen gourmet burgers with names like 'My Dark Twisted Crantasy' and 'The Boss', this burger bar is the epitome of cool. There are also smaller…
Bay of Plenty
A happy marriage of bakery (Elspeth) and brunch parlour (Eddies), this light-filled eatery entices with an inventive menu – Eddie’s eggs Benedict comes…
Wellington
Continuing Wellington's unwavering obsession with all things Cuba, this fantastic retro-imaginative roastery and coffee lounge offers heart-jolting coffee…
New Plymouth
Constructed from hefty recycled timbers, this cool cafe-bistro in the Lee Breakwater precinct looks like an old sea chest washed up after a storm. The all…
Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula
Ulo's serves well-priced Japanese and Korean snacks and meals. Highlights include the spicy prawns with sriracha sauce, the Bang Bang chicken salad and…
Taupo & the Ruapehu Region
This cosy little restored railway station has cakes as timeless as the 1908 station itself – Florentines, spicy apple cakes, crumbles – as well as eggy…
Rotorua
Named after the righteous lawyer in To Kill a Mockingbird, the hippest spot on Eat Streat plays to a theme with the Scout Sangria and Radley Sour…
Taupo
Nab a popular street-side table at Kefi, which is Greek for joy. Inside the decor is a little 'cafeteria', but don't let that put you off. This is the…
City Centre & Britomart
Celebrity chef Al Brown's take on a New York Jewish deli serves simple stuff like bagels and sandwiches, matzo-ball soup and lots of delicious comfort…
Taranaki & Whanganui
In a town short on decent places to eat, you can almost hear Someday sigh at its surroundings. Around 20 can fit on the mid-century chairs and at the…
Gisborne
Inside the restored Union Steam Ship Company building (hence USSCO), this place is all class. Kitchen skills shine on a highly seasonal menu featuring the…
Parnell & Newmarket
One of the three international ramen franchises to open in Newmarket in late 2019, this is our hands-down favourite. Service is always speedy and friendly…
Hamilton
Fresh spring rolls, Vietnamese banh mi (sandwiches) and steaming bowls of pho (noodle soup) feature at this hip spot channelling the backstreets of Hanoi…
Taupo
Our pick of Indian restaurants in Taupo, Malabar has a broad menu but is especially good at vegetarian dishes, such as dal makhani made with black lentils…
Coromandel Peninsula
With a charcoal oven as its kitchen hub, Stoked turns out dishes like manuka-smoked salmon, tandoori chicken thigh and good wood-fired pizza. Views of the…
Whanganui
Detour away from the fray for funky tunes, buttermilk pancakes, local art and courtyard tables beneath a chunky-trunk cherry blossom tree. Fail to resist…
Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
This stylish shoebox crams in a disparate crowd of corporate and fashion types, Ponsonby denizens and travellers. There's a Jewish influence to the food,…
Hastings & Around
Great things come in small packages at this rosy little tapas bar. The kitchen delivers sassy, locally sourced edibles such as pork belly with pomegranate…
Rotorua
The greeting is très français but this little cafe walks a fine line between a traditional crêperie and the kind of cafe that Kiwi retirees gravitate to…
East Cape
Heaven is a tub of homemade macadamia-and-honey ice cream from this blue nut hut, accompanied by views along one of the most spectacular parts of the…
Bay of Plenty
A funky fish cartoon sets the scene for this fresh, fun and informal 'seafood and wine bar'. The menu splashes its way through mostly Asian cuisines –…
Rotorua
Occupying a quiet corner near the lake, this zesty cafe offers nostalgic breakfasts with a modern twist, such as mince on toasted ciabatta with a poached…
Bay of Plenty
There’s a classic beach vibe on the open back deck of Cadera (despite the intervening car park). It's everything you’d expect of a good Mexican restaurant…
Hamilton
This mash-up of country kitchen decor showcases inventive cafe fare. Free-range and organic options punctuate the short, focused menu, and both the…
Tauranga
Wonder Woman watches approvingly over the scrum of regulars enjoying terrific coffee and scrumptious all-day breakfasts. Order from the blackboard or from…
Coromandel Peninsula
Dine at easy-going Hula to fast track to a beachy state of mind. Try the corned beef hash with poached eggs for brekkie, or the fish tacos or coconut…
Lake Taupo Region
This burger bar, so new it hasn’t had time to gather rust, is furnished with high stools and one soft cowhide couch. It serves unusual burgers, such as…
Bay of Plenty
Join the Kiwi summer tradition of pick-your-own berries, or simply grab a seat on the large sunny cafe terrace at this super-popular berry farm, 6km west…
Whanganui
The counter at Ambrosia is full of fab pies and quiches (not to mention cinnamon scrolls!) or you can order something from the kitchen – perhaps a vegan …
Wellington
Enigmatic Enigma is the pick of the late-night coffee haunts around Courtenay Pl – a grungy, weathered, lived-in and loved-in cafe serving bagels, lasagne…
Parnell & Newmarket
Catering to Francophile foodies, this warehouse stocks French imports and has a patisserie-laden cafe. During the weekend farmers markets, this cigale …
City Centre & Britomart
Tucked away at the rear of the Elliott Stables food court, this excellent Indian eatery serves lip-smacking curries (Kerala beef, coconut lamb shank, …
Bay of Plenty
Don’t come for the decor – it feels a bit like sitting in a community art gallery – but do come to experience seasonal produce creatively transformed into…
Bay of Plenty
At this classic French cafe you’ll be greeted with a bonjour, then a menu of crêpes and a display cabinet of croissants and apple-and-blue-cheese tartines…
Bay of Islands
This waterfront bistro is mostly popular for its location right on the water's edge. The menu ranges from breakfast to burgers, plus wines and craft beers…
