Christchurch & Canterbury
Blink and you'll miss this stellar roadside bakery, a purveyor of more than 20 varieties of pies, from traditional beef to more experimental flavour…
Must-see restaurants in New Zealand
Napier
We mourn the loss of our favourite Napier hippie cafe, but its buzzy and welcoming replacement is a more modern interpretation of East Coast cafe life…
Takaka
Trust Takaka to have a kooky takeaway joint in a shipping container, painted with a giant squid mural. The menu isn't run-of-the-mill either. Sure, they…
Taupo
If Alice in Wonderland lived in a mosaic world, this is what it would look like. Teacups balancing on flowers (dubbed 'tea totems') and oversized chairs…
Palmerston North
Set in a spruced-up 1918 Victorian house with a manicured alfresco dining area, Nero is the peak of fine dining in Palmy. The chef and owner is an…
Fiordland & Southland
Welcome to 1984, and we mean that in a completely affectionate way. Where else can you still get a shrimp cocktail? Elegance is the sort of old-fashioned,…
Christchurch & Canterbury
The Topp Twins are NZ entertainment legends and this cafe owned by Dame Lynda Topp and her wife Donna is a fine addition to Methven's dining scene. Check…
East Cape
A rather stately two-storey timber pub by the pier, serving hefty meals such as pork chop with apple sauce and offering accommodation ranging from grassy…
New Plymouth
Thick-accented Italian staff add authenticity to this discreet family-run restaurant. It's one of a dozen Portofinos across the North Island, but manages…
The West Coast
It's one of the only shows in town, but luckily the Stationhouse (built 1901) is a winner. The cafe serves fruit smoothies, good coffee, excellent eggs…
The Wairarapa
After a hard day's wine tasting, work your way into a quiet beer at this handsome 1882 pub. Most of the space is given over to diners, though, under the…
Dunedin
Part of the growing restaurant scene at St Clair Beach, Starfish is a popular all-day eatery offering decadent brunch dishes, good coffee and a great buzz…
Lake Taupo Region
Cavernous and colourful, with local art for sale on the walls, Hydro is the town’s earliest riser if you’re chasing trout. It commands an elevated…
Palmerston North
Formerly located at 188 Featherston St (hence the name), this remains a classy bistro and on the top branch of Palmy's dining tree. The seasonal menu is a…
Bay of Plenty
Perched over a swampy back-reach of Ohiwa Harbour (serious oyster territory), this classic roadside fish shack is perfect for a fish-and-chip picnic or to…
Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
Waiting for a table is sometimes part of the experience at this popular and bustling cantina, but propping up the bar is hardly a hardship – the ambience…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Wanaka
When it's this hidden away and still this popular, you know to expect good things. This cosmopolitan cafe delivers robust breakfasts, excellent coffee,…
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…
Nelson
Most of DeVille's tables lie in its sweet walled courtyard, a hidden boho oasis in the inner city and the perfect place for a meal or morning tea. The…
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…
Takaka
This cafe serves good-value fare such as falafel salads, pizza, burritos, pasta and baked goods, as well as juices and local wines and craft beer. It's…
Queenstown
Occupying a historic NZ Railways shipping office right by the lake, this great little cafe serves excellent, artfully arranged breakfasts and the likes of…
Wellington
Continuing Wellington's unwavering obsession with all things Cuba, this fantastic retro-imaginative roastery and coffee lounge offers heart-jolting coffee…
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…
Christchurch & Canterbury
This glass-walled pavilion atop Mt John has spectacular 360-degree views across the entire Mackenzie Basin – just maybe one of the planet's best locations…
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…
Christchurch
Sidle into Fiddlesticks for sophisticated, hearty meals from breakfast to supper. The cosy formal dining room is perfect for intimate dinners, but we like…
Fiordland & Southland
Whether you like your oysters battered or freshly shucked, stop at Fowlers during oyster season for the best bivalves on the South Island. It's on the…
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…
Christchurch
Black Betty's industrial-chic warehouse is a popular destination for students from the nearby college. Friendly service, great food and a laid-back…
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…
Timaru
Timaru's hippest coffee house follows the recipe for success: namely great coffee, contemporary cafe fare, good tunes and a mix of arty inside and sunny…
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…
