New Plymouth
Despite its resemblance to a cheese grater, Arborio, in the Puke Ariki building, is a top spot for a bite – airy, arty and modern, with sea views and top…
Must-see restaurants in New Zealand
Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula
The Awakino River spills into the Tasman at Awakino, where boats shelter in the estuary while locals find refuge at the rustic Awakino Hotel. Look forward…
Fiordland & Southland
This cafe with a faux-vintage theme is a sweet spot for coffee, cupcakes and a sit-down after visiting the attached Croydon Aviation Heritage Centre,…
Taranaki & Whanganui
This old schoolhouse with a model steamboat out the front (a leftover prop from the 2005 film River Queen) has been reborn as a casual cafe, serving cakes…
Taupo
This Tudor-style pub is fronted by a lovely outdoor deck, while indoors English paraphernalia dominates, from a full suit of armour to bulldog cushions…
Tauranga
Locals head to this elegant venue, incongruously situated across from a suburban mall, for a special treat. The food is highly seasonal, made from the…
Taranaki & Whanganui
Although staff can't tell you exactly who dubbed this NZ's best ice cream (albeit in 2013), it's a good sugar hit if you're driving through. The Zabel…
New Plymouth
Ooh-la-la, buttery French treats! Flying the tricolore with pride, Petit Paris is a boulangerie and patisserie turning out crispy baguettes and tartes au…
Lake Taupo Region
Look for the giant licorice allsort on the roof of this roadside cafe, 8km north of Turangi. The coffee's good and comes with an allsort on the side,…
Lake Taupo Region
Don't be fooled by the office-like look of this Indian joint, it could be the best takeaway in town. Pick a protein in classics like korma and vindaloo,…
Glenorchy
If you want to hit the trails or the road early, this cafe inside Bold Peak Lodge is the best breakfast bet in town. Things are pretty straight up and…
Taranaki & Whanganui
This fire-engine-red heritage building (1878) was one of Inglewood's first shops. These days, Caffe Windsor sells eggs and waffles in the morning, old…
Auckland
It's an effort to get to, but this suburban cafe serves some of the prettiest and best breakfasts in Auckland, with dishes such as 'the Nest' (a filo nest…
Christchurch
Run by students of Indian spiritual leader Sri Chinmoy, this colourful vegetarian eatery serves a range of cuisines, from tasty curries and dosas to…
Dunedin & Otago
Restaurants attached to tourist attractions can be dodgy, but the meals here are perfectly fine (the coffee is hit and miss, though). Big glass windows…
New Plymouth
Overlooking the main lake in Pukekura Park, this little cafe in an old-fashioned pavilion (1931) serves simple brunches (eggs Benedict, bacon butties,…
City Centre & Britomart
Good, authentic, reasonably priced Vietnamese eateries are in short supply in NZ, which makes this surprisingly upmarket-looking place a real find. There…
Emmalou Macaron & Coffee House
New Plymouth
This bright little corner cafe lures in passers-by with the promise of macarons, but they stick around for the rest of the menu, too. Simple dishes like…
Wellington
This compact space is reassuringly dominated by an open kitchen from which authentic Japanese dishes such as super-fresh sashimi, homemade kumiage tofu,…
Bay of Plenty
Look forward to stellar harbour views from the spacious deck of this relaxed, beachy restaurant. Meals include excellent steaks and seafood – the shared …
Taupo
Amid the faux-Tudor style of what was formerly an English pub, Rose on Roberts surprises with a menu offering innovative spins on hearty classics, and a…
New Plymouth
A sumptuous gold-walled room draped with bolts of silk, India Today entices you in from the street with wafting spicy aromas and snaky tabla tunes. Dapper…
Whanganui
Understated Momiji is a hit with the locals, especially now it's relocated to a rather less understated former post office on the main drag. The menu is…
Christchurch
Spicing up Victoria St's burgeoning dining scene, this cheap and cheeky Mexican joint dishes up inauthentic but tasty tacos, fried chicken and hand-hacked…
Greymouth
Out the back of the public bar of the Recreation Hotel, this bistro is Greymouth's best dining option – which isn't saying much. The menu offers what you…
Wellington
Pomodoro's Massimo Tolve is so serious about his wood-fired pizza he's a member of the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, founded to protect and…
Christchurch & Canterbury
A favourite with locals, this well-run cafe serves up classic brunch faves and good coffee in the mornings, while come evening you'll find tasty curries,…
Christchurch
It's third time lucky for this Christchurch institution, which reopened in this industrial-style warehouse on the CBD outskirts in 2013, after its…
Palmerston North
A steakhouse with plenty of other options on the menu, Aberdeen specialises in NZ AngusPure steaks. There's a lounge area at the front with upholstery…
City Centre & Britomart
One of the more affordable eateries in the big, brash SkyCity casino complex, Gusto excels in delivering fresh pasta dishes, all of which are made from…
Palmerston North
This mother-daughter operation on the Square is a healthy takeaway alternative specialising in super smoothies and wholesome bowls. Salads are displayed…
Taupo & the Ruapehu Region
Warm up with a pizza or generous risotto in this contemporary Italian restaurant with rustic touches (wooden chairs, open fireplaces, old photos and the…
Taranaki & Whanganui
European dishes, authentic Indian mains and wood-fired pizzas – is there anything Mantra doesn't do? This roadside, mostly Indian cafe is Bollywood kitsch…
Hastings & Around
At the bottom of an old art-deco office building, mostly full of lawyers, is this tidy little eatery with retro interior design, funky lighting,…
Waiheke Island
The Oyster Inn is a popular destination for Auckland's smart set. They're attracted by the excellent seafood-skewed bistro menu, oysters and champagne,…
Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula
All-day Onyx occupies a lofty space, with onyx-black furnishings and warm-toned timber floors. Wood-fired pizzas are the mainstay, plus salads, tortillas,…
Glenorchy
The front garden of the local pub isn't a bad spot for a beer or a filling meal. It also has basic rooms (from $130/95 with/without bathroom) in a…
New Plymouth
Red-glowing windows and a rather menacing-looking Buddha sign suggest 'nightclub', but a wander upstairs delivers New Plymouth's most reliable Chinese…
Rotorua
Owned by a friendly southern Indian family from Kerala, this riot of yellow and lime-green decor also serves up authentic dishes from Sri Lanka. Try the…
Wanaka
The combination of authentic curry, crispy garlic naan and cold beer is a great way to recharge after a day's snowboarding or tramping. Beyond the spot-on…
