Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
Tucked away in an odd block of shops down the hill from Ponsonby Rd, Nishiki serves up a tasty array of dishes to a largely Japanese clientele. A picture…
Must-see restaurants in New Zealand
Nelson Region
Partner business to the Kaiteri Lodge, the Beached Whale is a sociable affair serving wood-fired pizza, burgers, fish dinners and the like. Drink and dine…
Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula
A day started at an Orca window seat looking over the water with eggs Benedict and a coffee is a day well launched. Come back in the evening to combine…
Wellington
Let it all hang out after midnight at this devilishly good late opener. Munch on some cheesy lasagne, sticky date pudding, brownies or spinach-and-basil…
The West Coast
Net yourself some excellent fish and chips (try the turbot, blue cod or fried oysters), then scoff them down the road at Sunset Point for an extra…
Otago Peninsula
Salmon, venison and steak are joined by fresh fish and blackboard specials at this casual eatery. Cafe fare, such as soup and toasted sandwiches, is…
Wellington
Keen to try some Māori kai (food)? This fun, open-walled cafe is in a top spot by the harbour, fronted by sunny beanbag-strewn lawns. The kai mightn't be…
Christchurch
Himalayas' minimalist dining room showcases lots of North Indian and Punjabi favourites, including vegetarian options like creamy dal makhani (lentils…
Bay of Islands
If sugar is your weakness, the Waffle Room may well be your undoing. You're best to avoid temptation by grabbing a table in the cafe side of Zest and…
Wanaka
Fancy burgers (spiced pulled pork, high-country salmon, porterhouse steak) are the mainstay of this white-tiled takeaway bar, but it also does fish and…
Palmerston North
Inspired by international dining halls and food trucks, this shiny new food court is great if you're short on time and cash. Truly something for everyone…
East Cape
Opposite Morere Hot Springs is this casual, good-time barbecue joint, plating up tangy ribs, beefy burgers and tender brisket, alongside breads, pickles…
Te Anau
Posher than the average chippie, this commendable fast-food joint serves great fish and chips, homemade venison and vegie burgers, as well as deep-fried…
Hastings & Around
There's nothing suburban about this winery restaurant on the suburban backstreets of Hastings. The warm, wood-lined dining room is a worthy setting for…
Bay of Plenty
Surprisingly atmospheric, Ambria is a hip bar-eatery in a nondescript shopping strip on the eastern side of town. Grab a seat overlooking the river and…
Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
Specialising in delicious tandoori dishes and lamb curries, this top-flight Indian eatery has a wide-ranging menu with plenty of vegetarian selections and…
Bay of Islands & Northland
Nectar offers the winning combination of friendly staff, organic milk and coffee, and generous servings from a menu full of Northland produce with paleo,…
Kaikoura
This cafe in the Encounter Kaikōura complex is more than just somewhere to wait for your tour. The cabinet houses respectable sandwiches, pastries and…
Timaru
Neapolitans will have a minor freak out, but the bready, nontraditional pizzas served in this converted church hall have plenty of fans. The menu is…
Nelson Region
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…
Taupo
Eschewing the staid, traditional curry house vibe in favour of varied – if not clashing – floral feature walls and pearly high-back leather chairs, this…
Whanganui
There are a few Indian joints in the River City (an affinity with the Ganges, perhaps?), but the Guru takes the cake for its charismatic black-and…
City Centre & Britomart
Primarily a coffee roaster, Eighthirty's High St branch serves the inner-city's best coffee and a tasty array of fresh sandwiches, salads and sweet things…
Wellington
Unexpected little Jano crops up on a bleak, windy stretch of Willis St – a small, yellow 1880s cottage with a herb garden out the front and buckets of…
Dunedin & Otago
This popular little cafe near the Victorian quarter roasts its own coffee in-house – it's a good spot to stock up on freshly ground beans for your own…
Gisborne
Artisan bakers with killer pies, wholesome bread, delicious pastries, soups and cookies, and friendly staff, all made on-site (except the staff)…
Pohara
A popular locals' hang-out, this well-run spot sports a large garden suited to sundowners and thirst-quenchers on sunny days. There's an open fire inside…
Kaikoura
You can usually buy fresh cooked or uncooked crays from Cay's Crays, a surf-side caravan around 20km north of town. Upwards of $50 should get you a decent…
Taranaki & Whanganui
Happy, hippie and wholesome, Sugar Juice Cafe has some of the most reliable food on SH45. It's brimming with delicious and filling cafe edibles: order a…
Christchurch
This deli-cafe is popular for its takeaway bocadillos (toasted wraps filled with a huge selection of Middle Eastern– and African-inspired fillings, sauces…
Rotorua
With paw prints across the walls and ceiling, this casual and colourful cafe is the most child-friendly cafe in town. During the day it dishes up burgers,…
Banks Peninsula
Named after a well-travelled American buccaneer, Bully Hayes is a bustling restaurant serving hearty if basic meals all day long, from breakfast to dinner…
Bay of Islands & Northland
Good coffee, artisan icy treats, organic soft drinks and kombucha (fermented sweet tea), and homestyle baking – all served from a funky red shipping…
Dunedin & Otago
Known to locals as the steampunk cafe, this rusty iron-clad eatery on the waterfront serves crowd-pleasers such as fish and chips, corn fritters, and…
Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula
With a cherry-red espresso machine working overtime, barn-like Red Cherry offers coffee roasted on site, delicious counter food and impressive cooked…
Buller Region
Within this 1876-built pub lie simple pleasures and warm hospitality: a game of pool, a pint of ale, and a choice of roast dinners, nachos and beer…
Franz Josef Glacier
Portions are huge at the Landing Bar, from whopping whitebait patties to unfinishable nachos and bulky burgers. It gets busy but service meets demand…
Kaikoura
Under new ownership, this upmarket place continues to deliver French-style fare using top-quality local produce including crayfish, paua, beef, lamb and…
Palmerston North
On Saturday nights, you can watch one of the owners paint characters from upstairs' library archives onto the mural wall, while the other plays soft jazz…
The West Coast
The pub and dining room beneath Blackball's mischievously named hotel turns out Cornish pasties, bangers and mash, and light meals for lunch, and a…
