New Plymouth
Not so much chaotic as endearingly kooky, Chaos is a dependable spot for a coffee and a zingy brunch. Cabinet food is labelled according to whether it's…
Must-see restaurants in Taranaki & Whanganui
New Plymouth
Behind a weird louvred wall facing onto Devon St, Elixir fosters an American-diner vibe serving everything from coffee, bagels and waffles through to…
New Plymouth
Ever tried Indian whisky? It's on the menu at Koi, alongside craft beer and Indian favourites like slow-cooked aromatic goat and clay-pot chicken biryani…
New Plymouth
This diner attracts mainly families and those nostalgic for the 1950s. Order at the counter (pancake stacks for breakfast and a burger or hot dog later on…
Whanganui
Villa is a neat little weatherboard Victorian (painted black – how patriotic), with an equally neat menu of mainly toasted sandwiches plus an egg dish and…
Palmerston North
This corner cafe is a George St fixture, decked out in primary colours with lots of wood and big windows. The all-day menu won't change lives, but it hits…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
Palmerston North
This mother-daughter operation on the Square is a healthy takeaway alternative specialising in super smoothies and wholesome bowls. Salads are displayed…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
New Plymouth
This small restaurant is the build-your-own-adventure of meatballs. Pick from one to three balls ranging from lamb and chicken through to a local fish and…
New Plymouth
This New Plymouth newcomer is your first stop for health-oriented drinks (beetroot latte, anyone?) and lush salads. Egg-centric breakfasts are the top…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 …
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…
Taranaki & Whanganui
Inside the North Egmont Visitor Centre, Kamahi is passable for a quick-fire warm-me-up pizza, a coffee or some breakfast eggs.
Taranaki & Whanganui
The cafe within Dawson Falls Mountain Lodge serves a simple set of savoury and sweet pastries.
