Restaurants in The East Coast
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Café Ujazi
Ujazi folds back its windows and lets the alternative vibe spill out onto the street. The superb coffee, substantial breakfasts and sparkly staff are a great hangover remedy. Try the rewana special – a big breakfast on traditional Maori bread.
reviewed
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B
Kilim Café
Authentic Turkish cuisine in a rather smart cafe environment, adorned with suitably Ottoman cushions and wall hangings. Kebabs, felafel, hummus, dolmas, pide and meze – all fresh and every one tasty. Eat in or take away.
reviewed
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Pipi
Shockingly pink with candy stripes and mismatched furniture, Pipi cheekily thumbs its nose at small-town conventionality. The food focus is on simple pasta dishes and Roman-style thin-crusted pizza.
reviewed
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C
USSCO Bar & Bistro
Housed in the restored Union Steam Ship Company building (hence the name), this place is all class. The talented chef-owner demonstrates silky kitchen skills through a varied and exciting menu featuring the likes of roast duck with coconut sauce, crispy polenta and braised red cabbage. Devilishly good desserts and a drinks list sporting plenty of local wines and NZ beers. Live piano Tuesday to Saturday.
reviewed
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D
Opera Kitchen
This modern and stylish cafe has an interesting menu including healthy brekkie options, such as strawberries with passionfruit-curd yoghurt. For the less calorie conscious the full breakfast is a real winner, too. Heavenly counter food, great coffee and friendly staff round things out nicely. Eat in or outside in the suntrap courtyard.
reviewed
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Diva
The most happening place in Havelock, Diva offers good value lunch (from fish and chips to Caesar salad) and a bistro-style menu featuring fresh seafood and seasonal specialities. Designed to within an inch of its life, the interior is divided into flash dining room and groovy bar (snacks from $5), plus lively pavement tables.
reviewed
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E
Bookshop Café
Situated above Muirs Bookshop in a heritage building, this place has stripped-brick walls, exposed rafters, lovely leadlights, and a veranda over the street, along with a small but sweet selection of counter food and excellent salads. Fans of Supreme coffee and literature may need to be forcibly removed.
reviewed
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Taste
They haven't quite nailed the décor – it's too brightly lit to be bohemian and too grungy to be chic – but once you're sitting on the balcony admiring the streetscape the interior becomes irrelevant. Both the menu and cocktail list are flavoursome enough to get your tastebuds buzzing.
reviewed
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Misty River Café
A little bit of continental chic on the functional high street, this darling little cafe makes a lip-smacking waldorf salad as well fresh ham, pasta, nachos and other global favourites. Drop-dead-gorgeous baking. All made from scratch, and to order (enquire about the chicken-salad sandwich).
reviewed
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East End Café
In the same building as the Gaiety Theatre, the East End is a breath of fresh air with its spacious interior, toasted sandwiches ($6), fabulous friands, and a concise blackboard ranging from morning eggs to pizza and seafood chowder. Great coffee and juices, too.
reviewed
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Terrôir at Craggy Range
A surprisingly rustic dining room, housed in the cathedral-like ‘wine barrel’ of the Craggy complex, provides one of the region’s most consistent fine-dining experiences. The views of Te Mata peak from the terrace are almost as impressive as the wine list.
reviewed
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Pacific Coast Macadamias
Heaven is a tub of homemade macadamia and honey ice cream at Pacific Coast Macadamias, accompanied by views along one of the most spectacular parts of the coast. Toasted sandwiches and nutty sweet treats make this a great lunch stop.
reviewed
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Wharf Café Bar Restaurant
Overlooking the harbour, this is modern Gisborne dining at its best. Smooth tunes waft through an elegant interior; excellent fish dishes swim through the menu. The outdoor concourse is perfect for a crisp morning coffee or a balmy evening beer.
reviewed
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H
Café 1874
The creaky old grandeur of the Poverty Bay gentleman’s club (1874) is reason enough to visit. This cafe within it certainly adds impetus: appealing counter food, all-day brunch, blackboard specials, reasonable prices and a pleasant garden.
reviewed
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I
Fettuccine Brothers
A highly polished yet relaxed affair with separate bar (live music Wednesday to Friday). The menu runs the gamut from garlic bread and antipasto, through to pasta and mammoth steaks. We give the spaghetti marinara the big thumbs up.
reviewed
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Provedore
A chic little number, from the deco facade in. Partake in some of the best food in Napier, from tapas, to mains, dessert and cheese. With a clutch of good NZ beers and fine wines, Provedore lures the sophisticated barfly, too.
reviewed
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Bay Espresso
An easy pit stop on the main road, this enduringly popular cafe serves up house-roasted organic coffee as well as handsome counter food and reasonable brunch, best enjoyed in the sunny courtyard out back.
reviewed
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K
Zest
Zealously zesty with its lime green frontage, this popular cafe serves good coffee, and a range of sweets, sandwiches, salads and blackboard specials using seasonal and organic produce where possible.
reviewed
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Café Ruba
Urbane Ruba is Gizzy’s most stylish daytime stop, offering substantial breakfasts, sandwiches to order (on homemade bread) and adventurous lunches. Finish with strong coffee or an afternoon tipple.
reviewed
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Groove Kitchen Espresso
A fitting name for one of Napier’s newer eateries. The sophisticated cafe fare, understated decor and cool tunes give it the X-factor. There’s occasional late-night grooving to be had here, too.
reviewed
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Crave Café & Wine Bar
With minimal fuss, this contemporary bistro prepares simple quiches, salads, pastas, steaks and vegetarian dishes with nouveau-Italian flair. A wide wine list befits the wine-bar moniker.
reviewed
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Hep Set Mooch
A good place if you like a marina view, supersize brunch, fresh baking and good coffee. Not so good if you have an aversion to bright yellow and green walls and dubious artwork.
reviewed
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Wok U Want
Stack your bowl with vegetables, noodles, sauces and your choice of chicken, beef, pork or tofu and watch the chef sizzle it up for you. It's cheap and incredibly filling.
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Restaurant Indonesia
Crammed with Indonesian curios, this intimate space oozes authenticity. Lip-smacking Indo-Dutch rijsttafel smorgasbords are the house speciality (14 dishes, $35).
reviewed
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Westshore Fish Café
If you’re the type who needs cutlery, proper sit-down meals are served here. Otherwise grab some of the acclaimed fish and chips and contend with the gulls on the beach.
reviewed
