Restaurants in The West Coast
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Bushmans Centre
The Bushmans Centre is an overly rustic cafe-shop with a pathological distrust of possums, animal rights activists and Aucklanders. Inside is a souvenir shop and the Bushmans Museum, laying on blokey bush humour with a 20-minute video on local industry, anti-possum displays and some giant eels. The cafe offers snacks like possum jerky, possum pie and possum pâté. Outside in a paddock are chamois and thar that look happier than the caged possums inside.
reviewed
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A
Frank’s Late Night Lounge
Effortlessly cool and retro late-night lounge-bar-cafe. A mirror ball hovers blithely above rescued 1950s furniture while Sinatra and Dean Martin bubble away as the soundtrack. An eclectic list of teas and NZ’s best boutique beers partner a small global menu with surprises like Tibetan momos (dumplings) and Moroccan fish. Occasional live gigs complete the picture.
reviewed
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B
Priya’s
If you’re in dire need of a curry fix this is your best option in town. The atmosphere leaves much to be desired – harsh overhead fluorescent lights and a mini-bar with all the ambience of a takeaway-shop waiting area. The food on the other hand is full of flavour. Mouth- (and eye-) watering curries are the house speciality and they don’t disappoint.
reviewed
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Craypot
Dining at the Craypot, is more than a classic Kiwi dining experience – it’s verging upon essential. So fresh it was swimming yesterday fish and chips, whitebait sandwiches and mixed grills are served up in an absolute waterfront location. The rustic old caravan with views of snowy peaks is pretty hard to beat.
reviewed
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C
Denniston Dog Saloon
Lots of wild West Coast wood and Kiwiana antiques give the Denniston Dog a rustic air. Then again, a couple of beers, some tasty scallops and a good steak probably have the same effect. ‘The Dog’ is both bar and restaurant. After you’re watered and fed, take the locals on at pool. Occasional touring bands raise the roof.
reviewed
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D
Cafe de Paris
This oh-so-French café is very popular, but we were underwhelmed when we visited for dinner. Breakfast, lunch or coffee and delicious cakes at any time are excellent, but later at night their Gallic culinary aspirations can exceed their abilities in the kitchen. On Saturday nights there's live music from 19:00.
reviewed
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Alfresco
With a family bistro atmosphere, Alfresco serves up meat and seafood grills and a half-dozen tasty pizzas. There are gas heaters or tables inside if the alfresco gets too fresco. They also have charming accommodation in the adjacent building – a double room will run you $60 to $120 and you won’t be disappointed.
reviewed
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Bay House Cafe
One of NZ’s best restaurants, the Bay House Cafe is sophisticated without being stuffy. The chefs use local ingredients like pikopiko (fern shoots) and horopito (NZ peppertree) in preparing seafood, West Coast venison and Canterbury lamb. The wine list is easily the best on the West Coast.
reviewed
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Salmon Farm Café & Shop
Like some sort of gigantic edible aquarium, the fish ponds at the Salmon Farm Café & Shop are teaming with lunch, err, fish. The cafe serves salmon-filled omelettes, platters, pastas and fresh pâté. It’s $1 to feed the fish, but the plump little buggers don’t look hungry.
reviewed
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E
Fat Pipi Pizza
Vegetarians, carnivores and everyone in between will be salivating for the pizza made with love right before your eyes. If you’re in town during whitebait season (September to mid-November) try the Fat Pipi whitebait pizza. Plan to take away – there’s no seating to be found here.
reviewed
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F
Yellow House Cafe
This relaxed and sunny spot has warm wooden floors, the best coffee in town, and a tasty organic tinge to the menu. Try the dips and homemade bread with a glass of wine from nearby Marlborough, or have a latte and hitch your laptop to the wi-fi network.
reviewed
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G
Alice May
At this rustic Nordic-style lodge transplanted from somewhere near the Arctic Circle there’s no smorgasbord on offer, but plenty of meaty meals like pork ribs and venison stew. Park yourself on a rustic barstool for happy hour (4pm to 7pm).
reviewed
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H
DP:One Cafe
This bohemian room plugs the grungy cred of a big-city cafe into the artsy vibe of a ramshackle garage sale. The menu features healthy pies, focaccias, salads and cakes, plus good coffee and wicked smoothies. There is internet as well.
reviewed
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High Peaks Bar & Restaurant
Angled towards Mt Cook, High Peaks combines eating and drinking. Forget the calories, this is enjoyment food: steaks, pastas, fish and chips, roasts, chunky soups and stews. Have another Monteith’s and wait for the clouds to part.
reviewed
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I
Café Nevé
Smart choices on the menu include pizza and award-winning ways with beef and lamb, and there’s home-baked cookies and cakes available throughout the day. If you’re going for a wander grab one of the takeaway focaccia sandwiches.
reviewed
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Wild Foods Restaurant
Across the road from Bushmans Centre is the Puke Pub and the Wild Foods Restaurant, specialising in ‘road kill’ dishes like ‘wheel-tread possum’ and ‘headlight delight’. (Motto: ‘You kill ’em, we’ll grill ’em’).
reviewed
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Station House Cafe
The Station House Cafe is on a hillside opposite the Moana Railway Station, where the TranzAlpine train pulls in. Aimed at the train-folk but no matter how you got here – it’s the best food in town.
reviewed
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J
Full of Beans
This cruisy cafe offers superlative coffee – the best in town – and tasty homemade cakes from go to whoa. Good-value lunch offerings include burgers, Thai curry and chicken pies that are a particular favourite among locals.
reviewed
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K
Hokitika Cheese & Deli
This airy and open cafe and cheesery is a fine place to start the day. Brunch and light meals are the main forte with fresh coffee and aged cheese at the ready. The chicken and mushroom pies alone are worth a visit.
reviewed
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L
Sweet Alice’s Fudge Kitchen
Treat yourself with a slice of Alice’s handmade, all-natural fudge. Your biggest decision of the day could be which flavour to choose. Go for the uberclassic mint-chocolate or spice it up with ‘boozy fruit and nut’.
reviewed
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Guzzi’s
Choose your own toppings – including plenty of vegie options – at this bright yellow and purple pizza and takeaway shack with a matching cute-as-a-button delivery van. Plan to take away; Guzzi’s is sans seats.
reviewed
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Fantail Café
With cafe fodder like toasted sandwiches, and fish and chips the speciality – what you see is what you get. Nothing fancy, but the grub is good and the views, especially from the table out front, are awesome.
reviewed
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Wild Coast Café
Located beside the visitor information centre is this tourist-swollen cafe, serving pancake stacks, good pies and ice creams. Those in need of a dub-dub-dub fix can jump on the internet here for $3 per hour.
reviewed
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Matheson Café
Near the shores of Lake Matheson, this cafe does everything right: slick interior design, inspiring mountain views, strong coffee and upmarket Kiwi fare. Get your sketchpad out and while away the afternoon.
reviewed
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Dirty Mary’s
Start your day with fair-trade coffee and a breakfast burrito or bagel. If you sleep in, rest assured there are fine lunches on offer. At night things get raucous with good pizzas and wine and beer.
reviewed
