Taupo
Under the same ownership since opening in 1993, this fabulous spot is one-half cafe and one-half shop selling designer kitchenware, ceramics and souvenirs…
Must-see restaurants in North Island
Bay of Islands & Northland
Beyond the rough wooden exterior is a corrugated-iron-lined speakeasy where staff dressed as flappers deliver cooked breakfasts, gourmet burgers and…
Bay of Islands
At this upmarket winery restaurant, the rural setting is complemented by hearty but sophisticated country fare, such as lamb shanks, wild game pie, confit…
Tauranga
Our favourite Tauranga cafe pairs an appealing front deck with hip baristas who really know their way around the coffee machine. A huge array of counter…
Bay of Islands & Northland
At this beautiful riverside villa turned restaurant, grab a table on the wraparound veranda overlooking yachts bobbing in the neighbouring marina. The…
Bay of Islands
As decadent breakfasts go, Rusty Tractor's doughnuts with crème fraiche and berries take some beating. There are healthier options, too, and the coffee's…
The Far North
Northland's best Thai restaurant serves zingy dishes with intriguing names such as Angry Pig, Kiwi Chick and Mangonui Showtime, and there's also a good…
Tauranga
Zingy pan-Asian, shared-plate flavours take centre stage at Tauranga's top restaurant. The dark booths are ocean deep, and menu highlights include ginger…
Bay of Plenty
The savoury muffins, scones and cakes bulging across the counter may distract you from the menu at this ever-popular cafe. Seating is limited inside, but…
Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula
Huhu combines expansive terrace views and contemporary NZ food. Sip a Kiwi wine or craft beer – including brews from the local King Country Brewing Co –…
Rotorua
Channelling Mexico and Morocco, sociable Abracadabra is a magical cave of spicy delights, from beef-and-apricot tagine to the grande burrito. There's an…
Bay of Islands
Head out to Hōne's shaded lantern-lit courtyard for wood-fired pizza (gluten-free available), cold craft beer on tap and a thoroughly easy-going vibe. An…
Whanganui
Inside a downtown heritage timber building (a 1901 saddlery, straight outta Dodge City), Honest Kitchen serves cafe wonders – wraps, sandwiches, bagels,…
Hastings & Around
OMG! Baked in a 100-year-old oven, the organic, gluten-free, vegan, paleo-friendly, dairy-free loaves produced at this bakery/cafe are seriously high…
Wellington
Olive boldly attempts to be all things to all Wellingtonians: breakfast cafe, nocturnal bistro, wine bar, craft-beer joint and live-music venue...and…
Hastings & Around
Blur the lines between breakfast, lunch and dinner at Havelock North's best cafe, inside a former post office infused with stylish retro Kiwiana decor…
Palmerston North
Brilliant Local specialises in build-your-own meals. For breakfast, that means eggs with additions like potato-herb hash and grilled salmon, and for lunch…
Wellington
Watch the top-knotted bakers baking through the big picture window, then head inside to taste some scones, biscuits, cakes and lovely loaves, plus simple…
Gisborne
'We cut lunch, not corners' is the motto at Frank & Albie's, a neat little hipster place on Gisborne's main drag (check out the old art-deco leadlighting…
Taranaki & Whanganui
Chilled-out Lahar occupies an angular, black-trimmed timber box in Okato (hard to miss – there's not much else here). It's a lofty space with a few…
Napier
Seemingly always busy when everywhere else is half-full, Hunger Monger is a funky seaside seafood diner with sheepskin-covered seats, quirky tablecloths…
Whanganui
With cheeky signage and a flip calendar of witty quotes not suitable to print, Mischief on Guyton is true to its name. Step inside (or through to the…
Hawke's Bay
Halfway between Waipawa and Hastings, this retro cafe-gallery in a 100-year-old, aquamarine-coloured church serves excellent coffee, smoothies and…
Taranaki & Whanganui
Right on Oākura's black-sand beach, sharing a building with the surf club, Black Sand plates up surprisingly authentic Napoli-style pizzas – all thin…
New Plymouth
Steaming beef pho (noodle soup), crispy Vietnamese crepes (chicken, pork or tofu) and brilliant banh mi – this fun little Vietnamese joint is one of…
Wellington
Italian? Fusion? Wine bar? Loretta is a hard gal to categorise, but she's won leagues of fans with her classy, well-proportioned offerings served in…
Wellington
Mounted trout, salty portraits, marine-blue walls and Egyptian floor tiles cast a Mediterranean spell over Ortega – a magical spot for a seafood dinner…
Taranaki & Whanganui
This is as good as fish and chips gets. With a lengthy history (since the 1960s), hand-cut chips, a range of fish (including fresh catches of the day to…
Palmerston North
This eternally popular cafe with a lovely 1917 shopfront zeroes in on breakfast classics, generous cabinet food, and everything from Thai chicken curry to…
Taupo & the Ruapehu Region
After a day of play in the mountains, there's nothing better than these beast-sized burgers cooked on a custom-made manuka wood-fire grill. A burger’s…
Taupo & the Ruapehu Region
Bagels, innovative salads, and tasty American and Tex Mex–influenced dishes combine with the best coffee in town at this modern, white-as-snow spot on…
Bay of Islands & Northland
This heritage cottage at Waipu Cove covers all the bases, from coffee and breakfast bagels to pizza, gourmet burgers, a small bar and healthy smoothies…
City Centre & Britomart
Rustic Italian influences underpin this bistro-bakery in a repurposed warehouse in Auckland's Britomart precinct, but there's real culinary savvy evident…
Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
Japanese elegance infuses everything at this excellent restaurant, from the soft lighting and chic decor to the delicate flavours of the artistically…
Hauraki Gulf Islands
Decent pies, big breakfasts and salads combine with good coffee and locally brewed beer at this spot with lots of outdoor seating and funky Kiwiana decor…
Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
Housemade terrines, sausages and charcuterie are the culinary stars at Apero, another Karangahape Rd establishment offering the perfect blend of eating…
Viaduct Harbour & Wynyard Quarter
Serving the residential precinct emerging around the Wynyard Quarter, Williams Eatery's always-excellent coffee partners with hotcakes and mandarin curd…
Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
Featuring the cuisine of the eastern Mediterranean, unpretentious Lokanta is a laid-back alternative to the trendier eateries along nearby Ponsonby Rd…
Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
Restaurants, cafes, bars and gourmet food shops fill this upmarket former warehouse space offering everything from Auckland's best pizza and Argentinian…
City Centre & Britomart
Traditional Māori food is cooked in an authentic hāngi (earth oven) and served in modern ways. Options to devour the tasty steamed vegetables, kumara …
