Rotorua
Overlooking the village green, this bright and breezy restaurant sources herbs and edible flowers from its own yard. Doors peel back to merge the indoor…
Must-see restaurants in Rotorua & the Bay of Plenty
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…
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…
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…
Rotorua
A spinning wheel and a Mary Poppins–style bicycle lend a folksy feel to Rotorua's best cafe. But there's nothing old-fashioned about the town’s most…
Rotorua
Tutanekai St is closed off on Thursday nights as Rotorua lays out a world of food. Buskers, coffee vans and clothing and jewellery makers are dotted among…
Rotorua
This gourmet 'hamburgeria' slaps together a dozen burgers with global flavours, such as the Saigon Smile (pork crackling, pickled carrot, Vietnamese slaw)…
Rotorua & the Bay of Plenty
Okere Falls, 20km northeast of Rotorua, is a rafting town, so it's not just the fridge full of craft beers that's chilled out here. The food at this store…
Rotorua
This superfriendly cafe is away from the hubbub, with awesome lake views. All-day breakfasts are headlined by a 'mumble jumble' of roast kumara (sweet…
Rotorua
Chiselled into the corner of a supermarket across the highway from Skyline Rotorua, Tea & Happiness has just three tables but 100% devotion to plant-based…
Rotorua
The love child of Venezuelan-born owner Sarah, this Latin American cantina, adorned with sombreros, guitars and salt-and-pepper shakers made from Corona…
Tauranga
'Eat, drink, enjoy' at Elizabeth, a hip cafe-bar on the ground floor of a four-storey city-centre office block. Many of the customers drift down from…
Tauranga
Side by side with Me & You, Grindz is one half of a well-caffeinated oasis on otherwise scrappy First Ave. It's a roomy, split-level affair – slick and…
Rotorua
This unexpected and welcoming find in an industrial complex near Whakarewarewa keeps things simple – ciabatta sandwiches done well and a well-named 'long…
Tauranga
This local legend sells fresh fish as well as frying up arguably Tauranga's best fish and chips – you can pick a fresh fillet yourself and have it cooked…
Patrick's Pies Gold Star Bakery
Tauranga
Winner of NZ’s best pie seven years running. More than 30 types of pie are on offer – mince and cheese is perennially popular but we enjoyed the roast…
Tauranga
In a wonderfully atmospheric 100-year-old boathouse at the end of the Strand, Harbourside is the place for a romantic dinner, with boats as neighbours and…
Rotorua
This slick, barn-like delicatessen-cum-cafe is perennially busy, and with good reason. Breakfasts run from potato waffles to slow-cooked chickpeas and the…
Tauranga
Nourished’s slow-cooked jackfruit burger and salted caramel French toast add real panache to this vegan menu. The colour scheme is probably a little too…
Rotorua
Named after the righteous lawyer in To Kill a Mockingbird, the hippest spot on Eat Streat plays to a theme with the Scout Sangria and Radley Sour…
Rotorua
The greeting is très français but this little cafe walks a fine line between a traditional crêperie and the kind of cafe that Kiwi retirees gravitate to…
Rotorua
Occupying a quiet corner near the lake, this zesty cafe offers nostalgic breakfasts with a modern twist, such as mince on toasted ciabatta with a poached…
Tauranga
Wonder Woman watches approvingly over the scrum of regulars enjoying terrific coffee and scrumptious all-day breakfasts. Order from the blackboard or from…
Rotorua
Italian restaurants bookend Eat Streat, but Leonardo’s is our favourite. The wine list is good and while the menu has few surprises – arancini, carbonara,…
Rotorua
Our pick of the global selection of ethnic eateries along Tutanekai St, the Thai overcomes an unimaginative name with excellent service and top-notch…
Tauranga
All your Texan favourites are served up at this rustic and relaxed spot in the Wharf St dining precinct. Grab an outdoor table and combine ribs, a fried…
Rotorua & the Bay of Plenty
Grab a deck table and ponder the power of Mt Tarawera from across the water at this cafe-cum-bar-cum-bistro, serving everything from seafood chowder to…
Tauranga
Kick-start your Saturday morning with a brioche and an organic coffee, then explore this popular weekly market that usually features local dogs enjoying…
Tauranga
Locals head to this elegant venue, incongruously situated across from a suburban mall, for a special treat. The food is highly seasonal, made from the…
Rotorua
Owned by a friendly southern Indian family from Kerala, this riot of yellow and lime-green decor also serves up authentic dishes from Sri Lanka. Try the…
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,…
Rotorua
On the main road heading north, this award-winning bakery has a stellar reputation for turning out some of NZ's best meat pies. Great-value savoury treats…
Rotorua
This hip suburban diner, with a darkened interior and streetside tables, offers casual cafe-style dining by day (cooked breakfasts, salads, burgers, curry…
Rotorua
This is one of many Indian eateries around town, elevating itself above the competition with immaculate service and reliable renditions of subcontinental…
Rotorua
A coffee and a stonking sausage roll could be just the thing when you've been walking or mountain biking in the nearby Redwoods. It also sells muffins,…
