Fiordland & Southland
Colourful and fun, the Frog is the best dining option in the Catlins, offering craft beer on tap and crowd-pleasing meals, often garnished with flowers…
Must-see restaurants in South Island
Fiordland & Southland
Top-notch nosh is prepared at this friendly restaurant, making use of home-grown veggies, house-made pasta and Stewart Island/Rakiara seafood, such as…
Amisfield Bistro & Cellar Door
Queenstown & Wanaka
Put yourself in the very capable hands of the kitchen wizards at this stylish vineyard bistro; simply inform the waiters of any dietary restrictions or…
Queenstown
The sweeter sister of Fergburger bakes all manner of tempting treats – and though most things look tasty with 3am beer goggles on, it withstands the…
Christchurch
Central Christchurch's new essential destination for travelling foodies is this superb multi-level market combining fresh produce stalls with…
Queenstown & Wanaka
Everything at this elegant restaurant is designed to be shared, from the cicchetti (Venetian-style bar snacks) to the pasta and substantial secondi (mains…
Dunedin & Otago
There's a rumble-tumble look about it, but this tin-and-timber fishing hut houses one of the South Island's best – and most popular – seafood restaurants…
Queenstown & Wanaka
Perhaps the tables are a little tightly packed, and the open kitchen does take up half the space, but we're splitting hairs. This place is uniformly…
Franz Josef Glacier
SnakeBite's flavour-packed meals awaken taste buds after their long slumber through the West Coast's lamb-and-whitebait menus. Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai…
Christchurch
Global influences punctuate the shared plates menu at this recent opening south of the city centre. The honey- and chipotle-fired chicken goes well with…
Christchurch
Mediterranean flavours are presented with flair in Earl's spacious dining room. Combine slow-cooked lamb and smoked yoghurt with a quinoa salad or mix it…
Nelson
Step into a dimly lit room imbued with the glamour of old Shanghai and order a Singapore-style cocktail before delving into a menu filled with delectable…
Fiordland & Southland
Large shared tables, a relaxed beachy ambience, and top-notch coffee and smoothies give this cafe its reputation as Southland's best. Delicious counter…
Timaru
This sophisticated corner restaurant honours its 1925 building with stylish monochrome decor and a feature wall commemorating the day Timaru went bust…
Christchurch & Canterbury
Famous for miles around and the top-ranking reason to stop in Fairlie, this superb bakery turns out exceptional pies, including the legendary salmon and…
The West Coast
To say this hip place is serious about sandwiches is an understatement. Everything's made to order and served on chunky slices of freshly baked bread,…
Fiordland & Southland
Part tapas and cocktail bar, part chic fusion eatery, Louie's is a great place to while away an evening snuggled into a sofa or a fireside nook. The…
Westland Tai Poutini National Park
At the start of the Lake Matheson Track, this cafe does everything right: sharp architecture that maximises mountain views, strong coffee, craft beers and…
Dunedin & Otago
The most sophisticated kitchen in Ōamaru serves superb seasonal food in a heritage dining room painted black and filled with plants. Try dishes like 55…
Akarua Wines & Kitchen by Artisan
Queenstown & Wanaka
This joint venture between Akarua Winery and Queenstown caterers Artisan features a restaurant inside a cottage originally built as offices for a flour…
Christchurch
With so much to love, where to start? Perhaps with a cherry and pomegranate smoothie, a chocolate-fish milkshake or maybe just an exceptional espresso,…
Blenheim
A versatile and sociable spot in central Blenheim, Scotch offers local wines, craft beer on tap and delicious sharing plates in a range of sizes. The…
Havelock
How would you like your greenshell mussels? Steamed with white wine and garlic? Grilled in garlic butter? Beer-battered? Crumbed? In a chowder, fritter or…
Dunedin & Otago
A riverstone fireplace and polished concrete floors set the scene for a menu that's modern without being overworked. Award-winning chef Bevan Smith…
Central Otago
Cromwell's heritage precinct is best enjoyed from the veranda of Armando's Kitchen, with an espresso or gourmet ice cream in hand. The homemade pasta,…
Queenstown
With a menu inspired by 'the things we've loved around our travels', this cafe brings to the table a cosmopolitan assortment of dishes: bacon butties,…
Franz Josef Glacier
Sip drinks in the sunshine or within the cosy, chalet-style bar of the Rainforest Retreat, which usually buzzes with a sociable crowd of travellers. Bar…
Nelson
Slurp oysters from the shell, or revitalise with sashimi and ceviche, then sate your cravings with street-food dishes such as kung pao Sichuan fried…
Dunedin
Bracken's seasonal tasting menus offer a succession of pretty little plates bursting with flavour. While the dishes are intricate, nothing's overly…
Banks Peninsula
Rona's menu is divided neatly into 'On Toast' and 'In a Bowl'. The Turkish poached eggs on ciabatta with chilli and yoghurt is a hearty favourite, while…
Queenstown
You can't eat closer to the water than at this excellent lakefront eatery where local is law: Cardrona lamb, Fiordland wild venison, Geraldine pork, South…
The West Coast
Attached to an out-of-the-way but upmarket motel-style complex 4km southeast of the town centre, this restaurant delivers the best bistro-style fare in…
Blenheim
Although it calls itself a cafe, that doesn't really cover the sophisticated but concise modern NZ menu on offer here (for example, monkfish, steak and a…
Christchurch & Canterbury
Let chef-owner Giulio Sturla take you on a magical tasting tour with his renowned degustation menus, which champion all things local and seasonal. Dishes…
Dunedin
This thriving market is all local, all edible (or drinkable) and mostly organic. Grab a freshly baked pastry and a flat white to sustain you while you…
Fiordland & Southland
Located in a former Victorian schoolhouse, this excellent 'old-school' cafe puts the emphasis on local produce – free-range eggs, veggies from the garden,…
Te Anau
Housed in a replica settler’s cottage, candlelit and cosy Redcliff offers well-executed, locally sourced food amid nostalgic decor (including old photos…
Christchurch
Shared plates enjoyed around an elegantly curved bar are divided into Earth, Land and Sea and include innovative and playful dishes harnessing ingredients…
Te Anau
Fantastic food truck delivering Kiwi-Asian fusion baos, rice burgers and salads to hungry travellers and locals alike. Try the Bambi Bao, with wild…
Fiordland & Southland
Looking over Taramea Bay, Beach House is a stylish, comfortable cafe famous for seafood, especially its creamy chowder studded with juicy mussels and…
