Must-see restaurants in New Plymouth

Crammed with retro furniture, superpopular Federal conjures up a 1950s corner-store vibe. Switched-on staff in dinky headscarves take your coffee requests…

Sharing a fairy-light-draped courtyard with Snug Lounge, seductive Ms White serves trad wood-fired Italian pizza and a bedazzling range of 40-plus craft…

Steaming beef pho (noodle soup), crispy Vietnamese crepes (chicken, pork or tofu) and brilliant banh mi – this fun little Vietnamese joint is one of…

Beside the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre, this all-day diner is homey despite its contemporary interior. Perhaps it's seeing handmade pasta…

Push your way through the little red door on King St, around the corner from Frederic's gastro-bar, and head upstairs for some hand-picked, dry-aged cuts…

Worth visiting for a fancier dinner, Table at Nice Hotel consists of a lush dining space with opulent furniture, a New York–style bar (open 3pm until late…

Inside what was once the Salvation Army Citadel, this on-trend restaurant is filled with neon charm and taxidermy...but you can sidestep the hanging pigs'…

Another White Hart Precinct gem, this cafe is a front for a gourmet catering company. The cabinet flaunts doughnuts, pies and Reuben sandwiches, while hot…

There's a slightly offbeat humour to proceedings at this stylish option on the main street, the pick of New Plymouth's many Indian eateries. Curries are…

Freddy’s is a buzzing gastro-bar with quirky interior design (rusty medieval chandeliers, peacock-feather wallpaper and religious-icon paintings), serving…

Thick-accented Italian staff add authenticity to this discreet family-run restaurant. It's one of a dozen Portofinos across the North Island, but manages…

With a dozen gourmet burgers with names like 'My Dark Twisted Crantasy' and 'The Boss', this burger bar is the epitome of cool. There are also smaller…

Constructed from hefty recycled timbers, this cool cafe-bistro in the Lee Breakwater precinct looks like an old sea chest washed up after a storm. The all…

Out of this hole-in-the-wall adjoining a trendy barbershop comes the kind of bowls that make you feel self-righteously healthy. The menu spotlights two…

Not so much chaotic as endearingly kooky, Chaos is a dependable spot for a coffee and a zingy brunch. Cabinet food is labelled according to whether it's…

Behind a weird louvred wall facing onto Devon St, Elixir fosters an American-diner vibe serving everything from coffee, bagels and waffles through to…

Ever tried Indian whisky? It's on the menu at Koi, alongside craft beer and Indian favourites like slow-cooked aromatic goat and clay-pot chicken biryani…

This diner attracts mainly families and those nostalgic for the 1950s. Order at the counter (pancake stacks for breakfast and a burger or hot dog later on…

Despite its resemblance to a cheese grater, Arborio, in the Puke Ariki building, is a top spot for a bite – airy, arty and modern, with sea views and top…

Ooh-la-la, buttery French treats! Flying the tricolore with pride, Petit Paris is a boulangerie and patisserie turning out crispy baguettes and tartes au…