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…
Must-see restaurants in Taranaki & Whanganui
New Plymouth
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…
Whanganui
In hot pursuit of the North Island's best burgers? Community-minded Citadel, 10 minutes' drive from downtown Whanganui, is a contender. Alongside the…
Whanganui
Inside a downtown heritage timber building (a 1901 saddlery, straight outta Dodge City), Honest Kitchen serves cafe wonders – wraps, sandwiches, bagels,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Palmerston North
There's a definition of the noun 'farmer' on the wall at this restaurant and bar: 'someone who is outstanding in their field'. And while they may not take…
New Plymouth
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…
New Plymouth
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…
New Plymouth
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…
Taranaki & Whanganui
Plenty of timber, foliage and conical straw light fittings lend a tropical feel to this Asian fusion restaurant. Owned by the same people behind Hour…
Whanganui
Inside a gorgeous old Whanganui red-brick building, Big Orange is a babbling espresso bar serving gourmet burgers, big breakfasts, muffins, cakes and…
New Plymouth
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'…
Whanganui
Considering it's located within the i-SITE, Mud Ducks is a pretty spiffy cafe, with an outdoor deck and interesting timber beams. Brunch could be a…
New Plymouth
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…
New Plymouth
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…
New Plymouth
Freddy’s is a buzzing gastro-bar with quirky interior design (rusty medieval chandeliers, peacock-feather wallpaper and religious-icon paintings), serving…
Whanganui
In a split-business arrangement with adjacent Big Orange, Ceramic takes over for the dinner shift, serving upmarket food (including venison carpaccio and…
Palmerston North
Yeda feels like an urban mess hall or uni cafeteria – a long, minimalist room packed with students, with easy-clean concrete floors. It covers all the…
New Plymouth
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…
Palmerston North
Set in a spruced-up 1918 Victorian house with a manicured alfresco dining area, Nero is the peak of fine dining in Palmy. The chef and owner is an…
Palmerston North
Formerly located at 188 Featherston St (hence the name), this remains a classy bistro and on the top branch of Palmy's dining tree. The seasonal menu is a…
New Plymouth
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…
New Plymouth
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…
Taranaki & Whanganui
In a town short on decent places to eat, you can almost hear Someday sigh at its surroundings. Around 20 can fit on the mid-century chairs and at the…
Whanganui
Detour away from the fray for funky tunes, buttermilk pancakes, local art and courtyard tables beneath a chunky-trunk cherry blossom tree. Fail to resist…
Whanganui
The counter at Ambrosia is full of fab pies and quiches (not to mention cinnamon scrolls!) or you can order something from the kitchen – perhaps a vegan …
Palmerston North
A wonderful option for Japanese in Palmy. The all-wooden interior gives the place a warm and rustic vibe, but the food is nothing but meticulous. The…
Palmerston North
Bring your future husband or wife for taste of Kerala right on The Square, with fun, un-Bollywood decor (love the coconut wall) and aromatic food. You'll…
Palmerston North
This bright cafe is also a registered charity that teaches 12 to 19-year-olds how to cook nutritious and sustainable food. One hundred per cent vegan, the…
Palmerston North
Simple, fresh, authentic Japanese food cooked by Atsushi Taniyama in an unpretentious suburban house with empty sake bottles lining the window sills. All…
Taranaki & Whanganui
Well above the high-tide mark on Oākura's main street, boho little High Tide offers superfresh cabinet fare – maybe a smoked-salmon croissant or some…
Palmerston North
The pick of Palmy's cheap eats, this cheery, casual Vietnamese restaurant nails all the classics: pho, banh mi, rice-paper rolls, and noodle and rice…
New Plymouth
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…
Palmerston North
A little bit plasticky but with just the right touch of Bollywood schmaltz (ie not much at all), this is a decent option for affordable Indian fare…
