Hayes Common

Top choice in Hamilton

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Journey across to Hamilton East to this bustling eatery in a former garage. Thoroughly unpretentious, Hayes Common's versatile menu stretches from smoothie bowls for breakfast to chilli-butter-fried eggs or a hoison-spiced duck tortilla for lunch. Dinner options such as spiced Merino lamb are equally cosmopolitan, and the wine list and local craft beers on tap will ensure you linger.

A special section of the menu is dedicated to vegan options. When you're finished eating, it's a short walk to the riverside for views across to the CBD.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Facade of the Waikato Museum, a regional art museum and cultural center in Hamilton, New Zealand.

    Waikato Museum

    0.64 MILES

    The excellent Waikato Museum has several main areas: an art gallery; interactive science galleries; a Waikato River exhibition; and Tainui galleries…

  • A greenhouse and a pond in Hamilton Gardens.

    Hamilton Gardens

    0.83 MILES

    Spread over 50 hectares southeast of the city centre, Hamilton Gardens incorporates a large park, a cafe, a restaurant, and extravagant themed and…

  • Te Awamutu Museum

    Te Awamutu Museum

    14.77 MILES

    Te Awamutu Museum has a superb collection of Māori taonga (treasures) and an excellent display on the Waikato War. The highlight is the revered Te Uenuku …

  • Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari

    Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari

    23.1 MILES

    A community trust has erected 47km of pest-proof fencing around the triple peaks of Maungatautari (797m) to create the impressive Sanctuary Mountain…

  • Hobbiton Movie Set Tours

    Hobbiton Movie Set Tours

    21.75 MILES

    Due to copyright, all the movie sets around NZ were dismantled after the filming of The Lord of the Rings, but Hobbiton’s owners negotiated to keep their…

  • Waikato River

    Waikato River

    0.69 MILES

    Bush-covered walkways run along both sides of the river and provide the city’s green belt. Jogging paths continue to the boardwalk circling Lake Rotoroa,…

  • Riff Raff

    Riff Raff

    0.74 MILES

    One of Hamilton’s more unusual public artworks is a life-sized statue of Rocky Horror Picture Show writer Richard O’Brien, aka Riff Raff, the time-warping…

  • Otorohanga Kiwi House & Native Bird Park

    Otorohanga Kiwi House & Native Bird Park

    26.58 MILES

    This bird barn has a nocturnal enclosure where you can see active kiwi energetically digging with their long beaks, searching for food. This is one of the…

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Nearby Hamilton attractions

1. Waikato Museum

0.64 MILES

The excellent Waikato Museum has several main areas: an art gallery; interactive science galleries; a Waikato River exhibition; and Tainui galleries…

2. ArtsPost

0.67 MILES

This contemporary gallery and gift shop is housed in a grand former post office. It focuses on the best of local art: paintings, glass, prints, textiles…

3. Waikato River

0.69 MILES

Bush-covered walkways run along both sides of the river and provide the city’s green belt. Jogging paths continue to the boardwalk circling Lake Rotoroa,…

4. Riff Raff

0.74 MILES

One of Hamilton’s more unusual public artworks is a life-sized statue of Rocky Horror Picture Show writer Richard O’Brien, aka Riff Raff, the time-warping…

5. Hamilton Gardens

0.83 MILES

Spread over 50 hectares southeast of the city centre, Hamilton Gardens incorporates a large park, a cafe, a restaurant, and extravagant themed and…

6. Riverbank Lane

0.86 MILES

Explore this laneway with good restaurants and cafes and interesting shopping. To the right of the lane, a recently developed outdoor area has good views…

7. Classics Museum

2.21 MILES

Travel back through time amid this collection of more than 100 classic cars from the first half of the 20th century. Even if you’re not a motorhead, you…

8. Hamilton Zoo

4.32 MILES

Hamilton Zoo houses 500-plus species including wily and curious chimpanzees. Guided-tour options include Face2Face opportunities to go behind the scenes…