4 Best Restaurants in Rotorua, East Coast and the Volcanic Zone

The pleasing scent of spices may entice you into this large, open restaurant. Half of the space is a delicatessen that sells preserves and specialty foods, such as chutney made from kūmara (a local sweet potato) and a rub made from kawa kawa (a spicy native herb).The menu follows the seasons and is continually changing (always posted on the website); there are also seasonal events. After you eat, wander to the dessert cabinet and choose from goodies like the chocolate-cherry frangipani tart.

If you are not good at making decisions, Eat Street could drive you crazy. This area at the northern end of Tutanekai Street is covered with a retractable roof and has 15-odd restaurants and bars that tempt tourists and locals with a variety of cuisines. The place is certainly buzzing at night.

The eclectic style and fine food here attracts young, old, and everyone in between. The comprehensive menu features a mix of old favorites and seasonal additions. The psychedelic blackboard menu details the day's latest. For dessert, try the caramelized banana waffle with vanilla ice cream. If you are traveling with children, there is a kid's menu, too.  

The name of this 1940s landmark winks at its previous incarnation—a police station. Expect pub fare at its absolute best, with standards such as seafood chowder, Kentucky bourbon pork belly, New Zealand lamb salad, and their famous pigtail fries. In summer, finish off your meal with a snooze under the enormous elm tree outside. Large, high-definition TVs in the garden bar make this the perfect place to watch the big game. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, you can catch live music, too.