4 Best Restaurants in East Coast and the Volcanic Zone, New Zealand

Background Illustration for Restaurants

Rotorua has the area's most diverse dining scene. You can order anything from Indian to Japanese fare, or, for true local flavor, try a M?ori h?ngi (a traditional meal cooked in an earth oven or over a steam vent). Hawke's Bay is another hot spot; its winery restaurants emphasize sophisticated preparations and food-and-wine pairings. Around Eastland, which is so laid-back it's nearly horizontal, the choices are simpler, and you'll be treated with the area's characteristic friendliness. One thing you won't find on any menu is fresh trout. Laws prohibit selling this fish, but if you catch a trout, chefs at most lodging establishments will cook it for you.

Dressing up for dinner, or any other meal, is a rarity, expected at only the most high-end lodges and restaurants.

Capers Epicurean

$$$ Fodor's Choice

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.

Pacifica Restaurant

$$$$ Fodor's Choice

Enter this weathered blue bungalow to experience the innovative cooking and fresh produce Pacifica brings to the New Zealand dining scene. The five-course degustation menus with matched wine change daily and reflect the chef's creativity and commitment to using the finest local products. You need to book ahead for this restaurant.

Pig & Whistle

$$$

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.

New Zealand Family $$$ Lunch Dinner
1182 Tutanekai St., Rotorua, 3010, New Zealand
64-07-347–3025
www.pigandwhistle.co.nz
Known For
  • Great range of beer
  • Live music on weekend and Thursday nights
  • Elevated pub atmosphere

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The Works Café & Winery

$$$$

This eatery in the former Gisborne Freezing Works embraces its industrial roots (note the large driveshaft and pulleys on the brick walls). The menu builds on local products and seasonality, from cheeses to fruit, scallops to calamari. The sticky pork ribs served with a rich barbecue sauce, potato wedges, and coleslaw is one popular choice; the panfried fish of the day in white wine sauce is another.