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In Marlborough visit a winery restaurant—there's no better way to ensure that your meal suits what you're drinking. Cloudy Bay clams are harvested here, salmon and Greenshell mussels are farmed in the Marlborough Sounds, and local crops—besides grapes—include cherries and garlic. In Kaikoura try crayfish. The region is named after this delicacy (In M?ori, kai means "food" and koura means "lobster"). Nelson is also famous for seafood, in particular scallops, and for fresh produce and, yes, for wine. On the West Coast, try the local delicacy whitebait fritters—a sort of omelet filled with the whitebait—tiny, young eel-like fish netted at river mouths as they migrate upstream in late spring.
Some restaurants in more remote tourist regions close in winter (June through August); others may curtail their hours. In summer, all doors are open and it's best to make reservations. If a restaurant is open on a major holiday, it may add a surcharge to your bill.
Year-round, the restaurants and cafés around the glaciers and other remote spots can be quick to close their doors at night. Arrive by 8:30 (it's sometimes even earlier in winter) or you might go hungry. Some of the smallest towns, including Punakaiki, settlements in the Marlborough Sounds, and parts of Golden Bay, have few cafés and no general stores, so bring your own supplies.
One of those cozy, buzzing places so prevalent on the West Coast, The Alice May serves country fare that is good and plentiful, with a welcome range of light meals (fish-and-chips, curries, venison sausages) and more substantial main courses (slow roasted pork ribs, beef cheeks, and good vegetarian options). The wine and beer lists are stacked with mainstream NZ favorites. The Alice can get very busy over summer. Courtesy car available on request.
A friendly and very stylish eatery, Arbour is innovative and critically acclaimed yet so laid-back and hospitable. The quality produce is matched with quality local wine. Owners Bradley and Liz have brought their international, five-star hospitality experience to Arbour, just out of town on the way to the airport. The decor is simple yet sophisticated, and the garden comes into its own in summer. The signature menu is seven-course dining experience, with the option to purchase wine pairing, the ever-changing dishes showcasing a local producers and Marlborough stories.
The food at this all-day café is great (a huge breakfast menu, burgers at lunch, beef rib eye, and lamb cutlets for dinner) but the scenery steals the show. If the weather plays ball you'll be able to enjoy a memorably stunning view: an amphitheater of mountains (Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman) and, in the foreground, tall kahikatea forest. Lunches include salads, curries, risottos, burgers, and bagels while evening has the classics: pork belly, rib-eye steak, salmon, lamb leg, and pastas are served.
They started brewing beer on the West Coast right here in 1868, and now the modern version of the brewery offers a full restaurant, a brewing museum, brewery tours and, of course, lots of fresh brews. The restaurant serves standard Kiwi fare, along with tapas and platters to match the beers. The brewery tours (NZ$35 includes tastings) take place daily from 4 pm, which are in the hands of an expert brewer. You can also get your own, personally labeled bottle (NZ$10).
Swing by the Mussel Inn for a quintessential slice of Golden Bay life: music, craft beer, and darn good pub food. Locals come for the live music (most evenings in summer), mussel chowder, steamed mussels, or wild goat ragu, washed down with house-brewed beer and ciders. A favorite is the Captain Cooker—brewed first from native manuka leaves by Captain Cook to combat scurvy on his ships. With rough sawn timber, handmade furniture, outdoor fire pit, and a big rambling garden, it’s very much a "Kiwi woolshed meets Aussie farmhouse" feel here.
This big, indoor–outdoor café–restaurant overlooking a rolling surf beach on State Highway 1 makes one of the best road stops in the area (maybe even the whole country). You can choose lunch from a selection of prepared dishes or order from the menu. You'll find it halfway between Kaikōura and Blenheim. It's a beautiful, wild spot with the Kaikōura Mountains towering in the background. There's a huge log fire inside and a large outdoor deck with several private garden areas. Just make sure you stop early because it usually closes by 4 pm.
Named Best Café in New Zealand 2023, enjoy breakfasts of French toast, eggs Benedict bagel, or asparagus bruschetta. This is also a shop and produce market, located in a former church, so stock up for your holiday travels from the food market. Or you can just chill over a wholesome lunch like the excellent slow-roasted lamb burger. There's also an interesting kids' menu, and you can indulge in the cakes and gelato anytime. Beverages include fresh brews from the Townshend Brewery next door. Weekend dinners in summer feature music performances.
The owners spent years restoring this old pub, and now the place hums with activity and tasty food like angus beef burgers and homemade lamb pies. Bar snacks and baked goods are offered all-day and dinner steps up with a stylish à la carte menu. Riders from the local cycle trail will be staying here; there's also a great local scene with live music and community events.
The Māpua Wharf setting complements the food, and you can watch the boats go by while dining on quality produce (organic when possible) washed down with Nelson wines, ciders, and craft beers. All bread is baked in-house, the coffee is great, and the menu serves a mix of small and large plates. You can dine inside or outside. Once an apple packing shed, this restaurant utilizes its waterfront location perfectly.
Lots of wholesome breakfast and lunch options, hot snacks, and sweet treats are offered here. Some popular choices include the snapper (fish) sandwich, Beechwood burgers, and real fruit ice cream. This is a great place to stock up for your rafting or hiking efforts, and they manage the passing crowds well.
Located inside the Recreation Hotel (known by locals as “The Rec”) on the main street through Greymouth, Buccleugh’s serves quality food from 5:30 am until late every day. Head there for a big breakfast before setting off on your activities for the day. The lunch and dinner menu features Kiwi fare from the land and sea, like blue cod, whitebait, and venison. Plenty of gluten-free and vegetarian options are offered. There's a busy sports bar separate to the restaurant, where you can order a snack or a meal through the bistro window to enjoy with a drink and catch whatever game is on.
South American and Mediterranean influences are paired with top Marlborough wines and craft range beers at this prime waterfront spot with a laid-back atmosphere. Cortado, a family-run restaurant, prides itself on its sustainable practices.
Here's a bright outdoor eatery sharing space with the Dolphin and Albatross Encounter operations and a gallery/shop. Food is available off the all-day menu or from the cabinet; breakfasts and light lunches are appealing; and their cakes and slices are always tempting. The partially glassed-in courtyard is sheltered in most winds, and there's plenty of indoor seating. As at any outdoor café in Kaikōura, don't leave your food unattended because the birds will snatch it quicker than you can say "seagull!"
This standout along Fox Glacier's main street sparks up no-nonsense options with fresh local flavors, such as the Neve pizza topped with mozzarella, ham, bacon, pepperoni, tomatoes, and pineapple. From breakfast and on to lunch and dinner, the menu is big and varied, taking you through eggs Benedict, BLT sandwiches, soups and chowders, burgers, chicken, pizzas, and rib-eye steak—just what you need after a day exploring or driving. Everything is prepared on-site (muffins recommended). The wine list has only New Zealand vintages, and the beers are boutique.
In the lovely old former Collingwood Courthouse, on the main crossroads into town, this laid-back and popular café makes good use of local produce. Their big breakfast and eggs Benedict will set you up for a trip to the beach or Farewell Spit or Heaphy Track. Look also for the cinnamon pinwheels and panini, the pies and muffins, and daily blackboard special. The coffee is good, too, and all breads are made in-house. There are indoor and outdoor tables, but it gets packed in summer.
From humble beginnings, this long-running institution has been revamped by new owners. Sustainably caught seafood is the star at this casual, friendly restaurant, with dishes ranging from a modest bowl of chowder to top-dollar half or whole crayfish dishes. Other menu offerings are equally appealing, like steak and vegetarian lasagna. A range of the finest Kiwi craft beers is also served at this indoor/outdoor eatery.
This café and pizza place makes some of the best cakes and pastries in the area, many of which are also gluten-free and vegan. Outdoor seating is both on the main street and out the back, in a shady garden. The pizza menu is excellent, which can be ordered takeaway or dine-in—although the dinner menu is otherwise quite limited. They also host some great local artists' exhibits, so be sure to check out the walls inside.
This old bank building is loaded with local character in its current guise as a cheerful pub and gathering spot. If the coal-mining heritage of this town interests you, you will enjoy the memorabilia and photos on display. They serve good Kiwi food here, from brunch to light meals to kids' meals to stone-grill steaks and seafood. The meals are hearty, and it's a very kid-friendly spot. There's a big covered courtyard for summer dining.
This popular establishment is tucked away down a side street in the heart of Nelson city, serving up a wide variety of dishes that use local produce. They also offer a great list of beer and wine from around the region. Try the tacos or chilled gazpacho soup. In the evening, the busy café transforms into a packed live music venue for bands and DJs, where locals flock to dance.
In this cheery beer garden–restaurant, hearty ales and craft brews are matched with traditional German cuisine, pizzas, gourmet burgers, and Kiwi fare. If beer is your focus, you can also get a beer-tasting tray. It's not all about wine in Marlborough, but yes, there is also a good range of wines. There's also a good kids' menu. This can be a busy venue, especially when the locals are here for a big rugby game or music gig, so think about booking your table ahead of time.
Homey hospitality and a great vibe in this colorful, retro-style spot comes with house-cooked breakfasts (scrambled eggs are as good as you'll find anywhere), lunches, and baked goods. Plus, the outlook over the Grey River is terrific.
Every town needs a darn good café, and this one is Blenheim's. The all-day menu features all the standard Kiwi fare like French toast, eggs Benedict, and muesli. There are even a few keto dishes and plenty of gluten-free. The menu offers a few fresh, simple dishes for lunch, as well as an impressive tea and coffee menu. Try the smoked chicken Caesar salad. Locals love this place, with its sharp, almost industrial decor.
Inspired by the flavors and vibrancy of South East Asian street food and hawker markets, the menu at this busy restaurant is designed to be shared, so the dishes are sent out from the kitchen when ready. Start the evening with a glass of sparkling sake or one of their cocktails, inspired by Old Shanghai and Singapore. There are three dining options—the raised Chef’s Dining area and Chef’s Dining Room. Both can be booked (sittings at 6 pm and 8 pm). The rest of the space is more casual.
This popular deli is a great place to stop for lunch and coffee, or grab a take-away sandwich to sustain you during the West Coast activities (try the beef pastrami). The bread is baked fresh every morning, the free-range meat is crafted the old-fashioned way by an artisan butcher, and the cheese is handmade by a variety of South Island cheesemakers. Condiments are made in-house daily and salad is grown and fresh-picked daily.
The locally sourced, mainly organic food at this funky place includes a raft of home baking, chutneys and dressings, and hearty country fare like chowders and salads. There's cozy indoor seating, and tables dotted throughout the garden and veranda. For the kids there's a small playground, an enchanted forest, and some extremely tame eels that can be hand-fed (September–May). This eclectic establishment makes no apologies for being open only on Friday 10 am–10 pm. Down in the back garden, the Boot B&B has comfy accommodations for couples.
Sitting outside Le Café on the waterfront you can look right down Queen Charlotte Sound and watch the local boats and the big Cook Strait ferries coming and going. Staffers source organic, local, and free-range foods wherever possible—your fish was probably landed on the wharf at the end of the street and, if it's beef, lamb, or pork, they reckon they know the farmer. Casual meals, coffee, and baking are available all day before dinner kicks in; that's when the tempo at the bar picks up and live acts perform regularly.
Regional, artisanal produce is showcased at this upbeat, all-day café that’s been around for more than 20 years. Wholesome breakfasts, lots of in-house baking, and a tasty lunch menu are the stars here. Try the Nashville Hot Chicken. You can dine in the spacious indoor areas or on the terrace, and enjoy the changing exhibitions of emerging local artists.
The locally farmed mussels are the stars in this quirky café although the other meals like fish, burgers, pastas, and salads, all served with local wines and craft beers, are also good. As for the mussels, you can order them steamed or grilled with amazing flavors and toppings. On sunny days, head to the courtyard out back.
A little café open daily, Pancake Rocks serves a full breakfast, lunch, and (in summer) dinner menu. This place is famous for it all-day pancake stacks and gourmet stone-oven pizzas, the cabinet food is delicious too. There's also a small gallery/gift shop here, selling quality New Zealand souvenirs, including jewelry. The staff copes well given the hordes that can arrive here.
In a two-story Victorian waterfront hotel overlooking Ingles Bay, one of Kaikōura's most dependable eateries serves traditional (albeit updated) New Zealand pub fare with an extensive local wine list and craft beer. The bar serves cheaper lunches and pub snacks if you're just looking to graze. Courtesy coach to and from Town Centre by arrangement.
