Beyond Auckland: where to eat on your New Zealand wine tour
Coming to New Zealand for wine and food? Here’s our guide to restaurants across the country. Knowing where to dine well is as much a part of the trip as knowing which cellar door to visit next. On our BKWine “road trip” through New Zealand — starting in Auckland, finishing in Queenstown, and stopping along the way in Napier, Christchurch and Blenheim (plus Taipu, Kaikura, Martinborough, Mount Cook) — we take you to the best cellar-doors, no worries. Our gastronomic, vinous lunches will have already shown you some of the best of New Zealand’s food scene. But you’ll also want delicious evenings: wine bars, bistros, Thai kitchens, oyster counters and steakhouses… Here are our recommendations — some tried and loved on past tours, others simply on our radar for next time — a running, unranked, occasionally opinionated list of where to eat well on those lovely New Zealand evenings. When on BKWine’s very special wine tour in New Zealand.
New Zealand gastronomy is really a mix of many things. There’s a lot of fish and seafood, of course. You’re close to the sea wherever you are. There are the famous green-lipped mussels, the New Zealand lobster (that we’d call langouste), and many other fish and shellfish. They even have the rare abalone, more easily available here than elsewhere. They call it pāua (pronounced pow-ah). You can find it in what looks like a hot-dog stand in Wellington harbour, for example. Then you have plenty of lamb, more often served as a long-cooked lamb shoulder than grilled chops. Beef is just as common in many other forms. Great vegetable. Of course, of course — the kiwi fruit (important: it is called “the kiwi fruit”, not just “kiwi”, that’s a person).
The restaurant scene is also very influenced by “international” cuisine, in particular various Asian versions, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Malay, to name a few. We really enjoy some of these when we’re in New Zealand. They are, after all, “close” neighbours.
On our great road trip / wine tour through New Zealand, we have plenty of opportunities to explore the gastronomy in the different cities we visit. We have, for example, one very special dinner: a Māori dinner, where we’re invited to the home of a Māori family and get to enjoy very traditional Māori cooking.
During the days on the tour, most of the meals – lunches – are planned and enjoyed at wineries. But the evenings are opportunities to explore. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the cuisine in the many towns we visit. We have written before on restaurant recommendations in Auckland, the starting point of the tour.
Here are more recommendations, or perhaps I should rather say suggestions, since we have not been to them all, in other towns:
Important: Restaurants close and new ones open. We cannot guarantee that what we mention here still exists, and there may be new, exciting places to explore. Nor is it a complete list of what’s available or interesting. In some places it is advisable to book (maybe not necessarily days in advance)!
Napier
Napier is an extraordinary town. It is considered one of the world’s best displays of Art Deco architecture, rivalled only by Miami. It is not a big city, but it has a good number of restaurants to choose from.
The main section of Napier is facing the sea along Main Parade. There is another part on the other side of the hill, by the merchant and pleasure boat port. A short drive, or a very long walk. There are a number of restaurants there, but we have never been there to eat.
Let’s start with the ones we have tried:
Virasat
Very close to our hotel. Restaurant, yes, but perhaps even more of a wine bar. A very extensive wine selection, and outside seating if the weather is nice. A bit loud music. To eat, mainly cheese and charcuterie when we were there. https://virasat.co.nz/
Central Fire Station
Quite elegant, more upmarket, and very nice. https://www.centralfirestation.co.nz/
Sai Thai Eatery
A Thai restaurant that is one of our favourite places. On the pedestrian shopping street (205 Emerson St). Unpretentious, calm and quiet. (Some info says it has closed. Worth checking. Would be a pity.) https://saieatery.com/
Mister D
Modern NZ food with mixed inspirations, good quality. A trendy and popular place. https://www.misterd.co.nz/
Places we have not been but worth exploring:
Hunger Monger
Recommended by a winemaker. Very popular and small fish restaurant. Some of our guests went there and were very happy. https://www.hungermonger.co.nz/
Bistronomy & Vinotech
Looks elegant without being luxurious. Close to our hotel. The name promises well. https://bistronomy.co.nz/
Blenheim
Blenheim may be the World Capital of Sauvignon Blanc, but it is a very small and sleepy town. You can easily walk from one end of the centre to the other. Don’t go out too late; dinnertime is early (for someone coming from France).
Where we have been:
Dolce Café and Restaurant
An unremarkable pizzeria but a nice place to go if you want something simple and uncomplicated. Easy to miss, since the restaurant is one floor up and the entrance is discreet. https://dolcerestaurantbar.co.nz/
Eat Thai
One of our favourites. Very good Thai food, but be very careful with the spice level you ask for (all dishes can be had in five levels of spicy). I always ask for nr 1 (least spicy), but even that is quite hot. Nothing fancy, but friendly.
The Tamarind Indian Restaurant
Our friends who like Indian food (and lived there for a while) really like it. Also, nothing fancy but friendly. https://www.tamarind.co.nz/
Scotch Wine Bar and Wine Shop
This used to be THE place for a great wine selection, including an extensive range of “odd” and unusual Marlborough wines. A small, basic place with ambitious cuisine. However, recent client comments suggest they may have toned down the ambition on the wine side. To be verified. Still definitely worth exploring. https://www.scotchbar.co.nz/
Oak & Ivy — and the Marlborough Wine & Food Experience
Seems to be the most ambitious place in the town centre. Some restaurants out on the vineyards may possibly compete. Recently opened (late 2025). Excellent food, elegant and spacious interior, outdoor seating overlooking the river if the weather is warm. Connected to the Marlborough Wine & Food Experience, which is a wine tasting and wine shop place. https://www.oakandivy.co.nz/
Where we have not been:
Frank’s Oyster Bar & Eatery
To go to if you want oysters, of course, but also other types of food. Clients have had positive comments. https://www.eatatfranks.co.nz/
Raupo Café and Restaurant
We haven’t eaten here, but have had coffee. Very nice location on the (very small) river. Not sure about the food. https://www.raupocafe.co.nz/
Cancun Eats
Mexican, next to Eat Thai. https://www.cancuneats.co.nz/
Christchurch
Christchurch is a big (biggish) city, and we only have one short night here.
Where we have been:
Cellar Door
Great place for wine. Very busy. In an architecturally very interesting part of town. 1 Hereford St, next door to Cook’n and The Arts Centre. https://www.cellardoor.nz/
Where we have not been:
The Monday Room
Located in a historic building with earthy brick and wood. It’s “Modern Classic” NZ cuisine. It was recommended, but we were a bit hesitant about the menu. https://www.themondayroom.nz/
Twenty Seven Steps
Located on the very busy and iconic New Regent Street. A one-floor-up bistro with a European-influenced menu. https://twentysevensteps.co.nz/
Cook ‘N’ With Gas
Like The Cellar Door, up by the Arts Centre. https://cooknwithgas.co.nz/
Queenstown
Queenstown is like no other town in New Zealand. If Blenheim is a bit of a sleepy small town, Queenstown is alive with buzz almost 24/7; shops open late, even on Sundays. Beautifully located by Lake Wakatipu overlooking The Remarkables. With plenty (!) of choice for restaurants, but much of it is a bit noisy and touristy.
Where we have been:
Bella Cucina
Very small Italian on a quiet side street making excellent pizza, but also other things. A bit of a favourite. A reservation is a must. https://www.bellacucina.co.nz/
Tanoshi
Hidden in Cow Lane. A very, very small, basic Japanese place, but we’ve had really delicious food here. Some interesting wines too. https://www.tanoshi.co.nz/
Jervois Steak House
Calling it a steak house is not quite fair. They are focused on meat, yes, butnot only. We had a very, very nice rack of lamb cooked perfectly (rare, or rosé as they say in French). Curiously, lamb rack and lamb chops are hard to find in New Zealand (a bit like avocado in Chile). Busy and a bit noisy but okay. Far nicer than the average restaurant. Part of the Sofitel complex. https://www.jervoissteakhouse.co.nz/
Botswana Butchery
This is to be avoided if you are on our wine tour, since this is where we usually have our farewell dinner, so you’ll dine here anyway. Because it is excellent! So if you are not on our wine tour (why not?), it is certainly recommended. Classic, fairly elegant, very busy and thus a bit noisy. https://www.botswanabutchery.co.nz/
Where we have not been:
The Bunker
Cow Lane, like the Japanese, hidden down a back alley. The name is un-tempting, but it has some good recommendations. Small, dark, intimate restaurant.
Rata
Owned by the same chef as Onslow in Auckland (see our Auckland restaurant recommendations here), and likewise, a bit upmarket. Said to focus on flora and ingredients in a very modern, quiet way. It looks interesting, a bit towards fine dining, with what seems to be an interesting wine list (“New Zealand Port”!). https://www.ratarestaurant.com/
The Blue Kanu
“Polynesian-Asian” fusion. Sounds interesting, with good recommendations, and we had clients that really liked it. Seems “different”. https://www.bluekanu.co.nz/
Sofitel
The Sofitel has three other restaurants in addition to Jervois (mentioned above). Might be worth exploring in particular since they seem to be more calm and quiet. Le Salon Rouge perhaps? Sounds sufficiently naughty? https://www.sofitel-queenstown.com/
There’s also a “world-famous” burger place that always has silly-long queues (and no seating) as well as a nice (it is said) fish-and-chips takeaway place by the Novotel.
Add your own recommendations and experiences in the comments!
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