15 Best Places To Eat In Kaikoura

Let’s get straight to the point, you’re here to try out some of Kaikoura’s famous seafood – right? Well, the good news is Kaikoura is packed to the brim with a great assortment of food choices showcasing seafood, local produce, wild game, and craft beers! Read on to find all of the best places to eat in Kaikoura!

1. Beach House Café

Let’s kick this off with our pick for the best café in Kaikoura – the Beach House Café. This lovely little café on Beach Road provides everything you want and need in a café experience – great food (including all your favourites), superb coffee, excellent service and a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Take a seat inside or out and tuck in to a plate of fresh pancakes, some avo on toast or the Big Boy breakfast with all the trimmings, all washed down with your favourite coffee or smoothie. The Beach House Cafe is open from 6.30 am till 3 pm, so it’s perfect for those early starts before you head out on the water.

2. The Pier Hotel

An oldie but a goodie, The Pier Hotel provides consistently good food and service with the added bonus of the historic hotel setting. Situated on the waterfront, this hotel is one of the best seafood restaurants in the area and offers a good selection of fresh seafood, including mussels, paua, fish of the day, whitebait and crayfish as well as the usual non-seafood-based options. You will find the Pier Hotel on Avoca Street serving lunch and dinner – keep in mind they also provide lovely Bed and Breakfast style accommodation too.

3. The Why Not Café

Situated on Kaikoura’s main street, the Why Not Cafe is the perfect place to enjoy a coffee with a delicious plate of fresh and tasty eggs while you watch the world go by. Expect to find plenty of seating and a reasonably priced menu that includes all the breakfast basics, plus toasted sandwiches, hotdogs, burgers, fish and chips, of course, and yummy seafood chowder! The Why Not Cafe is open daily from 7 am to 4 pm.

4. Strawberry Tree

Sit back and soak up the pub-like vibes of Strawberry Tree right in the heart of Kaikoura on West End Street, complete with live entertainment (on Fridays and Saturdays) and rustic beer garden. Enjoy the laid back atmosphere while you eat choosing from a really good selection of seafood plus burgers and steak. Don’t miss the crispy skinned whole flounder – it’s delicious! Insiders tip; Happy Hour is every day from 5 pm to 6 pm with a variety of beers, wine and spirits available.

5. The Whaler

Famous for its legendary porterhouse steak and sticky BBQ ribs, The Whaler bar and restaurant is located very centrally and offers fantastic views of the snow-capped Kaikoura ranges and surrounding coastal environment from its spacious sun deck. The Whaler is open from 3 pm until late, providing you with a good option for an evening out on the town in Kaikoura.

6. Groper Garage

If it’s pub-style pizza you are after, then you will find Groper Garage is the place to be. Formally a fuel garage (hence the name), Groper Garage is conveniently located in the middle of town. There is always cold beer on tap, plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, a pool table and two roaring fires to keep you warm and toasty in the winter. The food and ambience of Groper Garage make it well worth stopping by!

7. Cods & Crays

Looking for the best takeaways in Kaikoura – Cods & Crays should be at the top of your list. Choose your favourite seafood and how you want it cooked, and leave the rest to the friendly team at Cods & Crays. This family-run business offers great service, good food and even has its own smokehouse. Cods & Crays is open 9 am to 8 pm seven days a week, and they will even deliver if you need it. The main store is located north of the township on Beach Road, plus they have a food truck downtown next to Whale Watch Kaikoura during busy times.

8. Black Rabbit Pizza

Black Rabbit is the place to be for craft beer and gourmet pizza on a Friday night. Don’t miss the ‘Shrek and Dolly’ pizza showcasing New Zealand lamb with lashings of mint sauce served piping hot from the pizza oven. Pizzas are made fresh on-site, and delivery is available if required. The Black Rabbit is open from 11 am to 11 pm daily. Check out their dessert pizza for the perfect way to round off the evening!

9. Zephyr Restaurant

For something a little bit special for dinner, seek out the contemporary Zephyr Restaurant on Kaikoura’s main street. Regarded as one of the best bistro-style dining experiences in Kaikoura, Zephyr focuses on bringing you a fine dining experience to remember. The ever-changing menu beautifully showcases local game, fresh produce and wonderful wines to match. Book ahead for this one as space is limited – it is a popular destination for the locals! Zephyr is open Tuesday to Saturday from 5.30 pm until late.

10. Sime’s Kitchen

The perfect spot for breakfast, Simes Kitchen offers up a hearty range of food choices. Expect to find the classic eggs-your-way assortment on the menu, French toast, house-made granola, mushrooms and churros for those who are feeling the effects of a big night out! Grab a snack on the go from their fully stocked cabinet, or stay a while and enjoy some people watching from the deck. Gluten-free and vegetarian options are available.

11. Slam Club

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Slam Club is the perfect destination eatery any time of the day. This place will curb your hunger with a great selection of food at affordable prices. Don’t miss their gourmet toasted sandwiches filled with your choice of game, venison, duck or pork, grilled to perfection, and accompanied by crispy roasted potatoes. The Slam Club will keep you coming back with its laid-back atmosphere, wide variety of foods that suit all tastes and budgets, plus its awesome organic coffee and locally brewed craft beers and wines!

12. Bernies Diner

Open 7 days from 7.30 am till 4.30 pm, Bernies Diner is the perfect pit stop with a twist. This retro American-style diner is exactly what you’d expect, complete with hot dogs, doughnuts, milkshakes, burgers, fries and more! While you are there browse throughsome of Bernies merch, and why not check out the Harmons Motor Museum next door. Full of classic cars, this museum is a labour of love from local father and son team Geoff and Bernard Harmon.

13. Coopers Catch

Another popular spot for takeaways, Coopers Catch, serves up all the firm fish-and-chip-shop favourites including battered fish, hot chips, nuggets and burgers, plus they will even cook your freshly caught fish for you. Just bring in what you’ve caught that day, and they will cook it up any way you want! Coopers Catch is open 7 days a week from 11 am to 8 pm.

14. Allure Café

Famous for its Country Fried Chicken, Allure is a licensed café is located on the main street of Kaikoura. Grab a seat inside or out and enjoy the beautiful sunshine. Choose from a selection of pancakes, eggs, French toast, pasta, burgers and, of course, their awesome fried chicken and enjoy the relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Allure is open 7 days, all day from 8 am to 8 pm, so you can get your fried chicken fix any time of the day!

15. Kaikoura Indian Restaurant & Café

Enjoy India’s culture and culinary specialities at the Kaikoura Indian Restaurant on Beach Road. These guys offer an extensive range of regular, vegetarian, non-vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, along with a wide range of wines, beers and non-alcoholic beverages. Book a table online to ensure you don’t miss out! Open daily for lunch and dinner, 11.30 am – 2.30 pm and from 5 – 10 pm.

Bonus Foodie Tip – Kaikoura’s Best Food Trucks

We simply couldn’t create a list of the best places to eat in Kaikoura without mentioning its excellent food trucks located around the town. Sometimes keeping it kiwi style with fish and chips on the beach is all you need! Need to know where to grab some takeaways? Here is a quick rundown of Kaikoura’s best food trucks and their locations.

  • Nins Bin. There is no way you can do an article on the best places to eat in Kaikoura without mentioning Nins Bin! Perhaps Kaikoura’s most famous roadside crayfish caravan, Nins Bin is located right on the waterfront at Half Moon Bay. You will find Nins Bin is open daily from 10 am to 4 pm, weather permitting.
  • Kaikoura Seafood BBQ Kiosk. The Kaikoura Seafood BBQ offers a selection of fresh seafood from its handy location on the shores of Fyffe Quay. Choose from crayfish, scallops, salmon, paua, whitebait, and mussels, all served fresh and at their best! Open 10 am to 3 pm most days.
  • Karaka Lobster. Crayfish are the specialty here, and while technically no longer served from a food truck, these guys are still at the top of the list for the best crayfish in Kaikoura. You will find the Karaka Lobster shop roughly 35 minutes North of Kaikoura looking out over the beautiful Okiwi Bay and it is open 9 am to 4 pm every day.

Looking for a place to stay while in Kaikoura? The Te Mahuru Retreat offers peaceful and relaxing Bed & Breakfast accommodation just 5 minutes from the main township on Schoolhouse Road. Experience the spectacular views and warm hospitality while enjoying your stay in Kaikoura in style at Te Mahuru today.

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