Whakatane Restaurants
World-class food is at your disposal when you visit Whakatane. Whether you are craving flatbreads or fresh seafood, visitors are certain to discover new and unique local food hotspots.
Our list of Whakatane restaurants varies from private dining spaces to unwinding outdoor pavilions, ideal for any occasion and celebration.
Roquette Restaurant & Bar
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Roquette Restaurant & Bar offers quality food in a modern yet familiar environment.
The restaurant uses select ingredients to compose incomparable dishes.
Try the platter with toasted ciabatta and pita bread, served with garlic and herb butter, smoked salmon pate, and pickles to begin your meal. As you enjoy your entree, check out the bar menu, including a robust list of wine and international beers.
We recommend the beer-battered fish and chips with house-made tartare sauce for the main course. Finally, for a truly extravagant ending to your meal, indulge in the Dessert Cocktail – Toblerone alongside Baileys, Frangelico, Chocolate liqueur, and ice cream.
Others who have visited the restaurant claim that the service is excellent and that the food is remarkable – many give the duck confit high marks! Visit Roquette Restaurant & Bar for lunch or dinner.
Cuisine: Contemporary
Price: $$
Opening times: Monday – Saturday | 10am – 3pm and 5pm – 10pm
Whakatane Restaurant Address: 29 Quay Street, Whakatane 3120, New Zealand
Contact: 07 307 0722
Spice Junction
Located in the center of Strand Whakatane, Spice Junction is the place for fine traditional Indian dining. The restaurant offers a welcoming and contemporary dining environment.
The cuisine has bold flavors and sensuous aromas that elicit a traditional Indian dining experience. The chefs are professionally trained, and all of the restaurant’s ingredients are freshly sourced.
For lunch, the butter chicken or the mango chicken are great options. On the dinner menu, be sure to sample the spicy lamb vindaloo! Of course, be sure to order more naan bread that you think you will need; we highly recommend both the garlic naan and the sesame and coriander naan!
Cuisine: Indian
Price: $$
Opening times:
- Monday – Saturday : 11:00AM – 2:00PM
- Monday – Saturday : 4:30PM till Late
- Sunday: Closed
Whakatane Restaurant Address: 8/75 The Strand, Whakatane 3120, New Zealand
Contact: 07 307 2135
The Wagon
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The Wagon is @%#!ING GOOD.
Seriously, you have to try the @%#!ING GOOD hamburgers listed on their menu. They mainly consist of New Zealand beef, The Wagon’s secret sauce, smoky cheddar, shredded iceberg, and pickles on a brioche bun. You can even make it a double!
While The Wagon indeed serves plenty of options laden with beef – like the Classic Cheese and the Wicked Wagon – the restaurant is vegetarian-friendly too! Off the plant-based menu, we recommend the Vegan Jackfruit; a BBQ pulled jackfruit sandwiched between white rye.
The Wagon has a chill vibe and offers lots of great dining options for the whole family. With great food and exciting music, The Wagon hits the mark. This restaurant is a fast-casual dining gem in Whakatane.
Cuisine: Hamburgers | Casual
Price: $$
Opening times:
- Monday & Tuesday – Closed
- Wednesday & Thursday – 2PM – 8PM
- Friday & Saturday – 12PM – 8:30PM
- Sunday – 12PM – 8PM
Whakatane Restaurant Address: 128 The Strand, Whakatane 3120, New Zealand
Contact: 07 308 0928
Skippers Restaurant
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Skippers Restaurant inside the Whakatane Sports Fishing Club is a fun choice for a comprehensive seafood selection, beautiful harbor views, and big-screen television viewing. The venue offers upstairs outdoor seating so patrons can experience the astonishing water landscape.
For a light meal option, we recommend the oysters or the creamy seafood chowder. If you are a bit hungrier, then the Salmon Fillet is a no-brainer! Yellow miso and saké marinate the salmon; julienne vegetables along with a spicy and sweet chili sauce accompany the dish. Other menu mentions include the crumbled seafood platter, the chicken korma curry, and the champagne scallops.
To get the maximum benefits from Skippers Restaurant, you might want to consider joining the Whakatane Sports Fishing Club for as little as fifty dollars. Members receive special food and drink deals that go into weekly raffles!
Cuisine: Seafood
Price: $
Opening times:
Skippers Restaurant is open every day.
- Lunch 12-2PM
- Dinner 6PM-9PM
Whakatane Restaurant Address: Whakatane Sportfishing Club Muriwai Drive, Whakatane 3120, New Zealand
Contact: 07 307 0009
Mata Beer Brewery Bar & Restaurant
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Mata Beer Brewery Bar & Restaurant began in 2004 when the owner returned from abroad and wanted to provide her neighborhood with a diverse selection of delicious beer. The brewery opened in Whakatane in December of 2017.
Mata Beer’s Head in the Clouds brew is a delicious tropical coconut IPA that is simply dreamy. Other beers include the Kapai Red IPA, BOP Kolsh, and the West End Lager. Try one of their specialty taps while in Whakatane!
The food options served in the tasting room are incredible! The chicken and cranberry pizza with brie will delight your taste buds. Also, be sure to try the salt and pepper calamari as well as the falafel bites. Remember, the more you drink, the more you should eat, so buckle up for a fun day at the Mata Beer Brewery Bar & Restaurant.
Cuisine: Brewery | Casual
Price: $$
Opening times:
- Sunday, Wednesday & Thursday 12–8 PM
- Friday & Saturday 12–9:30 PM
- Monday & Tuesday Closed
Whakatane Restaurant Address: 17 Gateway Crescent, Coastlands, Whakatane 3194, New Zealand
Contact: 21 226 9581
Excellent Dining Options in Whakatane
Whakatane has a wonderfully diverse dining scene with many affordable and unique options to experience. From pizza and beer to fresh oysters overlooking the water, there is something for everyone in this New Zealand metropolis.
Any of these restaurant recommendations would be perfect for the solo traveler or a family of visitors, so be sure to book a Whakatane holiday home and give these hotspots a try!
