BEST BAKERIES
Find out where to get the best pastries, freshest bread and sweet treats in the Bay.
Our Fave Restaurants In The Coastal BOP Right Now
Whether you’ve lived here for years or arrived in the last 24 hours, there’s bound to be a hot restaurant in the Bay that you haven’t tried yet! If you’re passionate about food and wine, there are plenty of mouth-watering options and some seriously cool locations. Here are our top picks of where to dine…
SOLERA
Solera’s moody and sophisticated interior creates an intimate, cosy atmosphere. Their menu is designed to share and while tapas is reasonably common now, Solera offers a ‘Chef’s Pass’ experience where you sit at the bar in front of the kitchen to eat while watching the food being prepared. This fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpse is an experience in itself! Solera specialises in stocking fine New Zealand wines which can be perfectly matched to your meal. Their wood roasted duck is particularly spectacular.
Solera, 165 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui
CLARENCE
Located inside Tauranga’s historic Post Office building, Clarence has become a firm favourite for dining in the Bay. Their sophisticated menu and décor is sure to impress you and the service here is top notch. With an Italian flare, expect a selection of great antipasti, fresh pasta, shared plates, and of course great cocktails!
Clarence, 51 Willow Street, Tauranga
ROSIE'S RED HOT CANTINA
This pumping taco joint serves up the best street food from L.A. to the Baja Coast right here in Mount Maunganui. Portions are definitely as big as the flavours. The only way to tackle their epic burgers, tacos, pizza, Koreatown fried chicken and monster nachos (smothered in chilli con carne, melted cheese, avocado, salsa and jalapeños) is with your fingers, so prepare to get messy and dive right in! Make sure you order a frozen margarita while you’re there.
Rosie's Red Hot Cantina, 113 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui
FIFE LANE KITCHEN & BAR
With an impressive six nominations, Fife Lane Kitchen & Bar have been named as the 94th best steak restaurant in the world in 2024, the only restaurant in NZ to make the list! Their ambience & design also earned them a nod, and their front of house staff and assistant chef have been recognised too. Fife Lane is famed for its steaks and traditional ‘meat locker’ display, and delivers an all-round classy experience.
Fife Lane, 512 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui
LANTERN
Tucked right at the front of what used to be Pāpāmoa Beach Tavern (now The Island), this southeast Asian restaurant is aglow with beautiful low-slung lanterns and gorgeous food. Plates are designed to share and their tiger prawn toast is hard to go past! Lantern’s roasted duck is also pretty impressive and their cocktail list is a lot of fun – try ‘Hot in Hanoi’ or ‘Ginger Ninja’ to really spice things up.
Lantern, 20 Domain Road, Pāpāmoa
PICNICKA
There’s no doubt that Picnicka is the place to see and be seen right now. Situated on Level 1 of the Farmers building (aka Elizabeth Towers) is billed as a space to ‘graze and play’. In other words, grab a load of your friends and share some amazing platters of food, tapas-style. The interior styling is pretty special too. Open Monday to Friday 12pm until late and Saturday to Sunday 9am until late.
Picnicka, Level 1 Elizabeth Towers, 38 Elizabeth Street, Tauranga
ALPINO
Transport yourself to Italy with the passionate team at Alpino, who will warmly welcome you to their kitchen table. Indulge in authentic Italian pizza and pasta with all the parmesan, basil, olive oil and garlic you can handle. The traditional Italian décor ensures this is an immersive dining experience, offering impressive cocktails that are bound to cause trouble.
Alpino, 16 Pacific Avenue, Mount Maunganui
UMAMI
It’s not often you think ‘Pyes Pa’ as a dinner location so it’s brilliant to have something special at this end of town. Umami’s trendy fit-out and excellent front-of-house service will set the scene for a great meal. Their modern fusion menu combines flavours of southeast Asian cuisine with a Pacific twist and all meals are beautifully plated and presented. Food is served as soon as it’s ready (rather than all at once), so sit back and enjoy a feast for your eyes and your tastebuds.
Umami, Unit 2/83 Pyes Pa Road, Tauranga
SUGO
Based on the pedestrianised Wharf Street in Tauranga, you'll find Sugo. An Italian-inspired restaurant headed by award-winning chef Ian Harrison. Expect exquisite house-made pasta and menu items that will deliver a genuine taste of Italy like you've never tasted before. They also have a separate vegan menu offering items such as a mushroom pappardelle with vegan parmesan, onion ash and rosemary oil... YUM!
Sugo, 19 Wharf Street, Tauranga
SOMERSET COTTAGE
You’ll never be disappointed at Somerset Cottage because every single one of their dishes taste incredible! This small, rustic cottage in Bethlehem has been going since 1986 and continues to be run by the incomparable chef, Rick Lowe, and front of house expert, Anne Butcher. Their weekly menu constantly changes but their classics always remain at hand - twice baked cheese soufflé with oven roasted paprika pears is heaven on a plate, and you won’t find a better seared eye fillet anywhere.
Somerset Cottage, 30 Bethlehem Road, Tauranga
THE TRADING POST
It may surprise you to find an Italian restaurant in Paengaroa but we promise it’s worth the drive! The Trading Post serves casual Italian cuisine with a focus on local ingredients from a beautiful wooden cottage in the countryside. Savour fresh pastries, fantastic brunch options and an exquisite degustation. Open for brunch Tuesday-Saturday (9am-2.30pm) and dinner Thursday-Friday until 8.30pm.
The Trading Post, 1 Hall Road, Paengaroa
SALTWATER
Saltwater is Mount Maunganui’s go-to for good vibes, bold flavours and top-notch drinks. Watch chefs fire up dry-aged meats over an Argentinian charcoal grill, or slice fresh seafood straight from the raw bar. From flavour-packed Cajun boils to ice-cold cocktails, Saltwater serves it all with serious style. Come for the food, stay for the buzz.
Saltwater, 203 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui
IZAKAI BAR AND EATERY
A unique dining experience blending Māori and Japanese flavours. Enjoy delicious food, handcrafted cocktails, and warm hospitality in an intimate setting. Favourites include hangi pork and watercress ramen, creamed paua and prawn gyoza, and the award-winning mānuka honey roasted kūmara pie.
Izakai Bar and Eatery, 19 Girven Road, Mount Maunganui
MASTER KONG
Master Kong has been a hit in Wellington for years, and now Mount Maunganui has a restaurant of its own to drool over. It promises seriously kick-ass Asian street food and boy does it deliver! You haven’t tasted ‘hot’ until you’ve tasted their spicy firecracker chicken – make sure you pay attention to their nunchuck chilli guide or you will regret it! Their bao buns, dumplings and traditional snacks (like Korean fried cauliflower, kong fried chicken wings and popcorn prawns) are so delicious you won’t want to share.
Master Kong, 217 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui
RICE RICE BABY
Casual dining but blockbuster flavours is what you’ll find at Rice Rice Baby. They serve up authentic Vietnamese cuisine and their fresh ingredients (think piles of bean sprouts, coriander, herbs, spring onions) combined with green chilli sauce, sriracha mayo, crushed peanuts or fried shallots, will have your tastebuds singing. Crispy prawn crackers, fresh summer rolls and their noodle soups are always winners.
Rice Rice Baby, 136 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui
EXPLORE THE BAY...
DISCOVER MORE
COFFEE ROASTERS
Check out where to get the freshest coffee roasted right here in the Bay.
FOODIE NEWS
Subscribe to Bay Bites, the BOP newsletter for all things food!
