Food + Wine

The island is blessed with an extraordinary number of great restaurants, many of them in wineries with beautiful outlooks over vineyards and or water. Here is a selection of our favourite ones… NOT in order of priority:

The Oyster Inn
Sadly, Jonathan and Andrew (ex of La Caprice in London), and who put this place on the map, sold on a few years ago and are enjoying the fruits of their labours. It then dropped off somewhat… Then in 2020, NZ-famous, Josh Emett… who worked with Gordon Ramsay for 10 years and now hosts NZ Masterchef… bought it, so there are no excuses for it not being great again. Set on the 1st floor above the main drag in Oneroa, this airy and balconied retreat looks out over the street to the stunning bay beyond.

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The Courtyard
The food in this small and cosy hideaway is exceptional. Brent Mills and his team cook fantastic Mediterranean-like dishes in full view of diners. The restaurant is under the run of shops in Oneroa and, not surprisingly, has a courtyard aspect, but no sea view… However, this is more than compensated by the food and service. It’s been up for sale for a few years, but thankfully so far there are no buyers!

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Cable Bay
This very stylish and modern vineyard boasts two restaurants. The ‘dining room’ serves much-heralded fine cuisine, whilst the informal ‘Verandah’ is linked to the bar and specialises in platters and more casual food which is served in the airy, covered area. Their award winning wines are worth some serious attention. The whole place enjoys spectacular views over the islands of Hauraki Gulf towards Auckland.

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Mudbrick
This is probably the most famous of all the vineyard venues on Waiheke and is reputedly the favourite wedding location in NZ. It is a very beautiful place where brick paths and lavender bushes lead up to the fabulous main restaurant and the 2016-opened, canvas-roofed, Archive Bar & Bistro. Like Cable Bay next door, the whole place commands the most wonderful views over the Gulf and city beyond. Equally famous wines and superb dining make this No.1 for a lot of locals and visitors alike.

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Tantalus
Opened in Sept.16, this beautifully designed and decorated vineyard-restaurant provides Michelin Star-level cuisine. Set amongst its own vines and with lovely valley views, this is a very serious contender for Best on the Island. Their more casual, Alibi bar below offers a a simpler but equally good menu.

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Stoneyridge
One of the older and more established dining wineries, this place is especially famous for its much acclaimed Larose, Bordeaux-blend red wine. The cafe serves great food in a casual environment looking out over its own vineyard and the valley below.

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Te Motu
Run by the Dunleavy family, this vineyard is also famous for its outstanding red wines. The Shed is its simple, modestly decorated dining room serving delicious and unusual food and is much acclaimed by the NZ food magazines.

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Casita Miro
Nestled in the hills above the lovely Onetangi Beach, Cat Vosper’s wonderful Mediterranean-Spanish eatery and vineyard has won numerous awards over the years including Best Rural Restaurant.

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Three Seven Two
Probably our favourite eatery on the island and situated across the road and overlooking the beautiful, 2kms-long Onetangi Beach, this place is run by the team who owned Charlie Farley’s cafe next door and with the acclaimed, Bronwyn Leith (ex-Te Motu) in the kitchen, it is possibly the best combination of stunning food and a great location.

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Ki Mahi
This is the latest addition to this long list of great restaurants on the island. Opened in 2020, it is the brainchild of the people who also run the renewed, Cafe Hanoi in Auckland. Like Three Seven Two, it is situated on the beautiful Onetangi beach, and so has a fabulous outlook. I haven’t yet been there but the reports are pretty good from people whose palates I trust.

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Man O’War
Positioned at the remote end of the island, accessed by dirt roads winding past astonishingly beautiful views over the islands of the channel running through to the Coromandel, this vineyard is famous for its delicious wines and wonderful, beach-side location. Definitely worth a visit!

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Passage Rock
David Stephen and family were the first to be brave enough to create a vineyard and restaurant in one of the farther-most parts of the island and have achieved huge recognition especially for their award-winning Syrah and Viognier… plus the (somewhat) surprising claim by the New York Times that they serve the best pizzas in the world! Sadly, no longer the case, as they don’t make or offer them anymore!

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Poderi Crisci
Last but no means least amongst my list of fantastic island eateries, Poderi Crisci is the brain-child of famous Auckland restauranteur, Antonio Crisci. Set up a dirt road and at the end of an inlet amongst beautiful gardens of ‘for-the-table’ herbs in the undeveloped part of the island, this is a haven of Italian dining delight. Their ‘long lunch’ should be experienced at least once by all discerning foodies.

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