We all have heaps of suggestions of where to stay but we also have awesome suggestions of where to eat. Some of our favourites are only well known by the locals and we love sharing the local secrets with our visitors. Make sure you check out these awesome food places for some of the best food in town.
- Abracadabra
- Rotorua Night Markets
- Ciabatta Bakery
- Patricks Pies
- Okere Falls Store
1. Abracadabra
Ask Rotorua locals what their favourite restaurant is and ‘Abra’s’ is often mentioned. This funky cafe and bar serves brunch, tapas and dinner in a classic 1940s house. The flavours are Mexican and Moroccan and their mouth-watering menu includes traditional beef & apricot tagine, chicken enchilada bites and double Tunisian spiced lamb shank. Spicy fare with sweet service.
2. Rotorua Night Markets
Eat your way around Rotorua’s legendary night market, held in the centre of the city every Thursday from 5pm – 9pm. You’ll find the best street food here including Croatian, Indian, French patisseries, handmade Italian pasta, dumplings, kebabs, churros and local favourites like burgers, pies and paua fritters. Some stallholders do have Eftpos available but it pays to bring cash, a warm jersey and an appetite with you.
3. Ciabatta Bakery
Home-made ciabatta bread is Ciabatta Bakery's specialty, but you’ll find an impressive range of delicate pastries in this shop and pretzels the size of your head. Their original GO-NUTS sweet treat combines a donut and a croissant and comes filled with a proper Tahitian vanilla custard and a silky ring of icing on top. If you’re up for a challenge, see if you can eat their famous ‘longdog’ in one sitting. Bet you won’t be hungry after.
4. Patrick’s Pies
You can't visit New Zealand without trying our well known kiwi pies. This guy (Patrick Lam) has won the Bakels New Zealand Supreme Pie Award FIVE times… his latest win was for his roast pork and creamy mushroom pie with caramalised onions. Patrick has two bakeries in Tauranga and one in Rotorua. He makes over 30 different flavoured pies including sweet lamb curry, garlic prawn and pepper steak. Hungry yet??
5. Okere Falls Store
You’ll find NZ’s best eco-friendly café on the edge of Lake Rotoiti, near Rotorua at Okere Falls Store. If you’re gluten-free, vegan or vegetarian, you’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven. Alongside their yummy menu, there’s a great selection of cabinet food and their store is packed with gourmet treats, fresh produce and organic products to buy. Their Buddha bowls are sensational, and their smoothies are simply delicious.
