The best Waiheke Island restaurants
Discover the best places to eat and drink on Waiheke Island.
Waiheke Island is a bountiful place.
Fresh oysters are harvested from the pristine waters off the island’s southeast shores. Olive groves produce golden oil. A warm micro climate encourages gardens to overflow with lush vegetables.
Then of course, there’s the wine.
All of this makes Waiheke a top spot for eating, drinking, and generally indulging. Here are some of Waiheke Island’s best restaurants.
Some tips for visiting Waiheke’s restaurants
For vineyard restaurants, it’s a good idea to choose a lunch spot in advance and make a reservation, especially in summer and on weekends.
Although you will find dinner as well, Waiheke is more of a lunch spot. A lot of places close around 5pm or earlier, so double check when restaurants are open before you go.
Vineyard restaurants on Waiheke
Waiheke Island is home to around 30 boutique vineyards and several have great on-site restaurants where the food is paired perfectly with the wine.
1) Mudbrick Vineyard and Restaurant
Mudbrick’s restaurant overlooks a lush garden of herbs and edible flowers
Mudbrick is an unabashedly romantic restaurant set in lavender-scented gardens.
Set on a ridge overlooking the glittering Hauraki Gulf, Mudbrick restaurant has stunning views of the Auckland city skyline and glorious sunsets.
This iconic winery restaurant not only offers spectacular views but also a delectable dining experience. Their menu focuses on seasonal and locally sourced ingredients, and it pairs perfectly with their award-winning wines.
Mudbrick offers a set tasting menu — two courses for $94 or three courses for $110.
As well as the flagship Mudbrick restaurant, this vineyard also offers a more relaxed dining experience at The Archive Bar and Bistro. The bisto shares the same sea views and garden and terrace seating, as well as a tent-styled eating area.
Here you can order from an a la carte menu, which is perfect if you just want a mezze board, or some house made focaccia and smoked kawakawa butter to go with your wines, but you can also order entrees, mains, and desserts.
2) Casita Miro
A Spanish-inspired restaurant, Casita Miro is set in Gaudi-esque gardens above a sloping vineyard near Onetangi.
The Spanish-inspired Casita Miro is famous for its tapas and wine.
Much of what ends up on the plate here, from eggs to herbs, salad leaves, olive oil, vegetables and line caught fish, is sourced from the island itself.
The restaurant has a pretty courtyard and glass-walled dining room which add to the Mediterranean flavours of Casita Miro.
In the summer months, there’s also the option to enjoy smaller plates in the garden, on pillows spread out under the olive trees.
3) Poderi Crisci
An Italian-inspired restaurant and winery, Poderi Crisci offers rustic yet refined cuisine.
Enjoy wood-fired pizzas, handmade pasta, and a wide range of wines in a beautiful west-facing al fresco dining area, which soaks up afternoon sun rays.
Poderi Crisci is also home of the famous 'Long lunch’, modelled after Italian tradition and taking place every Saturday and Sunday. The decadence of this event makes it one of the best experiences to have on the island.
The long lunch is just that, starting around midday and going for roughly four hours. You’ll get to try many sumptuous courses, which pair perfectly with Poderi Crisci wines.
Bookings are essential, and it’s recommended you book well in advance during summer and long weekends.
4) The Shed at Te Motu
Located at Te Motu Vineyard, The Shed restaurant offers a modern take on rural wine shed dining.
The restaurant overlooks the vineyard’s vines in the Onetangi Valley.
The Shed serves dishes created from fresh produce harvested from onsite gardens and sourced from local producers. The menu is shaped by whatever is fresh, ripe, and available from ethical, sustainable producers on Waiheke, and throughout New Zealand.
Starters include tasty snacks like marinated Waiheke olives and Te Motu garden pickles.
5) Tantalus Estate
Image courtesy of Tantalus
Image courtesy of Tantalus
The Tantalus Estate Restaurant is one of the premier dining destinations on Waiheke Island. This winery restaurant combines wine, food, and art in exquisitely presented dishes that explore unexpected flavours and textures.
The menu changes seasonally, incorporating some of the best New Zealand produce from artisanal farmers and small growers around the country.
Book a vineyard lunch in advance, or a ‘Trust the Chef’ dinner for a special experience.
6) Stonyridge Vineyard Restaurant
Known for its Bordeaux-style wines, Stonyridge also offers a delightful dining experience. The restaurant serves gourmet platters and dishes that pair excellently with their wines.
Other Waiheke restaurants
There are plenty of excellent Waiheke restaurants that aren’t in vineyards. Try these places to eat for great food that’s an essential part of the Waiheke experience.
7) The Oyster Inn
Waiheke Island is famous for producing fresh oysters. Tasting their succulent brininess is a must-do on Waiheke Island.
Te Matuku Oysters are harvested from the clear waters of the Te Matuku Marine Reserve at the south east corner of Waiheke Island and served on the same day at the acclaimed Oyster Inn in Oneroa.
Run by chef Josh Emmett, the Oyster Inn is a simple, coastal inspired bistro. Along with plump, salty oysters, you can find daily market fish and ever changing seasonally inspired specials.
8) Three Seven Two
Image courtesy of Harrows
On the Onetangi promenade, directly opposite the beautiful Onetangi Beach, is 372. This beachside restaurant keeps things casual while still serving up elevated dishes which keep locals coming back.
The menu embraces Waiheke’s island nature, with summery dishes featuring bright, fresh flavours and some good vegetarian options. Think stracciatella cheese paired with pear, fennel, miso sunflower seeds and sunflower shoots, and mushroom pierogis served with bright ruby sauerkraut horshradish, and oyster mushrooms.
As well as the food, the outdoor area with its breezy vibe and ocean views make Three Seven Two a great spot to sit and enjoy the sunshine on a leisurely afternoon.
9) Ki Māha restaurant
The view from Ki Māha’s deck
Ki Māha is located in a prime spot directly opposite Onetangi Beach.
The vast dining room, adorned with hand-blown glass pendent lights, looks out to the shimmering sea. In this gorgeous environment, you can enjoy a menu that combines sustainably harvested seafood and ethically farmed meats, with locally sourced seasonal fruit and vegetables.
Ki Māha serves up some of New Zealand’s most iconic ingredients and flavours, such as roasted duck breast with orange kūmara purée, slow braised lamb riccia, and beef cheek tortelli.
10) The 'Heke
The ‘HEKE Kitchen is a laid-back restaurant ideal for families and groups. A large garden, complete with games and activities, surrounds the largely open air restaurant.
Chefs prepare food over wood fires, and to go with your meal you can enjoy drinks from the ‘HEKE’s craft distillery and craft brewery.
This chilled out restaurant is just down the road from popular vineyards like Tantalus, Stonyridge, and Te Motu, so it can be a great option if their restaurants are fully booked.
I came here with a group of friends and it was the perfect location for sitting around a big table and ordering a lot of Waiheke Long Island Iced Teas.
Cafes and brunch spots on Waiheke Island
Island life wouldn’t be complete without leisurely mornings savouring coffee and a sea view. These cafes are the perfect way to start the day on Waiheke.
11) Akitō
Image courtesy of Akitō
Akitō, is a Maori word for doing something slowly. This philosophy is exemplified at this brunch spot, where food is guided by patience and passion.
In the experimental kitchen, owners Shantala Tengblad and Simon McNeish practice ‘slow food’ preparation in the shape of pickling, preserving, and fermenting fruit, vegetables, and grains.
Although not strictly a vegan or a vegetarian eatery, Akitō highlights ‘plant food’, and the creativity and flavour that can be obtained from humble vegetables.
And they’re licensed, so you can enjoy a cocktail or wine with your brunch.
Located on Ocean View Road in the middle of Oneroa, Akitō is one of Waiheke’s must-visit restaurants.
13) Arcadia
Arcadia is a gorgeous little cafe and restaurant in Palm Beach. The outdoor seating area feels somewhat tropical, and it’s only a few short steps away from the beautiful beach.
The unfussy menu and laid-back service make this a great spot for breakfast or lunch, before heading to the beach.
14) Island Gelato Company
One place you have to eat in Oneroa is the Island Gelato Company, an ice cream shack that has been serving up decadent cones for years now.
Their handmade gelato is the perfect mid-afternoon snack for enjoying in Waiheke’s abundant sunshine.
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed my recommendations, you might also like:
