A Beer Lover's Guide to Eating and Drinking in Dunedin

A group of people sat around a table drinking beer at Steamer Basin, Dunedin.
Home to the oldest beer in the country, the Dunedin brewing scene is buzzing.

Maggies

Large tables with low hanging lights set against dark green walls.
Place Dunedin Editor's Pick
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Maggies has gained a reputation for their ridiculously good coffee, food and juices.

Prohibition Smokehouse

Bar and kitchen area at Prohibition Smokehouse, Dunedin.
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Prohibition Smokehouse in Dunedin has earned a reputation as the pièce de résistance for some of the best steak in the city.

Steamer Basin Brewery & Taproom

People sitting outside Steamer Basin having a beer.
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Steamer Basin is hidden, yes. Secret? No. The journey may begin to feel like a wild goose chase, but persevere and you’ll be rewarded with micro-brewing gold.

Woof!

A staff member working.
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A one-stop shop for any and all libations.

The Swan

The exterior of the building.
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An eatery and taproom with great vibes, local flavours, live gigs, fresh coffee, cosy nooks and a sunshine-laden outdoor seating area.

PLATO

A plate of food.
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Hidden under the Otago Peninsula Road overpass you will find PLATO, an eatery that is retro both inside and out.

Arc Brewing Co.

Beer being poured into riggers.
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A 20ish minute jaunt from the Dunedin CBD, and well worth the trip.

Good Good

Close up of artwork on the wall.
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A mean spot for burgers, beers and vibey energy.

Patti's & Cream

The Patti's food truck.
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You’ll find burgers and scoops on the menu here that will simply knock your socks off.

Princes St Butcher

Jars of pasta sauce and honey on display.
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A complete foodie destination.

Union Co.

Customers dining at the window seats.
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An excellent spot for espresso, baked goods and savoury fare.

Pequeño Lounge Bar

A staff member working.
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Spanish for small, Pequeño lives up to its name.

Come Hungry, Here's Exactly What You Need to Devour in and Around Dunedin

Close up of a burger.
Otago is spoiled for choice when it comes to food.

ADJØ

A staff member standing behind the counter.
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Visit ADJØ for comforting Scandinavian dishes, barista coffee, housemade schnapps and NZ wines.

Jizo Japanese Restaurant

Sushi on plates.
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The food covers all bases when it comes to Japanese cuisine at Jizo.

Catalyst

A barista making coffee.
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Catalyst is all about mindful eating and conscious consuming. Even the name speaks to this mission.

Beam Me Up Bagels

A bagel being wrapped.
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A cult classic here in Dunedin.

Good Start: 6 of the Best Brunch Spots in Dunedin

A plate of brunch on a table at Buster Greens.
Brunch combines two daily meals, which means it’s got to be doubly good. These Dunedin cafés and restaurants do it best with a range of classic dishes, modern takes and plant-based options that all hinge on supreme quality and taste.

Esplanade

The building's exterior.
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Beachfront and Italian may not be the most common marriage on New Zealand shores, but it’s a marriage that works well at St Clair’s Esplanade.

Bay Rd Peanut Butter

Peanut butter being spread on to toast.
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Peanut butter has been, and will continue to be, the unsung hero of breakfasts and lunches everywhere.

tītī

A plate of food.
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Offering experiential dining in a way that is exceptionally high quality but also completely approachable.

Common Ground Espresso

Staff working.
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Pop in for a coffee and a look and leave with a bag of your favourite beans for home brewing.

Vogel St Kitchen

Fish graffiti on the side of Vogel Street Kitchen, Dunedin.
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Vogel St Kitchen wins people over with its impeccable service, awesome interior and delicious food.

Albar

Interior view of Albar, Dunedin.
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A local favourite and the social hub of many.

Vanguard Specialty Coffee Co.

Seating area in Vanguard with big monstera plant.
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A fresh look and take on the independent coffee scene in Dunedin.

Allpress Espresso Roastery Café

Front of Allpress cafe in Dunedin.
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Share in the precise craft of coffee, Allpress style.

Potpourri Vegetarian Café

Stained glass window inside.
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Potpourri serves vegetarian cuisine in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Marbecks Foodstore

Glass cabinet with black lights hanging overhead.
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At Marbecks Foodstore the shelves are stocked with a huge variety of nationally and internationally sourced specialty food products.

Rhubarb

A table full of food.
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A bright and sunny spot to eat eggs benedict and read the newspaper, or squeeze your pram in for a date with other parents.

The Portsider

Close up of beres on the bar.
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A cosy pub in Port Chalmers with a full menu and huge selection of craft beer.

Mamma Mia Pizza

Hands reaching for slices of a pizza in the middle of the table at Mamma Mia.
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Serving up authentic Italian pizza from a traditional wood-fired oven, here you can expect fresh, hot pizza, ‘just like mamma used to make.’

Mazagran Espresso Bar

Silver metal coffee roaster in Mazagran Espresso Bar,
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This hard-working little café is a hive of activity all day long and a great spot for grabbing a coffee-to-go before work.

Grid Coffee + Good Food Co.

Table of homewares for sale at Good Food Co.
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Visit Grid Coffee Roasters and Good Food Co. for single origin coffee and artisanal grocery items.

No.7 Balmac

Customers dining inside No.7 Balmac.
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The kind of restaurant that every neighbourhood ought to be lucky enough to have.

Moiety

A chef working in the kitchen.
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Moiety wows with a tasting menu that is refined and approachable all at once.

Heritage Coffee

A customer ordering at the counter.
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For a café experience that is local in every sense of the word.

Buster Greens

Inside the cafe.
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This spot satisfies modern brunchers and big brekkie enthusiasts alike.

Taste Nature

Entrance to the building.
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Well known for its commitment to organic food and sustainable living, Taste Nature is considered “the” organic shop in Dunedin by locals.

The Tart Tin

The owner behind the counter looking to camera.
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The Tart Tin keeps limited hours and for good reason.

Kiki Beware

White tables against a painted-white brick wall.
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You won’t find anything else quite like Kiki down George Street.

The Good Earth

Customers dining in at tables by the window.
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A popular haunt with university students, this café makes everything from scratch every day.

Carey's Bay Historic Hotel

Stone exterior of the hotel.
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Dating back to 1874, Carey’s Bay Historic Hotel is one of the most popular pubs in Dunedin.

Best Café

Orange neon sign on the exterior of the cafe.
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This Dunedin institution is well worth a visit and perhaps a return to your student days.

The Perc

Cake and coffee on a table.
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Whatever the weather and whatever your mood, The Perc is bound to satisfy.