The Food & Drink Heroes of Tairāwhiti Gisborne

Two women looking to camera.
There’s a lot of goodness popping out of the East Coast soil, boosted by a healthy dose of sunshine and a community of foodies looking to shake up at-home pantries and restaurants around town. These individuals and businesses are responsible for keeping Gisborne’s plate full, creating joyful destinations to wine and dine, crafting artisan products unique to the region, and building spaces for residents to shop and celebrate local produce every day. Without people like this, the town just wouldn’t be the same.

Sunshine Brewery

The white exterior of The Sunshine Brewery Gisborne.
Place Gisborne
Bars key icon.

A couple of streets back from Waikanae beach, the sun shines down on New Zealand’s oldest independent brewery.

The Village Berry

A refrigerator full of organic produce.
Place Gisborne
Goods key icon.

Most of us can only dream of having a supermarket alternative like The Village Berry in our neighbourhood.

The Works

The brick interior of The Works in Gisborne.
Place Gisborne
Bars key icon. Restaurants key icon.

As soon as you pull up to The Works, you know you’re in for something special.

The WorkShop

A pink cafe counter inside The Workshop Gisborne.
Place Gisborne Editor's Pick
Cafes key icon.

Strap yourself in.

Siduri Wine Bar & Deli

Wood panelling on the walls inside a dimly lite bar.
Place Gisborne
Bars key icon. Goods key icon.

Walking down Peel Street in Gisborne, you don’t necessarily expect to stumble upon a petite and polished wine bar – but you’ll be delighted to find...

Tahu

A view of the beach from inside Tahu restaurant Gisborne.
Place Gisborne
Bars key icon. Restaurants key icon.

Located on the shores of Midway Beach with sweeping views looking out across the breathtaking coastline, Tahu stands out in Gisborne’s restaurant scene for many reasons.

Smash Palace

A group of men sitting around a high table in a pub.
Place Gisborne Editor's Pick
Bars key icon.

Smash Palace serves as a reminder of why bars and pubs were created in the first place.

Puku Ora

A view of the cafe counter at Puku Ora Gisborne.
Place Gisborne
Cafes key icon.

Food can inspire positive change – and Puku Ora Eatery in Gisborne is a testament to that.

Neptunes Pizzeria

The red and green exterior of Neptunes Pizzeria Gisborne.
Place Gisborne
Restaurants key icon.

A slice of magic (and really good pizza) awaits down Gisborne’s main drag. Neptunes Pizzeria was never destined to blend into the Gladstone Road streetscape.

Neighbourhood Pizzeria

A close up of a large pizza on a table.
Place Gisborne
Restaurants key icon.

Beyond slinging exceptional dough, a pizzeria must above all be fun – and luckily Neighbourhood Pizzeria in Gisborne has an oversupply of this key ingredient in stock.

Zephyr Wainui

A bright and light cafe interior.
Place Gisborne
Cafes key icon.

Walking into Gisborne's Zephyr is like walking into a ray of sunshine. That’s the only way we can describe it.

Flagship Eatery

A cafe with a brick wall and large ceilings.
Place Gisborne
Cafes key icon.

This contemporary cafe could be easily stealing the show in any big city across the globe – but it’s quite happy to be stealing the hearts of locals right here...

Mr Clifton's

A 'Mr Clifton's' sign on a glass window.
Place Gisborne
Cafes key icon.

There are several places you can grab your daily brew in Gisborne, but few serve just coffee – and serve it as spectacularly as Mr Clifton’s.

Crawford Road Kitchen

The black and glass exterior of Crawford Road Kitchen Gisborne.
Place Gisborne Editor's Pick
Bars key icon. Restaurants key icon.

The reality of a small town is that dinner options are more limited – but that doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing, especially with Crawford Road Kitchen...

Curbside Kitchen

The sunny exterior of Curbside Kitchen in Gisborne.
Place Gisborne
Cafes key icon. Goods key icon.

As soon as the clock strikes 7am in Gisborne, Curbside Kitchen’s coffee machine kicks into gear with a throng of regulars stopping by for their daily brew before work...

Raglan Roast Gisborne

The sunny exterior of Raglan Roast Gisborne.
Place Gisborne
Cafes key icon.

As soon as the first light touches Gisborne, the Raglan Roast coffee machine is up and at ‘em, ready to wake up the town with strong brews.

Bollywood Indian Restaurant

The exterior of Bollywood Indian Restaurant in Gisborne.
Place Gisborne
Restaurants key icon.

Every town needs a reliable Indian restaurant that they can depend on for delicious food and warm service. In Gisborne, it’s Bollywood Stars.