Neighbourhood Cantina

Neighbourhood Cantina is a Mexican restaurant that has quickly become Wainui’s “local” and, thanks to Gisborne’s compact nature, a go-to spot for the whole region. With casual, colourful décor and both dine-in and takeaway options, Cantina is well worth a visit.

Before Cantina opened its doors, the building sat empty and abandoned for 12 years, a shadow of its previous Mexican incarnation run by an older American couple. Owner Marcel saw the potential to revive this space in front of the Wainui Beach motor lodge and give it new life as a Pacific-coast-inspired gathering spot. Drawing on his community ties (including once running the local dairy) and support from the motor lodge owners who revitalised the property, Neighbourhood Cantina was essentially born again, and immediately popular. The result is Cantina’s unique fit-out, merging California and Baja shapes and colours, adorned with festive bunting, to carve out a niche in the Gisborne food scene.

Marcel’s previous university experience in a Mexican kitchen helped inform the menu, but Cantina isn’t strictly Mexican; it’s a local celebration of Pacific-coast vibes. The menu covers all bases: tacos and burrito bowls, guacamole and chips, fresh fish and calamari from Gisborne Fisheries, hand-crafted corn tortillas from La Tortilla down the road, plus a seriously good cheeseburger. Margaritas arrive shaken or slushy, Sunshine Brewery beers flow on tap, Matawhero wines are poured by the glass, and Marcel’s own west-coast pilsner and pale ale round out the lineup.

Neighbourhood Cantina is dedicated to giving Gizzy what it needs: a colourful, fun, and inclusive place to hang out in the evening. As the second venue under the Neighbourhood brand (alongside Neighbourhood Pizzeria), Cantina continues exploring all things good hospitality, ensuring Gisborne’s community has a home base where every visit feels personal and every ingredient connects back to home.