Discover Hamilton's best places to eat, drink, shop and more with our guide.
Home to approximately 40,000 tertiary students and 1,000 PhD-qualified scientists, Hamilton is home to some big thinkers (and leaders - Helen Clark, former New Zealand Prime Minister and administrator of the UN Development Programme, was born here). As the country’s fourth most populous city, Hamilton is not a place to miss.
Originally, Hamilton was the site of Māori villages, and several på sites can still be found beside the mighty Waikato River. The river now shapes the city, highlighted with walk and cycleways along its entirety. If you’re interested in history, the local Waikato Museum contains a stunning amount of special heritage pieces including Te Winika, one of the best-preserved wakas - or canoes - from the pre-colonisation era.
Lovers of sport, great food and wine and supporting local are woven into the fabric of Hamilton, and with plenty to be proud of it’s no wonder why so many people have made this place home.
Save the Date(s): A Year of Events in Kirikiriroa Hamilton
Your season-by-season guide to the festivals, food events, live music and community favourites worth planning a trip to Kirikiriroa Hamilton around.
Hamilton After Dark: What to Eat, Drink & Do After 5pm
Hamilton has long been on the rise. But what’s changed lately is just how much choice there is, particularly when it comes to nightlife.
Where to Find the Cosiest Cocktails This Winter
From speakeasy hideaways to heritage hotel bars, here are the cosiest cocktail spots to crowd into this winter across Aotearoa New Zealand. Settle in by the fire, slip downstairs into a low-lit nook, or perch at the bar while the rain does its thing outside.
Creative Spaces Around New Zealand to Inspire Your Next Mindful Hobby
In a world increasingly dominated by screen time, many New Zealanders are seeking out something more tangible. Pottery classes are filling up months in advance, knitting needles are clicking back into fashion, and creative workshops are becoming social occasions in their own right.
Explore our Directory
View Allhāpi bar
Tucked within the modern mess hall at MADE, hāpi bar is Hamilton East's...
Lab Brow Bar
The beige plague may still grip the beauty industry, but Lab Brow on Hamilton's Barton Street is bucking the trend.
racket
From a sculpted flagship store on Hamilton's Barton Street, racket designs and trades considered clothing for modern life.
The Lost Boys
A café tucked away in the back streets of Frankton that uses plenty of fresh, local and organic ingredients in its goods.
Get your Pocket Guide for Hamilton
Discover Hamilton's best places to eat, drink, shop and more with our guide.
Penang Street Food
Penang Street Food brings to Hamilton’s Victoria Street the sights, smells, and flavours of a Malaysian street market, all captured in a relaxed, modern setting.
Different Avenue
In the heart of Kirikiriroa’s CBD, Different Avenue (formerly known as Again and Again) has carved out a sunny, stylish store of sustainability.
Saigon ‘60s
Step inside Saigon ’60s and be instantly transported back to the golden era of 1960s Saigon, when French charm and Vietnamese flair intertwined in the city’s...
Cothu
Tucked away in one of Hamilton’s quiet laneways, Cothu is somewhere where wellness feels personal.
Neat at Made
Neat at MADE isn’t your average bottle store or cocktail bar; it’s a beautiful blend of boutique bottle shop, tasting room, and intimate cocktail bar all wrapped...
O-Studio Hamilton
Hamilton’s O-Studio offers visitors a complete reset for both body and mind.
Journey & Co
Just north of Hamilton’s CBD, tucked away on Princes Street with the rare luxury of plentiful parking, Journey & Co has become a go-to destination for thoughtful...
BNZ Theatre
BNZ Theatre (previously Waikato Regional Theatre) is setting the stage as Hamilton’s cultural heartbeat.
Wooden Spoon
As the Waikato’s only dedicated coeliac-safe café, Wooden Spoon is a welcoming refuge for anyone living without gluten.
Kori Desserts
Kori Desserts has carved out a sweet little Hamilton haven for those craving something beyond the ordinary.
Exscite
Housed within the Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery is Exscite, an interactive discovery centre offering a vibrant and engaging learning experience.
Fossick Collectables
Specialising in all things vintage, retro and collectible, Fossick has become a real treasure haven for unique finds in Hamilton.
Bamboo Sweets
Bamboo Sweets is an artisan chocolate shop nestled in Hamilton’s Casabella Lane, dedicated to crafting exceptional chocolates that promise to sweeten your day.
