Hardy St Eatery

Cafes key icon. Restaurants key icon.
Cafes key icon. Restaurants key icon.

MondayClosed.

Tuesday8:00 am – 2:00 pm.

Wednesday8:00 am – 2:00 pm.

Thursday8:00 am – 2:00 pm.

Friday8:00 am – 2:00 pm.

Saturday8:00 am – 2:00 pm.

SundayClosed.

136 Hardy St, Nelson

03 391 0077

Celebrating honest food in all its glory is what Hardy St Eatery in Nelson is about. Nearly everything that comes out of the kitchen has been hand-crafted on-site – from sourdough bread to preserves and smoked fish to various condiments.

Chef and restaurant owner James Rutherford worked around the world before settling in Nelson with his family and opening the doors to Hardy St Eatery. His vision is simple: to introduce people to new experiences and showcase the craft of cheffing with simple, tasty dishes.

The aesthetics inside Hardy St Eatery complement its philosophy on food perfectly. The space has been architecturally designed and nods towards handcrafted mid-century modern in the use of light wood, an open fireplace and white brick walls. The kitchen and plating station is housed in a purpose-built plywood box, which allows guests to view the chef in action and invites engagement between the kitchen and diners.

Above the view to the kitchen, a bookshelf houses an impressive collection of cookbooks and dotted around open shelves sit beautiful Hanmer Pottery pieces that James (who was brought up in the mountain town) has gathered from his grandmother’s collection. At the back of the restaurant behind timber screens, lies a semi-private space perfect for meetings.

Predominantly a daytime restaurant, Hardy St Eatery opens for dinner two nights a week. It is advised to book ahead to secure an evening table at this unique Nelson eatery; during the day there is usually space for walk-ins. 

Photography by Nancy Zhou

Information not correct? Report an error

Location

136 Hardy St, Nelson

Nearby Places

Urban Oyster Bar & Eatery

Prepping oysters in the kitchen.
Place Nelson Tasman
Restaurants key icon.

The stars of the show, as the name suggests, are oysters.

Trouble & Fox Boutique

Woman serving a customer at the counter at Trouble and Fox.
Place Nelson Tasman
Fashion key icon.

Hidden down an alleyway just off the main drag of downtown Nelson lies Trouble & Fox Boutique, an inviting wee spot filled with tastefully curated apparel.

East St

Retro lampshade on the bar with James Dean photo on the wall.
Place Nelson Tasman Editor's Pick
Bars key icon. Cafes key icon. Restaurants key icon.

A pioneer in plant-based fare.

Global Soap

Selection of soaps on a table at Global Soap, Nelson.
Place Nelson Tasman

Stepping in, you’ll find it hard not to pick up each colourful square placed neatly along the shelves and bring them to your nose, and even harder to walk out without a paper bag of goodies to take home.

Similar Places

The Dangerous Kitchen

The colourful exterior of The Dangerous Kitchen on a sunny day.
Place Golden Bay
Cafes key icon.

Despite its moniker, the only thing truly dangerous about The Dangerous Kitchen in Tākaka, is how tasty its food is.

Victus Coffee & Eatery

Workers in their navy and white stripped tops working behind the counter.
Place Nelson Tasman

If you’re looking for colourful, fresh food and top-notch coffee, then Victus Coffee & Eatery—which occupies a bright, inviting space in the heart of Whakatū...

Tasteology

The coffee machine inside Tasteology with take away cups stacked on the top.
Place Nelson Tasman
Cafes key icon. Goods key icon.

The outside of the building is simple and understated in white and sage green, the inside overflows with colour.

Sublime Roastery & Brew Bar

Barista working at Sublime Roastery and Brew Bar.
Place Nelson Tasman
Cafes key icon.

A place to appreciate coffee in its purest form.