Pātaka Kai

Few restaurants can compete with the view from Pātaka Kai. Sitting within Te Puia, home to the world-famous Rotorua geysers, their dining room looks directly out across the beautiful Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley. It’s not often you get to eat a meal with one of the most extraordinary landscapes in Aotearoa right outside the window.

Naturally, the kai, service and concept all revolve around both manaakitanga and contemporary Māori cuisine. The space itself reflects the beautiful surroundings, with robust concrete architecture alongside natural materials and pieces from local artists.

Traditional hāngī is, of course, the heart of the menu. They serve up a mouthwatering range of hāngī-cooked meats and vegetables alongside mānuka-smoked ham and seafood. If you have the room, you’ve got to try their kūmara, watercress and sweet corn soup with freshly baked rēwena bread.

Native ingredients show up throughout the menu too, with things like karengo and horopito incorporated into salads, or kawakawa ice cream for the sweet tooths. It’s a great place to bring a group, especially for their seasonal Sunday brunches from April to September, as well as special events around Matariki and other dining experiences throughout the year.

Te Puia is proudly owned by local iwi, and that connection to place shapes the restaurant too. The aim is for manuhiri (guests) to experience the kai alongside genuine manaakitanga, leaving with a memorable sense of where they’ve eaten, as well as what was on the plate.