5 Sweet Treats to Try in Invercargill

Cabinet of cakes at Black Shag Espresso.
From doughnuts to slices, we’ve rounded up five of the best places to satisfy your sweet tooth in Invercargill.

Ziffs

Fish and chips on a table.
Place Southland
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You may only be a few minutes from the city, but Ziffs has a knack for making you feel a world away.

Meccaspresso

Barista standing by steaming coffee machine.
Place Southland
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Ago-to café whether you’re stopping by to see the classic motorcycle collection at Mecca, or just looking for a satisfying meal in the heart of the city.

Amigo's Mexican Grill

Stacks of sombreros.
Place Southland
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The cheerful, upcycled decor and friendly staff will welcome you with open arms at this Mexican food establishment, and a margarita won’t be far behind.

Emberz

Pan-fried fish meal.
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Walking into the traditional, elegant dining room of Emberz, tucked inside the Ascot Park Hotel, feels like a personal invite to linger over a long dinner.

Bombay Palace

Close up of curry and rice.
Place Southland
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If a flavourful meal in a cosy, inviting atmosphere is what you’re after in this southern city, then look no further.

Black Shag Boutique Café

People sitting behind the coffee machine.
Place Southland Editor's Pick
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Head to Black Shag in Invercargill for the perfect trifecta of coffee, food and service.

Toasted

Toasted sign.
Place Southland
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Serving up New York Style bagels that are made with hand-picked ingredients, this casual breakfast and lunch stop is a tried-and-true favourite amongst students and local office workers.

The Pantry

The refill bins.
Place Southland
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Invercargill's non-profit health foods store, café and community hub.

Oyster Cove

The ocean view from inside the Oyster Cove restaurant.
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Perched above the Pacific, Oyster Cove serves up the best of the best when it comes to Aotearoa’s seafood.

Tuatara Café & Bar

Close up of a flat white and newspaper on a table.
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A brewery, craft beer bar and pizzeria rolled into one, visit Tuatara Café to enjoy all of the above in one of Dee Street’s historic buildings.

Industry

Close up of sweet treats in the cabinet at Industry..
Place Southland
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At the only café in Invercargill’s northwest corner, expect to nd delicious baked goods all made in house, hearty breakfast and lunch dishes and plenty of options for dietary restrictions.

The Auction House

The Auction House outdoor seating area with lots of people.
Place Southland
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Open for breakfast through to dinner, expect tasty tapas, a wide range of mains, funky cocktails, an expansive NZ wine list and frequent live music events in the spacious, modern courtyard that often play into the night.

The First Timer’s Guide To Dining In Invercargill

We’ve rounded up the seven best places to eat in Invercargill, no matter the occasion.

The Grille Café

A retro living area inside The Grille Cafe.
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The Grille has been lovingly curated and decked out with relics of days gone by.

The Green Room

Customers dining around tables inside The Green Room Cafe.
Place Southland
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A hub for barista coffee and homemade Kiwi café favourites.

Level One

Flatlay of a platter and fried chicken from Level One..
Place Southland
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This restaurant has managed to keep the best of Southland hospitality, food and drink at its core for 55 years.

Fat Bastard Pies

Close up of a Fat Bastard pie.
Place Southland
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Honest and extremely moreish pies likely to bring out your inner Fat Bastard in the best kind of way.

Score the Catch of the Day at Southland's Best Seafood Eateries

A hand reaching for a seafood platter at Oyster Cove in Southland.
Southland and seafood are synonymous with one another. Blue cod can be found on nearly every menu here. However, not every fish fry was created equal.

The Batch

A flatlay of meals on a table.
Place Southland Editor's Pick
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Enjoy epic brunch items like avocado toast with beetroot and mint hummus, sourdough, dukkah and free range egg while relaxing in one of Southland’s most well designed cafés.

Beachhouse Restaurant

Close up of fish chowder on a table.
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The Beachhouse feels like your mate’s bach and keeps visitors coming back with some of the best seafood chowder down south.

Buster Crabb

A waiting area.
Place Southland
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Named for Buster Crabb, a Royal Navy frogman who inspired the James Bond character, this is the place for a bit of mystery, intrigue and great food.

The Crib Café

The retro interior of The Crib Cafe.
Place Southland
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The Crib has something for everyone and is reminiscent of the 90’s most laid back beach cafés.

Seriously Good Chocolate Company

Close up of chocolate production at Seriously Good Chocolate Company.
Place Southland Editor's Pick
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A tiny store using chocolate as a medium with which to promote Southland to the world.

Tumu Toka CurioScape

A woman listening to an exhibit.
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One of the Catlins most intriguing aspects is the petrified forest at Curio Bay. But how does a forest become perfectly preserved in stone?

Small Prophet & Co

The inside of the store with tables and chairs on display.
Place Southland
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Pop into this studio to check out their art, upholstering and refurbishment work alongside other local wares.

Niagara Falls Café

Graffiti wall inside a covered courtyard.
Place Southland
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A magical café run by a local family in a one room school house constructed in 1893.