Cure Weekend Brunching with the Best Cafés in Ōamaru
If you catch yourself in Ōamaru in some form of the morning, here are the spots to hit up for your brunch needs.
Words by: Johnny Gibson
Photography by: Nancy Zhou
It’s hard to know if time in Ōamaru moves backwards, forwards or stands still all in the same moment. But luckily the food scene has had a real upgrade in recent years thanks to some forward thinkers, passionate locals and a real emphasis to showcase what’s grown in the regional food basket of Waitaki.
Tees St
3 Tees Street, South Hill, Oamaru
If you’re a regular to Ōamaru or have just passed through enough times to cotton on to Tees Street, you’ll agree that this spot has set a new standard for the region. Forget your ‘same old, same old’ brunch plates, the options here are reborn and made with local ingredients and flavours of South America, Asia and the Mediterranean. Picture huevos rancheros, sticky pork bao buns or fried chicken tacos. These dishes have been winning over big brekkie traditionalists since 2016. Supreme beans and bomboloni doughnuts will most definitely round out your brunch experience.
Badger & Mackerel
175 Thames Street, Oamaru
A hub for great food, excellent service and a refreshing mix of big brekkie classics and modern brunch plates. Badger & Mackerel does a full breakfast-brunch menu. The standout dish is the pork belly eggs benny made with local free-range eggs, twelve-hour slow-roasted pork belly, a dash of hollandaise and a bit of chilli on the side for those who like heat. Alongside the menu, there’s also a cabinet that brings the ‘wow’ factor, there’s just so much to choose from and it’s all homemade - even the pies. Don’t fret if you’re gluten-free, vegan, or vegetarian - Badger & Mackerel does it all.
Riverstone Kitchen
1431 Glenavy-Hilderthorpe Road, Waitaki Bridge
A remarkable foodie's destination just off Highway 1, 20 minutes north of Oamaru, is Riverstone Kitchen. Their menu changes with the seasons, and it’s no wonder why once you stroll through the beautiful surrounding gardens. On the breakfast menu, expect to see a breakfast bowl, something creative using local smoked salmon and your essential egg options. Celebrating and plating up beautiful, honest and most importantly delicious representations of Waitaki, it’s no wonder this place is generally heaving.
More Ōamaru & Waitaki Stories
48 Hours Ōamaru & Waitaki
Your guide to the best things to do in Ōamaru & Waitaki
Slow but Spontaneous: Exponential Brewing
Get Around Good Grub, Here's the Best Things to Eat in the Waitaki Region
These dishes come from some of the area’s most loved dining establishments and all represent the region in a uniquely different way.
Your Guide to Arts and Inspiring Places in Ōamaru
Read on for your guide to exploring areas of art and inspiration in Ōamaru - a kaleidoscope experience of remarkable places and celebrated burgeoning local creatives, where being different is absolutely encouraged.
Three Kids, Three Restaurants and a Whole Lot of Heart
Neat Ōamaru & Waitaki Places
Silenzio Pottery
Clay has been used as a medium to craft pottery since prehistoric times, yet its novelty hasn’t worn off – arguably, the allure of a handcrafted ceramic holds...
Housekeepers Design
A beautiful old building full of beautiful new objects. We’re talking New Zealand-made clothing, accessories and homewares that’ll delight even the most discerning of buyers. Do your gift shopping or treat yourself.
Del Mar
Perfectly positioned by the sea, Del Mar Eatery and Beach Bar in Ōamaru takes full advantage of its waterside views.
The Criterion Hotel
First established in 1877, the Criterion Hotel Bar and Eatery is the jewel in the crown in the historic Victorian precinct in Ōamaru.
Oásis Ōamaru
Oásis is a fitting name for this treasure trove of an antiques store found on Tees Street in Ōamaru.
