The Waikato Restaurants

Love food? The Waikato is here to tantalise your taste buds with its amazing range of exciting places to eat. Local, fresh, and utterly delicious - that's the Waikato's food scene in a nutshell.

From cutting-edge cuisine served in ultra-chic settings to fabulous food trucks and farmers' markets, the Waikato has its food game locked down tight. You might have to accept that you'll be coming back from your Waikato trip ever so slightly rounder...but a million times happier.

There are so many great restaurants in the Waikato that you'll struggle to pack them all into your itinerary. As much as you can, it's a good idea to narrow your list of must-visit eateries down to a few top picks; that's where we step in. Take a look below at some of our favourite ways of enjoying the Waikato's food scene and start doing your trip planning. Your stomach will never stop thanking you.

Image: The Mighty Waikato

Hamilton Restaurants

  • Hamilton's CBD is perfect for foodies and Riverbank Lane is at the centre of the mouth-watering action.
  • Hamilton is packed with artisanal bakers, coffee roasters, microbreweries, and even a tea plantation.
  • Gourmet in the Gardens brings a fleet of irresistible food trucks to Hamilton Gardens on Sundays between October and March. Come hungry.
Image: The Mighty Waikato

Waikato Local Produce

  • Freshness is the name of the game at the Waikato's many farmers' markets. The Hamilton Farmers' Market and the Cambridge Farmers' Market are just two of the top places to grab the best local produce.
  • Pick fresh fruit yourself at The Strawberry Farm or a local blueberry orchard.
  • Set aside time to visit the many artisanal food-makers in the area, from Over the Moon Dairy to Volare Bread, Good George Brewing and Vilagrad winery.
Image: The Mighty Waikato

Waikato Food Tours

  • Tour Good George Brewing, where craft beers are made in an old church. It's fun, it's fascinating...and it's tasty.
  • Get seriously wholesome with a hiking food tour combining natural wonders with culinary delights.
  • Zealong Tea Estate is the only tea plantation in the country. Touring it is thirsty work, so make sure you have a few cups of its produce afterwards!

Created in partnership with The Mighty Waikato