What better inside knowledge could you possibly hope for than knowing where to eat. Learning about a city through its food is one of the best ways to get to the nitty-gritty and understand what makes a place unique. Dunedin has a fantastic foodie scene with some of the best pastries, seafood, five-course menus and toasted sandwiches around. There’s so much to try that a weekend in Dunedin may start with coffee and croissants and quickly transition to burgers and beer because you simply cannot miss one of Dunedin’s finest. Here are 15 of the best Dunedin restaurants that will knock your socks off.
1. Buster Greens
With a focus on raw ingredients and superfoods, Buster Greens is one of Dunedin’s bright and welcoming cafes on George Street, serving up delicious breakfast, brunch and lunch. Their fried chicken benedict will get your taste buds humming, and sweet tooths will love the brioche french toast with fruit, chocolate and espresso cream. Buster Greens is the ideal spot to meet for a coffee in the sun, or a hearty and wholesome brunch with good company.
2. Tītī
Set on The Esplanade in the stunning St Clair, this Dunedin beachfront restuarnat is a must-try. Tītī offers a dining experience, with everything from the seasonal menu to the fresh locally sourced ingredients standing out. Enjoy your own dish, or share plates around the table. Order food from the sea or the land, with menu options including Provenance lamb and high country salmon. Tītī have a Feed Me option, taking the guess work out of ordering. All you have to worry about is indulging in the delights the chef decides to bring you!
3. Beam Me Up Bagels
New York style bagels in the streets of Dunedin. This is your go-to for takeaway toasted bagel sandwiches made with fresh, hand-rolled bagels. Your bagel will be made to order, and loaded full with delicious things like halloumi, chilli jam, pesto, cream cheese, salmon, bacon (not all together!). The hardest thing will be choosing your combo. Silver lining – you can buy a bag of bagels to take home and feast on later. It’s safe to say that Beam Me Up Bagels is an institution in Dunedin and the people love it. Plus, their iced coffee is a must-try.
4. The Perc
The Perc is where you’ll find all the local cafe scene lovers. The home of good coffee, cabinet food and people. It’s very much a popular hang-out. With a focus on local produce and a convenient central location, a stop in here is a no-brainer. Their spiced mince on toast is a classic and their beautiful bagels are a crowd favourite. The Perc is also the place to try the classic South Island cheese roll! Check out The Perc Exchange down the road on Princes Street too.
5. Esplanade
Pizza and waves. Esplanade is the home of Italian food in Dunedin, with wood-fired pizzas, pasta and antipasto to satisfy even the worst cravings. Perfectly positioned on the esplanade at St Clair beach, this is one Dunedin restaurant with views as good as the food. Start your day with an Italian inspired breakfast with a quintessential Dunedin view. Or enjoy an Italian feast with loved ones in the evening, complete with negronis. Their fries and desserts come highly recommended too.
6. Best Cafe
Any New Zealand city needs a fantastic fish & chip and seafood restaurant. Best Cafe is Dunedin’s local spot for all things seafood. Yes, you can grab your favourites takeaway, though the restaurant has a certain charm that draws you in. With their wholesome approach, Best Cafe is a homely restaurant that never overpromises but does overdeliver. Bluff oysters, when in season, and a must-try. Natural or battered. An unassuming hero is the bread and butter served with everything – the perfect vessel for fried seafood. The real hero is their ice cream sundae’s that really complete the kiwi experience.
7. Moiety
Moiety is a real gem in the Dunedin food scene. A delicate and considered menu without being fine dining or pretentious. A foodies dream. Their menu is designed to excite and celebrate the local area. You’ll be treated to a five-course menu that is fixed – so you can go with the flow and leave it up to the experts. Enjoy table seating or dine at the chef’s open kitchen counter. This is a fantastic Dunedin restaurant experience.
8. Jizo
If you’re feeling a Japanese feast, Jizo is the place. Conveniently located on Princes Street just up from The Octogan, this Dunedin restaurant is a popular spot for groups looking for a social setting to dine in. Order piles of their sushi balls for a unique and delicious take on sushi, along with other favourites like sashimi, donburi, ramen and bento boxes. Their keto and vegan menu is extensive and ensures everyone is happy. Jizo offers BYO and it’s always busy and bustling.
9. Catalyst
Catalyst is one of the more beautiful Dunedin foodie spots. There’s an atrium, huge red brick walls and high ceilings. A warm, light space for your coffee and lunch. Mindful eating is the aim of the game here. Their za’atar spiced chicken is made with halal, organic chicken. Avocado toast with beautiful beetroot hummus and sliced radish. All wholesome, sustainable and encouraging of making healthy habits when it comes to food. Catalyst do ‘bubbles & brunch’ which could be the perfect way to kick start any day in Dunedin.
10. Rhubarb
Rhubard is tucked away in the suburb of Roslyn and is forever busy with people coming and going. A go-to for coffee in Dunedin. The food is honest and homestyle, with classics such as avocado on toast and a great eggs benny. You simply can’t go wrong with an omelette or a cinnamon scroll at Rhubarb too.
11. No 7 Balmac
One thing Dunedin can agree on is that No 7 Balmac is a fantastic Dunedin restaurant. Its neighbourhood location and commitment to quality means a lunch, dinner or even a coffee here is an enjoyable experience. There’s an amazing garden and courtyard out back. The downstairs seating gets the drama of the kitchen with the woodfire action. Upstairs has intimate dining spots, perfect for long overdue catch-ups and cocktail sessions. A three-course dinner here would not be a bad idea.
12. Good Good
Finding the best burgers in town can be the key to a great trip! Good Good is are bringing good, fuss-free burgers to the Dunedin people. There are four burgers on the menu, a couple of delicious sides and the option to beef up your burger with a few extras. This Dunedin restaurant is unlike any other, with a caravan kitchen and industrial space with relaxed furniture, wall art and good lighting. Try a burger on Vogel Street at Good Good during your next Dunedin stint.
13. Carey’s Bay Hotel
A bit of a destination restaurant, Carey’s Bay Hotel is a beautiful historic hotel in Carey’s Bay, just down the road from Port Chalmers. The old fashioned hospitality and Victorian pub feel is a truly welcoming setting. The menu is heavily seafood-focused, with fresh fish and other seafood caught locally. You’ll find lavish seafood platters and raw fish dishes on the menu as well as old pub favourites like battered fish and chips. This Dunedin restaurant, right next door to the fishing port with a stunning view out to the bay, is one to add to your must-visit list.
14. Emersons
Emersons goes hand in hand with Dunedin. A beloved brewery that produces some of Dunedin’s finest beers. The brewery and cellar door is a fantastic place to sample some beer, socialise with good mates and enjoy a great feed! Bar snacks and sharing plates will pair nicely with pints of cold beer. Lunch and dinner mains are hearty and top-notch, with a variety of options. When at Emerson’s, the Korean chicken burger with gochujang and kimchi is a great pick!
15. ADJO
ADJO is creating Nordic food for a hungry Dunedin crowd. Tasty goodies like stewed apples, Danish meatballs and ‘dreamcake’ with gammel dansk (a danish bitters) are served up day and night. This central Dunedin restaurant is also an art gallery, providing a unique experience for people to enjoy art with food and drink in a relaxed setting. Week-day coffees and late Friday nights at ADJO are a go!
This article was created in paid partnership with Dunedin NZ.
Cover Image Credit: No 7 Balmac.
