We came here after our tour at Hobbinton, which capped off the perfect LOTR themed morning. The…read moreambiance included Lord of the Rings memorabilia and the pizzas on the menu were named in honor of the trilogy. The service was great and our waiter asked for our names so she could address us personally. Food came out quick and hot. Portions are big enough to share so everyone can try each dish.

We arrived in Matamata to meet the bus for our tour of Hobbiton, but we had about an hour to kill…read morebefore the meeting time (and it was raining!) . Luckily, The Redboubt was open and was a nice warm place to kill an hour, have amazing snacks, and a few drinks. The Redoubt is located right at the I-SITE where you meet the bus, so you definitely can't miss it. It's decorated in all Lord of the Rings decor, down to the Hobbit hole style doorways/windows, getting you totally ready to get immersed in the journey you're about to take. We ordered a few beers to start and they arrived cold and crisp - definitely refreshing for a fun day in Hobbiton! Food-wise, we ordered the 3 Slider Selection, and picked the chicken, cranberry, burry, and brie sliders. They were super tasty and actually pretty large for "sliders" - and it even came with a small side of fries. We also shared the Redoubt's Famous Seafood Chowder, and it was super warming and hearty, but not too filling as it's seafood and not a heavier meaty base. With the delish food, awesome ambiance, and plentiful drinks - I definitely recommend stopping here if you're in Matamata for a Lord of the Rings tour, or for any other reason!

Stopped in for lunch while in Hahei. The outdoor seating is very nice and there were not many…read morepeople there yet so we had our choice of tables. There are nice flowers and greenery surrounding the outdoor seating. You go in to order at the bar. We ordered a beer tasting flight, a margarita, and the Margherita Pizza. The margarita was fine (I never really had a great one while in New Zealand), but it was cool and refreshing. The pizza was nice and light, good for a small lunch. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Don't forget a tshirt or hoodie on the way out!

Loved their cocktails and ambience! The staff was super funny (read witty with sarcasm) and we had…read morea great time enjoying a cool beverage on a hot summer day after hiking to Cathedral Cove.

In Hamilton for 2 nights. Enjoyed this spot twice . One of…read morethe few bars we could belly up to as many in NZ seem to have no stools. Great cocktails and beer selection. Friendly, engaging staff.

This is a serious contender for best bar in Hamilton. I came here Saturday night with my husband…read moreand a couple friends. Why, why have I not been here before now?! I used to live just up the block! My husband had already been here and, somehow, did not bring me in immediately. This is one of those places where I had a "love at first sight" moment. Even on a fairly crowded night, the vibe in this place is super-cool. It's small, almost uncomfortably so, but in spite of that (because of that?) it has a great intimate feel. The cocktails are pricey, but different and skillfully prepared. There is a good selection of whiskey (my whiskey-loving friend tells me). There was a DJ artfully spinning a weird, awesome, "did-he-just-do-that?" selection of tunes. The decor is comfortable/cool, with walls of exposed bricks and "I never want to get up" comfy couches. The back walls are lined with loads of books and one portion of the ceiling is covered with records. They appear to have some bites to eat, but admittedly, we were just there for drinks. It's a little tricky to find, set back from Victoria Street down a side alley. But, it's SO worth finding.

Boilerhouse Brewery seems to be a brand new brewery in the small town of Thames. It was our first…read morepit stop after driving in from Auckland. We dropped in on a Wednesday afternoon (around 2:45pm) to find it busier than you'd expect for a Wednesday. There's a main and side entrance. Plenty of free parking outside in their private lot. They serve food; bar snacks, sliders and platters ($30.00 to 50.00 NZD) The tap beer menu had 7 options (6 beers and 1 cider). Nice that you could sample before you committed to a handle or jug. They even had wine from Ohinemuri Estate (4 types). There's also more drinks in the fridge (bottled beer, low alcohol, cider, spirits, ready to drink and non-alcoholic). - Good George - Doris Plum cider ($9.00 NZD handle) - pretty in colour and just as tasty. Really refreshing. I'd get it again. We weren't too big fans of the beer that we sampled but the cider was a hit. Would have to come back to try their food. 3.5 stars.

What a great find! Took a wrong term, drove 50 km in the wrong direction - but was grateful to end…read moreup in Whangamata looking for dinner :) We sat outside on the ample deck - while not a great view - the overall atmosphere was lovely as we sat next to the bar and the staff kept popping out and chatting. My friend and I tried the crumbed squid (appie) and the market fish (salmon) and the soft shell crab for the main course. The squid came with a great puree (avocado?) and we loved the pineapple addition to the soft shell crab! We found the salmon to be a bit dry however. I think I'll definitely come back... for the pretty great seafood and....the goat inspired wine!! (check out the Nanny Goat Pinot Noir - worth the price).

We were recommended to eat here by a local, so we headed here. The food was alright. I ordered the…read moreveggie pizza - some of the mushrooms were undercooked and not edible. The crust was crunchy and good. My partner had the brisket burger - it was OK. The meal cost $140. In my opinion, this place is overpriced for the quality of food we had.

Worth a second meal!…read more We really enjoyed this restaurant! Table for four on a Friday night at 5:30 in the evening. We had two orders of the fresh fish and chips, the pulled pork pizza, and the fish of the day (tuna). All 4 were prepared well and brought out promptly. I am not certain if it is a New Zealand thing (as it has happened at two restaurants in two days), bit they bring the food out when it is done, not when all four meals are done ... Just something of which to be aware. This is a place where I will be happy to eat at again!

Was worried about trying this place because of the lack of reviews, but glad we did! Perfect place…read moreif you're looking for a nice bar to relax, eat and chug some brews. We came in at 6pm on a Monday, which they have happy hour 430pm -630pm on the weekdays, $7 nzd for a beer pint. Our servers were pretty cool and friendly. Best of all, $.50cent wings! Everyday! Also you get to people-watch some locals coming in and out playing the slot machines in a room off to the side.

From the owner: Come down and experience that traditional, friendly pub atmosphere in Central Hamilton. It truly…read moredoes exist! The Quad - not part of any group or franchise.

This place had outstanding food. Service was pretty good, but some flies were relentless on our…read morefood and we had to bat them away perpetually. The food here is 5 stars all day. Highly recommended.

Casual but clean vibes, fun tunes, local beer and bomb food. Happened upon this place during a road…read moretrip and so glad we did. Chicken bao and lamb burger were both winners, but the other food we've seen come out all looked incredible, too. Worth a stop for sure.

My husband and I came here for lunch on a weekend for lunch before going to the Te Aroha Mineral…read moreSpas for a soak. The inside decor is cute and inviting and our food was pretty good, including the coffee. My only issue was the slowness of the service and a request for a code to use their free WiFi that never materialized. I would definitely return if I'm back in the area.

The ultimate meeting venue, quirky decor accentuates the atmosphere…read more As soon as walk in from the street you are met with a comprehensive black board menu and dishes of the day for lunch at the counter. Thecoffee is the best in the Thames valley and the chocolate brownies are delicious. Posh fish and chips are great value but beware, you need a good appetite. And whilst your at it check the toilets out wacky but smart with individual towels and every thing engineered from old hand tools. Highly recommended also is the sit out side partly covered area you can people watch the folk of Te Aroha or watch the colours of the mountain change. Prices are average, parking is easy and dress code is casual but clean. See you their on Monday. Mines a flat white.