Stopped in here for breakfast after getting takeaway coffees and thinking the food looked good…read more Decided on eggs Benedict, one with salmon and one with bacon. The salmon was a tiny portion, not worth the $1 more than the bacon one. The bacon one which I'd asked to have crispy bacon had more jellied fat than meat and I quickly took it inside to politely ask if I could please have the fat crisped up, as I'd asked for. The kitchen did this and it was brought out to me very crispy...but missing half the potato hash, half the hollendaise sauce and all of the spinach (I hadn't even touched the plate so obviously the kitchen had just left these items off the new plate). I pointed this out to the lovely lady behind the counter who was a bit shocked and apologised, by this time my partner had finished his breakfast and I'd spent the whole time waiting for mine which was now missing half the food. The lady behind the counter offered to refund me and give us a free coffee each, I thanked her but said a refund for the food was all I would need as the coffee was lovely and we didn't have an issue with it. Just before she refunded me the miserable owner / manager walked over and rudely stated "we don't do refunds". Right...so what do you do in this instance then? She said there was nothing wrong with the plate and I told her that it was missing half the food. She claimed that I was a liar and must have ate it as the kitchen only plated up what was there. Honestly at this point I just laughed at how ridiculous this situation was and asked if half the meal was wearing a Harry Potter-esque invisibility cloak as I was 100% certain I hadn't scoffed half the meal down between walking the plate from my table and the counter. She again stated the kitchen didn't miss half the food and I told her I would like a refund as at this point I just wanted to get out of there. She just smirked at me and stood there - in the end they obliged but I honestly can't believe the cheek of some people. I thanked the lovely lady behind the counter and left. If you want to support a business with a manager / owner that actually cares, can make eye contact and doesn't come across as wanting to fill you in if you complain then I would recommend going elsewhere...Kaikoura has many better spots on offer.

Excellent coffee and an outstanding breakfast. Creative, well prepared, and beautifully presented…read more It's a shame that this cafe doesn't have a 'downtown' location, as it is infinitely better than it's competitors down on the strand. Do yourself a favor and order the eggs benedict - unique and delicious.

We had dinner here in March 2002 on a previous visit to NZ. It was so refreshing that the quality…read moreand service have not changed over the intervening years. Located across from the water, each of the window tables has incredible views of both the bay and the Kaikoura Mountain range. The evening we were there, they were receiving the first snowfall of the season on the upper peaks, which was awesome to watch. We had tried to book online, but somehow our reservations got mixed up. Elly (I think that's her name - or Ivy?), was wonderful to accommodate us at the time we wanted, and at a table with a view anyway. But reservations are definitely necessary, and if you want a table by the windows, book well in advance. Hubby and I each started with the fish chowder, then had the fresh catch gurnard, which were both amazing! My taste buds were definitely happy here. The fresh bread was hot and also tasty. Joanne, our server was very attentive, making the experience truly special. I just hope the quality remains the same for our next visit to Kaikoura, whenever that may be!

I'm pretty sure green dolphins don't exist, so you're not going to find any of those here. What the…read morerestaurant does have is fresh, delicious fare and a partial view of the water. I stopped by last night and tried a variety of dishes. The white bait, fish chowder, crayfish (I chose grilled) and chocolate cake were all excellent. Even the roasted vegetables that accompanied the crayfish tasted amazing. In addition to attentive service from the staff, I found the restrooms to be very clean. If you are planning to visit the seals after your meal (~15 minute walk), then I'd recommend tinkling here before setting off on your journey.

Fantastic food. We were the only diners that evening, so the chef came out and greeted us. He…read moremodified the menu for us based on something he was preparing for an event the next day. Everything we tried was fantastic, including the wine, of course!

This is a super fun spot to try multiple wines. It is called the wine station for a few reasons -…read morethere are stations of wines that you self pour using a card that records drink prices owed at the end. You also have the option to buy a pre-paid card if you'd like to avoid over-spending (as I imagine it's easy to do). This bar is also near the tracks and the railway does pass by. Perhaps this spot was once a station stop? I did not ask. Wines are a win. Atmosphere is also cool - couches and low tables: great for socializing. There was a small menu. I ordered a meat plate, but the cuts didn't impress me and we weren't served forks. But - with that said, I don't think people come to this station for a meal. It's wine all the way! And what a great way to try all the delicious wines of the fantastic Marlborough region. Close to the town center, we easily walked back to town after our tasting.

Hands down, New Zealand has some of the most beautiful wineries in the world. And this one, along…read morewith their on-site restaurant is in my top 5 places and spaces I've enjoyed. The fact that this place is non-pretentious, has good quality food and wine, and a relaxed atmosphere is amazing. The staff was great and my tour guide was very knowledgeable. I'd go back.

Stunning Winery/Tasting-Room/Restaurant with an amazing garden compete with bubbling brooks and…read morequaint little red foot bridges. Typical NZ charm taken to level 10 as kiwis like to do The staff were all incredibly engaging and friendly as. This is a great stop on your wine tour, wine-noobs and -snobs alike will find cause for celebration, photos and I quite sure come away with a few bottles.

We were here with a group tour and had several breakfasts and one dinner. The food here for dinner…read moreis really good. Sunday is roast day and I had the Pork Roast - amazing. Tender, flavorful. The tomato entree was also beautiful- ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil. All 6 at our table enjoyed their meals. Fun martinis for dessert! Breakfast buffet was OK, pretty small and I didn't t care for a lot on the buffet. The breakfast a la carte menu was very good. The potato, hummus, kimchi bowl (vegan) was really nice. Atmosphere is basic, clean and waitstaff is very friendly.

My wife and I had a Wednesday night dinner reservation at 6:30. Tuesday evening my wife had a bike…read moreaccident that made it uncomfortable to chew. When we called at 5PM Wednesday (when they opened) we asked if there was a soup she could have (or a single course along those lines). Instead, they recreated and reformed the whole tasting menu for her to a more delicate and easier to bite into dishes. My wife was nervous about going out to a nice restaurant with bruising and stitches and Arbour and it's staff made her night. The food was amazing, and the service even more so. I can't thank them enough for turning what could've been a sad night into something we will never ever forget.

We enjoyed our experience here. Friendly staff. Would recommend the craypot chowder and anything…read morefrom the dessert cabinet

This place is amazing! Our group absolutely loved the ambiance and the service was delightful. We…read morestarted with the garlic bread and after each of us took a bite knew the meal to come would blow us away simply because of how delicious the appetizer was (the flaky sea salt was such a perfect touch). The tiramisu is the "best" our group had ever had. Hands down. We couldn't recommend this place enough and wish all the best to the owner John!

Incredible spot right opposite the beach and with views of the snowy alps towering above…read more Excellent spinach and feta muffin, good coffee and friendly welcome.

Hubby and I stopped here for lunch on an unseasonably cold, blustery day. A great place to eat,…read moreeven if you're not interested in any of the cruises. They are located on the Esplanade, right across from the water, so the views are incredible. Hubby had the salmon wrap, which he thoroughly enjoyed, and I had the salmon quiche salad. It was completely yummy, and served with excellent coffee. We went for breakfast the next morning, and had an equally delicious experience.