I mean this sincerely, our meal at Hopgoods was one of the 4 or 5 best meals we ever had anywhere. Everything from start to finish was perfect. Everyone was warm and friendly, the service was impeccable and the food was absolutely out of this world. Every course...delicious! That includes the warm sourdough bread with a mushroom butter. Everything is creative. We had the ahi tuna, iceberg salad with bacon, and goat cheese puff pastry and tomato starters, then moved into the Snapper and Steak main entrees. We finished with a brown sugar custard and vanilla gelato with berries for dessert. I'd go back here in a heartbeat even though it's 6500 miles from home for us! We loved this place. read more

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A perfect meal in a charming spot provided by friendly people. (No more to say, but Yelp requires 85 chars., so...

Lovely but the wine pours put me off. My Cloudy Bay sparkle was a taster at $14. Food was awesome but the white bait app was soggy. The lamb rump was spectacular and the deconstructed caponata was great. Took a chance on dessert it took an hour but they comped the wine and was appreciated. But in all it was a 3 hour dinner. For an American it was a little like food prison. read more

Hopgood's - Lamb rump - New Zealand Near Me - Nelson, NSN

Amazing. Top pick for an occasion or if we feel like treating ourselves. Food is incredible, looks beautiful and is always delicious. Very GF friendly.They have fantastic GF bread! Desserts are to die for. Service is high end, while being friendly and welcoming. Great cocktails! I alway leave pretty full because everything is soooo good. read more

Had an early dinner here with my family. Bengal Bitter on draft, duck confit, John Dory fish and lamb wrapped in bacon. The staff was great and the food was perfect. Relaxing ambiance and convenient location. A must-go restaurant in Nelson. read more

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Everything was fantastic! The staff was friendly and the food came out quick. Each dish had flavor no need for salt! We had the natural bluff oysters & smoked beef tar tar, it was good. The grilled scampi and the duck confit both were delicious! And for dessert we had the chocolate mousse (super tasty with the orange tang)! read more

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We were in Nelson for one night and arrived pretty late. Our hotel host called ahead and had the restaurant hold a table for us as he knew we were pretty tired from our trip and needed to fuel up before a big day at Abel Tasman. We traveled in NZ for almost 2 weeks and this was by far our favorite restaurant. Service was great - food was excellent and so was the beer. Our only regret was that we couldn't enjoy it more because we were so tired. The lamb entree I had was the standout as it just melted in your mouth. If you are in town - this is the place to go. read more

Located on a lovely street in the centre of town, it looks great from the outside. The inside decor is light and airy and basic. The staff were all incredibly friendly and helpful, in particular Marie (French girl) who served us with humour and confidence. The food was outstanding! Each of the three courses was beautifully presented and the tastes were amazing. The wine choice was great and we had a bottle of white and a glass of red to go with our main dish. Deserts were to die for and I taught them how to make a Kiss Of Fire, although they need a bit of practice! All in all it was a fantastic experience and throughly recommended. It's always good to eat in a restaurant where the chef knows how to really cook. read more

We had an amazing evening meal here. We had Bread, warm olives & truffle butter as a starter, Braised lamb wrapped in bacon, bubble & squeak, roast carrots & wild nettle salsa verde and Pure Angus beef fillet, mushroom gratin, parmesan polenta, watercress pesto & red wine. The starter and both mains were amazing and couldn't be faulted. The service was fast (we had a booking), friendly and attentive. The atmosphere was sophisticated but casual. It had a vibrant social atmosphere, which we really enjoyed. Highly recommended! read more

Over 16 years of owning a top-end accommodation property, we had a few hundred guests dine at Hopgoods. Don't even need 1 hand to tally the negative comments, and those were always about the service, never about the food. No other restaurant came close to achieving that level of satisfaction & consistency. read more

I still dream about the meal we had there almost three months ago. The duck salad starter was so good, I wondered how the kitchen could match (let alone beat) such a dish with subsequent courses. The lamb which followed was spectacular, as was every other dish which my wife and I enjoyed. Service was friendly and the suggested wine was superb. read more

One of the best meals we had in our 16 days in New Zealand. Great food, service and ambiance. Great wine selection. Highly recommend you stop in when in Nelson. read more

I echo the previous reviews here that the food and presentation were wonderful. My only gripe is that the don't know how to make a Margarita! We had a waitress on her 1st day working here, which meant she was not much help on knowing the dishes or drinks, but she still did a great job of taking care of us. We have had dinner at probably a dozen restaurants in NZ, but this was the best. Not cheap- ($340 NZ for four with drinks and wine), but worth it! read more

Came here totally last minute and, to our complete surprise, were seated immediately. Yay! Our server was friendly and knowledgeable, and gave us plenty of time to make decisions. The food menu is great- not too long, simple yet sophisticated, seasonal. The wine list has a key to help you pick one you're sure to like, which is super helpful when it comes to NZ's intimidatingly comprehensive wine selection. Atmosphere and staff are great- they nail the whole 'casual-chic' thing. Attentive but not annoying. The food is perfect. We had the whole 'are you experiencing the same thing I am?" moment, and agreed that, yes, this was indeed the best food either of us had had in quite a while. It's a bit on the pricy side, but definitely worth it for a special occasion. Recommend making a reservation- it sounds like our seating experience was not usual. read more

Ok, so now I know why Hopgoods is #1 in Nelson, easy 5 star review! Starting with delicious selection of breads, follow by country pate, risotto entrees, John Dory and pork belly mains, and cheesecake, chocolate desserts, everything was top notch---reasonably priced too! Book far in advance or you may get shut out, toughest reservation in Nelson, understandably so!! read more

Friendly staff and good food. A bit on the pricy side but worth the splurge. Well balanced flavors and nicely thought out menu. Reservations suggested as I saw many parties turned away at the door. read more

We came impromptu, no reservation on a Thursday in February. We were seated at the open window counter overlooking the street, which would have been our preference, even with a reservation. Our French server Marianna was wonderful. The meal delicious and hid local brews and my wine lovely. read more

We definitely lucked out and got a table without making reservations. First off, I would highly recommend making a reservation to ensure you're able to experience one of the best, if not the best, restaurant in Nelson. Everything about this experience was fantastic. The hostess and her willingness to accommodate us with late night dining only added to the friendliness of the staff. There's no need to even recommend one thing or another on the menu because, from my understanding, it is ever changing depending on the season. I will tell you, everything we ordered from appetizer to the dessert was amazing and, quite honestly, probably the best meal we had in New Zealand. Superb! read more