It’s not just the thermal springs that are hot in Rotorua – the restaurant scene is jumping as well.Foodies will find plenty to tempt their palates here. Try out these local favourites for a taste sensation of your own:
Sabroso
A little taste of the Caribbean, Central and South America right in the heart of Rotorua greets you in this friendly and relaxed restaurant. You can choose a variety of sharing plates, or a spicy and delicious main course. Their extensive menu of traditional desserts are a real discovery. The wine cellar is stocked with local favourites as well as some fantastic Chilean and Argentinian wines. They also sell sauces and spices so you can take some of the magic home with you.
Abracadabra Café and Bar
This family friendly place focuses on local suppliers and fresh produce, organic fair trade coffee and has an extensive gluten-free menu. Offering a cosy atmosphere in a beautifully converted 1940s home, they are known for their innovative tapas and spectacular celebration cakes. Their breakfasts are also a local legend, so this would be a fantastic place to start your day.
Mokoia Restaurant
This is a truly unique place to have a meal – they offer Pacific Rim produce flavoured with indigenous herbs and spices, many of them picked from the surrounding wilderness for ultimate freshness. They specialise in “shared dining experiences” where you can sample an array of delicious dishes with the rest of your dining party. Venison, seafood, duck, and local lamb all feature on the menu, and for dessert there’s unique delights like the Avocado and Kawa Kawa Ice Cream, something you may not have tried before but will undoubtedly be eager to sample again once you’ve experienced it. Benefit from the local knowledge of the award winning chefs and prepare yourself for the dining experience of a lifetime here.
Leonardo’s Pure Italian
While fusion cuisine is undoubtedly delicious, sometimes it’s wonderful to go to a restaurant that simply specialises in one cuisine, striving to bring you the very best it has to offer. So it is with Leonardo’s Pure Italian that will offer you a delightful Mediterranean dining experience. The pizzas, pastas, fresh salads and Italian frozen desserts are all superbly done.
