Food & Wine - Waiheke Island Guide
Waiheke Island has an abundance of award winning restaurants, cafe's, and vineyards and olive tasting rooms to tempt the gastronomic taste buds. Take a wine tour or visit some of Waiheke's vineyards, some tasting rooms are open all year round and many have restaurants attached. Waiheke Island is also getting a reputation of producing premium extra virgin olive oil, the are a few tasting rooms and is a more sobering experience to that of vineyard tastings. Below is an introduction to my favorite spots for food and wine on the island.
Main vineyard restaurants - Waiheke Island
Poderi Crisci
Located in Awaawaroa Bay, 25 minute drive from Enclosure Bay is a slice of Italy. Set in an amphitheatre surrounded by the vines and Italian olive trees. Producing Italian inspired wines, featuring Merlot and Viburno, the cellar room at Poderi is a Waiheke Island destination. The restaurant and surrounds offer a stunning venue for lunch or dinner. The garden supplies produce to the Poderi Crisci Restaurant. At Poderi they understand the importance of providing quality food with quality wines and olive oils. With its spectacular setting, you can enjoy Al Fresco dining all year round in this sun drenched location to the final rays of the setting sun, what could be better at the end of the day
Casita Miro
At the Miro Vineyard a 10 minute drive from Enclosure bay has the most outstanding Tapas restaurant. Views from the vineyard are spectacular, looking out over the vines, the village and the sea. Grapes in the region ripen to a rare succulent intensity in the hot summer sun. The mineral rich soil provides the vines with flavour-enhancing elements. Red wines grow best here, but pinot gris and chardonnay also produce excellent wines . Drink them with some of the fantastic tapas-style food served at the Vineyard Tapas restaurant, don't miss out on trying a glass or two of the Madame Rouge.
Tantalus
Located in the Onetangi valley between Stoneyridge and Te Motu vineyardsa - Tantalus has quickly gained a fantastic reputation for its fine wines wines and great food. The vineyards aim is to produce a dense complex Bordeaux and Rhone style reds that will age perfectly.
Te Motu
Nestled in the very vines that produce our award-winning reds, overlooking the Onetangi Valley. Bronwen Laight works a special kind of magic, drawing on fresh produce from our ever-expanding gardens to produce honest-to-goodness, gutsy and thoroughly modern food, packed full of flavour. Either seated inside or outside enjoying the Summer sunshine, you will enjoy our uniquely relaxed, modern-rustic atmosphere.
Stonyridge
A world-renowned Cabernet-blend winegrower, is our closest vineyard located only a 7 minute’ drive from Enclosure Bay. They are dedicated to producing the finest Cabernet blends in the world (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot), combining traditional winemaking with meticulous organic viticulture. Nestled in a shimmering valley of olive trees, colourful vines, is there Veranda Cafe. The cafe with their fantastic attentive team offer guest wonderful food and the best wines Waiheke can produce.
Cable Bay
The Cable Bay restaurant has now been open for just over 4 years and is making its mark on the New Zealand hospitality scene.The award winning Restaurant and Wine Bar on Waiheke Island has an enviable reputation for great food and wine with an unrelenting focus on quality. Olive grove and sea views overlooking the Hauraki Gulf and Auckland city are enriched by an extensive art collection, featuring sculpture and paintings by leading New Zealand artists.
Mudbrick
It has now been over 18 years since they opened the restaurant - 20 years since the first plantings. They have aged - and so has the environment! A great place for a wine tasting and platter or a fantastic place for a formal lunch or dinner.
The Batch
One of the best views of Waiheke can be had from the Batch Winery. Located by Waiheke Airport the Batch is open for casual lunch & dinners.
Peacock Sky
Located next door to Eco Zip on the highest part of the Island - Peacock Sky offers tastings and has a Cafe style restaurant open for lunch.
Restaurants & Cafe - Waiheke Island
Vino Vino (Oneroa)
A favourite lunch or dinner spot in Oneroa - Drawing its inspiration from the Mediterranean with steaks, seafood, pastas, the menu includes wonderful meze platters of olives, roasted garlic, dips, fruit and fresh bread. Wash this down with some local wine, which makes a strong presence on the wine list.
Fenice (Oneroa)
A small restaurant making authentic Italian and Mediterranean fare and in the winter months they serve it beside a roaring open fire.
Red Crab (Oneroa)
Thai restaurant open ever day for lunch and dinner - also offering a takeaway menu.
Small bar restaurant serving house made pasta and a great variety of rustic Italian dishes and fresh fish.
Oyster Inn (Oneroa)
A hip bar restaurant offering a nice varied menu specialising in seafood
Brass Monkey Bar (Oneroa)
Bites and brews. They do local, small batch, hand crafted, flavour fuelled beers, with selections of steaks, ribs and sharing platters. If on tap don't miss out on a pint of Dominatrix!!
The Local (Oneroa)
Fish and Chip shop offering eat in or take away menu - The grilled fish is amazing!
Arcadia (Palm Beach)
New small restaurant / bar / cafe just back from the beach in Palm Beach serving breakfast - lunch - dinner
Dragon fired (Little Oneroa Beach)
Fantastic selection of wood fired pizza - from a mobile pizza kitchen. ( Bring back to Enclosure bay and enjoy on your deck with a bottle of wine)
Three Seven Two (Onetangi)
Located across from the beach in Onetangi this new Hip bar restaurant has only just opened its doors but has a great head chef who has run award winning restaurants on the island - so should be great.
Ki Maha (Onetangi Beach)
Charlie Farley's (Onetangi)
Cafe / bar on the beach loved by the locals and serving great pub/bistro style foo
Wine tasting only
Obsidian Wines
One of my favourite vineyards on the Island, tucked away in an amphitheatre setting amongst the vines, Obsidian offers tastings in a relaxed and friendly environment. The cellar door is situated next to a wetland area and vines. Al fresco tastings are often held under the pergola. You are welcome to bring your own picnic and enjoy the peaceful setting at Obsidian.The friendly cellar door staff will take you through a range of Obsidian and Weeping Sands wines. Often on weekends and over the Christmas holiday period one of the proprietors of the vineyard, will be on hand to share their insights and passion about Obsidian wines The is no food here, but a short walk away is Casito Miro or Onetangi beach where the is a great cafe pub - Charley Farley's serving snacks and burgers etc.
Jurassic Ridge
Another favourite vineyard located, next door to Mudbrick Jurassic vineyard has a great rage of stunning reds - which Lance the owner refers to us "un mucked about wines" I just love the Montepulchino & Cabernet Frac they produce. If you love your wines its well worth a visit.
Wine Tours
Take a special day out with on a Waiheke Island Wine tour which visit at least three of Waiheke Island’s top boutique wineries where you will meet the owners or winemakers and be invited to sample at least three wines. Ample time is allowed for lunch (lunch is not included in the tour price) and there are some excellent restaurants and cafes to choose from. We are happy to advise and make bookings on your behalf for the tour and lunch. To book contact us by clicking here
Rangihoua olive oil
Only 8 minitues drive from Enclosure Bay, had its inaugural harvest in 1997 this was the first time olive oil had been made on Waiheke Island. Combining the traditional and modern methods of Olive Oil processing, Rangihoua is now a leading brand in Extra Virgin Olive Oils, and produces the most prolific award-winning Extra Virgin Olive Oils in New Zealand. Visit Rangihoua and enjoy its friendly and informative tour,and try some of the world’s best Extra Virgin Olive Oils. All visitors are welcome to enjoy the surroundings, view the machinery and find out all about the process of making our oil. The Frantoio room is a delightful setting for tours and free tastings try the range of Extra Virgin Olive Oils & olives, herb spread, art, pottery and other products are available to purchase on site.