Otago, Invercargill, and Stewart Island Restaurants

Dunedin has the area's highest concentration of good restaurants. Seafood is a big player, in part because of Dunedin's coastal location but also because of its proximity to Bluff, the home of New Zealand's great delicacy, the Bluff oysters. Many of the least-expensive options are café-like Asian restaurants; these tend to close early, around 9 pm. Locals don't usually dress up or make reservations for anything other than the most exclusive establishments.

Invercargill has a more limited selection of mostly moderately priced restaurants. Stewart Island has a reasonable selection considering its location, but in winter some places limit their hours or close.

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  • 1. Cabbage Tree

    $$$$

    A spacious dining room done in wood and brick offers a supersize menu with more than 100 dishes. Popular choices are Stewart Island blue cod, lamb shanks, prawns, pan-seared venison, and Bluff oyster dishes. The wine list includes mostly New Zealand wines, with the occasional European bottle for the stubborn. The outdoor garden bar is a perfect place to enjoy the Southland sun with a glass of wine; forget driving and make use of a courtesy vehicle for pickup/drop-off within Otatara and Invercargill city.

    379 Dunns Rd., Invercargill, Southland, 9879, New Zealand
    03-213–1443

    Known For

    • Comprehensive menu including many New Zealand wines
    • Deliciously fresh seafood
    • Wonderful outdoor garden bar
  • 2. Riverstone Kitchen

    $$$

    The mouthwatering menu focuses on organic, locally grown, seasonal produce, offering regional New Zealand cuisine with a few Asian accents (a Thai duck salad, for instance). While the atmosphere is casual, the food is serious thanks to chef Bevan Smith, who trained in Christchurch and has published four cookbooks. The "Little People" menu is just for kids. A prix-fixe menu lets you sample the best of the offerings for a fairly reasonable price. The restaurant is 12 km (7½ miles) north of the center of Oamaru.

    1431 State Hwy. 1, Oamaru, Otago, New Zealand
    03-431–3505

    Known For

    • Fresh seasonal fare
    • Innovative and elegant menu
    • Affordable prix-fixe option

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner Mon.--Fri.
  • 3. Sampan Dunedin

    $

    This no-frills noodle bar is crowded with students and serves yummy, filling, and inexpensive soups. Menu highlights include spicy satay chicken burgers, fried rice, bong-bong chicken, and deep-fried wantons.

    60-64 St. Andrew St., Dunedin, Otago, 9016, New Zealand
    03-471–7016

    Known For

    • Signature dishes of Thai, Khmer, and Chinese cuisine
    • Quick service
    • Popularity with university students
  • Recommended Fodor’s Video

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