Hamilton caters for every taste
It would take you a long time to eat and drink your way around the Tron’s great eateries and bars, but Alexia Santamaria takes you on a mouthwatering trip around a selection for your next trip.
Hamilton is known for its river views, internationally renowned gardens (which seem to get better every year), proximity to Hobbiton and rolling green scenery. What it is not always known as is a culinary city of interest. And that is a bit unfair.
You can easily eat at amazing, creative, interesting places for breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus have first-rate brunches, snacks and cocktails for days on end.
Here are some highlights if you are planning a trip to this part of the country.
Riverside dining
There are several great spots that overlook the Waikato River.
Palate is definitely the go-to if you are looking for something in the fine-dining category; there is a reason it is so highly and regularly awarded. And the interior is as lovely as the food.
If it is sharing plates you are after, you can’t go past Mr Pickles. Sit outside on a fine evening and people watch while sharing plates of clever, creative food such as beetroot carpaccio, sweet and sour oyster mushrooms, raw market fish with truffle ponzu and wasabi caviar, or the legendary beef cheek croquettes.
A bit further along is Gothenburg, which probably gets the closest to the water and is a wonderful place for a drink with a view outside (the inside is also pretty fab).
There is a huge menu of food designed to share, with everything from hand-cut chips and confit duck agnolotti to kimchi pork dumplings.
Unique experiences
If you haven’t been to Zealong Tea Estate yet
(15 minutes from the centre of Hamilton), you really should change that.
You don’t find bona fide tea plantations in many – well, any – rural New Zealand settings, let alone ones where the tea has won international acclaim.
When available, the plantation tour is great and the tea ceremony fascinating. The high tea is the perfect way to round off your day.
Or what about a beer brewed in one of the country’s oldest dairy factories? Also 15 minutes from Hamilton central, Bootleg Brewery occupies part of the historic Matangi dairy factory building. Don’t miss the award-winning Apehanger IPA.
(Fun fact: the original factory built in 1885 was a creamery that supplied Waikato’s first butter factory – the beginning of the Anchor brand, inspired by a sailor’s tattoo.)
Cheap and cheerful
If you are on a budget, don’t fret. Grab fried chicken from The Bearded Weasel, and eat it in the amphitheatre outside, overlooking the river.
Or visit The Chilli House for freshly made dumplings, spring pancakes, noodles and other Sichuan-style goodness.
If you have ever been to India and fallen in love with the street food there, Dhaba On Highway Hamilton will make all your dreams come true, and Lazat serves some great Malaysian fare.
Coffee
We all know there is nothing worse than bad coffee on a good holiday, but you don’t need to worry about that in Waikato.
Rocket is Hamilton’s original coffee roaster, and you can get a great brew straight from the roastery in Barton St.
Another local favourite is Cafe Kopi, which serves Rocket’s coffee too, and is located in popular Riverbank Lane.
Homebrew Coffee is also a crowd favourite, serving Ozone, and if you are a fan of Raglan Roast, g
it has its own Brown Lightning Bros roastery in Te Rapa. It is not quite the same as having it at the beach, but it is great coffee wherever you consume it.
Family friendly
Taking your offspring out to eat can be a challenge in any city, but Hamilton has some places that might make it easier.
While Good George Brewing is a common name all over the country, its original home was in an 1960s church on Somerset St.
The menu is full of stuff your children will love and you get to drink great beer, cider or even a cocktail. (Bonus: breweries are always noisy so it isn’t a problem if your darlings add their ‘‘joviality’’ to the vibe).
If your children are a bit more adventurous, Banh Mi Caphe is a popular Vietnamese joint, with a lovely interior, by the river.
The key there is that there is a large area right outside that is perfect for kids to run off steam before or after dinner.
While not in Hamilton Central, Punnet Eatery is only 15 minutes out of the city, and worth it for the great food and children’s playground.
A drink
There are so many great places to drink in Hamilton (Good George, Bootleg and Gothenburg have already been mentioned), but if you didn’t seek out its not-at-all-obvious entrance, you could miss local favourite Wonder Horse.
This place is totally unpretentious, not what you would describe as glam, but the staff can definitely sling a drink.
Just sit at the bar and tell them the flavours you like, and they will make something that’s exactly what you felt like but didn’t realise.
Ernest is the place to go for a late-night drink and a bite and, opening last year, it is already a super popular spot.
Last Place is also a late-night bar, with a slightly different vibe – grunge warehouse meets good drinks, wine on tap and smash burgers for afterhours fun.
A bit of sweetness
There are plenty of places to satisfy a sweet tooth in Hamilton, the most obvious being Duck Island Ice Cream.
While its fame and excellent icecream have spread to other cities, it is only respectful to honour the original, in Hamilton where it all began.
In the same category is Mamas Donuts (many good things have started in Hamilton). The original is in Duke St, or you can catch it at the Tamahere or Cambridge markets.
The River Kitchen is adored for so many things, and excellent home baking is just one of them. It is food made with a lot of love.
And while Volare is known for its breads, it also does a fine pastry, biscuit, muffin and slice.
Last, but definitely not least
Some things don’t fit neatly into categories, but it would be remiss not to mention Madam Woo, Scotts Epicurean, Chim Choo Ree, Camarosa, Kushi Japanese and Hayes Common, as they are all excellent spots for a bite, and extremely popular with those who live in Hamilton, and those just visiting.
There is obviously far too much to fit into one article, and far too much to fit into one trip, really.
But that is just another excuse for you to head back for Hamilton’s special blend of laid-back vibes crossed with big city flavours and culinary creativity.
Staying safe:
New Zealand is under Covid-19 restrictions. Follow the instructions at covid19.govt.nz.