Restaurants in Whakatane. Whakatāne has a habit of surprising people. You turn up for the river, the coastline and the sunshine, then discover the eating is genuinely good. The district’s visitor website describes the area as brimming with culinary delights, and the listings back that up: wood-fired pizza, Indian and Turkish kitchens, Mexican plates, barbecue, a brewery tap room, a berry farm cafe and a handful of smart sit-down restaurants, all packed into a compact pocket of the Bay of Plenty.
What follows is a round-up of the restaurants, cafes, bars and takeaways that appear again and again in Whakatāne dining listings, plus practical notes on booking and timing. Menus and opening hours shift with the seasons, so use this as a starting point and confirm the details directly with each venue before you make the trip.
The Shape of the Whakatāne Dining Scene
Most of Whakatāne’s food and drink listings sit close together around the town centre and the river, which makes planning a meal refreshingly simple. The district’s restaurants and bars guide points visitors towards a mix of smart restaurants and relaxed bars, while the local food and drink directory adds names such as Ataturk Turkish Cafe, Cadera Mexican Bar & Restaurant, Cafe Coco, Classic Oriental Food and Cobb & Co to the same picture.
Because so many of those places are within an easy walk of one another, you can often decide where to eat on the stroll into town rather than booking weeks in advance. The exception is the busier sit-down restaurants, which reward a bit of forward planning, particularly over summer and on weekends.
Town Centre and The Strand
The Strand is a sensible place to start, and number 108 is home to The Olive Branch. It operates as both a restaurant and a cafe, with wood-fired pizza and pasta among its offering, and it describes itself as locally owned, locally sourced and locally driven. The number listed for bookings and enquiries is 07 307 0543.
A short distance away, in the heart of Whakatāne’s township, sits The 1950 Restaurant and Bar. The venue describes its food as a blend of unique flavours, and it also runs a catering service. It is one of the names that turns up consistently in local dining listings, alongside the cafes and takeaway spots that keep the town centre busy through the day.
Other town centre names worth knowing include Cafe Coco, Classic Oriental Food and Ataturk Turkish Cafe, all of which appear in the local food and drink directory. Each has its own following, and because listings change with menus and ownership, it pays to check the latest details before you head out.
Riverside Dining on Quay Street
Roquette Restaurant & Bar sits opposite the river at 23 Quay Street, inside the White Isle Apartments. It positions itself as a contemporary yet intimate spot offering a high standard of food, with a bar area where you can work through the wine and international beer list before or after dinner, or simply meet friends for a drink.
Bookings are handled by phone on 07 307 0722. The restaurant has previously posted that diners should book in advance, noting limited lunch and dinner spaces at popular sitting times. If a riverside dinner is the plan, ring ahead rather than turning up and hoping for the best.
Indian, Mexican, Turkish and More
-
Kopeo Indian Restaurant, Bar & Takeaway serves Indian food in a restaurant, bar and takeaway format, and appears regularly among the town’s best-regarded restaurants.
-
Spice Junction also features on the same shortlist of top Whakatāne restaurants.
-
Cadera Mexican Bar & Restaurant brings a Mexican menu to the local line-up.
-
Ataturk Turkish Cafe covers Turkish food in the town centre.
-
Classic Oriental Food and Cafe Coco round out a centre that offers more variety than its size might suggest.
For travellers used to bigger cities, the appeal here is convenience. You can move from a curry to a coffee to a riverside bar without needing a car or a long detour, which matters after a day spent on the water or on the walking tracks.
Cobb & Co and Classic Kiwi Comfort Food
Cobb & Co has a Whakatāne branch, part of a group with eight New Zealand locations. Its pitch is classic Kiwi dishes served with a modern twist, and tables can be booked online. For families and larger groups wanting something familiar and easy, it is a low-risk choice, and it sits comfortably alongside the town’s more independent kitchens.
Cafes, Berry Farms and Daytime Stops
Julians Berry Farm and Cafe is one of the Whakatāne names that shows up in restaurant and bar listings, covering the daytime end of the market. Cafe Coco is another cafe option in the town centre. A cafe stop is also a practical way to break up a day of river walks and coastal drives, especially if you are travelling with children who need a proper sit-down and something sweet before the next leg of the journey.
Bars, Breweries and Later Evenings
Mata Brewery & Tap Room gives Whakatāne a local brewery to visit, while The Craic appears among the district’s restaurants and bars. Fisherman’s Wharf is another name that turns up in local dining listings. A tap room or bar works well as a finish to an evening after dinner, and because the venues sit close together, moving between them takes very little effort.
A Short Drive to Awakeri
Not everything worth eating is inside the town boundary. The Smokin’ Goose is based towards Awakeri, described as a short five-minute drive from Whakatāne, and specialises in barbecue meats with a Kiwi twist. If you have a car and want something a step away from a standard restaurant menu, it is worth building into your plans. Check current opening days and hours directly before you drive out, since smaller kitchens often work to their own schedule.
Restaurants in Whakatane at a Glance
Venue | Where to find it | What it offers |
|---|---|---|
The Olive Branch | 108 The Strand | Restaurant and cafe with wood-fired pizza, pasta and more |
The 1950 Restaurant and Bar | Heart of Whakatāne township | Restaurant and bar with a blend of flavours, plus catering |
Roquette Restaurant & Bar | 23 Quay Street, opposite the river in White Isle Apartments | Contemporary restaurant and bar with wine and international beer list |
Kopeo Indian Restaurant, Bar & Takeaway | Whakatāne | Indian food, bar service and takeaways |
Spice Junction | Whakatāne | Listed among the top Whakatāne restaurants |
Cadera Mexican Bar & Restaurant | Whakatāne | Mexican bar and restaurant |
Ataturk Turkish Cafe | Whakatāne | Turkish cafe |
Cafe Coco | Whakatāne | Cafe |
Classic Oriental Food | Whakatāne | Restaurant |
Cobb & Co | Whakatāne | Classic Kiwi dishes with a modern twist |
Julians Berry Farm and Cafe | Whakatāne | Cafe and berry farm |
Mata Brewery & Tap Room | Whakatāne | Brewery tap room |
The Craic | Whakatāne | Listed in the district’s restaurants and bars guide |
Fisherman’s Wharf | Whakatāne | Listed in the district’s restaurants and bars guide |
The Smokin’ Goose | Towards Awakeri, about a five-minute drive from Whakatāne | Barbecue meats with a Kiwi twist |
Practical Tips Before You Book
-
Book the popular sit-down restaurants ahead. Roquette takes bookings on 07 307 0722 and has asked diners to reserve in advance.
-
Ring rather than trusting an old listing. The Olive Branch lists 07 307 0543 for bookings and enquiries.
-
Confirm opening days and hours with each venue, as they change with the seasons and around public holidays.
-
Think about sitting times. Lunch and dinner slots at the busier places can fill, so plan around the sitting you want.
-
Look beyond the town centre if you have a car. Awakeri is roughly a five-minute drive away and adds a barbecue option.
-
Keep takeaway in mind. Kopeo offers takeaway alongside its restaurant and bar service, which suits a quiet night in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book a table at Whakatāne restaurants?
For the town’s sit-down restaurants, booking ahead is wise. Roquette Restaurant & Bar, which sits opposite the river at 23 Quay Street, has previously told diners to book in advance because lunch and dinner sittings fill. You can ring the restaurant on 07 307 0722. Cafes, takeaways and bars are generally more casual, but it still pays to check before you travel.
What types of food can I find in Whakatāne?
The range is wider than the town’s size suggests. Listings include Indian food at Kopeo and Spice Junction, Mexican at Cadera, Turkish at Ataturk Turkish Cafe, classic Kiwi dishes at Cobb & Co, wood-fired pizza and pasta at The Olive Branch, and barbecue with a Kiwi twist at The Smokin’ Goose in Awakeri. Cafes, a brewery tap room and several bars fill in the rest.
Are there good takeaway options in Whakatāne?
Yes. Kopeo Indian Restaurant, Bar & Takeaway offers takeaway alongside its sit-down restaurant and bar service, which makes it a useful option for a quiet night in. Cobb & Co accepts online bookings if you decide to eat in, and the town centre cafes cover daytime meals. Hours vary between venues, so it pays to check before you set out.
Is there anywhere worth driving to outside Whakatāne for a meal?
The Smokin’ Goose is based towards Awakeri, described as a short five-minute drive from Whakatāne, and specialises in barbecue meats with a Kiwi twist. It is a good option if you have a car and want something different from the town centre restaurants. Check current opening days directly, since smaller kitchens often run limited hours.
Where can I eat with a river view in Whakatāne?
Roquette Restaurant & Bar is the obvious pick. It sits opposite the river at 23 Quay Street, within the White Isle Apartments, and offers a contemporary setting with a bar area for pre or post dinner drinks from a wine and international beer list. Bookings can be made by phone on 07 307 0722.
Whichever spot you settle on, the smartest approach in Whakatāne is to ring ahead for the restaurants, stay flexible with the cafes and takeaways, and leave room for a drive out to Awakeri if the barbecue mood strikes. The town is small enough to cover in a couple of days of eating, and varied enough that you will not run out of options before you leave.
