Thames sits at the base of the Coromandel Peninsula in the Waikato Region, a town with a strong sense of history and a food scene to match. You can order a straightforward steak and cheese pie, share a plate of tapas, sit down to a Thai curry, or finish the day with a proper restaurant dinner. This guide focuses on the best restaurants in Thames, New Zealand, and the cafes and takeaways that keep the town well fed.
A dining scene shaped by the land and sea
Thames is a town centred around the land, the sea and the rivers. The local tourism team at Explore Thames describes the food offering as everything from fresh kaimoana to fine dining. A meal at the historical Shortland Wharf, which usually means fish and chips with a cold beer, is a simple evening out that many visitors remember long after leaving. In Grahamstown, gourmet burgers are the main draw, and a 164 year old pub still serves meals there today.
Then there are the classics. Steak and cheese pies are easy to find, and if you know where to look, so is a corned silverside sandwich on white bread. The result is a dining scene that remains proudly and unashamedly Kiwi, while still leaving room for international flavours from Thailand, India, Japan and beyond.
The highest-rated restaurants in Thames
Traveller ratings are a handy starting point when you are deciding where to eat. The Tripadvisor list of restaurants in Thames, updated in August 2026, places the following at the top:
- Eretas Tapas And Tacos Bar: 4.8 out of five
- Melbourne Cafe: 4.4 out of five
- Grahamstown Bar & Diner: 4.1 out of five
All three sit above the four-point mark, which is a good sign in any town. Eretas Tapas And Tacos Bar is the current leader and offers something a bit different from the usual pub meal, with small plates and a relaxed atmosphere. Melbourne Cafe is a dependable choice for a meal at any hour, and Grahamstown Bar & Diner delivers the sort of hearty food that suits the town’s character.
Gastronomics: a Pollen Street favourite
One of the most talked about restaurants in Thames is Gastronomics, located at 428 to 430 Pollen Street on the main street. It operates as a restaurant, cafe and bar, and is known for fresh food, friendly staff and a bespoke range that keeps regulars coming back. Dinner runs from 5 pm onward, Monday to Saturday, with the kitchen closed on Sunday. More than 160 reviewers have shared their thoughts on Tripadvisor, and the restaurant currently holds a 3.8 out of five rating, placing it thirteenth of thirty-five restaurants in the area.
Gastronomics also has the awards to match its reputation. It won the Hauraki Coromandel Business Award in Hospitality in 2021, and in 2024 it earned a high commendation for community contribution along with a finalist spot in the waste minimisation category. For anyone after a sit-down dinner in the middle of town, it is a strong option.
Family-friendly restaurants in Thames New Zealand
Travelling with children adds a few extra questions to the meal-planning process. Fortunately, Thames has a solid list of family-friendly restaurants. The names that come up most often include:
- Cafe Melbourne
- Nakontong Thai Restaurant
- The Grahamstown Inn
- Bugger Cafe
- Native Tree Cafe
- The Wharf
Between them, these places cover Thai food, cafe lunches, pub meals and casual dining. The relaxed Kiwi atmosphere means children are generally welcomed without fuss, and the range of options makes it easy to keep everyone happy. When the weather is good, sitting at an outdoor table with a meal is a simple way to spend an afternoon.
Evening meals in central Thames
If you are staying in town overnight, you will want to know where to get dinner. The Thames tourism information site lists four main options for evening meals in central Thames: Gastronomics Restaurant & Bar, Nakontong Thai, Midami Sushi and the Grahamstown Bar & Diner. That gives you a proper restaurant meal, a Thai dinner, a sushi fix and a classic bar and diner experience all within easy reach of the main street.
After dinner, a walk around the historic streets of Grahamstown is worth the effort. The town takes on a quieter mood once the day visitors leave, and the mix of heritage buildings and local pubs makes for a pleasant evening stroll.
Cafes, coffee and casual bites
By day, Thames runs on coffee. The town’s cafe culture is one of its strengths, with several places worth seeking out. Belle & Bean Café, Sugar Cafe, Hot Chocolate Cafe and Cafe Melbourne all appear in the town’s food listings, and each has its own regular crowd. Sitting on the street with a rich coffee is a simple pleasure that locals and visitors both enjoy.
For a more substantial lunch, Cafe Melbourne is a safe bet at 4.4 out of five. Steak and cheese pies are still a staple of the town, and the wharf area has takeaways for anyone craving battered fish and hot chips. If you want a taste of classic Thames, that combination is worth seeking out.
Takeaways and food delivery in Thames
Sometimes the best plan is to stay in and have food brought to you. Food delivery is available in Thames through Uber Eats, and the local listings include McDonald’s, Subway, the Liquor Centre, Belle & Bean Café, Sugar Cafe, Hot Chocolate Cafe and Cafe Melbourne. Delivery is particularly handy after a long day driving the Coromandel or walking the local tracks. Availability depends on your exact address and the time of day, so checking the app when you are ready to order is the best approach.
More restaurants around the Thames area
Venturing slightly further out adds even more choice. A rundown of the top ten restaurants near Thames includes Thames Wharf Cafe, Nakontong Thai Restaurant, The Cumin, Cafe Melbourne, Kopu Cafe and Sola. Together they add plenty of variety to the local dining scene, whether you are passing through or staying for a few days.
Also based on Pollen Street is Royal Kitchen Indian Restaurant & Bar, which serves an Indian menu alongside drinks. With a car, you can easily build a small food tour around the peninsula, starting with breakfast at one cafe, lunch at another, and dinner back in town.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which restaurants in Thames have the best reviews?
According to the August 2026 Tripadvisor list, Eretas Tapas And Tacos Bar leads with 4.8 out of five, followed by Melbourne Cafe at 4.4 and Grahamstown Bar & Diner at 4.1. These are the highest-rated restaurants currently listed in Thames. Ratings change as new reviews come in, so checking the latest feedback before you choose is a sensible move.
What time do restaurants in Thames serve dinner?
Dinner service times vary across Thames. Gastronomics Restaurant & Bar, for example, serves dinner from 5 pm onward, Monday to Saturday, and is closed on Sunday. Other evening options in central Thames include Nakontong Thai, Midami Sushi and the Grahamstown Bar & Diner. Confirming current hours before you head out is always a good idea, as times can shift with the seasons.
Can I get food delivered to my accommodation in Thames?
Yes, food delivery is available in Thames. Uber Eats operates in the town, and current listings include McDonald’s, Subway, Belle & Bean Café, Sugar Cafe, Hot Chocolate Cafe and Cafe Melbourne. Delivery availability depends on your address and the time of day, and not every restaurant appears in every search, so check the delivery app for the options closest to you.
Which restaurants in Thames are good for families?
A well-known list of family-friendly restaurants in Thames includes Cafe Melbourne, Nakontong Thai Restaurant, The Grahamstown Inn, Bugger Cafe, Native Tree Cafe and The Wharf. These places cover everything from Thai meals and cafe lunches to pub-style dinners. The town also has plenty of casual options like fish and chips and pies, which makes eating out with children simple and stress-free.
A meal in Thames is more than just refuelling. The town’s restaurants, cafes and takeaways reflect the character of the Coromandel itself: relaxed, welcoming and a little bit old-fashioned in the best way. Whether you settle in for dinner at Gastronomics, share tapas at Eretas, or eat fish and chips by the wharf, you will find plenty of reasons to stay for another plate.
