The Food Guide to Gisborne: Places to Eat & Food Tours

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The Best Food Tours and Activities in Gisborne

In Gisborne, it’s all about the drink. Wine and beer are at the forefront of the Gisborne food experience thanks to the region’s idyllic fruit and grape-growing conditions combined with local talent.

Wine and Beer Tours

Visitors can enjoy checking out the region’s wineries and breweries independently or hop on one of the driving tours that are typically available for cruise ship passengers through operators like Experience Gisborne and Brews & Vinos Gisborne Wine Tours.

Alternatively, Experience Gisborne offers bike hire and either a guided or self-guided tour of Gisborne’s vineyards. The experience includes three wine tastings and a vineyard lunch.

Gisborne Cellar Doors

If you want to check out the wineries independently, then there are a few amazing ones to visit with cellar door tastings and more.

First, head to Wrights Vineyard and Winery (1093 Wharerata Road), a family-owned winery whose cellar door offers a “build-your-own gourmet picnic” experience.

In the Matawhero area, start with Matawhero Wines (RD1/189 Riverpoint Road), which boasts a rustic outdoor cellar door setting – you can also stay at the vineyard at their luxury accommodation, as listed in the 20 Best Hotels & Places to Stay in Gisborne.

Nearby, check out the Bushmere Estate (166 Main Road, Makaraka). Note that wineries have seasonal hours, so check before setting off!

For more information on some of our favourite wineries, check out the 5 Best Breweries & Wineries in Gisborne.

Gisborne Breweries

For beer tasting, your option is within the city with Sunshine Brewery (49 Awapuni Road, Awapuni).

Taste their craft beer in some of the most generous tasting tray portions in New Zealand (make sure you have a designated driver).

They also offer casual brewery tours on request.

More Food Tours in Gisborne

• Mingle with the locals at the Gisborne Farmers’ Market
• Try it all at the Gisborne Wine Centre
• Dine out at Gisborne’s delectable eateries
• Hit one of Gisborne’s wine or beer festivals.

For elaboration on each experience, check out the 8 Things to Do in Gisborne for Foodies.

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About the Best Places to Eat in Gisborne

From breakfast to dinner, Gisborne has many fantastic eateries to excite the senses.

Where to Eat: The Best Restaurants in Gisborne

The Flagship Eatery (14 Childers Road) is a cool little venue with exposed brick walls, bridge red doors and a delectable menu of eggs benedict, cajun lemon tofu scramble and house-made crumpets.

The Works (41 The Esplanade) offers more casual fine dining yet still elegant serving up the latest seasonal offerings with something to suit carnivores to vegetarians.

A stunning place to watch the sunset and try Gisborne wines is at the Crawford Road Kitchen/Gisborne Wine Centre (Esplanade Inner Harbour) with plates designed to be shared.

Alternatively, enjoy beachfront dining at Tahu (40 Centennial Marine Drive, Awapuni), which specialises in locally sourced ingredients from Gisborne and indigenous land.

For a special trip out of town, head to the Bushmere Arms (673 Matawai Road, Waerenga-a-Hika), a charming historic pub set among flower gardens making for a delightful setting for afternoon tea or dining on New Zealand beef and lamb dishes.

Where to Eat: International Restaurants in Gisborne

A romantic option includes Portofino (12 Peel Street) an Italian restaurant using locally-sourced ingredients.

Other popular cheap restaurants in Gisborne include Sofra Turkish Cafe (206 Gladstone Road) for super tasty Mediterranean cuisine.

Neighbourhood Pizzeria (9 Ballance Street) does freshly cooked pizza that you can enjoy along the riverside.

Where to Eat: New Zealand Restaurants in Gisborne

That Hangi Place (420 Gladstone Road) is where you can give Māori food, and especially fried bread, a try.

The Village Berry (126 Ormond Road, Whataupoko) to try some of New Zealand’s favourite desserts – real fruit ice cream!

Where to Eat: The Best Cafes in Gisborne

Let’s get started with Raglan Roast Gizzy (116 Wainui Road), which is a must for NZ-made coffee.

Finally, for sweet treats, check out Curbside Kitchen (9 Ballance Street, Whataupoko) for its creative range of in-house-made doughnuts.

For more recommendations, check out fine dining in The Luxury Guide to Gisborne and romantic restaurants in The Honeymoon & Romantic Getaway Guide to Gisborne.

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Alternative Things to Do in Gisborne

It may sound crazy, but there’s more to Gisborne than wining and dining. There’s actually a lot of culture, history and stunning scenery to unpack, so make sure you fill up your itinerary with some of these activities too:

• Meet and feed the stingrays at Dive Tatapouri
• Check out the trees at the Eastwoodhill Arboretum
• Learn to surf on Waikanae Beach
• Ride a vintage steam train
• Learn about the local history and culture at the Tairawhiti Museum
• Hit the walking trails, like the Town Beach Walkway, Gray’s Bush Scenic Reserve and more
• Play Gisborne-themed mini golf!

For more information on these experiences, check out the 20 Awesome Things to Do in Gisborne.