Score the Catch of the Day at Southland's Best Seafood Eateries

A hand reaching for a seafood platter at Oyster Cove in Southland.

Southland and seafood are synonymous with one another. Blue cod can be found on nearly every menu here. However, not every fish fry was created equal.

Here are four Southland restaurants that serve up some of the very best catches day in and day out, and two of them are even perched above the very ecosystem that supports seafood centric menus.

Oyster Cove

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8 Ward Parade, Bluff

Oyster Cove’s seafood platter is downright impressive. It includes mussels, salt n pepper squid, battered blue cod, house smoked salmon, poached prawns, oysters, tartare, lemon and salads, the perfect balance of fresh and fried seafood. Dive into this feast while enjoying sweeping views of Foveaux Strait, Stewart Island and beyond from the restaurant’s giant picture window.

Fat Bastard Pies

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158 Tay Street, Invercargill

Fat Bastard pies are honestly made, extremely moreish and likely to bring out your inner Fat Bastard in the best kind of way. The top selling flavour, The Big Nude Seafood, is filled with a homemade chowder mixture of fresh fish, mussels and prawns. It’s got the stick-to-your-insides kind of bite that makes a good meat pie but with fresh, briny seaside flavours. If you love pies and you love seafood, this is the perfect choice for you.

Beachhouse Restaurant

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126 Rocks Highway, Riverton / Aparima

Seafood chowder, it’s comforting, warming and delicious. But there are far too many chowders out there that are over creamed or are made with less than fresh components. Head to The Beachhouse for one of the best bowls of seafood chowder you’re likely to find this side of the equator. It’s light, delicately creamy and chock-full of squid, shrimp, mussels, octopus and blue cod, all caught just offshore from this beachside haven and restaurant. Onion, some buttermilk and slices of homemade sourdough bring the bowl together. This chowder keeps people coming back and for good reason.

Neat Southland Places

Niagara Falls Café

Graffiti wall inside a covered courtyard.
Place Southland
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A magical café run by a local family in a one room school house constructed in 1893.

St James Theatre

Close up of movie posters on a wall.
Place Southland
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Gore’s vibrant and electric cultural heart offers daily blockbuster screenings, live productions and a retro snack bar which delights visitors of all ages.

Industry

Close up of sweet treats in the cabinet at Industry..
Place Southland
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At the only café in Invercargill’s northwest corner, expect to nd delicious baked goods all made in house, hearty breakfast and lunch dishes and plenty of options for dietary restrictions.

See Ya Peter

Greeting cards shelf.
Place Southland

Well-known for their cheeky card selection, varied array of NZ made goods and highly unique, small-batch brands, this home & gift shop is a must-visit for anyone looking...