The People Behind the Places: Meet the Food and Drink Heroes of Taranaki

A man and woman standing outside their cafe Proof and Stock.
Taranaki is a mecca for artisan bakers, brewers, coffee roasters, gin distillers and ice cream makers.

Fenton Art Collective

Landscape on an easel at Fenton Art Collective, Taranaki.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki
Cafes key icon. Galleries and museum key icon.

What do you get if you put art, history, gin and espresso under one roof? An eclectic melting pot like Fenton Art Collective in Taranaki.

The Burnt Place

Bench seating at The Burnt Place, Taranaki.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki
Bars key icon. Restaurants key icon.

The Burnt Place is quickly coming home away from home for Hāwera locals with its cosy neighbourhood vibes.

Liardet Street Projects

Two food caravans sitting next to each ohter.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki
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A cohort of cool hospitality vendors come together to create Liardet Street Projects in New Plymouth; an open air foodhall that boasts a variety of authentic street food and...

Bleached Coffee and Crystal Cylinder

The inside of Bleached Coffee cafe.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki Editor's Pick
Cafes key icon. Fashion key icon.

Shimmy yourself into Bleached and Crystal Cylinder, an industrial coffee shop slash lifestyle store tucked behind Devon Street West that’s oh so sunny.

Nice Hotel and Restaurant

The colourful and luxurious living room inside Nice Hotel.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki
Accommodation key icon. Restaurants key icon.

At the top of a hill, on the cusp of the green Pukekara...

Wild Pear Kitchen

Woman holding a smoothie at Wild Pear Kitchen, New Plymouth.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki
Cafes key icon.

Wild Pear Kitchen in New Plymouth is a haven for lovers of vegan and vegetarian cuisine, a welcoming and award-winning café that specialises in fresh and tasty...

Shining Peak Brewing

The blue and white exterior of Shining Peak Brewing in New Plymouth.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki
Bars key icon. Goods key icon.

Drink beer, do good. That’s what Shining Peak Brewing Company boldly encourages patrons to do when they enter their New Plymouth microbrewery.

Tartan Rose Cakery and Deli

A coffee menu on a wall at Tartan Rose in New Plymouth.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki
Cafes key icon.

Tartan Rose is somewhat tucked away on the fringe of New Plymouth’s centre but you’ll be more than rewarded after your short walk to this incredible cakery and deli.

Snug Lounge

The red lit interior of Snug Lounge in New Plymouth.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki
Bars key icon.

Sometimes things aren’t quite as they seem, and that couldn’t be truer of Snug Lounge in New Plymouth’s West End Precinct.

The Public Catering Company

Close up of treats in the cabinet at Public Catering Company, New Plymouth.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki
Cafes key icon.

New Plymouth’s White Hart precinct is blessed with a handful of excellent hospitality outlets, and The Public Catering Company is certainly one of them.

Fork N Knife

Bench seat with cushions at Fork N Knife, New Plymouth.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki
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Tucked in behind The Arizona, you’ll discover Fork N Knife, an intimate private function space that goes the distance when it comes to contemporary New Zealand cuisine.

Three Sisters Brewery

Glass of beer on the counter at Three Sisters Brewing, New Plymouth.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki
Bars key icon.

Three Sisters Brewery is a local brewery doing marvellous things with, you’ve guessed it, beer.

The Best Cafés and Restaurants in New Plymouth

A group of customers dining at tables inside Monica's Eatery with green plants dangling overhead.
For a smaller city, New Plymouth’s hospitality scene punches well above its weight.

Monica's Eatery

Sky blue bench seats at Monica's Eatery, New Plymouth.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki
Cafes key icon.

Monica’s Eatery is ​​eponymously named after the progressive, innovative, creative and generous New Plymouth local, Monica Brewster, who unabashedly loved the arts.

Ms White

Two people eating pizza at Ms White, New Plymouth.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki
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Sometimes straight up and no-frills is the order of the day.

Ozone Coffee Roasters

Pouring steamed milk into coffee cup at Ozone Coffee Roasters, New Plymouth.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki Editor's Pick
Cafes key icon.

Ozone Coffee Roasters is a resounding global success story, but its origins will forever be in the coastal town of New Plymouth.

Proof and Stock

Exterior of Proof and Stock, New Plymouth.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki Editor's Pick
Cafes key icon.

Stumble a few hundred yards back from the beach, and seek out Proof and Stock, the quintessential coffee outpost inside a converted New Plymouth garage.

An Art and Food Lover's Guide to Taranaki

A close up of three brightly coloured artworks of flowers on a white wall inside Govett Brewster Art Gallery.
Taranaki, one of the most creative centres in Aotearoa.

The Federal Store

Interior view of The Federal Store with customers dining.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki
Cafes key icon.

Delightfully playful, The Federal Store in New Plymouth will impress any café lover who swings by.

Knead Artisan Donuts

Box of donuts from Knead Artisan Donuts, New Plymouth.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki
Cafes key icon.

Knead’s sell-out specialty donuts are the talk of the town in New Plymouth for very good reason.

Emmalou Macaron & Coffee House

Busy cafe scene with lots of customers sitting at tables at Emmalou Macaron & Coffee, New Plymouth.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki
Cafes key icon.

It’s all in the name.

Escape Coffee Roasters

Interior view of the cafe with people standing around at Escape Coffee Roasters, New Plymouth.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki
Cafes key icon.

Unmistakably eye-catching, Escape Coffee Roasters takes pride of place on the corner of New Plymouth’s Liardet Street.

Itch Wine Bar

Man up a ladder retrieving bottle of spirits at Itch Wine Bar, New Plymouth.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki
Bars key icon.

Every town deserves a late-night wine bar as good as New Plymouth's Itch.

Elixir Café

Club sandwich with chicken and bacon from Elixir, New Plymouth.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki
Cafes key icon.

Elixir Café in New Plymouth is a classic in every sense. Named after a magic potion, the place does operate with a special kind of alchemy.

Billow

Close up of pastries on display at Billow, New Plymouth.
Place New Plymouth & Taranaki Editor's Pick
Cafes key icon. Goods key icon.

Hidden down a garlanded alleyway, you’ll discover ‘Quarter Bank’ a collective of