Bella Vista's Blog

Mention that you are staying in Kaikoura to friends and family and that you and are looking for local Kaikoura restaurant recommendations, they will invariably tell you to head up the coast for a beautiful 20 minute drive to enjoy freshly cooked seafood at the iconic Nin's Bin.

Whilst this is great advice and Nin's Bin is an awesome stop, there are plenty of terrific restaurants in Kaikoura town centre that you can enjoy when staying at Bella Vista.  Our Kaikoura accommodation situated just above the town means any night out for dinner is just a mere stroll away.  Here are our favourites.

Pier Hotel

The Pier Hotel is one of Kaikoura’s most iconic places to eat, situated right on the coast looking out over the sea to the stunning panoramic views of the Kaikoura ranges.  Built in the 1800s the Pier Hotel is amazing summer or winter with the view well worth the visit but the food is also amazing in its own right!  Offering fresh seafood and of course the famous Kaikoura Crayfish(lobster) as well as other culinary delights, the menu offers something for everyone. The Pier Hotel is located 15min walk from the town and 20minutes walk from the Bella Vista Motel or a short 5 min drive.

Kaikoura Seafood BBQ

The famous Kaikoura Seafood BBQ featured in Lonely Planet as the best place to get Crayfish(lobster). Situated on the beach before Point Kean Seal Colony this long-standing seaside BBQ also does great chowder, fish and whitebait fritters. Definitely a must do on a visit to Kaikoura the BBQ is a 30 minutes’ walk along the coast from town and 35 minutes from the Bellavista motel, well worth making the effort to walk as Point Kean Seal Colony is only 5 more minutes’ walk up the beach!

Coopers Catch

Situated right in the middle of town, 5 minutes’ walk from the Bellavista Motel Coopers Catch is the ultimate place to enjoy good old kiwi fish and chips, hard to miss with the guaranteed huge crowd of people outside Coopers Catch does seafood like no other, their moto is “We don’t make fast food, we make good food as fast as we can” is right on the money.  The best place in town to get seafood like no other.

Whaler

Another great place to eat right in the middle of town, 5 minutes’ walk from the Bella Vista motel.  The Whaler is famous for its steaks and ribs, with a huge fire roaring in the winter and the amazing views of the snow-capped Kaikoura ranges as a backdrop from the deck who could think of a better way to spend the afternoon or evening.

Groper Garage

Famous in town for its pizza and pasta the Groper garage was formally a fuel garage and is also in the middle of town, 5 minutes’ walk away from the Bella Motel.  Featuring two large roaring fires this is certainly well worth the visit for both its food and ambiance.

If none of these options quite take your fancy, do get in touch and we're sure we'll find some other suitable eating options that you can enjoy in Kaikoura.  We look forward to hosting you.