Bella Vista's Blog

When you think of New Zealand cities that are renowned for their restaurants and eateries, Palmerston North may not immediately jump to mind. But the city has a surprisingly diverse range of quality restaurants and the food scene here is getting better and better. There are loads of great places to eat in Palmerston North, but these five are our current favourites close to our Palmerston North accommodation

Nero

Nero has been a culinary favourite in Palmerston North for over two decades. The renowned restaurant is set within a 200 year old building that has been tastefully modernised while celebrating its heritage charm. On a nice day, we recommend dining al fresco in the gorgeous landscaped courtyard. The contemporary European cuisine is beautifully prepared and presented and the service equally impressive. And trust us, it’s worth going for a three-course meal… The entrees, mains and desserts are all outstanding – it’s rated one of the top restaurants in Palmerston North for good reason! Its only 4 minutes from our Palmerston Motel.

                                              

Haru

This Broadway Avenue restaurant serves up generous portions of mouth-watering Japanese cuisine. Bookings are essential for the top restaurants in Palmerston North and often required weeks in advance— but once you experience the food here at Haru it’s easy to understand why! Guests adore the plates and platters, offering a selection of your favourite tasty morsels to satisfy your own hunger or to share with friends – think sushi, chicken karaage, tempura, edamame and more. Like most Japanese restaurants, Haru caters well to vegetarians and most items on the menu are available gluten free. As far as places to eat in Palmerston North go, Haru has it all and only 4 minutes from our motel in Palmerston North. 

Little Savanna

Little Savanna is known for its BIG flavours! The flawless fusion of South African cuisine with New Zealand’s freshest produce is something very special. Little Savanna prides itself on delivering the dining ‘trifecta’ – large portions of great food offered for a reasonable price, served within a comfortable yet interesting setting with unbeatable service to boot. Little Savanna is probably not the best choice for vegetarians—but meat lovers will be in their element! Stand-out dishes like Mozambique stew and flame-grilled baby back pork ribs can be paired with sides like creamed spinach, potatoes or onion rings to provide balance in both flavour and texture. You can also build your own platter before 6.00pm—so it’s one of the best restaurants in Palmerston North for groups looking for somewhere unique to enjoy those hard-earned post-work drinks and nibbles. Only 5 minutes drive from the Palmerston North accommodation. 
 

Aberdeen

Aberdeen proudly serves up some of the best steaks in Palmerston North: tender eye fillet, award-winning scotch and oven-prepared rib fillet all cooked to perfection. It’s been one of the most popular places to eat in Palmerston North for years, and one of the many great things about Aberdeen is the awesome selection of accompaniments. Your side of potatoes can be prepared in one of five different ways, and you can choose from ten different sauces and butters. And for those who aren’t big on steak, the mains menu has plenty of other great dishes on offer, with all the popular proteins making an appearance. Aberdeen is great for a date night, work dinner or catch up with friends. There are often specials on offer too – so make sure you check their website before booking to snag yourself a bargain! Only 5 minutes from our Palmerston accommodation. 

Yatai

It’s another Japanese one but it’d be remiss of us not to include Yatai in our list of the best restaurants in Palmerston North. Yatai is incredible for groups and they go out of their way to customise a menu that caters to your tastes and budget. And if you want a really unique and authentic experience, you can hire the private dining room for just $40. The food in the private dining space is served in traditional Japanese style, you take your shoes off before entering and sit on legless chairs with your feet and legs hanging in the pit underneath the table. You can either order off the main menu or opt for the banquet and to add even more authenticity, your group can hire beautiful kimonos to don while you dine. The food at Yatai is said to be some of the most authentic Japanese to be found in Palmerston North… Try it for yourself! Also only 4 minutes away from our Palmerston North Motel