Nobody should need convincing that Napier is a great place to go for the weekend. Yes, the Art Deco architecture is amazing but its whats hidden behind the facade that is the true treasure. Cafes, restaurants, and bars are teaming with activity from breakfast through to the wee hours of the night. The Air NZ Wine Awards were held in Napier this last weekend, so my husband and I decided to go down a day earlier to make the most of the time away. It is impossible to cover all the delights on offer, so here are a few recommendations to start you on your own adventure…
The Masonic Hotel is a grand old building in the heart of town within walking distance of a large number of eating establishments and the shopping district. The rooms are very comfortable with modern bathrooms and amenities. TIP: make sure you ask for a room that opens out to the courtyard. The rooftop courtyard has spectacular views that look out over the promenade to the ocean. It’s ideal for some quiet relaxing in the sun or shade between excursions.
For dinner, a great starting place is Bistronomy. As the name suggests its casual, fun dining with quality food. Napier is known as the food bowl of New Zealand so it is no wonder they are ‘inspired by the abundance and variety of edible offerings from soil & sea’. The menu is sectioned into Bite, Raw, Protein, More Protein, Cheese, and Sweet. TIP: Ideally go with friends so you can sample broadly across the menu. We were in a group of 6 which was ideal. You can also have some fun with wine matching – after all, you are in Hawkes Bay wine country! We selected from The Spring Menu. and these are a some of the must-have dishes…
- TOP BITE: Crisp black pudding ball | house sauerkraut | red cabbage gel
- TOP RAW: Smoked wakanui beef tartare | oyster gel | leek rocks & fondue | pine nut butter
- TOP PROTEIN: Longbush pork rillettes | pickled plum gel | pickled cucumber | baby cos
- TOP MINERAL Vanilla roasted kumara | sweet & sour tamarillo | walnut | goats cheese | red lentils
For breakfast, it has to be Mister D’s. We went there both mornings as I fell in love with the Smashed avocado, Hohepa feta, Mister-D dukkah on Oh My Gosh Gluten Free Bread. Apparently, it is the most photographed dish there. Although, the handmade doughnuts with syringe fillings must be a hot second. We decided to bring a few of these back to Auckland to reaffirm to our daughters what great parents we are!
Speaking of things to bring home, if you reluctantly have to eat gluten free then you have to try this. Oh My Goodness is the perfect name for this bread. It’s grainy, moist and downright delicious. A little research uncovered that you can order it from their facebook page and have it delivered anywhere in NZ. Minimum of 6 loafs but you can mix the 2 flavours and store it in the freezer – if it lasts that long!
Whether I am in Napier for a weekend or a week, I always leave feeling relaxed but knowing there are so many more adventures yet to be had. Fortunately, it is only a short flight away! From the land to the plate, from the people and their place, there is always a genuine richness to every experience.
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