The Best Restaurants In Invercargill And Bluff For A Real Taste Of The South

It’s handy to have a healthy appetite if you try out Waihōpai Invercargill’s best restaurants, as down south the portions are generous and don’t skimp on flavour. When you consider that it’s basically in the middle of a giant food bowl of fresh produce, seafood, delicious dairy products and meats, you begin to understand why it’s one of the more underrated foodie destinations in the country.

So, get ready to tuck into the superb southern eats with Urban List's guide to the best restaurants and local foodie hotspots in Invercargill. Bring it.

EUNA Don Street

16b Don Street, Invercargill

Image credit: EUNA | Instagram

Invercargill's sexiest new eatery, EUNA brings serious A-game to the southern dining scene with its moreish European fare and impeccable service. Lunch skews Italian with well-delivered classics including chilli seafood fettuccine mingling and other hearty dishes such as the BBQ Galican ribeye sandwich. 

Dinner is a sumptuous five-course affair that wanders through a range of Euro-inspired flavours, from the charred aubergine caviar and Cypriot lamb cutlet to the savoy cabbage Milanese and impressive Beef Wellington. Definitely one for the gourmands and the glamorous.

Buster Crabb

326 Dee Street, Avenal, Invercargill

Stepping into the dark and cosy dining room at Buster Crabb will score you ultimate date points. And then there’s the food. Cue the warm interiors, secluded corners and roaring fire. 

The European-inspired menu plays to the strength of local ingredients in such a way that you’ll be hard-pressed to decide between a seafood cioppino and the astounding array of chargrilled steaks, with some truly phenomenal sides. Busters is the word on the street, for eats, atmosphere, and a mighty fine selection of craft beers and New Zealand wines.

Meld

11 Don Street, Invercargill

Image credit: Meld | Great South

One of the hottest new spots in central Invercargill, Meld is the signature restaurant of the recently opened Langlands Hotel. The seriously cool interiors have total Buddha Bar vibes, setting the scene for a crossroads of Asian cuisines and local delicacies and cocktails.

Think duck siu mai that practically melts on touch, five-spice tofu, lamb osso bucco curry and the pure heaven of local oysters along with plenty of tasty cocktails to get the party started. It’s a near-religious experience.

Elegance on 148 Elles

148 Elles Road, Cnr Elles Road & Crinan Street, Georgetown, Invercargill

This charming little gem rocks the old-school décor but packs a punch with its impeccable service and ‘soul food’ that is evidently a labour of love for the team here. Fresh produce from the chef's garden regularly makes an appearance at Elegance On 148 Elles, paired with regional classics that are cooked to perfection. An all-round crowd-pleaser, equally on point for a culinary splurge with your bae, or your mum. Your call.

Riverton Beachhouse Restaurant

126 Rocks Highway, Riverton/Aparima

Image credit: Beachhouse Restaurant | Supplied

With a prime position overlooking the spectacular Mitchell’s Bay in the picturesque coastal township of Riverton, the Beachhouse is the kind of place you’d love to have as your local.

The rustic, seaside décor and airy dining areas are great for simple snacks like the chef’s umami fries with your fave craft beer or go upmarket with a fresh clam linguine and Italian spritz, this is basically the riviera after all.

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The Rocks Cafe &  Shop 5

101 Dee Street, Invercargill

Any eatery that features no less than four delicious dinner salad options is a rare find to be celebrated when you’re craving something light and tasty, and so keto right now.

Cossetted away in a shopping arcade on Dee Street, The Rocks has all this, and an astounding array of larger plates where a variety of steaks such as the rib eye blue cheese are the main attraction. You won’t leave hungry, but a food coma is a real possibility.

Hayz At The Anchorage

86 Gore Street, Bluff

Image credit: Hayz At The Anchorage | Facebook

For foodies, the humble and wonderfully innovative little gem Hayz At The Anchorage in Bluff is possibly one of the most interesting eateries you’ll come across for regional delicacies.

Given its location right on the Southern Ocean, seafood is dominant on the menu at Hayz, with delicious takes on local paua, oysters, mussels, blue cod and crayfish. But for the intrepid diner, it’s also a rare chance to sample the distinctive taste of Titi (Mutton Bird) served in a variety of ways.

The Saucy Chef

Cnr St Andrew & Sydney Streets, Invercargill

They love a good double entendre down south, and while we can’t comment on the fitness of the culinary team, the dishes are saucy indeed at The Saucy Chef. There’s plenty to choose from across all dietary preferences, all delicious; but a point of difference is the ‘wild side’ choices.

Think goat shanks cooked in ale on kumara mash, or leg of hare with parmesan cheese risotto and mushroom ragout. Throw caution to the wind and tuck into another farm favourite delicacy, beer-battered sweetbreads with plum-berry sauce. If you know, you know.

The Cabbage Tree

379 Dunns Road, Otatara

Image credit: The Cabbage Tree | Great South

A bit off the beaten track in Otatara, The Cabbage Tree is Kiwi comfort food central paired with a great garden bar and an all-over welcoming vibe. Come for the laid-back atmosphere and to get your fix of well-loved classics such as steak, egg and chips, or a tasty chicken schnitty with all the sauces followed up with the timeless brandy snap for afters.

Báhn Mi Vietnamese Street Food

42e Esk Street, Invercargill

Image credit: Báhn Mi Vietnamese Street Food | Website

Fresh flavour hounds will do well to venture into the flashy new Invercargill Central Complex in search of the vibrant Vietnamese street food dished out on the daily at Báhn Mi.  This isn’t any ordinary retail dining experience.

A day-to-night venue with beautifully themed décor, the well-crafted menu features authentically tangy stews and Pho, grilled skewers and fresh summer rolls, plus an array of traditional and Kiwi-fusion style Báhn Mi.

Emberz At Ascot

35 East Road, Ascot, Invercargill

Image credit: Emberz | Great South

A classic yet cosy hotel restaurant housed at the sprawling Ascot Hotel. The dark and glam interiors at Emberz At Ascot are the perfect backdrop for vogueing or feasting, depending on what mood you’re in. Order up a venison rib rack with black truffle mash, or go trad with a ‘roast’, before rounding out the experience with the more avant-garde creamy lavender brulee. Fire.

Tuatara Cafe And Gadoochi Brewery

30-32 Dee Street, Invercargill

Image credit: Tuatara Cafe Bar | Great South

If you’re craving an authentic Italian pizza slice or eight, the Tuatara Cafe is the joint to find it. Parma ham, salami, olives, capers, anchovies and all the good stuff on a traditional thin base, plus a load of other tasty dishes thrown in for good measure.

Handily this is also the home of Gadoochi Brewery, so you can more or less pull yourself a fresh pint from the brew tanks that surround you and settle in for a session.

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Main image credit: Meld | Great South

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