5 Best Restaurants in Raglan, North Island's West Coast

At this buzzing corner café, surfers—here for the great coffee and organic, free-range food—cram the couches and Formica tables beneath walls decorated with hanging plants, surfboards and Raglan beach scenes. The menu is huge and the meals hearty, starting with breakfast at 8. Dishes hail from around the globe: Mexico, Thailand, and more. The dinner menu (Thursday through Saturday only) is seasonal and plates are designed for sharing. There's also a selection of organic beers, wines, teas, smoothies, and juices.

This restaurant is actually a short walk from the beach, but the atmosphere is right, if a little kitschy. Seafood is predominant on the menu (try the seafood chowder or the smoked kawahai fish cakes), but there's also an extensive selection of wood-fired pizzas. The menu matches everything with a beer or cider from the Waikato-based Good George Brewery, but you can also order wines and cocktails. Sit yourself down on a swing chair or around one of the wooden picnic-style tables and check out the colorful artwork, surfboards on the wall, hanging pot plants, and 'street' signs to other famous surf places like Bora Bora and Waikiki. 

One of the newer eateries in town, Iso has established itself as a favorite with locals as well as the visiting surf set (it's connected to a surf shop). Bagels are a brunch special, along with the Ozone-brand coffee, but the restaurant really comes into its own in the evening when you can pick up a wine or locally brewed beer along with European-inspired fare such as tapas or pasta. But there are also burgers as well as a tasty Buddha bowl that combines brown rice and veggies. The friendly staff will explain the market fish and 'butcher's block' specials, and they're usually good. The liveliest atmosphere is in the street fronting room (it's got the bar) but for a more intimate time, there is an area out the back.

This waterside restaurant has big windows, big views, and big tasty menus. Brunch is served every morning, and dinner brings out the chef's creativity. For lunch, look for platters, flatbreads, burgers, and salads. Orca also has a casual bar, where you can watch the sunset over the harbor, play a game of pool, or listen to live music on weekends. Beers from Raglan's own Workshop Brewing Co. have pride of place at the bar.

Occupying a 100-year-old shearing shed, the funky, rustic Rock-it serves casual Kiwi fare and local Raglan Roast coffee. The menu is small but wholesome; try the all-day brunch, beef sliders, and soups for lunch, either inside or out on the huge deck. It’s 3 km (2 miles) from town on the way to Ocean Beach. It is open for dinner on Friday and Saturday only.