5 Best Restaurants in Blenheim, Upper South Island and the West Coast

In this cheery beer garden–restaurant, hearty ales and craft brews are matched with traditional German cuisine, pizzas, gourmet burgers, and Kiwi fare. If beer is your focus, you can also get a beer-tasting tray. It's not all about wine in Marlborough, but yes, there is also a good range of wines. There's also a good kids' menu. This can be a busy venue, especially when the locals are here for a big rugby game or music gig, so think about booking your table ahead of time.

Every town needs a darn good café, and this one is Blenheim's. The breakfast menu runs all day on the weekends, with all the standard Kiwi options like hotcakes, eggs, and muesli. The menu offers fresh, simple food for lunch, with plenty of wheat- and gluten-free options, as well as an impressive tea and coffee menu. Try the smoked chicken Caesar salad. Locals love this place, with its sharp, almost industrial decor.

Be it coffee and French pastries for breakfast, mussels and clams with a glass of wine for lunch, or a full à la carte dinner, the European chef and owners at Raupo will indulge you. Meals are light, healthy, organic, and locally sourced when possible. The restaurant is of a striking glass, wood, and stone design, and it sits on a small bend in the Taylor River. You can sit on the terrace in summer or cozy up to the fireplace in winter. The mezzanine floor offers a more private dining experience.

This contemporary-style wine bar and restaurant (with a wine shop next door) offers evening dining with tapas plates and some larger main courses. The menu changes weekly to encompass the freshest and most seasonal produce. The wine list is one of the largest you'll find in any Marlborough eatery, while cocktails and craft beers are also in good supply. On summer nights the tables spill onto the public square outside—grab a beanbag for comfort.