3 Best Restaurants in Motueka, Upper South Island and the West Coast

At this café, shop, and produce market in a former church, enjoy breakfasts of French toast, free-range eggs Benedict, or free-range eggs cooked any way you like. Then stock up for your holiday travels from the food market. Or you can just chill over a wholesome lunch like the excellent slow-roast lamb burger. There's also an interesting kids' menu, and you can indulge in the cakes and berry ice creams anytime. Beverages include fresh brews from the Townshend Brewery next door. Weekend dinners in summer feature music performances.

The locally sourced, mainly organic food at this funky place includes a raft of home baking, chutneys and dressings, and hearty country fare like chowders and salads. There's cozy indoor seating, and tables dotted throughout the garden and veranda. For the kids there's a small playground, an enchanted forest, and some extremely tame eels that can be hand-fed (September–May). This eclectic establishment makes no apologies for being open only on Fridays 10 am–10 pm. Down in the back garden, the Boot B&B has comfy accommodations for couples.

Sprawling gardens make the perfect surrounding for this rambling, 160-year-old, colonial cottage where the menus are built around organic produce, which is all sourced locally, including from the Riverside Community, which owns and operates the café and its own farm. Menu choices range from stylish restaurant fare to French bistro-style with a range of salads and cakes. Sit indoors or on the big verandas, and enjoy the artwork that surrounds you. If you're interested in the workings of this community, established in 1941 by Christian conscientious objectors, you're welcome to take a closer look. The café sits right by the Great Taste Cycle Trail.