Guidebook for Taupo
Food Scene
Lovely daytime cafe with yummy breakfast/lunch spreads and good coffee. Retro indoor seating and an outdoor area under mature trees. Friendly staff. Highly recommend their Lamb Shoulder Tortillas.
17 locals recommend
Spoon & Paddle
101 Te Heuheu StLovely daytime cafe with yummy breakfast/lunch spreads and good coffee. Retro indoor seating and an outdoor area under mature trees. Friendly staff. Highly recommend their Lamb Shoulder Tortillas.
Small restaurant that packs a punch. Amazing, flavourful dishes - the Confit leg of Cambridge Duck & Strip loin of Wharekauhau Lamb is scrumptious. You won't regret spending money here :)
41 locals recommend
The Bistro
17 Tamamutu StSmall restaurant that packs a punch. Amazing, flavourful dishes - the Confit leg of Cambridge Duck & Strip loin of Wharekauhau Lamb is scrumptious. You won't regret spending money here :)
Size does not matter in this case. It's a hole-in-the-wall coffee place and it's all they serve but it's consistently the best coffee in town.
Streetwise Coffee Taupo (Heu Heu Street)
30 Te Heuheu StSize does not matter in this case. It's a hole-in-the-wall coffee place and it's all they serve but it's consistently the best coffee in town.
Quaint little local's cafe packed with lots of delicious cabinet food, cooked breakfast choices and great coffee! Inside/outside seating, stacks of magazines & an easy stroll to the lakefront.
10 locals recommend
Zest
65 Rifle Range RdQuaint little local's cafe packed with lots of delicious cabinet food, cooked breakfast choices and great coffee! Inside/outside seating, stacks of magazines & an easy stroll to the lakefront.
Sightseeing
One-of-a-kind, natural hot thermal pools surrounded by beautiful native trees. No under-14s allowed so it's an exclusive adult-only experience. Best one in Taupo in our humble opinion!
Wairakei Thermal Valley
One-of-a-kind, natural hot thermal pools surrounded by beautiful native trees. No under-14s allowed so it's an exclusive adult-only experience. Best one in Taupo in our humble opinion!
Drinks & Nightlife
Popular bar - always busy with good reason! Great local beer selection on tap, reasonably-priced quality food & lake views to boot. Worth booking a table in advance otherwise just stop by for a pint.
13 locals recommend
Lakehouse Taupo
10 Roberts StPopular bar - always busy with good reason! Great local beer selection on tap, reasonably-priced quality food & lake views to boot. Worth booking a table in advance otherwise just stop by for a pint.
Shopping
Known as 'The Merchant', it's the best independent fine wines & gourmet foods store in Taupo. Lovely staff, great wine selection and lots of yummy products to choose from :)
13 locals recommend
Scenic Cellars @ The Merchant of Taupo
114 Spa RdKnown as 'The Merchant', it's the best independent fine wines & gourmet foods store in Taupo. Lovely staff, great wine selection and lots of yummy products to choose from :)
Everything Else
Best pies in town! Winner of lots of pie awards, so if you're after the quintessential kiwi pie, this is it :) They have another shop on Spa road too if you're already in town.
8 locals recommend
Paetiki Bakery
30 Spa RdBest pies in town! Winner of lots of pie awards, so if you're after the quintessential kiwi pie, this is it :) They have another shop on Spa road too if you're already in town.