Menu
Halwai Restaurant and Sweets have opened at 829 Victoria Street.
Expanding from Auckland, their offering includes snacks, chaat and sweets.
Providing a homemade signature menu with every dish crafted with care and passion they believe homemade flavours bring that special touch to the dining experience.
A popular destination for riders on the Te Awa River Trail, and a nice stop on the way for visitors to the Hamilton Gardens. Next to the Waikato Museum and soon to be opened Waikato Regional Theatre. It’s a must visit if you are travelling through from out of town. The interior has the wow factor, with large windows from floor to ceiling, making the most of the panoramic view overlooking the Waikato River.
Check out some of the top spots to grab delicious noodles!
Garden Place Noodle Bar
Location: 21 Worley Place, Hamilton Central
Signature dish: Hand-pulled Lamzhau beef noodles & Belt noodles with chilli sauce
Sichuan Style Restaurant
Location: 24 Collingwood Street, Hamilton Central, Hamilton
Signature dish: Noodle soup with beef brisket
Saigon Noon
Location: 103 Alexandra Street, Hamilton Central
Signature dish: Noodle Soup - Pho
Whether you are looking for a place to unwind after work or a spot to enjoy a long lunch with friends, The Mercury Room offers a unique and enjoyable experience.
Known for their long lunch where you can enjoy a delicious platter of food for two hours, with options for a bottomless experience. They offer three different time slots: 2-4pm, 5-7pm, and 8-10pm or join one of their quiz nights and test your wits while enjoying great food and drinks.
Garden Place Noodle Bar not only has noodles in its name, but it also makes them by hand, from scratch, and thumps them into shape right in front of your eyes.
.HELLO ROSIE - 9A Casabella Lane
The food caravan with a cult following in the BOP grew up and turned into a bricks and mortar eatery in Casabella Lane. Hello Rosie will defy what you think vegan food is and should be, with a cabinet of the most tempting sweet treats and a menu packed with all-time favourites like their macn cheese bites or the Rosie burger, a vegan twist on a Big Mac.
THE VEGAN BUFFET - 645 Victoria St
This vegan institution in Hamilton, which was once on Ward Street, recently moved to Victoria Street. While still 100% vegan it is no longer a buffet, but perhaps changing location and the name would be too much for this secret local eatery. Fresh, healthy and delicious dishes at a reasonable price along with the friendly service are what have kept The Vegan Buffet a cult favourite.
BEEJI DHABA - 587 Victoria St
Serving authentic North Indian dishes made from fresh ingredients, Beji Dhaba’s extensive menu is 100% vegetarian, with many being vegan. Dhabas in India are
traditional roadside stalls or restaurants serving heartyfare for travellers and truck drivers, so the menu has a big focus on famous North Indian street food.
ANN FERN - 9 Knox St
This small espresso shop in the foyer of South Bloc offices has an array of toasties, soup, and sweet treats (all with vegan options).
BÁNH MÌ CÀPHÊ - Riverbank Lane, 298 Victoria St
This trendy Vietnamese joint that spills out onto Victoria on the River offers a complete vegan menu. You’ll find rice paper and spring rolls along with their famous Bánh Mi
in two flavours, not to mention salad, noodles, curry and pudding.
BAMBOO SWEETS - Casabella Lane
One of the new kids on the block (or down the lane), but well worth seeking out for their boutique handmade chocolates.
THEOBROMA CHOCOLATE LOUNGE - Bryce Street entrance, Centre Place
From hot chocolates to handmade chocolates, every sweet tooth is satisfied.
GONG CHA - 11 Worley Place
Forget bubble tea, you need to try bubble waffles! Direct from Hong Kong, a rich warm waffle is wrapped around ice-cream and decadent toppings.
LA PROMESSE BAKE HOUSE - 5 Ward Street
For the best sweet pastries in town.
CREAM - 14 Garden Place
For truly tempting treats, from doughnuts and cinnamon rolls to decadent slices.
KOPI, RIVERBANK LANE - 298 Victoria Street
Not just great coffee, apparently the brownie is the best in town.
LE RENDEZ-VOUS - 113 Alexandra Street
Didn't make it to the Paris Olympics? No problem, Le Rendez-Vous have a crépe-load of tempting French treats.
DOT & WINNIES - 127 Alexandra Street
Yoyo, listen up, Dot and Winnies make the best melting moments in town.
SNOWTOWN - 104 Alexandra Street
Dessert like you have never tasted it. But why wait until dessert time. They're open from noon Tuesday to Sunday.
MARKYLES CAFÉ - Hood Street
For the best custard squares around.
RAZZLE DAZZLE CAKES - 148 Ward Street
Sometimes the answer is cupcakes.
This go-to is where you’ll find Hamilton locals grabbing their early morning Allpress espresso, unwinding with a long lunch (yes, there’s wine on the menu) or dropping in for a weekend brunch outing. TLDR; you can’t go wrong at Scotts Epicurean.Having been in business for more than 20 years, it’s no surprise the team here has café culture nailed. Relaxing, humble vibes paired with damn good grub = the recipe for success. Tucked away in a heritage building on Victoria Street, you’ll be greeted with vintage windows, pressed tin ceilings and comfy leather booths that are perfect for lounging in.
Sharing a space with the South Bloc offices and neighbouring the Hamilton District Court, Anne Fern sees plenty of professionals through its doors throughout the day. Rocket coffee is available to drink onsite, or you can purchase filter or espresso beans to take away with you. Hanging pots of foliage add a hit of green to the glossy wood panelling, and from the coffee jugs to the ethos everything here is sleek and simple.
Staff look super dapper in white tees and dark green aprons, but mixed with the cheeky marketing and menu, this place is proof that a restaurant can be both suave and easy-going all at the same time. Operating from an impressive island bar, pull up a stool and watch the talented bartenders strut their stuff, or take your tipple out to the impressive patio and watch the sun set over the mighty Waikato River. Feeling hungry? Mr. Pickles opens at midday, so you can perch here for lunchtime eats onwards. Designed to share, the menu is not a fixed thing but instead revolves around what customers want to see, and the waitstaff will cheerfully remind you that what works for you, works for them.
Come evening time the music is loud, the tables are packed and the atmosphere is buzzing. Appealing to young and old, dates, groups and solo eaters, tables and brightly coloured stools are packed close together, transporting you straight to street side South East Asia.
A licensed restaurant, there’s beer, wine and a seductive sounding cocktail list, as well as house-made smoothies and sodas.
Street-side on the ground level of the Parkhaven Building, Frank has both apartment dwellers and office workers for neighbours, resulting in a beautiful mix of homely and corporate feels. Get comfy on the olive green velvet booth seats, sip on a cuppa whilst gazing out the window, or dine al fresco in the little courtyard which captures a slice of the morning sun. From the gold cutlery to the smart retro water glasses, speckled salt shakers and the pastel-coloured serving bowls, small things add up to create a real vibe here.
For hearty, authentic Chinese food, head straight to Dumpling House, a wholesome eatery serving up friendly vibes and even better dumplings. After operating for 12 years and opening two venues, this family-run establishment has truly made its mark on the Hamilton food scene.Owner Lei Wang comes from a long line of dumpling makers—her great grandfather even made dumplings for the Chinese Royal family!
And lucky for Hamilton locals, she and her mum found roots in New Zealand, bringing generations of secret techniques and flavours to their restaurants on Grey Street and Bryce Street. It’s hard not to feel at home when you step into Dumpling House. Lei Wang sums it up perfectly when she says “over the years, customers have become regulars and regulars have become friends.”
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