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Food and Wine · New Zealand · Updated 2026 · 9 min read
Hawke’s Bay is often called the fruit bowl of New Zealand, and Hastings sits at the heart of it. That matters when you sit down to eat. The best restaurants in Hastings are surrounded by the produce they cook with, from stone fruit and vegetables to local wine and seafood. Few places in the country have a shorter path from paddock to plate.
The dining spreads across two centres. Hastings itself has grown a lively food scene along Heretaunga Street. A short drive away, the village of Havelock North holds some of the region’s best small restaurants.
This is a local’s list, not a tourist trap one. Restaurants do change, so hours and menus are worth checking before you go. Here are the spots worth knowing.
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The Best Restaurants in Hastings
The best restaurants in Hastings range from neighbourhood pasta bars to fine dining in the vines. The list below splits between the two centres, central Hastings and Havelock North, with a few winery kitchens worth the short drive. Start with whichever suits your night.
Sazio, Central Hastings
Sazio is the neighbourhood pasta bar that locals name first. It sits on Heretaunga Street East and is run by Daniel Pistone and Laura Crespi, who make their pasta in house. The philosophy is simple: eat well, eat often, eat with people you love.
The dishes are honest and generous, and the wine list is strong. Gluten-free diners are well looked after, with house-made gluten-free pasta on the menu. It is warm, busy and the kind of place you return to. Book ahead, as it fills quickly.
Location: Heretaunga Street East, Hastings · Best for: fresh pasta and a lively evening.
Bambina Pizzeria, Central Hastings
Also on Heretaunga Street, Bambina is the pick for pizza done properly. It serves both round Napoletana pizzas for sharing and the longer Romana style. The base is the star, and the toppings keep things simple and good.
It is relaxed and easygoing, ideal for a casual dinner without fuss. Pair a pizza with a local wine and you have an easy, satisfying night in the middle of town.
Location: Heretaunga Street, Hastings · Best for: proper pizza and a casual meal.
Deliciosa, Central Hastings
Deliciosa is the friendly cafe and bakery that locals lean on through the day. It does coffee, baking and light meals well, and the mood is unpretentious. This is a daytime favourite more than a dinner spot.
Come for breakfast, a mid-morning coffee, or a relaxed lunch between other stops. It is the sort of everyday place that tells you how a town really eats.
Location: central Hastings · Best for: coffee, baking and an easy lunch.
Common Room, Central Hastings
Common Room is not a restaurant exactly, but no honest list leaves it out. It is the best little bar in the bay, on Heretaunga Street, with live music, comedy nights and genuine local character. The food is bar fare done with care.
Come here to end an evening rather than start it. The welcome is warm and the room has real personality. It is where locals go when they want a good night out.
Location: Heretaunga Street, Hastings · Best for: drinks, live music and late nights.
Malo, Havelock North
A short drive to Havelock North brings you to Malo, one of the finest tables in the district. It sits within the Porters boutique hotel, and the kitchen is led by chef Bert van de Steeg, who has cooked in Michelin-starred restaurants. The result is refined, seasonal and rooted in local produce.
The cooking is honest but polished, with a contemporary edge. Oysters, fish of the day and regional wine are all done beautifully. This is a special-occasion dinner or a long, unhurried lunch. Book ahead.
Location: Porters Boutique Hotel, Havelock North · Best for: fine dining and a special night.
Pipi, Havelock North
You cannot miss Pipi, with its bright pink facade in the middle of Havelock North. It is a long-running local favourite, known for wood-fired pizza and honest Italian-leaning food. The mood is colourful, warm and full of character.
This is a place families and friends fill on a weekend, and for good reason. The food is generous and the atmosphere is genuine. It has been part of village life here for years.
Location: Havelock North village · Best for: wood-fired pizza and a family dinner.
Piku, Havelock North
Down a laneway off Joll Road, Piku is the district’s izakaya-style Japanese restaurant and cocktail bar. It is small, stylish and a little bit hidden, which is part of the appeal. The menu runs to share plates made for grazing with a drink.
This is the spot for something different from the region’s European lean. Order a few plates, try a cocktail, and settle in. It is one of the more distinctive rooms in the bay.
Location: off Joll Road, Havelock North · Best for: Japanese share plates and cocktails.
Mary’s and St Martha, Havelock North
Two newer village favourites round out Havelock North. Mary’s is the neighbourhood restaurant that gets the balance right, casual and approachable but quietly sophisticated. St Martha is the fresh addition that has lifted the local scene again.
Both show how strong the village has become for its size. Either makes a reliable choice for a good dinner without driving far. Between them and the others here, Havelock North punches well above its weight.
Location: Havelock North village · Best for: modern neighbourhood dining.
The Winery Restaurants
Some of the district’s best meals are eaten in the vines. Craggy Range’s flagship Terroir restaurant, beneath Te Mata Peak, is among the finest in the country and open daily for lunch and dinner. Elephant Hill on the Te Awanga coast is stunning to look at, though its restaurant is currently serving platters, so check ahead.
These are destinations in their own right, worth building an afternoon around. Book well ahead, especially in summer. For more on the wineries themselves, see our full guide below.
Location: Havelock North and Te Awanga · Best for: fine dining with a view.
Tips for Eating Out in Hastings
Book ahead for the good ones. The best tables, from Malo to the winery restaurants, fill fast at weekends and through summer. A quick call or online booking saves a wasted trip.
Split your time between the two centres. Central Hastings is stronger for casual and late-night spots, while Havelock North holds the small fine-dining rooms. Doing both gives you the full picture, and they are only ten minutes apart.
Eat with the seasons. This is a growing region, so the menus shift with what is being harvested. Late summer and autumn are the richest months, when the fruit, vegetables and grapes are all in.
Follow the wine. Nearly every good kitchen here pairs its food with local bottles, and the winery restaurants take that further. If wine is part of your night, plan a driver or a tour so no one has to hold back.
Check before you go. Restaurants open, close and change hands, and this list is a snapshot. The Hawke’s Bay Tourism website keeps a current view of the dining scene across the region.
How to Get to Hastings
Hastings sits in Hawke’s Bay on the east coast of the North Island. It is about five hours’ drive from Auckland and four from Wellington. Hawke’s Bay Airport, just north of Napier, has direct flights from the main cities and hire cars on site.
The two dining centres are close together. Central Hastings and Havelock North are only ten minutes apart, and both are easy to reach from anywhere in the district. A car makes hopping between them simple.
For a food-focused stay, base yourself near one of the two centres. You can compare places to stay in Hastings here and pick a spot within walking distance of dinner.
Keep Exploring:
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best restaurants in Hastings?
For casual dining in town, Sazio for pasta and Bambina for pizza lead the way. For fine dining, Malo in Havelock North and the Craggy Range restaurant beneath Te Mata Peak are the standouts. Between the two centres, the district covers everything from a quick bite to a special night.
Is Hastings or Havelock North better for dinner?
They suit different nights. Central Hastings has the livelier casual and late-night spots along Heretaunga Street. Havelock North holds the small, polished restaurants like Malo, Pipi and Piku. The two are only ten minutes apart, so most visitors dip into both.
Where should you eat for a special occasion in Hawke’s Bay?
Malo in Havelock North and Craggy Range’s Terroir restaurant are the top choices for a special meal. Both pair refined cooking with local produce and wine, and Craggy Range adds the view of Te Mata Peak. Book well ahead, particularly in summer.
Do you need to book restaurants in Hastings?
For the best tables, yes. The fine-dining rooms and winery restaurants fill quickly at weekends and through the summer. Casual spots are easier, but a booking is still wise on a Friday or Saturday night.
What food is Hawke’s Bay known for?
Hawke’s Bay is known for its produce, being one of New Zealand’s main growing regions for stone fruit, vegetables and grapes. That feeds a strong farm-to-table dining scene, paired with the region’s celebrated red wines. Local lamb, seafood and orchard fruit all feature heavily.
Final Thoughts
Eating in Hastings is really about eating close to the source. The best restaurants in Hastings do not have to try hard, because the produce around them does much of the work. Good pasta in town, a fine table in the village, a long lunch in the vines.
Split your nights between the two centres and follow the wine. Book the special ones early and leave room for a slow lunch. The region rewards taking your time at the table.
Come hungry, and let Hawke’s Bay feed you well.
Some of the links in this guide are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them, OneLife may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend places we would genuinely eat at ourselves. Restaurants change, so please check current details before visiting.
