Location: Oamaru
Top Restaurants in Oamaru
Where to Eat in Oamaru: The Best Restaurants and Bars
Oamaru (/ɒməˈruː/ ( listen); Māori: Te Oha-a-Maru) is the largest town in North Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand, it is the main town in the Waitaki District. It is 80 kilometres (50 mi) south of Timaru and 120 kilometres (75 mi) north of Dunedin on the Pacific coast; State Highway 1 and the railway Main South Line connect it to both cities. With a population of 13,900, Oamaru is the 28th largest urban area in New Zealand, and the third largest in Otago behind Dunedin and Queenstown.
Things to do in Oamaru
1. Fat Sallys
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 236 reviews
Reviewed By jillreading08 - Strathmore, Australia
We ate here on our last night in Oamaru. One of our party has coeliac disease and the waitress easily pointed out the foods that would be suitable for her. The meals came out reasonable quickly and the meals were nice and large with delicious flavours. I wish we’d been able to go there again to try some other options.
2. Star and Garter
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 377 reviews
Reviewed By Vikki C - Wellington, New Zealand
I thought as a local who frequents this restaurant reasonably often that I should pop a review up!
No matter what time of day one chooses to eat, (lunch or dinner) it is consistently good old fashioned value for money with great food! It’s the place in town the locals love to go for a decent well priced meal with friendly efficient service that’s hard to beat!
S and G is great for families, before a show, special celebrations or just a quick meal out. There’s something for everyone.
We love the service with a smile and food that never disappoints!
3. The Last Post Pub Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 282 reviews
Reviewed By Katharine E - Vienna, Austria
Traditional cosy pub atmosphere on Oamaru's main street within walking distance of the Victorian Precint, Steampunk HQ and the blue penguin colony.
Pleasant service and a good choice of food and drink on the menu. The seafood platter was excellent, as was the chicken curry - nicely spiced and generously portioned.
If you are going to see the blue penguins, consider reserving a table as the pre-penguin dinner rush can fill the place up. If not, I recommend coming around 8pm when the busy part of the evening is over.
4. Portside
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 247 reviews
Reviewed By Steffen G - Oamaru, New Zealand
Just went back to have a delicious steak and again it was to die for, perfectly cooked, great side salad and chips fresh like always. Stunning views over the harbour are for free!
5. Oscars Pizza Co.
Overall Ratings
4 based on 87 reviews
Reviewed By suedownton59 - Oamaru, New Zealand
Limited menu and lacking atmosphere. Pizza was ok but only a choice of very small or large. Staff didn't offer menu with any other options apart from the pizzas on the wall.
6. Bangkok Recipe
Overall Ratings
4 based on 102 reviews
Authentic Thai food freshly cooked by Thai chefs in Bangkok style. Dine in, takeaways and Delivery available. Continental and Asian Cooked breakfast available upon request 7am-9.30am. Thai buffet on every Friday night 5pm-8.30pm.
Reviewed By KiwiRenee - Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
We had street noodles and green chicken curry - both were truly delicious! Great portion sizes too - we ate the lot as were hungry but another night, we could easily have had shared one entrée then one main and it would have been ample for us. Good selection of local beers (plus Singha and Chang) and wines by the glass. Highly recommend. Heaps of locals came in for pre-ordered takeaways - a good sign. If we lived here, we’d be back for sure.
7. Riverstone Kitchen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 688 reviews
A busy restaurant in rural Oamaru, New Zealand owned by Bevan + Monique Smith. Reservations are recommended.
Reviewed By WhereU2 - SW, UK
A newly built moated castle in Oamaru stone stands pride of place overlooking the garden. Quirky shops selling decorative items, kitchen items and gifts. Beautiful flower and vegetable Gardens that supply veggies to the restaurant. Peacocks wandering around their enclosure. The restaurant providing delicious food from an interesting menu. We stopped off for brunch and spent a few hours wandering around the shops and Gardens. My scrambled eggs with bacon and truffle oil and toasted ciabatta was delicous as was the roast mushrooms on sour dough with Windsor blue and black olive tapanade. Seriously good food in the restaurant and quirky place to visit.
8. Northstar Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 75 reviews
Reviewed By swimmum1975
If they are going to charge fine dining prices they need to produce good quality food. The lamb my sister in law had was full of gristle and hard, the pasta my daughter had tasted funny, my whisky chicken was so hard and dry as well as full of chicken skin in salad. The gin cheesecake my nephew had he had to leave it on the plate. The deconstructed lemon tart had barley 3 teaspoons so deconstructed not even a lemon tart and the Chocolate dome was not as stated. All in all a very disappointing meal!
9. Steam Cafe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 232 reviews
Reviewed By Patrick B - Maastricht, The Netherlands
Nice people, tasty juices. But the pancakes were a bit too sweet for our taste, and drowned in the compote. Not sure about the other food on offer.
10. Short Black
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 86 reviews
Reviewed By deechoy63 - Singapore
My friends and I had breakfast there and was pleasantly surprised by the superb coffee and the breakfast sets. The scrambled eggs were perfectly done, smooth and creamy without being runny with a generous portion of bacon. The poached eggs too were perfect. After a long black coffee, we went for a flat white. Both were super.
