Hats off to Taupō’s top restaurants
Embra on Kaimanawa St has wowed diners and food judges since opening in 2023. Photo: Dan Hutchinson
Taupō has earned five listings in the 2025 edition of the Cuisine Good Food Guide — an independent guide showcasing New Zealand’s outstanding talent and hottest venues.
Three established Taupō restaurants — Brantry Eatery, Plateau Bar & Eatery and The Bistro — and two newer foodie hotspots, Embra (Taupō) and Hare & Copper (Tūrangi), have listed in the 2025 Cuisine Good Food Guide.
Embra and The Bistro both picked up Two Hats in the prized Cuisine hats and Category awards announced this week.
It’s the second consecutive year that Taupō has scored five nominations in the Guide, and Love Taupō General Manager Patrick Dault says it is “clear confirmation that Taupō has what it takes to attract serious foodies.
“Our thriving Taupō hospitality scene is on a roll, there’s so much great food happening in town and around the region.
“Inclusion in the Cuisine Good Food Guide is not only a confirmation of excellence for these individual owners but also good news for our whole hospitality scene as it speaks to the high standards of the cuisine that our kitchens are serving up.”
He says locals are definitely in the know when it comes to the quality of dining in the district/
“But it is exciting to see out-of-towners and international visitors increasingly discovering the top-notch quality of our fine dining destinations. The busy year-round schedule of weekend events in Taupō is a significant driver for local hospitality businesses. The secret is getting out.”
Guide to Taupō restaurants as featured in the Cuisine Good Food Guide 2025:
Brantry Eatery is an iconic Taupō dining experience offering an inventive and beautifully plated seasonal menu. This family affair, operated by super talented sisters Prue and Felicity Campbell, has regularly featured in the Cuisine Guide over the last few years.
Embra, in the talented Michelin-trained hands of owner-operators Phill and Nora Blackburne, serves up delicately-styled, contemporary fine dining. Opened in 2023, Embra has earned a two-hat rating and made three appearances in the Guide.
Tūrangi local Hare & Copper is the creation of Andrew Wood and Liliana Calva who moved to Tūrangi in 2019 with a dream of owning their own restaurant. Opened in 2020, this welcoming eatery does thoughtful seasonal shared plates and listed in the Cuisine Guide for the first time in 2024.
Plateau Bar & Eatery — now in its 21st year — specialises in small plates inspired by the Pacific Ring of Fire, a fusion of fresh vibrant flavours from Polynesia and beyond. Owners Frankie and Kate Walker are thrilled to be included in the Guide for the second year running.
The Bistro, behind its unassuming exterior and catch-cry ‘simple but nice’, has been featuring in the Cuisine Guide since first opening in December 2012. Owner chef Jude Messenger, whose CV includes stints at Huka Lodge and time abroad, has earned a one-hat rating for fine European-style dining executed with considerable flair.