After day of rafting, hiking, exploring or adventuring in & around Rotorua, chances are you’re more than ready to enjoy drinks, dinner and a fun night out. We’ve put together a bit of a guide of our favourite local places to make sure you have an awesome night out in Rotorua.
Eat Streat
A modern, pedestrian-only lane studded with quality restaurants, cafes and bars, Eat Streat is the perfect place to start your evening. The covered central walkway is perfect in any weather. Rotorua is a hub of geothermal energy, and this energy has been put to good use in Eat Streat; the ground itself is heated with natural geothermal currents via pipes that wind beneath the concrete. You’ll find Eat Streat at the end of Tutanekai Street in the centre of Rotorua town.
Drinks & pre-dinner Nibbles – SO Bar
With one of the cheapest happy hours on the street and fun, vibrant local kiwi staff, SO Bar is an awesome place for a few pre-dinner drinks. There’s either live music and/or NZ music playing, and there’s an awesome selection of craft beer, wines and pre-dinner nibbles
Dinner – CBK, Leonardo’s, Wild Rice, Indian Star or Atticus Finch
We would highly recommend most of the restaurants along Eat Streat for dinner – they’re all awesome quality. At CBK, tuck into a traditional stone grill, or if you’re in the mood for delicious Italian, Leonardo’s does the best pizza & pasta in town. Feel like Thai or Indian? Head to Wild Rice or Indian Star. Atticus Finch, just next door to SO Bar, offers an awesome selection of ‘sharing’ meals and Spanish tapas.
Dancing & drinks – SO Bar, Pig & Whistle or Lava Bar
If you’re keen on a relaxed vibe with awesome kiwi dub music or live music post-dinner, head back to SO Bar for dancing & drinks. The historic Pig & Whistle, on the corner of Haupapa and Tutanekai Streets, is also good for live music combined with a roaring fire; or for more of a night club vibe, we’d recommend Lava Bar at 1286 Arawa Street.
After an awesome night out in Rotorua, the next day a stroll in the Redwoods is highly recommended as a popular hangover cure!
