Eat & Drink

Crayfish Country

The eating situation in Kaikoura is pretty well anchored around seafood, and rightly so. The Pier Hotel is the go-to for pub-style crayfish without any fuss. Hapuku Kitchen is the proper sit-down experience, genuinely top-tier, but you'll need to book ahead or you won't get in.

For something more casual, the Slam Club in town is a solid option, and if you're heading north out of town, Simes Kitchen is worth a stop. Emporium Brewing is a great little destination too. A minibar at a brewery on the Kaikoura coast? Yeah, that works.