A few years ago, I ordered “artisanal” chicken at a highly touted Auckland bistro. The plate landed on my table cold, the potatoes tasted like they’d been sitting out all day, and the waiter just shrugged when I asked for help. 

I left hungry, annoyed, and a little lighter in the wallet—almost enough to turn me into a food critic on the spot. 

So, when I arrived in Marlborough, I did my homework. I wanted to find spots that were actually worth eating at. Here are the ones I found worthy of going back to!

1. Harvest 

Address: 776 Rapaura Road

Contact Details: +6435705700

Operating Hours: 

• Monday to Saturday – 3:30 PM to 9 PM
• Sunday – 11:30 AM to 9 PM 

Website

Harvest nails that sweet spot between farm-to-table focus and relaxed charm. That’s why regulars keep coming back.

Some regulars settle into one of the two dining rooms or the wine tasting room. Others rave about the orangery, which spills out onto the garden deck, offering unreal sunset views.

Foodwise, the Mibrasa Braised Lumina Lamb Shoulder is the dish everyone talks about. 

It’s slow-cooked for six hours, glazed with honey mustard, and finished with a salsa verde that slices right through the richness. 

Most people pair it with a glass of Harvest’s organic pinot noir for extra finesse.

But the Marlborough Market Fish stole the show for me. The flaky hapuka sat on a vadouvan-spiced capsicum and cashew sauce that buzzed with curry leaf and cumin. 

Their plating game is also strong. I’ve definitely posted a few of their dishes to my IG stories.

Service, though, could use a tune-up. My waiter seemed checked out and kept forgetting my wine refills.

Service was warm and attentive

“Lamb for two is apparently their best seller, slow roasted in a charcoal oven for 6 to 7 hrs. It was delicious, but nothing prepared us for the amazing roasted cabbage side that the waiter recommended. Harvest emphasies farm to table dining, and all the sides are apparently grown in their garden.

Well… The cabbage was truly to die for. Sweet, smoky and tender yet with a delectable crunch, dressed in crispy garlicky crumbs and chive butter. It was mouth-watering. We’ve had plenty of good lamb, and this was no exception. But the cabbage was a showstopper and like nothing I’ve ever eaten before! Service was warm and attentive, the restaurant itself was spread out in a few different rooms each one with a slightly different atmosphere. Although overall it is a more formal restaurant with deep dark hues and plush furniture. Definitely a place to bring a date to impress. Make sure you book ahead.”

– Jeen Ng, Google Reviews 

Enjoyed a brilliant dinner

“We enjoyed a brilliant dinner at Harvest tonight! All wait staff were incredibly attentive and had great recommendations. We got to try some of the new Autumn dishes which we both really enjoyed including duck and snapper. This was a last minute dinner decision for us but the venue manager still made us feel welcome and found us a great table.”

– Joshua Collard, Google Reviews 

2. Arbour

Address: 36 Godfrey Road, Blenheim

Contact Details: +6435727989

Operating Hours: Thursday to Saturday – 5 PM to 10 PM 

Website

At Arbour, chef Bradley Lawson’s set menu spins local ingredients into edible stories.

What struck me first was their focus on hyper-seasonal, locally sourced flavors. 

For example, the wholemeal focaccia drizzled with “mum’s honey”. It was thick and floral. There were also faint herbal notes, thanks to the rosemary paired with olive oil. It was so peppery that it tingled my throat. 

Then came the lemon, tarragon, and chorizo fry-pie—a golden, flaky pastry pocket bursting with smoky chorizo and brightened by tarragon’s licorice-like zing. 

But the star was Troy’s hapuka, a pearly-white fish draped over asparagus and pea sprouts. Its delicate sweetness was lifted by green apple shavings and a whisper of chervil.

Beyond the food, I appreciated the wine pairings. Liz (Bradley’s partner) paired my meal with wines from small-scale vintners, explaining each pour. 

When she brought out a Central Otago pinot noir to complement the tender Middlehurst lamb, she shared a little backstory on how the wine was made. 

My only gripe? While the lamb’s jus had me scraping the plate, heartier eaters might crave bigger portions.

All excellent!

“This restaurant is restrained elegance. The decor, the menu, the wine. All excellent! The standout was the middlehurst lamb rump, cooked sous vide style and amazingly tender while still being medium and pink inside… I have never eaten lamb that melts in your mouth like that before. It is still haunting my dreams.Sommelier was very knowledgeable and friendly, and very attentive too.”

– Jeen Ng, Google Reviews 

The food was very good

“Upscale yet down to earth dining experience. Extensive wine selection, and good wine pairings that was a good introduction for further tastings and winery visits. The food was very good, with a special note for the lamb. Portions could be a bit bigger, but overall highly recommended. Enjoy all!”

– Paul, Google Reviews 

3. Gramados

Address: 74 Main Street, Blenheim Central

Contact Details: +64 3 579 1192

Operating Hours:  Tuesday to Saturday – 5 PM to 10 PM 

Website

Gramado brings the bold, comforting flavors of Southern Brazil to Marlborough.

I kicked things off with the Pão de Queijo. These cheese bread balls had a crisp shell and a chewy, cheesy center. They were made even better by Gramado’s homemade Brazilian guava sauce.

The Prawn Moqueca grabbed my attention next. This North Brazilian classic is layered with coconut cream, capsicum, and spring onions. It’s finished with fresh coriander and comes with white rice and salad on the side.

One customer told me that the Feijoada is a must-try. This traditional Brazilian smoky black bean stew comes with spicy chorizo, pork rib, and Manuka smoked bacon hock. 

To finish, I went for Gramado’s Chocolate Vulcano. The 70% cocoa lava cake oozed a mellow, spicy filling with a sneaky kick from Dragon’s Fury chilli sauce. 

The berry compote, whipped cream, and berry ice cream with pink peppercorns kept everything in balance.

My only complaint? The wait. I waited for about 30 minutes before getting a table.

Genuine and authentic service

“If I could give this restaurant a 6 out of 5 stars I would. From the second we walked in you are treated like family, the team make you feel welcome – there is no hurry to move on, they stop and talk and the passion for the food shines through. This is my second visit to Gramados, and it was exactly the same level of genuine  and authentic service as I had the first time. They over deliver and I’ve never had an experience like it. The food is just as good as the service! We were planing on the GF garlic bread but took the owners recommendation of the cheese breads with guava sauce – loved it.”

– Kirsten Fallen, Google Reviews 

Genuinely feel the love in the food

“We’re visiting from Australia and stumbled upon Gramado while in New Zealand, and honestly, it became a highlight of our trip. I’ve never had a steak cooked this perfectly. The chef absolutely nailed medium rare! it was melt-in-your-mouth perfection. The level of care and precision was truly something special. What really set this place apart though was the warmth and hospitality. From the moment we walked in, the staff treated us like long-time friends. Each server brought such heart and pride, explaining the dishes as they served them, and you could genuinely feel the love in the food. We didn’t even order dessert, yet they surprised us with the most adorable plate, complete with love hearts and two delicious chocolatey balls that were light, fluffy, and full of flavor. Everything from the service to the atmosphere to the food was pure class. I’m so glad we stopped by, Gramado is a gem, and we’ll be recommending it to anyone visiting New Zealand.

Thank you for making our night unforgettable! 🇧🇷❤️🇳🇿”

– Emma Glover, Google Reviews 

4. Franks Oyster Bar & Eatery

Address:  28 Scott Street, Blenheim Central

Contact Details: +6435791778

Operating Hours: Tuesday to Saturday – 5 PM to 10 PM 

Website

People told me I can’t go to Franks without trying their oysters. So, that’s exactly what I did. 

Their Marlborough oysters came chilled, silky, and piled high like edible trophies. 

The Bloody Mary granita version was delicious too. I liked how the tomato-spiked ice melted into the oyster’s brine, creating a salty-sweet tang that made me order a second round before the first plate was empty.

Regulars also can’t stop talking about the seafood tower. The Cloudy Bay clams swim in a shallot vinegar so bright that it makes the lips pucker, and the fried oysters with tartare sauce balance creamy dill with just a hint of lemon.

Even their non-seafood dishes are good. The Merino lamb shoulder is braised until it practically melts into the mint-flecked jus. It’s fall-apart tender, with a caramelized crust that one customer admitted made them want to lick the plate.

My only gripe? The best dishes disappear fast. One customer tried to order fish and got the dreaded “sold out” instead.

Everything was so well presented

“Just had the most amazing dinner, we did the frank eats option. Everything was so well presented and the flavours were perfect and left us wanting more (we left really full aswell)

The wait staff were super friendly and well presented

The atmosphere was very calm and peaceful; despite the close proximity you are seated to others.

Will definitely be back for another occasion.”

– Jodie Rees, Google Reviews 

We loved every minute of our experience

“Amazing experience in Blenheim, we will be back for sure. We were on the hunt for a nice place with good food and wine , and Franks oyster bar was the best place. We were looking forward to eating oysters and they were delicious. We got a table right away, our waitress was really nice and efficient 🙂 we had oysters, falafel, croquette, tuna and beef sirloin, everything was perfect.  We have been looking for a place that reminds us a bit of wine bars in Europe and we found it . Great job team, we loved every minute of our experience :)”

– Cha ligot, Google Reviews 

5. The Fancy Cow

Address: 309 Rapaura Road

Contact Details: +6432426260

Operating Hours: 

• Tuesday to Thursday – 5 PM to 9 PM 
• Friday & Saturday – 12 PM to 10 PM
• Sunday – 12 PM to 3 PM 

Website

The Fancy Cow is where wood-fired pizzas share the stage with truffle-hunting Highland cows. Yes, real cows. 

Fanta and Milo are the stars here, and I couldn’t resist snapping an Instagram selfie with them before getting into the menu.

When it was time to eat, the Salsicce pizza I ordered came with a crust blistered to charred perfection. 

I loved the flavors of the fennel-spiked pork sausage, earthy mushrooms, and trio of cheeses (mozzarella’s creaminess, taleggio’s funk, pecorino’s sharpness). 

But the kitchen doesn’t stop at pizza. One local swears by the frutti di mare pasta, with plump Havelock mussels and prawns tangled up in garlicky linguine.

People also rave about the tiramisu, and I understand why. I loved the layers of espresso-soaked ladyfingers and the airy mascarpone, all dusted with dark cocoa.

The only real hiccup? Noise. When the dining room fills up, good luck having a conversation over the buzz.

Bloody good pizza!! 

“Bloody good pizza!! Lovely location with mountain views in a warm modern building. We didn’t do a tasting but enjoyed the Sav Blanc.”

– Jean Paul Lassale, Google Reviews

Amazing food, authentic and delicious

“Such a great atmosphere, amazing food, authentic and delicious, great service with a smile and very attentive! Thank you team for a great experience!”

– Ramona Ianculov, Google Reviews