Pātaka Kai Restaurant
Pātaka Kai Restaurant, Bar, & Café - the only restaurant in the world that overlooks our magnificent Pōhutu Geyser.
Dine on the deck or inside, while enjoying the full view through our floor-to-ceiling glass windows. For unique evening dining, be sure to try our dinner buffet, where you’ll see Pōhutu lit up under the stars.
Each dish has a twist of authentic Māori cuisine then crafted with locally sourced and freshly prepared ingredients by our award-winning chefs. From Steamed Puddings to Kai Moana (Seafood), Mānuka Smoked Ham, Hāngī Chicken, Pātaka Kai has something to tempt all taste buds with our tantalizing dishes.
Our daily Hāngī Lunch Buffet and daily Hāngī Dinner Buffet, are available for visitors to Te Puia and the general public.
Bookings are essential. Entry into Pātaka Kai Restaurant is now via the main entrance or Waharoa to Te Puia. Our reservations team will greet you in our arrivals lounge and direct you to the restaurant. Exit is via our Oha Gift Store.
Brunch Buffet
Brunch is always a treat, so to make it remarkable, come and sit amidst the spectacle of an erupting geyser and enjoy our delectable delights...
From freshly baked breakfast pastries, to fluffy pancakes and the allure of rēwena fried bread paired with golden syrup and butter, the offerings at Pātaka Kai are a celebration of Aotearoa.
Delight in the delicate flavours of manuka smoked king salmon, savour twice-cooked sticky glazed pork ribs, enjoy buttermilk fried chicken or our seafood boil.
For those keen on breakfast classics, grilled maple bacon and eggs beckons, while creamy mushrooms seasoned with horopito add an indigenous herb twist.
Please note: This is a seasonal offering. Buffet Brunch will run from 3–5 April and then every Sunday until 27 September 2026.
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Hāngī Lunch Buffet
Enjoy lunch at Te Puia with delicious kai set against a backdrop of geysers and stunning valley views at Pātaka Kai Restaurant.
The menu blends Māori flavours with global cuisines – from our popular corn and watercress soup with fresh homemade bread, to a crisp salad buffet, fresh kai moana, and hāngī meats cooked traditionally.
Our Hāngī Lunch Buffet runs daily from 11:30am to 2:00pm, with last seating at 1:00pm. Please note a 90-minute dining time applies from the start of your booking.
Bookings are essential, especially during peak times.
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Hāngī Dinner Buffet
A unique dining experience to remember. Our cultural food and beverage experience at Pātaka Kai Restaurant & Bar, makes for a truly unforgettable feast.
Enjoy spectacular geothermal views while enjoying a range of delicious New Zealand flavours.
The menu is smartly sophisticated – infusing Māori flavours, with an array of global cuisines and cooking styles. Indulge in lamb, chicken and vegetables cooked in a hāngī, served alongside mānuka smoked salmon and ham, oysters and mussels, finishing with a delectable dessert buffet.
Bookings are essential – we often book out quickly during peak times. Buffet dinner is served daily with two sittings at 5:30pm and 7:15pm. A 90-minute dining time applies.
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Te Pō (Hāngī Dinner Buffet + Haka)
Experience a night that will enlighten you - see, hear and experience Māori culture with a cultural performance and hāngī buffet dinner.
Start your evening with a captivating cultural performance in our beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. The performance includes a pōhiri (ceremonial Māori welcome), waiata (song), mōteatea (chant), poi, and haka.
Enjoy a stroll down to Pōhutu Geyser, the largest active geyser in the southern hemisphere and sip on hot chocolate.
Finally, savour a delicious hāngī buffet dinner at our Pātaka Kai Restaurant & Bar, which overlooks a geothermal wonderland. Enjoy freshly sourced produce, traditionally cooked meats and vegetables, kai moana (seafood), and a selection of sweet desserts.
This experience is approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes long and suitable for all ages.
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Te Pō Combo (Te Rā, Dinner + Haka)
Our most popular night experience.
An evening of culture, kai and connection! Te Pō Combo begins at 4pm with a fully guided tour of our valley, followed by a buffet dinner and cultural performance—each element designed to deepen your connection to our historic geothermal valley and immerse you in Māori culture. Explore the stunning landscape of native bush, geysers, and mud pools, and feel the natural power of Pōhutu Geyser—the largest geyser in the Southern Hemisphere! Your guided journey takes you through the geothermal valley, where you’ll also visit the Kiwi Conservation Centre and the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute. Savour a delicious buffet at our Pātaka Kai Restaurant & Bar, which overlooks a geothermal wonderland. Enjoy freshly-sourced produce, traditionally cooked meats and vegetables, kai moana (seafood), and a selection of sweet desserts. Be captivated by a cultural performance in our beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. The performance includes a pōhiri (traditional Māori welcome), waiata (song), mōteatea (chant), poi, and haka. Wrap up the evening with a stroll back into the geothermal landscape while sipping on hot chocolate. Experience a night that will enlighten you - see, hear and taste Māori culture. This experience lasts approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes and is suitable for all ages.
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