Saints Public House

A smart and homey cafe in Te Kowhai, Saints Public House is a wonderful allrounder that is unique in more ways than one.

We should start by stating that Saints Public House is actually a converted church! Pretty as a picture on the outside and giving way to a grand dining hall that is by no means intimidating or grandiose, Saints Public House has homed the engrained sense of community from the building's previous occupants and channelled it into a dining experience that brings people from near and far together. Under the arched roof you'll find tables of varying sizes that can accommodate any party from a couple to an extended family. And thanks to its relatively isolated location, their patio boasts uninterrupted vistas that make for the perfect sundowner.

The menu is a delicious mix of comfort eats that New Zealanders can't get enough of. Great cuts of meat come in the form of rib eye steak topped with garlic prawns and a decadent side of truffle mash, tender lamb shank atop a bed of pearl couscous, and crispy-on-the-outside-soft-on-the-inside pork belly adorned with a red wine jus. Other crowd-pleasers include a variety of burgers, as well as vegetarian options like mushroom fettuccini.

Wash it down with a great bottle of NZ red and feel free to take it outside if you haven't been there already. Sunsets here are simply heavenly!