One of the best Waiheke restaurants is Te Whau Vineyard Café, 218 Te Whau Dr. (tel. 09/372-7191). Wine Spectator rated it one of the top New Zealand restaurants for wine lovers, and it has an amazing collection of over 500 New Zealand wines. It offers daily lunch from 11am to 5pm, dinner Thursday through Saturday in summer, and Friday to Sunday in winter, from 6:30 to 11pm. Main courses average NZ$38.

At Mudbrick Vineyard & Restaurant, Church Bay Road, Oneroa (tel. 09/372-9050), diners gaze out over rolling farmland to the waters of Hauraki Gulf while enjoying French rural cuisine; main courses are NZ$28 to NZ$38. Stonyridge Vineyard's Veranda Café, 80 Onetangi Rd. (tel. 09/372-8822; www.stonyridge.co.nz), serves excellent Pacific Rim cuisine in a glorious romantic setting. It serves lunch only - daily in summer, and on Saturday and Sunday in winter. Main courses are NZ$25 to NZ$35; reservations are required. Also great for lunch (and dinner Fri-Sat nights from 6pm) is Cable Bay Vineyard, 12 Nick Johnstone Dr., Oneroa (tel. 09/372-5889; www.cablebayvineyards.co.nz).

In Oneroa village, Vino Vino, behind Green Hills Wines & Spirits, Oneroa (tel. 09/372-9888; www.vinovino.co.nz), is a local favorite for its big Mediterranean platters and full a la carte dining on a huge deck with stunning views.

Nourish Café, 3 Belgium St., Ostend (tel. 09/372-3557; www.nourish.co.nz), has a fresh seasonal menu with main courses around NZ$26, plus great baked goods. It's open daily 8am to 4pm, with late nights on Friday and Saturday. If you're after a tasty pizza or a light pasta dish, Stefano's, located in Surfdale Village (tel. 09/372-5309), has takeaways and a delivery service (and gluten-free pizzas on request).

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.