The Oyster Inn

I cannot recommend this place more highly. As a local on Waiheke island we are very lucky to have many amazing restaurants/wineries to choose from. Yet it’s the ones with exceptional service, food, wine lists and views… this is what draws us back. This place really spoils guests. The staff are exceptionally trained, personable, knowledgeable and deliver the best local cuisine fresh from the island. My dream spot to bring friends at every opportunity. Thank you oyster inn for creating this amazing place to enjoy.

Four of us dined at Oyster Inn last night, a Sunday. Most of us were there for the roast and I was lucky enough to get the last beef portion, the other two wanted the pork. My wife nearly always has fish and she did again, having blue cod. It was a quiet cold night outside but very cosy inside. The staff were attentive and obliging. We all enjoyed our meals and we'll be back.Thoroughly recommend the roast though -$45.

We had a corporate group of 22 guests enjoy dinner in the private Pearl Room and the feedback on the food, service and ambience was extremely positive. So thank you for making this event such a success for our client. Karen Webb, Managing Director, Destination Waiheke Island

Went to the Oyster Inn for the Easter long weekend. Ended up coming there twice. I went there initially once but left my umbrella there and ended up dining there again. Props to them for finding and keeping lost things safely. Their food was so delightfully tasty. If you come on a weekend, please get their tuna tacos. A waitress also recommended that we should get their cod, and man was she right for recommending that. The seaweed butter sauce it came with was divine!

The Oyster Inn has been on my bucket list for years, and it absolutely lived up to the hype! From the moment we arrived, the service was warm, welcoming, and effortlessly attentive. The food was simply outstanding—fresh, beautifully presented, and bursting with flavor. Every dish was a delight, but the oyster roll was, of course, the standout. The atmosphere was equally impressive—relaxed yet sophisticated, with stunning views that made the whole experience even more special. Whether you're a Waiheke local or visiting the island, The Oyster Inn is a must-visit. I can't wait to return!

We had a thoroughly gorgeous dinner here last night, my friends had bought me a voucher for a significant birthday and the Oyster certainly delivered. Our waitress was super friendly and very well informed and the food was amazing. Well done all , highly recommended

This was our second time at the Oyster Inn. The front of house all went above and beyond to make our evening a positive experience and the food was delicious. We ordered the tuna tacos entree, scotch fillet and blue cod mains as well as dark chocolate mousse for dessert which were all incredible. Location is gorgeous overlooking Oneroa Bay. Thank you the team at Oyster Inn, we really enjoyed our night!

Solid five stars for food, service, and beautiful view! The homemade focaccia and choux buns are the best I’ve had so far! The snapper was so fresh and soft. The fish and chips were crunchy and juicy. The servers were so friendly and helpful. Overall, we have a great time at the Oyster Inn.

If I could give this place more than 10 stars I would. Everything was perfect and everyone was above and beyond from reservations to seating our waitress and the top notch chefs creations. The passionfruit margarita, oysters, Mac n cheese (a must) the Blue Cod with clams was amazing and my husbands seared tuna with a slight crust was spectacular... served piping hot with attentive service ... this place will be at the top of my list when I return.

The service here was wonderful. Sat on the deck and had beautiful views of town and the ocean. Food was lovely, would recommend the cocktails as well!

Waiheke Island is known for its wineries, beaches, and seafood. The Oyster Inn is the place to get a taste of what this beautiful island has to offer. I highly recommend stopping by as we did on our daytrip. We made reservations a few weeks in advance since we were visiting from the US for the Fifa Women's World Cup. When we got there, we realized we had accidentally booked the wrong date. The servers were so kind and happily seated us despite the mistake on our part. It wasn't too crowded either. A+ service. The oysters were so fresh and plump! We enjoyed them three ways: natural with mignonette/lemon, chili sambal and chives, and battered with wasabi mayo to dip on the side. Our personal favorite entrée was the red snapper. The clam broth was so delicious, soaking in the umami flavors of the leeks and seaweed butter. Absolute perfection. We had a beautiful view from the deck where we felt the warmth of the sun, a light breeze, and smelled the crisp ocean air. Talk about great ambiance. The food from here was a highlight from our trip, and we will definitely come back the next time we are in New Zealand.

Was an amazing place super beautiful. Food tasted amazing and the service was relatively attentive. Definitely was absorbently expensive.

We really enjoyed local oysters here They are fresh and creamy just what we wanted Plus looking at the ocean view while having dinner was amazing

The food was not a good value - preparation was adequate but not special given the price. No pepper or Parmesan cheese was offered for the pasta dish. Very few mussels provide with same dish. Steak was warm but not hot - butter (I think) provided with steak had congealed. Server did not offer to pour sauce/butter on steak. Steak was an excellent cut of meat but had no additional seasoning - it seemed as if it had been cooked on a diner griddle. Fries were excellent but over salted (and I like salt). Salad was lettuce and dressing. This would have been an acceptable meal if served at a routine restaurant. But unacceptable from a pricey restaurant that boasts superior food. Cocktails were good. Ambiance was fine.

I've eaten here at least 6 times on my trips to Waiheke. It's getting overpriced 38 dollars for 6 oysters and service was terrible. She took my order someone else brought the food. She took my plate away and then I paid. No banter, no how was your meal. No thank you. The Italian waitress with an attitude. Views are amazing food is good but don't expect anything else.

We sat outside on their deck with beautiful views of the bay. The service was outstanding, so warm and attentive. The oysters were fantastic, as was the tomato salad, oyster roll, and mousse made with a local fish. Highly recommend!

We ordered a dozen oysters, the snapper, a side salad, and shoestring fries. Everything was really good. The snapper was fresh and came with cockles, zucchini, and other veggies. We loved the oysters, shoestring fries, and side salad too. The salad dressing was nice and light.

Got the oysters and the lamb. The lamb was amazing! So fresh and tender I could eat another order. Portion was not huge but one of the best lamb I ever had. Oysters were just ok. A little over priced.

Excellent food and service. Atmosphere overlooking the beach is hard to beat. Very friendly servers.

Eat here. Immediately. Incredible food, friendly service and about the best view ever! The salt and pepper squid is one of the tenderest, most perfectly salted, dishes I've ever eaten. And the Yuzu sauce? Dear god. I cried with joy on my first bite!!

Had to make reservations. Due to short staff. Arrived early for lunch but was accommodated! Nice selection. Not inexpensive. Food was good. View was lovely. Friendly and knowledgeable server.

My husband and I booked this event for our anniversary during New Year's Eve 2023 (during our visit to New Zealand). On the website it stated that it was a New Year's Eve Party. But we were highly disappointed in the event. It was a dinner and we got all dressed up! The website stated it would be a DJ. But they just played music. There was no DJ and basically it was just a dinner. We felt rushed to eat and leave to make room for the next guest. We were highly disappointed in the atmosphere. It was more like a cafe environment. We paid $220 per person. The food was alright but not worth $220 a person! The advertisement was deceptive compared to what we actually got for our money!

Ambiance was perfect! Background music was not too loud or strong but added to the great view of the bay from the casual veranda. Service was prompt and professional. Food & drink order was taken very timely but the food was not rushed. Oysters came out fairly quickly and were plump & tasty. 3 raw & 3 dressed as requested! The fish & chips as well as the Fish of the Day followed a bit after the appetizers were completed and after the table was freshened up. Can't say enough about how savory the fish of the day was prepared! The presentation was superb but that didn't take away from the flavor of the fish and the accompanying vegetables! The bartered fish was also good and fresh but the fish of the day should keep you coming back! Service was top notch too! Don't pass up the opportunity to stop at this hidden Pearl!

Fish and chips were good, lightly breaded and tasty. Decent beer selection and of course wins as well. Nice for a casual lunch or dinner.

Amazing food! Great oysters, oyster roll, pasta, and lamb and nice service. Nice island vibes.

Highly recommend stopping by, getting a drink, some food and oysters of course! They're delicious! The staff was very friendly and so nice! They food was incredible, I'd definitely eat there and drink there again! Try the aged beef, sourdough, fries, and bluff oysters! You'll have an amazing view just about anywhere in the restaurant but try to sit outside if you can

Delicious fresh oysters in Waiheke! We had a dozen pain raw oysters and another dozen bloody mary style. Both were juicy and fresh! The outdoor siting area offers a great view of the waters.

Pretty pretty good! This is the first hop on hop off bus stop and read great reviews about the Oyster Inn. My plan for the day is to grab some oysters 3 ways (raw (plan), raw (Bloody Mary sauce) and fried. All great! Good job Oyster Inn! We also got some sashimi and some amazing cocktails. The plan is we are going to hop back on to the bus and go wine tasting and have lunch at the Mud Brick winery, should be a fun day!

Enjoyed the view and the staff was friendly. Split the dinner with my friend and had oysters all three ways- our favorite was the tempura battered. Their wasabi mayo was excellent with the oysters and the thick chips that came with our fish. Enjoyed our dinner!

This beautiful indoor/ outdoor restaurant offers an amazing view and spectacular menu of great New Zealand cuisine and wines.

This review is only for the restaurant, not the hotel since I've never stayed here, only dined here. Hate to be the naysayer here, but I thought the food was just okay. It was a little bit on the expensive side, and being from America, the portion sizes felt more like appetizers than entree-size. Or maybe I just have an abnormally large appetite -- but regardless, I was hungry after spending ~$35 per person. I got the tempura oysters but didn't really like these that much, there was too much batter in proportion to the oyster. The seafood pasta was good, but not very memorable, nor something I would necessarily crave again, and also on the small side. I would come here again if I didn't have to pay for my meal, and probably order more food, but for the value and food, you may be better off going elsewhere. This place is decent and has a beautiful view and balcony that you can dine on, but I wasn't blown away by the food.

A stay at the Oyster Inn has been on my "to-do" list for some time now, ever since reading about it in Monocle magazine. The idea of eating oysters by the seaside while sitting in a chic fit-out sounded rather delightful. The idea of having to walk only meters after a meal to a guestroom... well, that's pure decadence and something that I very much wanted to do! I finally had the opportunity to visit for two nights and had a great few days of relaxation filled with plenty of delicious things to eat. Breakfast is included in the room rate and when we visited the menu featured the likes of truffle egg toast with asparagus and porridge with coconut and banana. Tea and coffee is complimentary for guests, so if you get an afternoon slump then pop in for a latte or fresh in tea. The dining options in Oneroa are plentiful, but you needn't wander far from the Inn for lunch or dinner if you don't want to. The menu leans towards lighter seafood dishes (oysters, fish of the day, house cured salmon, whitebait sandwiches) but there's also some heartier additions (steak, mac n cheese, fried oysters). I'm not sure I get the style of the menu, it's a little hodge-podge, but there's plenty of comfort food and we ate three meals here happily. We loved the guestroom. The fitout is simple, high quality, and straight out of a design coffee table book. With fluffy pillows and merino wool blankets, the beds are perfect for cuddling up with a good book and cup of tea all while wearing your waffle weave gown after an Aesop fuelled shower. These aren't over the top rooms, but the important details have been considered and this results in stylish and rela retreat from the busy world.

I have been to Waiheke Island a number of times (I have friends who reside and work there) and as such am very familiar with the Fuller's ferry service which operates between the Ferry Terminal (Downtown Auckland) and Matiatia Bay Wharf on Waiheke Island. This journey takes approximately 35 minutes. There is however another ferry operator but this service runs between Wynyard Quarter, (Downtown Auckland) and Kennedy Point (Surfdale), Waiheke Island. This Sea Trans service is a large barge which carries vehicles as well as passengers and as such, takes almost 90 minutes; and my chosen mode of transport on an overcast and drizzly day. Standard services are available on this vessel - a bar and cafe serving hot and cold food and beverages. There are also a number of viewing decks aboard from which one can take photos of the passing sights (if you're lucky you might even spot frolicking dolphins)! Upon arrival at Kennedy Point, Sam from Waiheke Shuttle Link (Ph 0226364799) whisked me away to Oneroa for my luncheon appointment at The Oyster Inn. I have read a few reviews of this establishment, of special note was the fact that Miley Cyrus took her mum and brother there for a meal whilst visiting Auckland, but alas, no celebrities were lunching when I arrived. In fact it was quiet on this Wednesday morning, with only one other table present. The waitress had a North American accent and a warm, welcoming nature. A very dapper and refined gentleman took my drink order. They appeared to be the only staff working the floor. I perused the menu. I had been warned that the menu prices were in the higher bracket but as I read the descriptions of the available fare, I forgot the pricing and was left drooling in anticipation instead. My order taken and beverage dispensed, I peered out the window to behold the breathtaking vista of Oneroa Beach and township, stunning and alluring even on this moist and cloudy day. My entree duly arrived; tempura battered oysters with wasabi dipping sauce. These were divine, the plump oysters fresh and moist, the batter light and crisp. My main course of pan fried Fish of the Day was served with a potato and vegetable medley, the large side of fresh asparagus spears almost a meal on their own! And the whole time I was indulging, my two waiting staff hovered - never intrusively. Customarily I would have ordered coffee and a sweet but I was so replete, any further food would have been superfluous. Reluctantly I made my way down to the street after bidding farewell to my hosts. I had a rendezvous with Waiheke shuttle who again delivered me safely for my return trip to Auckland. This gave me ample time to ponder on the most stunning 3 hours ever spent on this Island paradise with food and service worthy of an international superstar!

We came here recently for a wedding and the staff, food and just overall ambience of the place absolutely blew me away. Granted, there was a ton of loved up people in the room, but still. We walked in and I was immediately impressed with their beautiful glassware, most notably their big burgundy glasses. It sounds pretentious but it really does make a difference! Not to mention, despite there being 100 pax, both water and wine glasses remained topped up throughout the day! The food was devine. Smoked salmon to start, followed by pan fried Tarakihi. I did ask the waiter what the fish it was when it was served and he replied, 'Kingfish?' but after seeing the puzzled look on my face, went to ask. He shortly came back and corrected himself. It didn't bother me in the slightest - good on him for having a guess, I say! I can't believe it took me so long to come here. Shame on me. Don't make the same mistake... NB. If you are looking for accommodation, I have it on good authority that the rooms are beautiful too!

I've been here many times and the fish and chips never disappoint. I always take a table outside so I can drink in the view and some yummy wine. The staff is always memorable and charming, which adds to the experience in such a unique way. Will come back here ALWAYS!!!

This place is definitely my favorite restaurant in my trip to Auckland . the waitress are super friendly. Definitely try to get the southern glory oyster - they are delicious and are from the island even more southern than the NZ southern Island. They have different menu everyday based on the seafoods they have from mostly this guy Terry - who is the local fisherman that the restaurant t support for local authenticity. Their seafood tapas (a bunch of different type of seafood meats chopped into price and mixed together with other tapas ingredients). And order one of their main course seafoods - that's the reason to come here. Finally, not to mention the scenery and the atmosphere here is relaxing with the beach view (so seat at the balcony)

I love the whole Waiheke experience! Hop on a ferry and escape to another land. I think that I would of given Oyster Inn another star had in been in AKC however over on Waiheke with all those vineyards and beautiful dining experiences around it just didn't quite wow. The menu is a bizarre combination of dishes from Macaroni Cheese to Pork Belly (which was to die for) to Chicken Livers. Good selection of wines and the Bloody Mary looks divine, made me gutted I hate tomato juice. All and all it was a nice experience and great to try. I would go back if I didn't want to sit in the sunshine of a vineyard

This place is a must come! I came here after ziplining and this place I must say is one of the best restaurants I have been. My friend is a picky eater and even she gave it a BIG thumbs -up. We ordered fried prawns, five-spice lamb , and oysters and all the dishes were all evenly good. Haha all together the meal came to 80 NZD but this place is a must!!! AND why is lamb sooo good in New Zealand???

Fantastic little restaurant with nice views, friendly service and amazing food. We had the Te Matuku oysters which were fresh in from that morning. Amazing flavor. Best oysters I've ever had. I could've eaten those all day long! The whipped smoked eel dip was also really good and very light. And the cured king salmon was also very good. Most definitely worth a visit if you love oysters.

the oysters here are so fresh the bloody marys delicious the service friendly the location is fabulous - over looks the beach plus a live band perfection

I had heard various reviews of the Oyster Inn so was interested to try it out. We were five me, three friends from overseas and a five year old! They were really accomodating and the food was good overall - not spectacular. Starters while our junior member had his first lot of fish was crayfish risotto and a plate of shared Tio point and Parua Bay oysters. Given it was the Oyster Inn I expected top notch but ther was quite a bit of broken shell and one of the Paruas should not have been plated. The mains were all good - the flounder was beautiful and the fish and trice cooked chips looked great. They were great with junior who demolished two lots of junior fish and chips before heading to the strawberry ice cream. Desserts were varied - choux and salty caramel good but the choux was a bit hard and the mousse looked good. Overall - definitely worth another visit

Food was phenomenal. Gnocchi and classic fish and chips may be the best on New Zealand. Absolutely must trip the lamb starter. I can't even describe how good it was. Nice space, good service and lovely food.

I have been wanting to come to the Oyster Inn for a while now and staying over on Waiheke for the weekend it was a must do. The sun was shining and the seaside decor and friendly staff made for a good start. The food was AMAZING!! Between the 4 of us we each had something different the best was the flounder and the crayfish risotto ... Stunning 'melt in your mouth' (as Manu would say) the fish and chips were a bit thick for my liking (batter that is) but overall the food was outstanding. The service did let the overall experience down a bit there seemed to be some confusion with our waitresses as to who did what. Highly recommend going if you want a yummy - fresh - good food but humble surroundings right in central Oneroa and a change from the vineyards (still do the vineyards though they are also great!)

What was once a bit of a dodgy pub is now a fresh and inviting restaurant overlooking the Oneroa shops and bay beyond. It's very fresh, airy and bright. Food here is good. Come here for the fresh seafood including beautiful oysters and clams. We'd been to Cable Bay and Mudbrick (also excellent) earlier in the day so we're too full to have more to eat and experience other menu items.

Waiheke Island's Oyster Inn - just 40 minutes ferry ride from downtown Auckland - celebrates long, sun-kissed days of summer. Enjoy the ocean view from the restaurant verandah and savour some freshly shucked oysters, or enjoy a summer cocktail or large glass of vino at the bar. They also provide boutique hotel rooms (I haven't had the privilege of staying) but they look delightful. A day spent on Waiheke is a luxury in itself, but topped off with some food and drink at The Oyster Inn will make your day that much better.

What place would make me write a review thousands of miles away from home with limited wifi? This place! The Tio Point Oysters were bomb! Like seriously, Jesus himself picked & shucked these oysters. So divine! The bread with Rangihoua Estate olive oil is to die for. The Mac n Cheese with bacon really did change my life. The grilled market fish with panzanella salad was amazing. & the toffee and ginger pudding literally made me cry happy tears. If you find yourself in Waiheke, you have to come here. It's a must!

The grilled sirloin with artichoke purée and lemon mushrooms are AMAZING!! Olive oil dishes are also great.

If I could give Oyster Inn 10 stars I would. I was taken to Oyster Inn for a belated birthday dinner last night, and it was such a treat. I'd only ever been here for drinks before, but I wish I'd come in sooner for a meal. I started off with three perfect Te Maketu oysters and my boyfriend had some Chatham Island blue cod sashimi. Then I had fish with an incredible Vietnamese salad bursting with mint and coriander, which my boyfriend agreed was better than his pork belly, although he enjoyed that too. We felt fairly full at that stage but Greed don't care, so I polished off a Valhrona chocolate orange mousse and my boyfriend some choux pastries with salted caramel sauce. All this we washed down with a smooth Palliser pinot noir. Oyster Inn has a New Zealand bach feel to it and the atmosphere is relaxed, although if you look through to the kitchen it's frenetic like any professional kitchen. They also have accommodation which I'm sure is lovely - they'll pick you up in their yellow kombi from the ferry, and apparently present guests with some custom-made Oyster Inn havianas which is a pretty cute touch. The place is located on the main Oneroa strip; there's about 10 tables on the balcony and although the views aren't as good as other places on Waiheke, the food is tops.

The Oyster Inn, a great place to go after our Wine Tour on Waiheke Island and has a lovely balcony overlooking the Oneroa main street. The new fit out with recycled-wood furniture and a simple contemporary finish. I'd love to try the B&B attached next time I want to stay on Waiheke. The Chef comes from a Peter Gordon restaurant in London. For my entree I enjoyed the Crayfish Risotto which was nicely balanced and cray not overcooked. For my main the Pork belly. I was personally disappointed that it didn't have any crispy crackling. But my friend enjoyed it so much that instead of having dessert he had a second order of this dish. I had too much wine to bother with dessert. The wine list btw was very good. I'd like to go back when I can enjoy it more, I think I had too much wine during the Vineyard tour. The consensus of the table was all good.

Lovely location, beautiful food! Cuisine focuses on fresh and local - we stopped in to try the Waiheke oysters. Everything looked wonderful, from cocktails and wines to full entrees and desserts. They offer plenty of patio seating with gorgeous views of the Hauraki Gulf. This place is perfect for whiling away an afternoon on the island.

We didn't eat here, but stayed in one of their hotel rooms for our stay on Waiheke. The room was clean and very comfortable and the staff was incredibly friendly and attentive. I would not hesitate to stay here again!

Oyster Inn is a fantastic addition to the Waiheke restaurant offerings. The vibe is quite laid back and casual and very well suited to Waiheke. It has a great point of difference to the usual Waiheke winery restaurants. If you are looking for tasty simple good then this is what you are after. Steak, fish, salads and obviously oysters. What more can you want? The staff are friendly, welcoming and knowledgable. Also if you a fancy having a bit of a shop then don't miss the store!

Awesome service, with some good hearted humor added in by the gentleman who seemed to be running the place. We stopped in on our honeymoon, and they were so nice to bring out some chocolates with "congratulations" written on the plate. The oysters were a real standout, and my wife's gnocchi was stellar. Highly recommended while in Waiheke.

This place was a foodie's paradise. We came back twice Every dish was very creative and the ingredients were clearly local, fresh and incredibly tasty. We had a salad with a soft cheese and a smoked fish pate as appetizers and both were WOW. For the main dish we had fish and chips (which I normally don't like but this time it was amazing - the fish was caught the same day and it tasted out of this world) and a John Dory. I am still remembering that John Dory it was so delicate and light and flavorfull... The housemade lemonade with cucumbers was also spectacular. It's a funny little fact but for some reason their lemons were orange in color and I didn't even realize they are lemons lol. I would strongly recommend this place as the food is great, the service is wonderful and the view is really nice as well. FYI You will need a reservation as it is very popular and ask for a window seat to enjoy the view

I feel like I am being a little ungenerous here by only giving it two stars but I am only judging it on the food I had on this particular day. We did not try the oysters because we were just looking to share a quick snack before we had to rush back to Auckland. We wanted to save the oysters for when we had time to site and enjoy them. SO, we order the bread and the fish and chips to share. The bread was very good, sourdough and very fresh. There was more than enough for 2 people. The fish and chips, not so good. The batter on the fish was very greasy, I only had a tiny taste of it and couldnt eat anymore. The chips were more like wedges and some of them were very undercooked. It was very hit and miss. We were both very disappointed as we expected it to be much better, but as I said maybe we deserved it for not ordering the signature dish. On the plus side, the home made lemonade is delicious especially on a warm summer day (when you may have enjoyed a few too many vinos the sunny day before). I am unsure if we will be back to sample this place again, but I am not writing it off completely.

The place is nice and if you have a table at the balcony the views are great. The food and service are very good. To make my day even better I ordered the Kaipirinia they have on the bar menu. This was a big disappointment, the tasteless slightly cachaca flavored soda water mixed with a couple of slices of lime and brown Palm sugar had no ressemblance at all with the real deal or caipirinhia. I did not complain but told the manager that offering this drink under the caipirinhia name was misleading at least. He answered that being an Italian he knows that Italian food all over the world is different and that he will not change his way of doing this drink. I tried to explain him how a real caipirinhia was made and that they should change the name of the drink. He was not receptive rather stubbornly defensive. But then I'm just a customer trying to help, right?

The staff and service is amazing and the atmosphere and vibe of the restaurant is so nice. Even went back for lunch the next day. 10/10 recommend.