Star and Garter Hotel

About Star and Garter Hotel

The Star & Garter Hotel is a historic pub and restaurant on Kapanga Road in the heart of Coromandel Town, with a history dating back to 1873. Housed in a building constructed entirely of heart kauri, it spent its earlier life as a general store for the miners and then a drapery for more than 80 years before the bar opened in 2003. Today, three of the original kauri counters — once draped with bolts of fabric — have been joined into one long bar, and two of the original vaults that stored the town's gold remain within its walls.

Hosted by Mike and Karen Huitema and part of the Classic Pub Network, the hotel serves menus of fresh Coromandel foods from its award-winning restaurant. Starters lean proudly local — Coromandel oysters, green-lipped mussels steamed in white wine and garlic, and a rich seafood chowder — while mains include slow-cooked pork ribs, pork hock with sticky apple syrup, sous vide scotch fillet and fresh market fish and chips. Gourmet pizzas take their names from local places, and there are burgers, kids' meals and desserts, with gluten-free bases, dairy-free cheese and vegan and vegetarian dishes available.

The bar pours the full range of Monteith's premium beers on tap alongside other tap beers, bottled beers and ciders, fine wines, spirits and cocktails. Indoor dining is complemented by a large outdoor clear-air smoking area, and the pub keeps things lively with various live entertainers, free continuous music from jazz to RnB, a pool table, gaming machines, Sky sports and broadband internet. In winter there's a warm glowing fire; in summer, a refreshing cool breeze.

Star & Garter Hotel: Coromandel's Historic Kauri Pub for Fresh Seafood, Gourmet Pizza and Monteith's on Tap

Some pubs you simply visit for a meal. The Star & Garter Hotel is one you settle into. Standing on Kapanga Road in the heart of Coromandel Town, this classic Kiwi pub traces its history back to 1873, and it remains a superb stop-off for anyone cruising the Coromandel Coast — centrally located among some of the town's finest restaurants and top local artist craft shops.

Step through the door and the building does much of the talking. The Star & Garter is constructed entirely in heart kauri, its walls filled with the town's rich history. Long before the bar opened in 2003, the building served the miners as a general store and then spent more than 80 years as a drapery. Today, the three original kauri counters over which bolts of fabric were once thrown have been joined into one long bar, and two of the original vaults that once stored the town's gold still sit within its walls.

Where the Best of the Past Meets the Best of the Present

That phrase belongs to the Classic Pub Network the Star & Garter is part of, and it fits. Hosts Mike and Karen Huitema run a pub that honours its gold-rush-era bones without ever feeling like a museum. In winter you can relax with a fine beverage beside the warm glowing fire; in summer a refreshing cool breeze drifts through, and it's the perfect spot to kick back with a cooling ale. As the pub itself notes, 140-odd years ago people were probably doing much the same thing.

Fresh Coromandel Food at Unbeatable Prices

The kitchen — an award-winning restaurant, by the pub's own billing — builds its menus on fresh Coromandel foods. Starters lean proudly local: Coromandel oysters served natural with radish shallots and chardonnay wine vinegar or battered with tartare and lemon, fresh green-lipped mussels steamed with white wine, garlic and cream, and a rich, creamy seafood chowder with mussels, prawns and warm bread. Among the mains you'll find pork hock with sea salt potato mash, buttered carrots and sticky apple syrup, slow-cooked BBQ pork ribs, a 250-gram scotch fillet cooked sous vide, and fresh market fish and chips.

The gourmet pizzas read like a map of the peninsula: Wool Shed Bay with slow-roasted lamb leg and baked kumara, The 309 with pulled pork and caramelised apple, the satay-based Kapanga Road, and The Colville, a plant-based combination of roast potato, kumara, jackfruit and tamarillo chutney. Gluten-free bases and dairy-free cheese are available by request, and the menu flags vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes. Burgers — including a Beyond-pattie vegetarian burger — all come with fries, there's a dedicated kids' menu, and desserts range from vanilla sago with mango puree to a coffee chocolate layered cake. In the colder months, hearty winter specials such as chicken parmigiana, bangers and mash, lamb pasta and Thai green curry run Monday to Sunday.

Monteith's on Tap, Music on Tap Too

Behind the long kauri bar you'll find the full range of Monteith's premium beers on tap alongside other tap favourites, bottled beers and ciders, quality wines and spirits, and a cocktail list the team will happily tempt you with. The entertainment never really stops: various live entertainers appear through the year, free continuous music drifts from jazz to RnB, and there's a Pot Black pool table, gaming machines, Sky sports and broadband internet. Indoor dining is complemented by a large outdoor clear-air smoking area.

Whether you're filling a winter pizza loyalty card, sharing a dozen oysters, or just soaking up the walls of history beside the fire, the invitation is the same: call in, relax and unwind in the friendly bar. Cheers from Mike and Karen.

Signature items

• Coromandel Oysters
• Green-Lipped Mussels
• Wool Shed Bay Pizza
• Pork Hock
• The 309 Pizza
• Seafood Chowder

Menu

Mains

• Coromandel Mussels — Fresh green-lipped mussels steamed with white wine, garlic and cream, with warm bread and lemon
• Fish & Chips — Fresh market fish lightly battered with slaw, fries, house tartare and lemon
• Caesar Salad — Cos lettuce, garlic croutons, grilled bacon, poached egg and parmesan mayo — add chicken or prawns
• Pork Hock — With sea salt potato mash, buttered carrots and sticky apple syrup
• BBQ Pork Ribs — Slow-cooked ribs in sweet smoky BBQ sauce with fries and fresh slaw
• Scotch Fillet Steak (250gm) — Sous vide medium, with fries, fried egg and onion gravy

Sides

• Seasonal Vegetables — Fresh vegetables of the season
• Seasonal Green Salad — Light green salad to accompany your meal

Burgers

• Pulled Pork Burger — With fresh slaw, BBQ sauce and mayo, served with fries
• Beef & Bacon Burger — Beef pattie, lettuce, tomato, red onion, sweet pickles, bacon, cheese, American mustard and mayo, with fries
• Chicken Burger — Crumbed chicken with lettuce, tomato, red onion, pineapple, bacon and aioli, with fries
• Vegetarian Burger — Beyond pattie, swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, aioli and beetroot relish, with fries

Desserts

• Vanilla Sago — With mango puree, roasted coconut and seasonal fruit salad — vegan and vegetarian
• Fruit Crumble — Peaches, apples and raspberries with citrus biscuit, caramelised white chocolate and vanilla bean ice cream
• Vanilla Buree — Creme brulee with crisp caramel top, raspberry compote and dried raspberries
• Coffee Chocolate Layered Cake — Chocolate mousse, crisp raspberries and bronze crumb chocolate soil

Starters

• Fries — Served with tomato sauce and aioli
• Garlic Bread — Freshly baked with garlic butter
• Cheesy Garlic Pizza Bread — Garlic butter, mozzarella, olive oil and sea salt
• Paté & Bread — Chicken paté, warm bread, olive oil, sea salt and beetroot relish
• Crispy Potato & Gravy — House-cut potato, mozzarella and home-style gravy
• Coromandel Oysters — Natural with radish shallots and chardonnay wine vinegar, or battered with tartare and fresh lemon
• Calamari — Fried calamari seasoned with furikake, pickled vegetables and lemon aioli
• Seafood Chowder — Rich and creamy with mussels, prawns, warm bread and butter
• Chicken Wings — One dozen crispy fried wings with sriracha aioli
• Crumbed Cauliflower — Lightly fried with seasoned crumbs and sriracha aioli

Tap Beers

• Golden Lager — Smooth golden lager poured by the jug or glass
• Original Ale — Classic ale on tap, jug or glass
• Wayfarer Pilsner — Crisp pilsner on tap
• Patriot APA — American pale ale on tap
• Phoenix IPA — Hoppy India pale ale on tap
• Great Divide Pale Ale — Balanced pale ale on tap
• Apple Cider — Crisp apple cider on tap
• Tuatara Hazy Pale Ale — Hazy pale ale on tap
• Tiger — Crisp lager on tap
• Export Gold Extra Low Carb — Low-carb lager on tap
• Tui — Classic Kiwi lager on tap
• Heineken — Premium lager on tap in two pour sizes

Kids Meals

• BBQ Pork Ribs — Slow-cooked ribs in sweet smoky BBQ sauce with fries
• Fish & Chips — Fresh market fish battered, with fries and tomato sauce
• Chicken Nuggets — Eight nuggets with fries and tomato sauce
• Hawaiian Pizza — Ham, cheese, tomato and pineapple
• Pepperoni Pizza — Pepperoni and cheese
• Vanilla Ice Cream Sundae — With strawberry, chocolate or caramel

Gourmet Pizzas

• Wool Shed Bay — Slow-roasted lamb leg, baked kumara, potato, carrots, red onion, garlic, cheese, mint sauce and sea salt
• Buffalo Road — Beef brisket, smoked bacon, cheese, red onion, mushrooms and sriracha aioli
• Coromandel — Pepperoni, ham bacon, kransky, red onion, mushroom, capsicum and BBQ sauce
• New Chums — Cajun chicken, red onion, cashews, cheese, mango peach chutney, banana and natural yoghurt
• The 309 — Pulled pork, sage, caramelised apple, bacon, red onion, cheese and apple syrup
• Kapanga Road — Satay base with chicken, capsicum, cashews, Castle Rock chilli, peach chutney and coriander
• The Colville — Roast potato, kumara, carrots, jackfruit, tamarillo chutney, caramelised onion, spinach and olives — vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free
• Margherita — Fresh tomatoes, mozzarella and basil pesto
• Hawaiian — Ham, cheese and pineapple
• Pepperoni Pizza — Pepperoni and cheese

Winter Specials

• Winter Pizzas — Winter pizza deal with a loyalty card — buy 10, get one free, Monday to Friday
• Pork Hock with Mash & Carrots — Tender pork hock served with mash and carrots, available Monday to Sunday
• Chicken Parmigiana — Classic parmigiana with salad and fries, available Monday to Sunday
• Chicken Wings Sticky Sriracha — One dozen wings in sticky sriracha sauce, Monday to Sunday
• Bangers & Mash — Lamb sausages with onion gravy, Monday to Sunday
• Lamb Pasta — Rich tomato sauce with braised lamb and parmesan, Monday to Sunday
• Chicken Thai Green Curry — Fragrant green curry served with rice, Monday to Sunday

Bottled Beer & Cider

• Tiger Crystal — Crisp bottled lager
• Sol — Light Mexican-style bottled lager
• Export 33 — Classic bottled lager
• Heineken — Bottled premium lager
• Monteith's Black — Dark Monteith's brew
• Monteith's Summer Ale — Light seasonal ale
• Monteith's Radler — Citrus-refreshed Monteith's classic
• Monteith's Gold Smith Cider — Monteith's golden cider
• Rekorderlig Strawberry & Lime — Swedish fruit cider
• Rekorderlig Passionfruit — Swedish fruit cider
• RTDs & Low-Alcohol Range — Heineken Light, Heineken 0%, Export Citrus Lemon, Barrel 51, Long White, Jack Daniels Cola, Canadian Club & Dry, Coruba & Cola

Soft Drinks & Juices

• Soft Drinks — Coke, No Sugar Coke, Lemonade, L&P, Tonic, Soda Water, Bundaberg Ginger Beer and Red Bull
• Juices — Tomato, cranberry, pineapple, orange and apple
• Sparkling Water — Chilled bottle of sparkling water

Frequently asked questions

What are the opening hours at the Star & Garter Hotel?

The pub is open from 11am until late.

Where is the Star & Garter Hotel located?

5 Kapanga Road, Coromandel Town, New Zealand 3581 — centrally placed among local restaurants and craft shops.

Are there gluten-free, vegan or vegetarian options?

Yes. Gluten-free pizza bases and dairy-free cheese are available by request, and the menu marks vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes. See wait staff for any special dietary needs.

Is there a kids' menu?

Yes — kids' meals include BBQ pork ribs, fish and chips, chicken nuggets, Hawaiian and pepperoni pizzas, plus a vanilla ice cream sundae.

What entertainment is on offer?

Various live entertainers, free continuous music from jazz to RnB, a pool table, gaming machines and Sky sports.

What drinks are available?

The full range of Monteith's premium beers on tap, plus other tap beers and cider, bottled beers and ciders, fine wines, spirits, RTDs, soft drinks, juices and cocktails.

Is there a pizza loyalty deal?

During winter, a pizza loyalty card lets you buy 10 pizzas and get one free, available Monday to Friday.

Tips

• {"body":"In winter the pub's warm glowing fire is the spot for a fine beverage; in summer a cool breeze makes it ideal for a cooling ale.","title":"Warm up by the fire"}
• {"body":"During winter, grab a loyalty card — buy 10 pizzas Monday to Friday and the next one is free.","title":"Fill a pizza loyalty card"}
• {"body":"Look around as you dine: heart kauri construction, old drapery counters joined into the long bar, and two original gold-storage vaults.","title":"Soak up the history"}
• {"body":"Coromandel oysters, green-lipped mussels and the creamy seafood chowder showcase the fresh local catch.","title":"Go local with the seafood"}
• {"body":"Between live entertainers, jazz-to-RnB music, the pool table and Sky sports, there's plenty to keep you at the table after your meal.","title":"Plan to linger"}

Good to know

• {"wifi":"Broadband internet available","family":"Kids' menu with mains and dessert","dietary":"Gluten-free pizza bases and dairy-free cheese by request; vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes flagged on the menu"}