Tuatara Cafe & Bar is the ground-floor dining and drinking spot at Tuatara Lodge, a restored deco bank building in the heart of Invercargill's CBD. It's known locally for authentic Italian-style pizzas paired with locally brewed beers, served in an atmosphere that buzzes with warmth and, on some evenings, live music.
The kitchen focuses on whole local foods, with much made in-house, spanning hearty breakfasts through to famous pizzas big enough to share and satisfying dinners. On the drinks side, Tuatara pours its own Gadoochi Brewing beers and on-site brewed cider alongside barista-made coffee.
The building itself began life as a bank before being converted by hosts Nicola McGilvray and Chris Ellenden into the lodge, cafe and bar it is today since 2016. The space is wheelchair accessible via an elevator serving all three floors, and offers free guest Wi-Fi throughout.
Downstairs from the rooms of Tuatara Lodge, in a beautifully restored deco bank building in the heart of Invercargill's CBD, sits Tuatara Cafe & Bar — a local favourite known for authentic Italian-style pizzas, house-brewed beer, and a genuinely warm atmosphere.
The kitchen serves a hearty brunch menu every morning from 7am, moving into the venue's famous pizzas — big enough to share — from 3pm, and a full dinner menu from 5pm. Whole local foods are the focus throughout, with much of what's on the plate made right there on site.
What sets Tuatara apart from a typical cafe is its own on-site brewery, Gadoochi Brewing. Craft beers and a house-brewed cider are poured alongside barista-made coffee, giving visitors a genuine local-brew experience whether they're after a pint or a flat white.
The space itself began life as a bank, one of the grand old buildings that line Invercargill's wide, tree-lined streets. Hosts Nicola McGilvray and Chris Ellenden took on the building in 2016, converting the former café into the whole-foods, lounge-style space it is today — softened by greenery and decorated with Nicola's artwork, with Chris's engineering visible in the fixtures and fittings.
Beyond the food and drink, Tuatara Cafe & Bar doubles as a social hub for the lodge above it, with live music setting the backdrop for relaxed evenings. It's a spot where locals and travellers on the Te Araroa trail mix easily, described as an experience rather than just a place to eat.
The building is wheelchair accessible, with an elevator serving all three floors, and free guest Wi-Fi is available throughout. Whether dropping in for a quick coffee, settling in for a pizza and a pint, or staying the night upstairs at the lodge, Tuatara Cafe & Bar offers an easy, welcoming base right in central Invercargill.
Tuatara Cafe & Bar is open daily from 7am, at 30-32 Dee Street in the heart of Invercargill's CBD.