Manou's Waterfront Cafe & Restaurant sits on New Plymouth's foreshore, offering breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch with a view over Port Taranaki and the Sugar Loaf Islands. The venue describes itself as unique, rustic and fun, built around great food and a spectacular outlook, with fabulous "catch of the day" seafood and daily specials.
The cafe is owned by Manouchehr Kia, known locally as Manou, a Persian immigrant who moved to New Zealand in 2004 and previously ran a Coffee Club café in Wellington before opening Manou's in New Plymouth. Manou's has been recognised as one of the top 10 cafés and restaurants and a People's Choice restaurant, with reviewers highlighting its fantastic fresh seafood — scallops, prawns and grilled fish among the particular favourites — and its position as a prime spot for watching ships, boats and marine life off the Taranaki coast.
Beyond the regular menu, Manou's offers shisha, introduced by Manou himself, and can cater for functions, with the team able to arrange harbour cruises, fishing charters and helicopter flights for special occasions. The restaurant is open seven days a week, accepts cash, EFTPOS, Visa and Mastercard, and takes reservations at any time.
Manou's Waterfront Cafe & Restaurant sits right on New Plymouth's foreshore, where the view is as much a part of the experience as the food. The café describes itself as unique, rustic and fun, built around iconic backdrops and a deep love of good food and good times — a self-described slice of paradise for breakfast, a romantic sunset dinner, or a special event.
Manou's is owned by Manouchehr Kia, who immigrated to New Zealand from Persia (Iran) in 2004 and is known locally as Manou, the Taranaki's own Persian Prince. After graduating with a Diploma in International Travel and Tourism from the Wellington Institute of Technology, he started his first business in Wellington, buying a Coffee Club café before selling it around two years later and moving to New Plymouth to open Manou's.
Manou's has picked up recognition as one of the top 10 cafés and restaurants and a People's Choice restaurant. Reviewers have pointed to its position as a prime spot for watching ships and boats of all sizes, along with marine and animal life off the Taranaki coast, and have singled out its fantastic fresh seafood — with scallops, prawns and grilled fish named as particular favourites. The homepage also promises a fabulous "catch of the day" alongside daily specials.
Manou's runs breakfast from 9am, best enjoyed with a coffee and the ocean breeze. Lunch is served from 12pm to 2:30pm, though the team says if something on a later menu catches your eye earlier, it's worth just asking. Dinner runs from 5pm until late, and guests are encouraged to arrive early to watch the sunset behind the Sugar Loaf Islands of Port Taranaki. A separate drinks list covers everything from coffee, tea and soft drinks through to wine and spirits.
Beyond the regular food and drink menu, Manou's offers shisha, a touch introduced by Manou himself. For bigger occasions, a dedicated Christmas menu is available, though bookings are essential and must be pre-ordered ahead of arrival. Manou also notes the café can cater for all types of functions, and can arrange harbour cruises, fishing charters and helicopter flights for guests wanting to make an occasion extra special.
Manou's Waterfront Cafe & Restaurant is open seven days a week, from 9am until late, at 39 Ocean Views Parade in Port Taranaki, New Plymouth. Reservations are accepted at any time, and the café accepts cash, EFTPOS, Visa and Mastercard. Guests can call ahead to place a takeaway order, or book a table by phone or through the website's contact form.