Bad Habits is a restaurant at 76 Marsden Rd in Paihia, rated 4.6 by 737 reviewers, who often mention tomahawk steaks, cocktails and live music alongside the friendly, attentive service.
A restaurant that puts big cuts at the centre of the menu lives or dies on the grill, so order accordingly: bone-in steaks like a tomahawk are cut for sharing; check portions before adding sides, and tell the kitchen how you like it cooked, because a thick cut forgives less than a thin one. Timing matters too. In a Bay of Islands holiday town, tables fill fast on summer evenings, and nights with live music bring a livelier, louder mood, so booking ahead or taking an early sitting is worth considering.
On Marsden Rd, a short stroll from Paihia's waterfront, Bad Habits is well placed for a long dinner in the Bay of Islands.