Waterfront Bar & Kitchen

About Waterfront Bar & Kitchen

Perched right on the coast with panoramic views over the water, Waterfront Bar & Kitchen is a vibrant beachside destination in Raumati Beach on the Kapiti Coast. Known for welcoming hospitality and a relaxed coastal atmosphere, the venue caters equally to laid-back weekend brunch crowds, afternoon drinks overlooking the waves, and celebratory evening dinners.

The kitchen takes pride in a contemporary, produce-focused menu showcasing New Zealand coastal dining. Diners can enjoy everything from West Coast whitebait fritters, fresh oysters, and paua vol-au-vents to 28-day dry-aged steaks, chargrilled venison, and an expansive, dedicated plant-based menu. An extensive drinks selection—featuring regional craft beers, New Zealand wines, and signature cocktails—makes it a natural gathering spot for locals and visitors alike. With dedicated spaces for private functions, sunset weddings, and events, Waterfront Bar & Kitchen delivers an authentic Kapiti seaside dining experience.

Waterfront Bar & Kitchen: Coastal Dining and Seaside Sips on the Kapiti Coast

Seaside Dining at Raumati Beach

Situated along Garden Road directly overlooking the shoreline, Waterfront Bar & Kitchen has earned a reputation as one of the Kapiti Coast's premier seaside dining destinations. The venue takes full advantage of its frontline coastal setting, offering panoramic views of the water that shift from bright, sparkling morning tides to dramatic sunset vistas in the evening. It is an approachable, lively gathering place where beachgoers, local regulars, and visitors from across the Wellington region meet over shared meals and crafted drinks.

Whether sitting down for a lazy weekend brunch in the ocean breeze or settling in for an evening dinner as the light fades over the horizon, the atmosphere balances casual seaside charm with thoughtful, polished hospitality.

A Menu Grounded in Regional Produce

The kitchen at Waterfront Bar & Kitchen celebrates New Zealand culinary traditions through a contemporary lens. Coastal seafood is naturally a centerpiece of the offering. Diners can start with fresh oysters served natural or tempura-battered, authentic West Coast whitebait fritters with lemon and aioli, or a deeply flavourful seafood chowder accented with brandy and crayfish oil. Local specialties like the paua vol-au-vent—paired with horseradish crème fraiche and crispy squid—showcase the kitchen’s playful yet respectful handling of native delicacies.

Heartier mains highlight premium regional meats and careful butchery. The dry-aged beef program features prime ribeye and a generous 600g-plus tomahawk steak aged for up to 28 days, flame-grilled and served with baby potatoes and rich black garlic jus. Other staples include tender grilled venison, charred half chicken with soubise sauce, and traditional beer-battered hoki and chips accompanied by house slaw and tartare.

Comprehensive Plant-Based and Family Dining

Unlike many seaside bars where plant-based diners are limited to side dishes, Waterfront Bar & Kitchen features an extensive, dedicated plant-based menu. Thoughtfully conceived from brunch through dinner, options include scrambled tofu with almond dukkah, smoky lentil soup, a hearty vegan hemp burger, and tempura nori-wrapped tofu with chips and vegan aioli. Sweet finishes such as the flourless carrot and walnut cake and boysenberry chocolate moussecake ensure everyone at the table enjoys a complete dining experience.

Families are warmly catered for with an extensive kids' menu spanning breakfast classics, homemade pizzas, mini burgers, and pasta, making it a reliable and stress-free stop for family outings by the playground and beach.

Craft Beers, Fine Wine, and Sunset Events

The bar program mirrors the coastal setting with an array of rotating craft beers, local draught favorites, and a curated selection of New Zealand wines from Marlborough, Martinborough, Hawke's Bay, and Central Otago. The cocktail list is colorful and summery, featuring signature blends like the WF-75, Picante Margarita, and refreshing spritzes.

With expansive ocean views, Waterfront Bar & Kitchen is also a dedicated functions venue. From sunset weddings and milestone birthdays to corporate gatherings, the team provides tailored canape lists, grazing boards, and multi-course set menus designed to make every celebration memorable.

Signature items

• West Coast Whitebait Fritter
• Paua Vol-au-Vent
• Dry Aged Beef Tomahawk
• Seafood Chowder
• Tempura Nori-Wrapped Tofu & Chips
• WF-75

Menu

Mains

• Spinach & Ricotta Rotolo Pasta — With oyster mushrooms, beurre noisette, beetroot relish & pumpkin puree
• Grilled Venison — With pumpkin puree, crispy kale, roasted beetroot, orange, rocket pesto
• Dry Aged Beef Ribeye Steak — Aged for up to 28 days, grilled to your liking with baby potatoes, broccolini, Dijon mustard & black garlic jus
• Dry Aged Beef 600g+ Tomahawk Steak to Share — Aged for up to 28 days, sliced and served with baby potatoes, broccolini, Dijon mustard & black garlic jus
• Paua Vol-au-Vent — Crème fraiche & horseradish, with crispy squid & mesclun salad leaves
• Charred Half Chicken — With roasted cauliflower, soubise sauce, bacon chutney & parsley oil
• Kikorangi Blue Cheese Omelette — With baby potatoes, cranberry & pear relish & mesclun leaves
• Duck Nasi Goreng — Kecap manis, bok choy, mung beans, spring onions & chilli, topped with a fried egg
• Market Fish — With roasted baby carrots, beurre noisette, wilted watercress & rouille
• Beer Battered Hoki & Chips — With slaw, tartare sauce, lemon & tomato sauce
• Grilled 250g Sirloin Steak — With baby potatoes, broccolini, black garlic jus, Dijon mustard
• Grilled Lamb Burger — Lamb patty with whipped feta, pickled red onions, tomato, cos lettuce & olive salt, served with chips

Sides

• Thick Cut Chips — With tomato sauce & aioli
• Baby Carrots — With chilli & garlic
• Mesclun Salad Leaves — Balsamic dressing
• Broccolini — With toasted almonds

Brunch

• Chorizo Basque Piperade — With capsicums, tomatoes, onions, garlic bread & poached egg
• Medium Rare Angus Bavette — With mushrooms, rosti, rocket pesto & a fried egg
• Crepes with Manchego Cheese — Roasted almonds, mesclun leaves, cranberry & pear relish
• Cinnamon French Toast — With berry compote & chantilly mascarpone
• Smashed Avo & Poached Eggs on Toast — With tomato, spinach, almond dukkah & coconut yoghurt
• Big Breakfast — Poached eggs on toast, streaky bacon, sausage, tomato, mushrooms, rosti, black pudding & tomato relish
• Eggs Benedict — Served with streaky bacon, wilted spinach, prawns, or smoked salmon

Desserts

• Pavlova — With strawberries & cream, raspberry sauce & toasted marshmallow
• Preserved Peach Trifle — With chantilly mascarpone, mango & passionfruit
• Steamed Christmas Fruit Pudding — With brandy custard & vanilla ice cream
• Salted Crème Caramel — With banana gelato, fresh pineapple & sable biscuit

Cocktails

• Mango Mojito — White rum, mango puree, lime juice, soda, Sprite, fresh mint
• Life's A Beach — Haymans gin, strawberry fraise, passionfruit & pineapple juice, orange & raspberry dust
• Oh, So Peachy! — Haymans gin, peach liqueur, strawberry syrup, lime juice, peach rings, fresh lime
• Apple Oasis — Chambord, Apple Sourz, pomegranate syrup, lime juice, blood orange
• WF-75 — Gin, elderflower liqueur, apple juice, lemon juice, sugar syrup, dehydrated orange
• Strawberry Sangria — Pinot noir, strawberry syrup, lemon juice, Sprite, lemon & orange ring, mint
• Rose Lycheetini — Tequila, lychee liqueur, vanilla sugar syrup, lime juice, rose petals
• Tropical Treasure — Mt Gay rum, passionfruit puree, lemon juice, pineapple juice, strawberry syrup
• Picante Margarita — Chilli infused tequila, lime juice, triple sec, sugar syrup, chilli & rosemary
• Purple Butterfly — Vodka, lime juice, pineapple syrup, butterfly pea syrup, apple slice
• Rosebud — Vanilla vodka, plum puree, lime juice, pineapple juice, apple juice, rose petals
• Minutes Before Midnight — Scapegrace black gin, Chambord, lime juice, dehydrated lime
• Midori Mirage — Midori, vodka, lime juice, sugar syrup, lemon slice, fresh mint
• Ring, Ring, Cello! — Limoncello, tonic water, gin, lemon juice, dehydrated lemon ring
• Sunset Fizz — White rum, passionfruit puree, lime juice, raspberry cordial, Brut sparkling fizz

Kids Menu

• Corn Chips — With smashed avocado
• Cheeseburger & Chips — With aioli
• Strawberries & Ice Cream — Fresh strawberries served with ice cream
• Tzatziki & Hummus Platter — With veggie sticks & cheese sticks
• Scrambled Eggs on Toast — With streaky bacon
• Choc Berry Moussecake — With ice cream
• Hot Chips — Tomato sauce & aioli
• Chicken Tenders — With tomato relish & salad
• Ice Cream Sundae — With chocolate sauce & sprinkles
• Mini Bacon & Cheese Pizza — Option of bacon & cheese or cheese & pineapple
• Spirals Pasta — With napoli sauce & cheese on the side
• Battered Fish & Chips — With lemon & tomato sauce
• Pancakes — With banana & maple syrup on the side

Plant Based

• Scrambled Tofu — Smashed avo, tomato, spinach, almond dukkah, coconut yoghurt & toast
• Shiitake Dumplings (Vegan) — Bok choy, spring onions, mung beans & chilli dressing
• Vegan Hemp Burger — With pickled onions, tomatoes, cos lettuce, olive salt & Veesey aioli, served with chips
• Polenta Sticks — Chilli braised mushrooms, Angel feta, Veesey aioli, pear relish
• Smoky Tomato, Red Lentils & Vegetable Soup — Served with grilled bread
• Plan*t Chorizo Nasi Goreng — Kecap manis, chilli, bok choy, mung beans & spring onions
• Beetroot, Chickpea & Plum Bites — With beetroot relish & Veesey aioli
• Plant Protein 'Chicken' — With pumpkin & quinoa patty, crispy kale, roasted beetroot, orange, rocket pesto
• Vegan Board — Falafels, coconut yoghurt, olives, hummus, bread, crudités & polenta sticks
• Tempura Nori-Wrapped Tofu & Chips — With house slaw, tomato sauce & Vessey aioli
• Flourless Carrot & Walnut Cake — With vegan vanilla crème & walnut brittle
• Boysenberry & Chocolate Moussecake — With raspberry coulis & coconut yoghurt

Small Plates & Entrees

• Oysters — Served natural or tempura style
• Garlic Bread Loaf — Oven baked with cheese
• Pork & Ricotta Meatballs — With pomodoro, salsa verde & provolone piccante
• Pumpkin & Sundried Tomato Croquettes — Served with whipped feta
• Mushroom & Tarragon Soup — With parsley cream & duxelles toast
• Shiitake Dumplings — Bok choy, spring onions, mung beans & chilli dressing
• West Coast Whitebait Fritter — Served with aioli, lemon, bread & butter
• Cheese Board — Local cheeses, relishes & pickles, grapes, crackers & bread
• Seafood Chowder — With brandy & crayfish oil, grilled bread & butter
• Smoked Brisket Sliders — Two sliders with bang bang sauce & slaw
• Bang Bang Chicken — Served with mesclun salad leaves
• Steamed Mussels — With white wine & garlic cream, topped with chips
• Chicken Liver Pate — With onion jam, cornichons & grilled bread
• Salt & Pepper Calamari — With lemon mayo, chilli lime dressing & mung beans
• Antipasto Board — Cured meats, antipasto veggie & olives, grilled ciabatta

Frequently asked questions

Where is Waterfront Bar & Kitchen located?

The restaurant is located at 3 Garden Road, Raumati Beach, along the Kapiti Coast.

Do they take table bookings?

Yes, table reservations can be made online via their Eveve booking system.

Are there dedicated vegan and vegetarian options?

Yes, Waterfront Bar & Kitchen has a comprehensive plant-based menu covering brunch, entrees, mains, and desserts.

Can Waterfront Bar & Kitchen host private functions and events?

Yes, they cater for weddings, corporate events, birthdays, and parties, offering custom canapes, platters, and set dining menus.

Is there a children's menu available?

Yes, a dedicated kids' menu offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert options including mini burgers, pizzas, and fish and chips.

What styles of drinks are served?

The bar serves local tap beers, bottled craft beers, regional New Zealand wines, non-alcoholic beverages, and an extensive list of signature cocktails.

Tips

• {"body":"Reserve an evening table in advance to catch the sunset across the water while enjoying dinner or cocktails.","title":"Book Ahead for Sunset"}
• {"body":"Check out the dedicated vegan section, which features everything from nori-wrapped tofu to plant chorizo nasi goreng.","title":"Explore the Plant-Based Menu"}
• {"body":"Look for seasonal seafood specialties such as West Coast whitebait fritters and fresh market oysters.","title":"Try the Local Seafood"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Comprehensive kids' menu offered for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.","dietary":"Extensive dedicated plant-based menu available alongside gluten-free options."}