Urbano Bistro Cafe & Restaurant

About Urbano Bistro Cafe & Restaurant

Operating since July 2007, Urbano Bistro is a well-established Rotorua eatery founded by Mark and Jane Solon. Positioned along Fenton Street in Glenholme, the venue seamlessly transitions from a lively, sunlit daytime cafe into a contemporary fine-dining bistro by evening.

The kitchen takes pride in celebrating premium New Zealand produce, working with fresh regional ingredients sourced from Kiwi farmers and growers. Daytime dining spans hearty morning plates, homemade counter baking, and robust lunches, while the night menu presents artfully plated mains, fresh seafood, and an extensive selection of New Zealand and Australian wines. Guests can settle into the spacious, modern indoor dining room or dine alfresco in the outdoor seating area.

Dining at Urbano Bistro: Rotorua’s Award-Winning Cafe and Restaurant

Since opening its doors in July 2007 under founders Mark and Jane Solon, Urbano Bistro has stood out as one of Rotorua’s culinary fixtures. Positioned on the corner of Grey and Fenton Street in Glenholme—right along Rotorua’s renowned accommodation corridor—the venue has long served as a welcoming meeting place where locals and travelers gather around quality New Zealand cooking.

The restaurant’s concept embraces a dual personality: a bright, bustling contemporary cafe during the daylight hours, transitioning smoothly into a polished, relaxed bistro when the sun sets. This balance of neighborly warmth, rustic touches, and contemporary design has earned Urbano Bistro widespread acclaim, including the Supreme Award and Outstanding Restaurant titles at the Rotorua Hospitality Awards, alongside recognition from the NZ Beef and Lamb Excellence Awards.

Daytime Flavors and Hearty Brunches

Morning and afternoon visits reveal a vibrant cafe energy filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, homemade cakes, and baked slices. The daytime menu caters to every appetite, ranging from wholesome plates like toasted muesli and brioche French toast to savory classics such as bangers and mash, kipper fillets, and the Urbano Big Boy breakfast.

Those looking for lunch fare can dive into generous bowls of coconut lime seafood chowder, loaded burgers served with chilli kelp fries, slow-cooked pulled pork over garlic fried rice, and crisp tempura fish of the day. A dedicated snacks menu bridges the afternoon gap, offering paté with fig and walnut toast, house cracklings, and tasting platters to enjoy in the sun.

Fine Dining and Evening Bistro Plates

As evening arrives, table settings transform the space into an intimate fine-dining room suitable for quiet dinners, family gatherings, and celebrations alike. The kitchen showcases the country's agricultural bounty through thoughtfully constructed plates featuring New Zealand beef, lamb, venison, pork, and coastal seafood.

Standout dinner entrees include pan-seared scallops accompanied by lychee gazpacho, chicken dumplings, and ceviche paired with grilled pork belly. For mains, diners can choose from tender New Zealand lamb rump with eggplant puree, double-cut pork loin chops with guava sauce, and premier rib eye scotch fillet topped with Urbano spiced butter.

Drinks, Sweets, and Family Hospitality

Complementing the cuisine is a curated beverage program featuring wines from across New Zealand and Australia, along with a creative cocktail list that blends signature house pours, botanical gin alternatives, and refreshing alcohol-free virgin concoctions.

Room should always be saved for dessert, where guests are treated to house signatures such as banana spring rolls paired with coconut sorbet and jackfruit crisps, vanilla bean crème brûlée, and rich chocolate mud cake. Families are equally well looked after, with a thoughtful Little Person’s menu ensuring younger diners dine on quality dishes of their own.

Signature items

• Urbano Chowder
• Scotch Fillet
• Pork Adobo
• Banana Spring Rolls
• Urbano Big Boy
• Chicken Liver Pâté

Menu

Soup

• soup of the day — daily prepared soup served with ciabatta
• urbano chowder — coconut lime seafood chowder served with ciabatta

Breads

• bruschetta — home-made focaccia, tomato and basil, chickpeas and pickled onion, fire roasted peppers with capers, balsamic syrup, black pearls
• garlic baguette — garlic, herb butter, mozzarella
• selection of breads — dukkah (pistachio, almonds, spices), balsamic reduction, avocado oil

EntréE

• ceviche with grilled pork belly — raw fish of the day, cucumber, ginger, chilli, red onion, seaweed salad, coconut cream, grilled pork belly
• cracklings — crispy new zealand pork skin with house made spiced vinegar
• dumplings — chicken and vegetables, pan fried, slaw, spring onions, crispy garlic, asian style dressing, soy-chilli dipping sauce
• pâté — house chicken liver pate, port wine jelly, apple and apricot mostarda, fig and walnut toast
• pork adobo — 8 hours slow cooked pork belly, soy honey glaze, garlic fried rice, chicharon, sweet and sour green papaya, quail egg
• prawns — marinated prawns, black rice and orzo salad, avocado, marinated spicy mango, cucumber, capsicum, mixed greens, julienne vegetables, edamame beans, mango tahini dressing, mango pops
• scallops — pan seared scallops, lychee gazpacho, cucumber noodles, mint, tomato concasse, balsamic pearls, lychee gel, micro greens
• vegetable spring rolls — onion, garlic, ginger, rice noodles, shredded green cabbage, julienne carrots, tofu, kumara, salad mix, house made spiced vinegar and chilli sauce

Desserts

• affogato — vanilla ice cream, espresso, biscotti, choice of liqueur
• banana spring rolls — coconut sorbet, jackfruit crisp, butterscotch sauce, whipped cream, chocolate soil
• chocolate mud cake — berry compote, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, balsamic pearls, strawberry pops
• crème brulee — vanilla custard base, pistachio pebbles, biscotti, whipped cream
• dessert of the day — daily dessert creation advised by waitstaff
• sundae — vanilla ice cream with kawa-kawa lemon curd or berry compote, honey roasted almonds, crushed meringue, whipped cream, or coconut sorbet with passionfruit syrup
• cheese board — selection of blue, mature cheddar, and soft cheese, cracker selection, apple and apricot mostarda

Beverages

• aperol spritz — aperol, sparkling wine, tonic or soda water
• bloody mary — vodka, spiced tomato juice, celery
• cosmopolitan — vodka, cointreau, cranberry juice, lime
• express yourself — coffee, vanilla vodka, kahlua, baileys, cream
• gin & jam — gin, vanilla berry jam, sweet and sour mix
• land of the long white tea — vodka, gin, rum, cointreau, tequila, lemon, cola
• mad if you don’t — baileys, kahlua, frangelico, cream
• margarita — tequila, cointreau, lime, blended
• mimosa — sparkling wine, orange juice
• mint to be — vodka, ginger beer, lime, mint
• sangria — wine cocktail, fresh fruits
• sub’urban — bourbon, rum, port, bitters
• summer rose — gin, tonic, citrus slices, rose syrup, rosemary
• wild monkey — gin, vodka, passionfruit syrup, strawberries, orange, mint, rosemary
• peach and mango delight — virgin cocktail of peach and mango black tea, lemon, mint
• berry buck — virgin cocktail of berries, ginger beer, lemon, mint
• pineapple punch — virgin cocktail of pineapple juice, cucumber, apple, mint
• mango mule — virgin cocktail of mango, lemon ginger and honey, soda water, mint
• tropical cooler — virgin cocktail of watermelon, guava, pineapple, soda water, lemon, mint

Brunch Mains

• bacon and eggs — bacon, free-range eggs any style, grilled tomato, chunky toast
• bangers and mash — pork and fennel sausage, roasted garlic potato mash, baby spinach and capsicum salad, mustard onion gravy
• black rice and risoni salad — avocado, marinated spicy mango, cucumber, capsicum, mixed greens, julienne vegetables, edamame beans, mango tahini dressing, mango pops
• curry of the day — served with cardamom basmati rice and naan bread
• eggs benedict — toasted ciabatta, free-range poached eggs, hollandaise, crunchy potato cake, baby spinach, grilled tomato with bacon, smoked salmon, or mushrooms
• egg omelette of the day — three free-range eggs, chunky toast, spinach, sweet tomato and smoked chipotle relish
• fish of the day — nori tempura, fries, gourmet salad mix, tobiko, tomato chilli jam, wasabi aioli
• french toast — chunky brioche, banana, bacon, mixed berry compote, maple syrup, crushed meringue, strawberry pops
• fries — served with aioli and tomato sauce
• kipper fillets — buttered kipper, toasted sourdough, free-range eggs any style, grilled tomato, lemon, baby spinach
• mince on toast — beef mince, ciabatta toast, mixed vegetables, baby spinach, parmesan shavings, fried egg, chilli jam, aioli
• pulled pork — 8 hours slow cooked pork shoulder, garlic fried rice, barbecue sauce, pickled red onions, jalapeno lime, black beans, corn and tomato salsa
• urbano big boy — bacon, breakfast sausage, black pudding, free-range eggs any style, crunchy potato cake, grilled tomato, portobello mushrooms, hollandaise, chunky toast
• urbano burger — seeded bun, beetroot slice, smoked cheddar, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, chilli jam, aioli, chilli kelp fries with pulled pork, dukkah chicken tenderloins, or wagyu beef
• urbano hobo — fried potatoes, mushrooms, onion, chorizo, spinach, onion jam, free-range poached eggs, hollandaise, grilled tomato, chunky toast
• urbano muesli — roasted muesli, berry compote, yoghurt
• urbano salad — gourmet salad mix and baby spinach, grapes, blue cheese, baby beets, edamame beans, candied pecans, cider vinegar and orange dressing
• urbano steak and chips — prime new zealand beef cooked med-rare, garden salad, charred red capsicum and capers, caramelized onion, portobello mushroom, sundried tomato aioli, chilli kelp fries
• vegetarian — spicy tomato sauce, eggplant, courgette, chickpeas, cauliflower, crispy tofu, edamame beans, steam rice, naan, onion and tomato salsa

Dinner Mains

• chicken — free-range chicken breast, cheesy spiced capsicum, coriander and onion stuffing, pearl couscous with tomato, black beans, roasted corn, onions and capsicum, petite carrots, courgette, creamy jalapeno verde sauce
• fish of the day (dinner) — fresh catch prepared daily
• lamb — new zealand lamb rump, eggplant puree, mediterranean rice, tender carrots, slender broccoli, smoked feta cheese, garlic sauce
• pasta of the day — chef's daily pasta creation
• pork — double cut boneless pork loin chop, cauliflower puree, broccoli, warm potato with mustard seeds, shallots and black olives, sweet and sour peppers with raisins, capers and pine nuts, guava sauce
• scotch fillet — premier rib eye of new zealand beef, roasted garlic mashed potato, melange of roasted summer vegetables, beetroot puree, urbano spiced butter
• urbano dinner burger — seeded bun, beetroot slice, smoked cheddar, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, chilli jam, aioli, chilli kelp fries with pulled pork, dukkah chicken tenderloins, or wagyu beef
• dinner vegetarian — spiced tomato sauce, eggplant, courgette, chickpeas, cauliflower, fried tofu, olives, steam basmati rice, naan

Little Person'S Menu

• beef nachos — beef mince, melted cheese, sour cream
• crumbed chicken tenderloins — served with fries or salad option
• fresh tempura fish — served with fries or salad option
• loaded fries — 8 hour slow cooked pork shoulder, fries, barbecue sauce, aioli, mozzarella
• pizza — bacon, pineapple, cheese, served with fries or salad option
• little person banana spring rolls — coconut sorbet, jackfruit crisp, butterscotch sauce, whipped cream, chocolate soil
• little person sundae — vanilla ice cream with choice of chocolate, caramel, passionfruit, or strawberry topping

Frequently asked questions

Where is Urbano Bistro located?

Urbano Bistro is located at 289 Fenton Street (on the corner of Grey and Fenton Streets) in Glenholme, Rotorua.

What are the dining hours for brunch and dinner?

Brunch is served daily until 3:00pm. Snacks are available from 3:00pm until 5:30pm, and dinner service begins at 5:30pm.

Do they offer a children's menu?

Yes, Urbano Bistro offers a dedicated Little Person's Menu featuring kid-friendly meals like beef nachos, crumbed chicken, pizza, tempura fish, and desserts.

Are there vegetarian or gluten-free options available?

Yes, the menu includes vegetarian dishes such as curries and salads, and notes that gluten and wheat-free options are available upon request.

Can I bring a dog to the bistro?

Yes, dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating area, where staff can provide water bowls for your pet.

Do I need to make a reservation for dinner?

Reservations are recommended, especially for evening dining and busy weekend services, and can be booked directly through their website or by phone.

Tips

• {"body":"Brunch concludes at 3:00pm and dinner kicks off at 5:30pm, with a dedicated snacks menu available during the late-afternoon lull.","title":"Plan Around the Service Gap"}
• {"body":"If you are dining with a dog, request an outdoor table where pets are welcome and bowls of water are happily provided.","title":"Bring Your Pup to the Patio"}
• {"body":"Urbano Bistro has earned NZ Beef and Lamb Excellence Awards, making their scotch fillet and slow-roasted meats a must-try for meat lovers.","title":"Try the Award-Winning Meats"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Dedicated Little Person's menu with child-friendly mains and desserts.","dietary":"Gluten-free, wheat-free, and vegetarian options available; staff accommodate allergies.","accessibility":"Spacious layout with indoor dining and an outdoor alfresco area."}