Manhattan Bar + Eatery

About Manhattan Bar + Eatery

Manhattan Bar + Eatery is an upmarket, cosmopolitan bar and eatery on the picturesque waterfront at 53 The Strand, Tauranga. The room is chic and modern with a sophisticated yet welcoming feel — the kind of place that suits an intimate dinner just as easily as a larger celebration, with the water on its doorstep doing plenty for the atmosphere.

The menu celebrates a diversity of international cuisines, blending classic comfort with contemporary flavours and made with fresh, local ingredients. Expect sharing plates like lemon pepper calamari and pork belly bites in chilli caramel, hearty mains from a 250g rib eye to a fall-off-the-bone lamb shank, pizzas named after New York neighbourhoods, wagyu smash burgers, and a dedicated lunch menu from 11am to 3pm — with a traditional Sunday roast served each week.

The bar is half the appeal, pouring tap and craft beers, fine wines and cocktails. Happy hour runs daily from 4pm to 6pm, Fridays bring live music from 5pm followed by a Ladies' Happy Hour with discounted cocktails, and the team also hosts private events — corporate functions, birthdays and special gatherings — with customizable packages. Reservations can be made online by choosing your party size, date and time.

Manhattan Bar + Eatery: Waterfront Dining, Cocktails and Live Music on Tauranga's Strand

Manhattan Bar + Eatery occupies a prime stretch of Tauranga's waterfront at 53 The Strand, where the water views do half the work and the room does the rest. The team calls it an upmarket, cosmopolitan bar and eatery, and the description fits: chic and modern inside, relaxed in attitude, and built for everything from a quiet midweek dinner to a bigger celebration with friends.

What's on the plate

The kitchen's brief is broad — a celebration of international cuisines that blends classic comfort with contemporary flavours, made with fresh, local ingredients. In practice, that starts with a strong sharing-plates line-up: calamari in a lemon pepper crust with wasabi mayo, pork belly bites tossed in chilli caramel, pan-fried garlic prawns with bacon, and warm herb flatbread with beetroot hummus and dukkah.

Mains lean hearty. There's a 250g rib eye with buttery mash and red wine jus, a slow-braised lamb shank finished with crispy fried shallots, and a market fish that changes with the day's catch, paired with garlic-tossed potatoes and curry butter. Lighter forks have the winter salad with grilled halloumi and red quinoa, or The Sticky Bowl — chicken or pork belly glazed in the house sticky sauce over steamed rice.

The pizza menu reads like a walking tour of New York: Central Park, Soho, Lincoln Square, The Empire State and the house namesake, The Manhattan, loaded with BBQ pork belly, bacon, pepperoni and chorizo. Gluten-free bases are available across the board. Burger lovers get a wagyu brisket smash with house bacon jam on a toasted brioche bun, and between 11am and 3pm a dedicated lunch menu covers the classics — battered fish and chips, a Brooklyn BLT on Turkish bread, rump steak with fries and a slow-braised pork wrap. Sundays belong to the roast, served weekly as a proper sit-down tradition.

Desserts hold their own too: warm sticky date pudding in house-made toffee caramel, rhubarb and seasonal fruit crumble with coconut ice cream, a classic vanilla creme brulee and an affogato for coffee lovers.

The bar and the weekly rhythm

As the name suggests, drinks are a headline act. The bar pours tap and craft beers, fine wines and cocktails, with happy hour running daily from 4pm to 6pm and house drinks discounted. Fridays stretch the evening out — live music from 5pm to 7pm, followed by a Ladies' Happy Hour from 7pm to 8pm with discounted cocktails. If you're plotting a night on The Strand, that's a very reasonable place to start it.

Made for gatherings

The team leans into hospitality as a family affair — their stated aim is a warm, welcoming atmosphere where every guest feels part of the extended family. That extends to private events: corporate functions, birthdays and special gatherings, with customizable event packages and a dedicated team handling the details. Reservations can be made online by choosing your party size, date and time — worth doing if you have your heart set on a waterfront table.

Practically speaking, hours vary through the week: from midday on Monday with an early-evening close, midday until late on Tuesday and Wednesday, and from 11am Thursday through Sunday. Dietary needs are clearly catered for, with gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan dishes marked across the menu, plus gluten-free pizza bases, burger buns and wraps available.

Whether you come for a long waterfront lunch, cocktails at happy hour, Friday live music or the Sunday roast, Manhattan Bar + Eatery trades on a simple formula: good local produce, a serious drinks list and a room that makes it easy to stay another hour.

Signature items

• The Manhattan
• Rib Eye 250gm
• Slow Braised Lamb Shank
• Wagyu Brisket Smash Burger
• Sunday Roast
• Sticky Date Pudding

Menu

Mains

• Rib Eye 250gm — Buttery mash, red wine jus, seasonal veg; peppercorn, mushroom sauce or garlic butter; GF
• Slow Braised Lamb Shank — Fall-off-the-bone lamb, creamy mash, seasonal veg, rich lamb jus + crispy fried shallots; GF
• Market Fish — Fish of the day with seasonal veg + garlic tossed potatoes with curry butter; GF, DF on request
• Winter Salad — Grilled halloumi, red quinoa + mesclun greens in house lemon + coriander dressing; GF
• The Sticky Bowl — Chicken or pork belly in house sticky sauce over steamed rice with house slaw; GF available, DF
• Thai Green Chicken Curry — Served with rice and a flaky roti

Pizzas

• Central Park — Tomato base with fresh mozzarella + house basil pesto; GF base available
• The Manhattan — BBQ pork belly, bacon, pepperoni, chorizo, spicy mayo + BBQ sauce; GF base available
• Lincoln Square — Basil pesto + tomato base with roasted capsicum, mushroom, olives + onion; GF base available
• Soho — Tomato base with tandoori chicken, roasted capsicum, onion + house tandoori mayo; GF base available
• The Empire State — Tomato base with shaved steak, creamy blue cheese, mesclun, caramelised onion + aioli; GF base available

Burgers

• Wagyu Brisket Smash Burger — Double smashed wagyu patty with bacon jam, cheese + burger sauce on brioche, slaw + fries; GF bun available
• Chicken or Vegetable Burger — Crispy chicken or veggie patty with cheese, slaw, pickles, aioli + burger sauce on brioche, with fries; GF bun available

Desserts

• Sticky Date Pudding — Warm sticky date pudding in house-made toffee caramel with vanilla ice cream
• Rhubarb + Seasonal Fruit Crumble — Slow-baked rhubarb + seasonal fruit with golden crumble and coconut ice cream; GF + DF
• Vanilla Creme Brulee — Classic creme brulee with caramelised sugar crust + fresh seasonal fruit
• Chocolate Brownie — Rich fudgy double chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream
• Affogato al Caffe — Espresso, ice cream + liqueur of choice

Add-On Sides

• Garlic Roasted Potatoes — Garlic-roasted potatoes served as a side
• Creamy Mashed Potato — Smooth creamy mash served as a side
• Crispy Fried Onion Rings — Golden crispy onion rings
• Steamed Jasmine Rice — Fragrant steamed jasmine rice
• House Slaw — Fresh house-made slaw
• Garden Side Salad — Fresh garden salad on the side

Sharing Plates

• Lemon Pepper Calamari — Crispy fried calamari in a lemon pepper crust with Japanese wasabi mayo
• Loaded Pork Wedges — Crispy wedges topped with seasoned pulled pork, sweet chilli sauce + sour cream
• Pan Fried Garlic Prawns — Juicy prawns sauteed in garlic butter with diced bacon; half dozen or full dozen
• Mozzarella Sticks x8 — Golden fried mozzarella, crispy outside, melted within, with chipotle mayo
• Crispy Fried Chicken — Paprika-seasoned crispy chicken thigh with paprika mayo + pickle slices; GF available
• Pork Belly Bites — Tender pork belly in chilli caramel sauce topped with toasted sesame seeds; GF + DF
• Cauliflower Bites — House spice blend with paprika mayo; vegan, GF available
• Fries - Steak Cut or Curly — Served with lemon garlic aioli; steak cut fries are GF
• Cheesy Garlic Bread — Golden cheesy garlic bread; GF available
• Herb Flatbread — Warm herb-seasoned flatbread with beetroot hummus, dukkah + extra virgin olive oil

Lunch (11am-3pm)

• Brooklyn BLT — Crispy bacon, lettuce + tomato on Turkish bread; add chicken, fried egg or small fries
• Steak + Fries — 160gm rump steak cooked medium rare with peppercorn, mushroom sauce or garlic butter; add fried egg
• Slow Braised Pork Wrap — Slow-cooked pulled pork with garlic aioli + house slaw in a soft tortilla; GF wrap available
• Fish & Chips — Crispy golden battered fish with fries, tangy tartare sauce + lemon wedge

Frequently asked questions

Where is Manhattan Bar + Eatery located?

On the Tauranga waterfront at 53 The Strand, Tauranga, New Zealand.

What are the opening hours?

Monday 12pm-7pm; Tuesday and Wednesday 12pm-late; Thursday to Sunday 11am-late. The full menu is served daily from 11am to 9pm.

Do I need a reservation?

You can reserve online by selecting your party size, date and time, and the team will find the best table for you — a good idea for waterfront seats and weekends.

Are there gluten-free or vegan options?

Yes — the menu marks gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan dishes, and gluten-free pizza bases, burger buns and wraps are available.

When is happy hour?

Happy hour runs daily from 4pm to 6pm with discounted house drinks, and there's a Ladies' Happy Hour on Fridays from 7pm to 8pm with discounted cocktails.

Is there live music?

Yes — live music plays on Fridays from 5pm to 7pm.

Can I host a private event?

Yes — the venue hosts corporate functions, birthdays and special gatherings with customizable packages. Email enquiries@manhattan.co.nz or call 07 579 9935.

Tips

• {"body":"House drinks are discounted daily from 4pm to 6pm — an easy pre-dinner stop on The Strand.","title":"Catch happy hour"}
• {"body":"Live music runs 5pm-7pm on Fridays, with a Ladies' Happy Hour from 7pm to 8pm.","title":"Friday nights come alive"}
• {"body":"The dedicated lunch menu is served 11am-3pm only — fish and chips, the Brooklyn BLT, pork wrap and steak + fries.","title":"Don't miss the lunch window"}
• {"body":"A traditional Sunday roast is served weekly — pair it with the waterfront setting.","title":"Make Sunday a roast day"}
• {"body":"Reserve online with your party size, date and time to secure a waterfront spot, especially for groups.","title":"Book ahead for the good tables"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Welcoming to friends and family groups; versatile venue for gatherings and private events","dietary":"Gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan dishes marked; GF pizza bases, buns and wraps available"}