Blue Lagoon Bar and Eatery

About Blue Lagoon Bar and Eatery

Blue Lagoon bar & eatery sits in one of Whitianga's loveliest spots: right on The Esplanade, beside the harbour on the Coromandel Peninsula. The kitchen describes its cooking as modern New Zealand food with a European twist — fine dining that changes frequently with seasonality and market availability, served in a warm, welcoming dining environment where the water is part of the view.

Dinner here covers an ample range: eye fillet, glazed pork belly, fish n' chips, fresh Coromandel mussels and much more, from chargrilled steaks and Beef Wellington to a seafood platter built for sharing. All the meat dishes are made using organic meat, and the bar is fully licensed, with wines, tap beer, cocktails and mocktails to match. A kids' menu — complete with a free sundae dessert — makes it an easy family choice.

Brunch runs Friday to Sunday from 8am to 2pm, bringing everything from eggs Benedict and açai bowls to Korean fried chicken bao. Coffee lovers are well looked after too: Blue Lagoon proudly serves Bionic Coffee, a boutique roastery from Mt Maunganui that is 100% fair trade and 100% certified organic.

Whether you're settling in for a harbourside brunch, a long dinner with a bottle of Central Otago pinot noir, or a nightcap from the cocktail list, Blue Lagoon keeps things fresh, local and unhurried. Gift vouchers are available for those wanting to share the experience.

Blue Lagoon Bar & Eatery: Harbourside Dining in Whitianga

Blue Lagoon occupies one of those positions New Zealand towns are envied for: on The Esplanade in Whitianga, right beside the harbour, with the water as part of the view. The room is warm and welcoming rather than formal, and the kitchen's promise is simple — modern New Zealand food with a European twist, cooked with enough care to count as fine dining, in a place where you can just as happily order a burger and a tap beer as a wellington and a bottle of pinot noir.

A Menu That Follows the Season

Blue Lagoon's menus change frequently with seasonality and market availability, so what you read in one month may not be what you eat the next. What stays constant is the range. Dinner covers an ample stretch of territory: eye fillet char-grilled to your liking, cracking glazed pork belly on cauliflower puree, Beef Wellington wrapped in bacon with mushroom and date paste encased in pastry, chicken ballotine stuffed with cream cheese and roasted cashews, and rack of lamb on mint yoghurt. For slower nights there are Jack Daniel's BBQ smoked baby pork ribs and a barbecue meat lovers platter built for two — slow-cooked pork ribs, crispy chicken wings, barbecued lamb ribs and spicy chorizo with house fries, slaw and dipping sauces.

Seafood leans local. Fresh Coromandel mussels arrive in a yellow curry sauce with toasted bread, fish of the day comes golden battered or oven baked, and the seafood platter — for one or two — stacks salt and pepper squid, prawn cocktail and butterflied prawns alongside. The kitchen notes that all its meat dishes are made using organic meat, and there's a proper chickpea garden salad for lighter appetites.

Burgers, Brunch and the Bar

The burger list runs in parallel: the Classic Whiti Burger with chargrilled steak, bacon and cheese, a loaded fried chicken or char-grilled burger with mild peri peri sauce, glazed pork, fish of the day and a home-made veggie patty version — all with house fries.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings, from 8am to 2pm, the brunch menu takes over. It's a broad reading of breakfast: eggs Benedict with ham or eggs Royale with Scottish salmon, a big breakfast loaded with sausage, bacon and mushrooms, Parsi-style akuri toast with creamy masala scrambled eggs, açai bowls built to order, and a vegan tonkatsu mushroom and avocado toast on sourdough. There are bao buns, tacos and Korean fried chicken for anyone who doesn't believe breakfast needs eggs at all.

The restaurant is fully licensed, with wines by the glass and bottle running from Marlborough sauvignon blanc to Central Otago pinot noir and Waiheke rosé, tap beers and ciders, and a long cocktail list of classics — espresso martini, negroni, old fashioned, margaritas — plus the namesake Blue Lagoon of vodka, blue curacao and Sprite, mirrored on a dedicated mocktail list. Dessert drinks go as far as affogato and an adult sundae.

Coffee, Done Properly

Coffee gets its own spotlight. Blue Lagoon proudly serves Bionic Coffee, a boutique roastery with a flagship location in Mt Maunganui, and every cup is 100% fair trade and 100% certified organic — worth remembering if you're stopping in for a flat white and a slice of the cheesecake of the day.

Planning Your Visit

Dinner is served seven days a week from 5pm to 8.30pm; brunch runs Friday to Sunday from 8am to 2pm. Families are well catered for, with a kids' menu that includes a free sundae dessert and a choice of fries, veges or salad with kids' meals. Because the menu moves with the seasons and the market, it pays to ask your server what's on that day — the fish of the day, cheesecake flavour and daily dessert change regularly — and to flag any allergy concerns with the team. Gift vouchers are available through the website if you'd like someone else to enjoy the harbourside table for a change.

Signature items

• Fresh Coromandel Mussels
• Beef Wellington
• BBQ Meat Lovers Platter
• Classic Whiti Burger
• The Blue Lagoon
• Seafood Platter

Menu

Wine

• House Whites — Sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, pinot gris or rosé, by the glass or bottle.
• House Reds — Merlot or pinot noir, by the glass or bottle.
• Lindauer Fraise — Sparkling, by the glass or bottle.
• Lindauer Prosecco — Sparkling prosecco, by the glass or bottle.
• Duetz Brut Cuvée — Sparkling brut cuvée, by the glass or bottle.
• Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut — Champagne, by the glass or bottle.
• Marisco King Series Sauvignon Blanc — Marlborough sauvignon blanc.
• LeeField Station Chardonnay — Marlborough chardonnay.
• Te Kairanga Pinot Gris — Martinborough pinot gris.
• Church Bay Rosé — Waiheke Island rosé.
• Borossa Valley Estate Shiraz — Shiraz by the glass or bottle.
• Morton Estate Black Label Merlot — Hawke's Bay merlot.
• Mt Difficulty Roaring Meg Pinot Noir — Central Otago pinot noir.
• Church Bay Syrah — Waiheke Island syrah, by the bottle.

Burgers

• Classic Whiti Burger — Chargrilled steak, bacon, lettuce, tomato, cheese and aioli with house fries.
• Loaded Fried Chicken or Char-Grilled Burger — Stacked with aioli, tomato, lettuce, cheese and mild peri peri sauce, plus house fries.
• Glazed Pork Burger — Glazed pork with aioli, tomato, lettuce and cheese, with house fries.
• Veggie Patty Burger — Home-made crispy potato patty with aioli, tomato, lettuce and cheese.
• Fish of the Day Burger — Golden battered fish with tartare sauce, lettuce, tomato and cheese.
• Fried Chicken Burger — Crispy chicken with lettuce, tomato, cheese and house fries.

Desserts

• Cheesecake of the Day — Ask staff for today's flavour.
• Double Scoop Sorbet — Choice of flavours; gluten free and dairy free.
• Home-Made Bread Pudding — Made with nuts and served with vanilla bean ice cream.
• Dessert of the Day — Ask staff for today's special.
• Ice Cream Sundae — Double scoop with chocolate, berry or caramel sauce.

Cocktails

• Blue Lagoon — Vodka, blue curacao and Sprite — the house namesake.
• Tequila Sunrise — Tequila, orange and raspberry cordial.
• Piña Colada — Bacardi, Malibu, pineapple, coconut and simple syrup.
• Vanilla Mule — Vanilla vodka, lime and ginger beer.
• Deluxe Espresso Martini — Vodka, Kahlua, Baileys, espresso and simple syrup.
• Bloody Mary — Vodka, tomato, lime, Tabasco, Worcestershire and pepper.
• Cosmopolitan — Vodka, Cointreau, lime and cranberry.
• The Hawaiian — Bacardi, blue curacao, pineapple, lime and coconut cream.
• Margarita — Tequila, triple sec and lime with a salted rim.
• Spicy Margarita — Tequila, triple sec, lime and Tabasco with a chilli salted rim.
• Gin or Vodka Martini — With dry vermouth and olives, shaken.
• French Martini — Vodka, Chambord and pineapple.
• Porn Star Martini — Vanilla vodka, passion fruit liqueur, lime and prosecco.
• Manhattan — Bourbon, sweet vermouth and bitters.
• Old Fashioned — Bourbon, simple syrup and bitters.
• Negroni — Gin, rosso vermouth and Campari.
• Gimlet — Gin, lime and simple syrup.
• Aperol Spritz — Prosecco, Aperol and soda.
• French 75 — Gin, lime, simple syrup and prosecco.
• Mimosa — Prosecco, Cointreau and orange.
• White Peach Sangria — White wine, peach schnapps and Sprite.
• Sangria — Red wine, brandy and orange liqueur.

Kids Menu

• Cheese Omelette — Stuffed cheese omelette with Turkish bread and tomato sauce.
• Kids Waffle / Pancake — Served with fruit and whipped cream.
• Crumbed Chicken Cutlet — With a choice of fries, vegetables or salad.
• Baby Pork Ribs — With a choice of fries, vegetables or salad.
• Chicken Nuggets — With a choice of fries, vegetables or salad.
• Captain Cook Fish — With a choice of fries, vegetables or salad.
• Fried Chicken Burger — With a choice of fries, vegetables or salad.

Mocktails

• Blue Lagoon Mocktail — Blue curacao syrup and Sprite.
• Piña Colada Mocktail — Pineapple and coconut.
• Tequila Sunrise Mocktail — Orange, cranberry and raspberry.
• The Hawaiian Mocktail — Blue curacao syrup, pineapple, lime and coconut.
• Purple People Eater — Blue curacao syrup, raspberry and Sprite.
• Yuzu Refresher — Yuzu, cranberry, mint and soda.
• Margarita Mocktail — Margarita mix, orange and soda.
• Shirley Temple — Raspberry, orange and Sprite.
• Cranberry Sangria — Cranberry, ginger ale and passion fruit.

Beer & Cider

• Speight's Summit Ultra — Low carb lager on tap, by the half pint or pint.
• Macs Cloudy Apple Cider — Apple cider on tap.
• Panhead Supercharger APA — American pale ale on tap.
• Macs Apparition Hazy IPA — Hazy IPA on tap; jugs available.
• Shandy — Tap beer topped with sprite or soda water.
• Wine Spritzer — House wine topped with sprite or soda water.
• Bottled Beer & Cider — Heineken, Corona, Stella Artois, Guinness, Lion Red, Waikato, Steinlager Ultra, Speight's Mid, Macs Mid Vicious, Zeffer cider (incl. 0%), plus zero-alcohol options.

Brunch Sides

• Potato Cake
• Creamy Mushroom
• Bacon
• Salmon
• Grilled Tomato
• Pork Sausage
• Side Fries

Dinner Mains

• BBQ Meat Lovers Platter — Slow-cooked pork ribs, crispy wings, barbecue lamb ribs and spicy chorizo with fries, slaw and dips; for two.
• Eye Fillet — Char-grilled with potato cake and steamed greens; mushroom sauce, garlic butter or both.
• Beef Wellington — Bacon-wrapped eye fillet with mushroom and date paste in pastry, served with ragu.
• Chicken Ballotine — Cream cheese and roasted cashew stuffed chicken breast wrapped in bacon, with kumara wedges.
• Cracking Glazed Pork Belly — Served on cauliflower puree with greens and potato cake.
• Jack Daniel's BBQ Smoked Baby Pork Ribs — Slow cooked in Jack Daniel's BBQ sauce with potato wedges and salad.
• Rack of Lamb — Served on cauliflower puree with greens and mint yoghurt.
• Chickpea Garden Salad — Mesclun, cabbage, cashews, cherry tomatoes, croutons and halloumi; add chicken or grilled fish.
• Seafood Platter — Fish of the day, curry mussels, salt and pepper squid, prawn cocktail and butterfly prawns with fries; for one or two.
• Fish of the Day — Golden battered or oven baked, with fries and salad.

Non-Alcoholic

• Soft Drinks — Coke, Sprite, Diet Coke, no sugar Coke, L&P and Fanta.
• Soda & Mixers — Soda water, tonic water and ginger ale.
• Ginger Beer & Raspberry Drinks
• Lemon Lime & Bitters
• Energy Drinks
• Fruit Juices — Pineapple, apple, cranberry, tomato and orange.
• Spiced Tomato Juice
• Mineral Water — Still or sparkling, 750ml.
• Jugs — Jugs of juice or soda for the table.

Dessert Drinks

• Ice Cream Float — Choice of soda with vanilla ice cream.
• Tawny Port
• Irish Coffee — Long black with any spirit, topped with cream.
• Adult Sundae — Choice of spirit poured over vanilla ice cream.
• Affogato — Espresso with any spirit and vanilla ice cream, topped with cream.

Breakfast & Brunch

• Açai Bowls — Classic açai smoothie blend with your choice of fruits, a spread and crunchy toppings.
• Bacon and Eggs — Any style, with bacon, hash brown, tomato relish and toasted Turkish bread.
• Eggs Benedict — Two eggs on English muffin with ham, hollandaise, hash brown and tomato relish.
• Eggs Royale — Two eggs on English muffin with Scottish salmon, citrus hollandaise and hash brown.
• Big Breakfast — Eggs your way with sausage, bacon, mushrooms, hash brown, grilled tomato and Turkish bread.
• Parsi Style Akuri Toast — Creamy masala scrambled eggs with ginger and turmeric, grilled tomato, hash brown and mint sauce.
• 3 Eggs Omelette — Any two fillings on Turkish toast with hash brown and tomato relish; add extras.
• Tonkatsu Mushrooms & Avocado Toast — Smashed avocado and tonkatsu-glazed mushrooms on sourdough with garden salad (vegan).
• Fish N' Chips — Golden battered fish with fries and salad.
• Eye Fillet (220g) — Char-grilled to your liking with chips, salad and garlic butter.

Spirits & Liqueurs

• House Spirits — Smirnoff, Captain Morgan Dark, Gordons and Bells.
• Standard Spirits — Absolut, Jim Beam, Bombay Sapphire, Johnnie Walker Red, Canadian Club, Bacardi and more.
• Premium Spirits — Jack Daniel's, Jameson, Johnnie Walker Black, Jose Cuervo, Gordons Pink Gin and more.
• Special Blends — Grey Goose, Hendrick's, Kraken, Chivas Regal 12yr, 1800 tequila and more.
• Standard Liqueurs — Baileys, Kahlua, Midori, Aperol, Malibu, Southern Comfort and more.
• Premium Liqueurs — Cointreau, Frangelico, Amaretto, Chambord, Campari, Jägermeister and more.

Coffee & Hot Drinks

• Flat White — Bionic Coffee — 100% fair trade, 100% certified organic.
• Latte — Smooth and milky, made with organic fair trade Bionic Coffee.
• Cappuccino — Classic espresso, steamed milk and foam.
• Long Black — Espresso over hot water, served black.
• Mocha — Espresso with chocolate and steamed milk.
• Chai Latte — Spiced chai with steamed milk.
• Hot Chocolate — Rich and warming; medium or large.

Small Plates & Starters

• Chicken Nibbles (5) — In a creamy garlic glaze with parmesan, or smoky barbecue or Korean sauce.
• House Fries — Tossed in the chef's special seasoning, with aioli and tomato sauce.
• Garlic Bread
• Steamed Bao Buns — Korean fried chicken or vegetarian halloumi potato cake with salad, aioli and mint yoghurt.
• Mongolian Fried — Crispy chicken or golden halloumi with garden greens, wok-fried noodles and a fried egg.
• Korean Fried Chicken — Served with a tossed salad.
• Fresh Coromandel Mussels — Local mussels in yellow curry sauce with toasted bread.
• Tacos (2) — Spicy prawn, crispy or Korean chicken, crumbed fish or halloumi potato cake with slaw and mint yoghurt.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Blue Lagoon Bar and Eatery located?

Right on the harbour at 8 The Esplanade, Whitianga 3510, on the Coromandel Peninsula.

When is Blue Lagoon open?

Dinner is served 7 days from 5pm to 8.30pm. Brunch runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 2pm, so between 2pm and 5pm on those days the kitchen takes a break.

Is the restaurant licensed?

Yes, Blue Lagoon is fully licensed, with wines by the glass and bottle, tap and bottled beer and cider, spirits, liqueurs, cocktails and mocktails.

What coffee do they serve?

Bionic Coffee, from a boutique roastery with a flagship location in Mt Maunganui — 100% fair trade and 100% certified organic.

Are there vegetarian, vegan or allergy-friendly options?

Yes — dishes like the tonkatsu mushroom and avocado toast (vegan), chickpea garden salad, veggie patty burger and vegetarian halloumi potato cake bao and tacos, plus gluten-free, dairy-free sorbet. Let your server know about any allergy concerns.

Do kids have their own menu?

Yes. There's a kids' menu including cheese omelette, waffles or pancakes, ribs and mini burgers, with a free sundae dessert with any kids meal.

Can I buy a gift card?

Yes, gift vouchers are available through Blue Lagoon's website.

Tips

• {"body":"Brunch runs 8am–2pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday; Monday to Thursday the kitchen opens for dinner at 5pm.","title":"Brunch is Friday to Sunday only"}
• {"body":"The platter for two brings fish of the day, curry mussels, squid and prawns together with fries and salads — ideal harbourside sharing.","title":"Share the seafood platter"}
• {"body":"The fish of the day, cheesecake flavour and daily dessert change regularly, so check with your server for the latest.","title":"Ask what's on today"}
• {"body":"The espresso comes from Bionic Coffee — 100% fair trade and certified organic — and works doubly well as an affogato after dinner.","title":"Don't skip the coffee"}
• {"body":"The Blue Lagoon — vodka, blue curacao and Sprite — has a zero-alcohol twin on the mocktail list if you're driving.","title":"Try the namesake cocktail"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Kids' menu with a free sundae dessert; choice of fries, veges or salad with kids meals.","dietary":"Vegetarian and vegan dishes (tofu-free but plant-based options like tonkatsu mushroom avocado toast), GF & DF sorbet; guests are asked to flag allergy concerns with staff."}