Aqua Restaurant And Bar

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#14 of 147 Restaurants in WhangareiBar, New Zealand, ₱₱ - ₱₱₱

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Aqua Restaurant And Bar

Review

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Website

+64 9-553 3792Improve this listing

About

Features

CUISINES

Bar, New Zealand

Meal types

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

FEATURES

Highchairs Available

Reservations

Seating

Serves Alcohol

Table Service

Location

81 Dent Street Inside The Hundertwasser Art Centre, Whangarei 0110 New Zealand

Is this restaurant romantic?

Yes

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Hours

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Closed now

• Opens at 9:00 AM

Sunday

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Monday

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Tuesday

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Wednesday

9:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Thursday

9:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Friday

9:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Saturday

9:00 AM - 10:00 PM

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4.6

74 reviews

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Eileen

5 contributions

Unmissable

Nov 2024 • friends

Aqua is an unmissable dining experience. It is housed in an amazing building with a view over the water. The food is first rate and good value and the staff are always helpful. Aqua is also the place to take any friends of family with coeliacs as they are able to meet the full coeliac protocols (which go beyond gluten free) and it also has an acoustic ceiling that makes it easier to hear the people you are dining with.

Written November 26, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kiwidaisyWaikato

Matamata99 contributions

Fabulous dining experience in a unique setting. Highly recommend!

Jul 2024 • family

Dinner, presentation & service exceeded our expectations! 7 of us came for a family birthday celebration on a Friday night. We couldn't fault the service (two young men &an older gentleman) They were pleasant, professional, attentive - and very helpful with a food allergy. The drinks list is extensive & presented uniquely. Meals are pricey but not unreasonable when you consider their beautiful presentation and size. We were glad we didn't get entrees. (although we may have snuck some polenta chips in with blue cheese and mushroom sauce. I highly recommend those too). Thanks team, keep up the great work, you made our dining experience memorable, and the setting is gorgeous. We'll be back.

Written July 12, 2024

Larissa

Palmerston North8 contributions

Fantastic, amazing, delicious!

Mar 2025 • couples

This place is superb. The whole menu looks delicious, so hard to choose! I chose "Andiamo" Caesar Salad, and hubby chose Vietnamese Chicken Salad. My Caesar was so delicious, whole Cos leaves, polenta croutons, smoky bacon, perfect egg, lovely dressing - the best Caesar I've ever had! Hubby's Salad was delicious too - perfectly balanced flavours, he said it made him feel happy inside. And the cocktails! My Ru-Barbie Girl was so much fun to mix it myself with the swirling colours, and it tasted amazing! I think it wins 'best cocktail ever' for me :) Our host Steve was lovely, as were all the staff, and we personally thanked Chef Craig before we left :) 15/10 would go every day if i lived in Whangarei!

Written March 9, 2025

Joyce L

1 contribution

Disappointing Father’s Day Brunch Experience

Aug 2024 • family

I’m saddened to write this review, especially since I hoped for a memorable Father’s Day brunch with my family. Unfortunately, the experience was anything but. I was just five days post-op and on a strict liquid diet, so I brought my own shake and a no-sugar Gatorade to ensure I could still be part of the meal without causing a scene. My plan was to order a full brunch for my husband and daughter, along with a green tea for myself, and perhaps a clear soup if available. However, I was met with an outright refusal from the staff when they saw my shake and Gatorade. I explained my situation, hoping for a little understanding, but they were unwavering in their decision. I was left feeling disheartened and quite frankly, offended. Their lack of flexibility and empathy, especially on a day meant to celebrate family, was disappointing. What was supposed to be a joyous occasion turned into a frustrating experience that put a damper on our day. It’s unfortunate that the restaurant couldn’t accommodate a simple request, especially given the circumstances. This was not the family-friendly atmosphere we were expecting, and I certainly won’t be returning anytime soon.

Written August 30, 2024

Jenny P

Victoria64 contributions

Exquisite food in amazing building and location.

Feb 2024 • couples

Absolutely fantastic restaurant in an amazing building and location. The food was exquisite. The staff very friendly and helpful. We came across Aqua by chance so it really surprised us to have such a high quality dinner in Whangarei. Wish we were staying longer so we could come back again. We shared the prawn pate for entree which was served with an oyster mushroom pickle and warm olives. Delightful. I had the venison fillet for main course. Served on pumpkin purée with beans and oyster mushrooms- I can honestly say I have not experienced such a delicious combination of tastes.

Written February 23, 2024

Beat W

Paihia20 contributions

overcharged 2x......please check your bills carefully!

Jun 2022 • none

I booked a table for a birthday celebration, asked for a nice table. When we got there, there was no table booked, we were just put at the table right at the entrance, where it was very cold. The menu is not easy to understand, we asked for entrees, the waitress said that they did not have any entrees as such, we just had to find something on the menu. The bottle of wine we ordered was unavailable. When the bill came (we both had 3 courses) the waiter overcharged us by $50.00. Luckily I did have a quick look at the slip, which was $50.00 less than the eftpos charge. Pretty big mistake!! When I got home I checked the slip with all the courses and the bottle of wine, discovering another $27.60, I had no idea what that was for, so I called the restaurant, only to find out that these were 3 beers we never had, in fact the table next to us drank beer! These are inexcusable mistakes, and the fact that they cannot refund at all, means I have to go in again. Most likely it will be the last time I will set foot in that restaurant again.

Written June 27, 2022

Flanaganz

Auckland512 contributions

Excellent Food, Service and Views. Go there!

Jan 2022 • none

Visited for breakfast around 9:30 on a weekday. The whole building is mindblowing from the architecture to the tiling and colours. Simply stunning and when moving up the entrance ramp you knew you were in for something special. I think it only opened a month ago. We sat outside on the balcony which at that time of the day wasn't too hot. I'd say it would be too hot later in the day unless in the shade. The service was spot on and the menu looked so tasty it made making a decision difficult. The coffee was full of flavour. We ordered the Vietnamese Omelette, Corned Beef and Eggs and Smoked Fish Hash. The omelette was full of flavour with nice hits of fresh chilli and herbs similar to when I've had it in Vietnam. The corned beef was the same. The smoked fish hash was to die for. Amazing flavours and each dish so different. The serving sizes were filling and the prices were very good for the quality of food, service and location. Even if not needed, visit the restaurant toilets as the building theme continues into there. Recommending a toilet visit is a first for me! The rest of the building wasn't opened yet including the rooftop garden. This is definitely on our list for our next visit to Whangarei.

Written January 5, 2022

Michael C

3 contributions

Delicious, creative food and spectacular location makes this a top choice in Whangarei

Dec 2024 • friends

This restaurant is a fabulous addition to Whangarei, serving creative, diverse, beautifully-prepared and delicious food in the striking, fascinating Hundertwasser Art Centre. We ate there twice on a recent visit, for lunch and for dinner. The menu blends European, Asian and NZ ideas and concepts with striking originality, and it's all absolutely delicious and beautifully presented. The food standard is almost like fine dining, but the menu structure and vibe is casual, and the service is excellent. If you want really great food in Whangarei, but a bit more casual than fine dining at Top Sail, this is the first choice.

Written January 6, 2025

Allison

Whangarei25 contributions

Great service, great cocktails, great experience

Aug 2023 • friends

A fabulous location and an equally fabulous experience. From the minute we arrived the service was exceptional, something that is often lacking in the hospitality industry these days. We were greeted by a friendly host who couldn’t have been more helpful or engaging. The cocktail menu was superb (as were the cocktails) and the bar snacks - on this occasion polenta fries and hot chips - were delectable. The ‘big daddy’ sauce we were given to try was an absolute winner as was the vegan aioli, not something I would usually give much attention! There are several good bars/cafes and restaurants in the town basin but this one really is worth making a visit to. The perfect end to the working week.

Written August 18, 2023

Peter H

1 contribution

Disappointing

Mar 2022 • family

Arrived 3:15pm. Order drinks then some food. At 3:55pm I asked when we would expect the food from the waitress who took our order. She said there was no order. Another person failed to deal with this issue. The waitress then said to us she did not remember taking the order! this was after telling us 40 minutes prior what was not on the menu and what a sauce was. Then one of the items we order was not available. We gave up and our family from New Plymouth had to prepare for their flight home. We decided to leave so I went to pay the bill for our drinks. The owner come across, admitted the staff dropped the ball, waived the bill ( two diet cokes, ginger beer and a pineapple juice) and let me out at the bottom of the ramp to the restaurant. We have supported local restaurant over these last two years of covid. However this was in embarrassing for us and our guests.

Written March 27, 2022

Cushla D

Epsom16 contributions

Fabulous food, Great service, Amazing venue

Sep 2023 • business

We dined at Aqua off the lunch menu of which had a really interesting selection of options. My lamb salad was absolutely suburb, slightly warmed, with flavours that were delightful. The venue is a must visit, for lunch, dinner or I noticed scones and muffins for the lighter option. Steve and his team were there to make our dining experience top notch.

Written October 31, 2023

Mike A

Auckland Central143 contributions

Dinner for two

Feb 2023 • none

Aqua shares the Hundertwasser building and therefore has a different and interesting vibe than many restaurants. We decided to come here on our first night in Whangarei and were not disappointed. The food was excellent and pleasantly and efficiently served. Having reduced our added salt intake to almost zero we did find the food slightly salty to our taste but not overly so. The olives to start were fat and juicy (a few more would have been nice), my pork delicious and perfectly cooked and my wife also enjoyed her gnocchi. Desserts were also delicious, my wife particularly enjoying her peach and strawberries in prosecco. Well worth a visit. Quantities were generally OK, prices at the high end but worth it. Quite busy outside when we were there but plenty room inside. Definitely worth a look round inside! h

Written February 10, 2023

William Keung

Auckland Central2 contributions

A refreshing addition to the range of eateries at Whangarei harbour.

Jan 2022 • none

I don't usually do reviews, but after eating at Aqua on several occasions, I felt it necessary to let people know how consistently excellent the food, service, and atmosphere are each time we have visited. Steve, a big thumbs up to you and your team. The food is sublime, the staff attentive, efficient, and friendly, and as for the atmosphere, it is a credit to the people who made it all happen. Aqua is undoubtedly on the top of our list of eateries in Whangarei for me. I will certainly recommend many of my friends and colleagues from Auckland to dine here.

Written January 7, 2022

Leeann T

Whangarei17 contributions

Delicious lunch

Oct 2024 • couples

Called in for an impromptu lunch to try out their Savour Northland offerings. Lovely service from a very efficient young lady who greeted and seated us before one of the owners took over. Excellent pre lunch cocktails and our food choices were beautifully presented and the meal and its Northland origins talked through. Excellent value too.

Written October 12, 2024

Vicki F

Hunter Valley46 contributions

Quirky architecture and a delicious meal

Oct 2023 • friends

After a morning spent in the Huntertwasser Art Centre, what better way could the day finish, except by dining in the Aqua Restaurant and Bar? We ate a three course meal, with the highlight being the selection of delicious desserts that we chose to share. (Highly recommended!) All four of us enjoyed our meals thoroughly, and the service was excellent. The staff were very friendly and efficient, and our water glasses were topped up regularly and unobtrusively. Our meal was a thoroughly enjoyable way to finish our stay in Whangarei.

Written October 18, 2023