Beer lovers, rejoice! From pale ales to pilsners, and stouts to sours, there’s plenty to quench your thirst at Brew Union. Taste your way through the house brews and guest beers across their 21 taps – and you might even find a new favourite. Batch-brewed on-site, the team’s innovative recipes celebrate local ingredients, and thanks to the regularly-changing flavours, there’s always something different to try. 

Pair your beer with lunch or dinner from a delicious menu of pub-style classics – with woodfired pizzas, burgers and platters on offer. Their monthly gin club is also popular with the locals, with expert gin-masters offering up unique craft gins, matched with delicious kai. Mix and mingle with friends and enjoy a cold one as you soak up the industrial-chic surroundings.

Address: 41 Broadway Avenue & 78 King Street, Palmerston North

Have you ever feasted on a meal created by a Beef & Lamb ambassador? Luckily for you, head chef Scott Kennedy has well and truly earned his stripes in cooking with red meat – resulting in Nero’s award-winning menu, full of flavoursome contemporary dishes that offers something to please everyone. Supporting local purveyors, utilising seasonal produce, and experimenting with bold flavours is what Nero is all about. 

Whilst the menu is a feast for your tastebuds, the restaurant itself is a feast for the eyes. Take a seat inside their stunning Victoria-character 1918-built dining room or go alfresco in the stunningly landscaped outdoor courtyard – a tranquil spot that soaks up the summer sun. A previous winner of Manawatū’s ‘Restaurant of the Year’, Nero is a perfect pick to celebrate a special celebration, or if you simply feel like a night off cooking.

Address: 36 Amesbury Street, Palmerston North

Local hospitality meets a mouth-wateringly good menu at this classic tavern, which has been pouring pints and feeding locals for decades. Drive through the quaint countryside of the Ruahines to be greeted with Āpiti Tavern’s charming rustic atmosphere, and check out the historic photographs of the 1896-esque building as you walk in. 

Pull up a chair and get inspired by their delicious menu and fully-licensed bar. A particular highlight is their ‘low and slow’ BBQ – a succulent smoky feast from their resident pit master. The burgers, brisket and ribs in particular receive raving reviews. They also host plenty of events that celebrate the rural community life – follow them on Facebook to stay tuned to what’s on.

Address: 755 Oroua Valley Road, Āpiti 

From 7am each morning, LOCAL Café is abuzz with locals eager for their regular caffeine fix. With the talented baristas serving up Palmerston North’s own Arrosta Coffee, the good times keep on flowing from there. Those who have time to dine in are treated with a quintessentially Manawatū brekkie menu, allowing you to build-your-own-breakfast just how you like it. Fill your plate with delicious additions such as eggs from The Free Rangers in Linton, halloumi from Cartwheel Creamery in the Pohangina Valley, sausages from Woody's Freerange Farm in Manakau and basil pesto from Genoese in Levin. 

At lunchtime, their menu expands even further and lets you create your own scrumptious salad or noodle bowl full of seasonal produce sourced from a variety of nearby producers. The ideal spot for a morning cuppa, a catch-up with friends or a work meeting just down from the office – add LOCAL Café to your must-try list.

Address: 240 Broadway Avenue, ​Palmerston North