Where to Eat in Dunedin: The Best Restaurants Near the Historic City Center

If you're looking for the best Dunedin restaurants, you don't have to go far from the city's most walkable historic blocks. Nearly everything worth eating sits within a few minutes of the Octagon, Dunedin's central square, which makes pairing a meal with a bit of sightseeing easy.

This guide covers some of the best Dunedin restaurants for every kind of visit, from a quick coffee before a walk to a proper sit-down dinner, all close enough to reach on foot.

FINE DINING & SPECIAL OCCASIONS:

• Bacchus on the Octagon

70 Anzac Avenue — a longtime Dunedin fixture with some of the best views over the Octagon, perfect for a slower dinner with a glass of wine.

• Two Chefs Bistro

A Parisian-style bistro just off the Octagon, serving classic French dishes like onion soup and rib eye in a warm, old-world dining room.

CASUAL & LOCAL FAVORITES:

• Vault 21

12 The Octagon — Asian fusion dishes and cocktails right in the heart of the city, known locally for its sticky beef wontons.

• Etrusco at the Savoy

8 Moray Place — a longtime local favorite for Italian food, tucked inside a historic building just off the Octagon.

HISTORIC SETTING DINING:

• Cobb & Co at the Railway Station

Set inside Dunedin's grand 1906 railway station, this is one of the few places in the city where the building is as much a part of the meal as the menu.

COFFEE & CAFES:

• Modaks Espresso

A long-running favorite for espresso and breakfast, tucked along George Street.

• The Perc Cafe

A reliable, well-loved coffee stop near the Octagon, good for a quick break between stops.

TAKE A SELF-GUIDED TOUR OF DUNEDIN:

Once you've picked a spot to eat, the best way to work up an appetite (or walk one off) is on foot. Dunedin's Reinvention Walking Tour is a self-guided GPS audio tour through the historic heart of the city, tracing the real stories behind the buildings and monuments you'll pass on your way to dinner.

Along the way you'll discover:

• The Dunedin Railway Station, right next to Cobb & Co

• The Octagon, home to most of the restaurants on this list

• Speight's Brewery and its free public water tap

Check out Dunedin's Reinvention Walking Tour to explore the city before your next meal.

PLAN YOUR TRIP:

Want more on where to stay, what else to see, and how to spend a full day or two in Dunedin?

Check out our Dunedin travel guide to plan the rest of your trip.