Flavio and Flavia are really friendly recent immigrants to New Zealand (as of three years ago) and…read morebring a passion for Italian cheese and yogurt to this part of the South Island. Probably easiest to catch them at the Sunday market in Motueka, but you can always call them to see where else they'll have their delicious cheese for tastings.

Ordered the lemon ice cream- good size portion for one scoop and delicious. Staff very friendly.read more

We tried three and they were all amazing: Boysenberry, Lavender Honey, and Milktart. Milktart…read moremight have been the best I've ever had. No exaggeration.

All kinds of organic fruits and vegetables, yogurt, canned goods, bottled sauces, oils and anything…read moreyou could want. And the nicest owners of her! A joy to visit.

Centrally located cafe, facing the carpark where the weekend markets are held. It has a modern day…read morehippy vibe with a collection of retro furniture, crocheted lampshades and wild paint colours. A local 'insisted' I come here and try the best cheese scones in Nelson. It was a great scone, the addition of cayenne pepper in the mix have it an extra kick. The day I visited, they were disappearing fast. Plenty of other cabinet food on offer, including a few vegetarian options and good, hot coffee.

This seems to be the more wholesome version of a supermarket in Nelson. Yes there is the Countdown…read moreand New World Market, but Fresh Choice is smaller and has more "local". These are locally operated under a franchise model so different stores have different management, but at least for now it still has that charm. We loved the various fresh produce and the set of organic choices was great. We were fortunate to be able to just walk there from our lodgings and it was nice to get a fresh batch of organic produce for the evening. So if you are in Nelson, give this spot a try, its nicer that the more typical spots around town.

When traveling abroad I enjoy stopping by supermarkets to see what different items are available…read morefrom those standard at my local California supermarket. While walking around downtown Nelson we stumbled upon Fresh Choice. We saw interesting vegetables, substantial meat substitute options, a automated wine tasting system, and a nice selection of Whittaker's chocolates at good prices. I stocked up on the chocolate for gifts for friends. The cashier was very friendly. We found it well worth the visit during our limited time in Nelson.

We were searching for places to eat in Mapua near the wharf. Spoiler alert, not much choice unless…read moreyou're willing to pay for the view. We decided to check out The Sprig & Fern Tavern which has 10 locations in New Zealand (Nelson, Tahuna, Richmond, Brightwater, Motueka, Wellington, Petone and Christchurch). We dropped in on a Thursday evening (around 8:30pm). There was live folk music playing! There's a nice outdoor patio with plenty of seating, just watch out for the mozzies. Service is friendly and sweet. Make sure to walk up and order at the bar (for food). For food, the menu is split into snacks, salads & light meals, mains, burgers, pizzas, desserts and a kids menu. For drinks, there's an assortment of wine, craft beer and cider. - Mango and lime cider ($5.50 NZD glass) - didn't get much lime flavour but this was decent. Almost tasted like juice. - Berry cider ($5.50 NZD glass) - this had some berry flavour to it but it didn't leave much of an impression on us. - Fish of the day ($24.00 NZD) - the fish was a gurnard (described as a mild white fish to us). We got it grilled and it came with hand cut crispy potatoes, mesclun salad and house tartar sauce. Tartar sauce was tasty! Gurnard was nicely cooked; tender, flaky and well seasoned. Even the crispy potatoes were just as described. Two big portions of fish too. - Meat lovers pizza ($21.00 NZD) - marinated pork, merguez lamb sausage, streaky bacon, onion jam and house BBQ sauce. I don't get why NZ pizzas all have this tube squeezed sauce on them. Not a fan. The pizza was average; what you'd expect from a brewpub. Crust didn't any texture or bite to it. Better than we expected, especially coming from a chain brewpub. 3.5 stars.

Wow! Talk about amazing coffee, and ambiance! This place is just delish! I ordered a quinoa tart…read moreand a vanilla capuchino after you super intense workout at Wairua Body Coaching, a gym just walking distance from this coffee shop. Great coffee, healthy food options, indoor outdoor seating. Oh, and this places roasts their own coffee! If you're a coffee lover and a health fanatic this place surely will not disappoint!!!

What a refreshing rustic restaurant and fresh food market located in Motueka. Loved the natural,…read morerustic, and open restaurant area located just past the doors upon entering the food market, its expansive floor plan rotating between different indoor and outdoor areas. They are family-owned and operated, the love and attention put into the natural, wooded space quite apparent. Menu items are sourced locally so they are as fresh as possible. I had the Lamb Burger with their "world famous" slow roasted lamb patty, topped with a fresh picked salad, mint jelly, and tomato salsa. The lamb burger patty was actually shredded meat -- rather than minced -- and packed into a puck. It was a little tough to tear the meat, a fork coming in handy to eventually deconstruct the burger. The salad portion was extraordinary as well, requiring the use of the fork to pick away at it before crafting the burger/ sandwich. Overall though, it was ultra yummy, scrumptious burger, the mint jelly combo enhancing the enjoyability greatly. It left me feeling satiated though not overly bloated. The freshness was prominent indeed. Beers were flowing and while they claim to host a keg of nearby Hop Federation, the single offering was somewhat basic (a pilsener). I actually opted for a local Pinot Noir, a lovely pairing with the Lamb Burger. The TOAD Hall is an easy option while in Motueka and Tasman area!

Toad Hall Cafe is a gem! Beautiful and slightly rustic restaurant with a lovely country store…read moreattached. Excellent menu for breakfast and lunch (my boys LOVED the Biscoff French Toast, I enjoyed the eggs Benedict on sour dough and excellent coffee). Outdoor play area for kids, some lovely outdoor seating too. We may actually eat here all 3 days of our trip to the area!