We came here after our tour at Hobbinton, which capped off the perfect LOTR themed morning. The…read moreambiance included Lord of the Rings memorabilia and the pizzas on the menu were named in honor of the trilogy. The service was great and our waiter asked for our names so she could address us personally. Food came out quick and hot. Portions are big enough to share so everyone can try each dish.

We arrived in Matamata to meet the bus for our tour of Hobbiton, but we had about an hour to kill…read morebefore the meeting time (and it was raining!) . Luckily, The Redboubt was open and was a nice warm place to kill an hour, have amazing snacks, and a few drinks. The Redoubt is located right at the I-SITE where you meet the bus, so you definitely can't miss it. It's decorated in all Lord of the Rings decor, down to the Hobbit hole style doorways/windows, getting you totally ready to get immersed in the journey you're about to take. We ordered a few beers to start and they arrived cold and crisp - definitely refreshing for a fun day in Hobbiton! Food-wise, we ordered the 3 Slider Selection, and picked the chicken, cranberry, burry, and brie sliders. They were super tasty and actually pretty large for "sliders" - and it even came with a small side of fries. We also shared the Redoubt's Famous Seafood Chowder, and it was super warming and hearty, but not too filling as it's seafood and not a heavier meaty base. With the delish food, awesome ambiance, and plentiful drinks - I definitely recommend stopping here if you're in Matamata for a Lord of the Rings tour, or for any other reason!

Don't stay here unless you plan for a sleepless night, brought your own soap and the only other…read morealternative is to sleep in your car, or maybe just sleep in your car. This seems like the kinda olace where human traffickers would bring their victims. The night we were here was a holiday weekend and there were literally no rooms between hamilton, rotorua and the coast. We got the last room. It was more of repurposed closet. Had a terrible margarita at the bar. Was supposed to be spicy pineapple. Can recommend the cheesy garlic bread though, it was almost good enough to merit the one star. Other high points were the staff- Raj and his team were genuinely nice to me, but when my buddy came down to ask for soap he was literally told to F off. We asked if we just left if they would refund our money. They offered to call the police and have us thrown out. Good times!

Haha, this was kinda my introduction to New Zealand. My best friend moved to NZ and I chose to…read morevisit him for my 40th birthday. After that wonderful trans-Pacific flight, I landed in Auckland and we pretty much came down to Matamata to go to Hobbiton the next morning so we needed a place to stay and Horse And Jockey Inn was a great price for us to crash for the night. As Tom C. (currently the only other review for this 'Inn') mentions, it's a cross between a motel and a hostel. I knew that when I booked the room. BFF and I were college roommates so sharing a room was no big deal. It was pretty cozy to say the least. It had 2 beds, a heater, and I think there was a chair. That's it. Down the hall was the bathroom. Everything was kept clean, but they probably haven't made improvements since this place opened in the 60's or 70's to the rooms. Not sure what the age of the bathroom was. I was pretty tired and it's all a blur now. However, for 2 guys who needed a place to stay for a night, it worked just fine. It's located right off the main drag of this otherwise very quaint town. Staff was super friendly when we checked in and very helpful. They had some sort of rule about coming in late with keys, but I can't remember, but the key situation with getting to the rooms was different than I've ever seen before. There's a bar at the bottom of the inn and a grocery store that has seen better days across the street. I can't imagine spending more than 1 night here though. I think it's okay for a just-passing-through type of place.

We had a great time meeting travelers and playing pool in the back of this good ol' Irish Pub! The…read moregreen beer was flowing on St Patty's Day and we were ready for it. Add a little bit of drunken philanthropy and you're the hit in the crowd. I'd go back and do it all over again! Even a little dancing on the front floor successfully showed us the time of our lives! Thank you for celebrating and keeping the spirit of St Patty's Day alive! Cheers!

From the owner: Welcome to Mulligan's Public House!…read more When you visit Mulligan's Public House, you're in for a treat. Experience our off-the-pier-fresh Salads, Mulligan's World Famous scrumptious Irish Stew, Prime NZ Steak, Stout Pie or light meals such as Fish & Chips, Burgers and Pizza or any of our other mouthwatering dishes. Our chefs are renowned for their creative combinations of spices and sauces. Our warm and charming atmosphere will instantly relax you while our attentive staff spoils you. Weekly menu specials offer unique flavours and pairings. Mulligan's Public House is very famous with backpackers specials. Mulligan's Public House is the perfect destination for your next visit to Taupo, whether an intimate dinner or a night out celebration or casual drink after work . We open 7 days and nights a week. There's always something happening at Mulligan's for locals & backpackers! Every Tuesday - Our world famous Quiz Night. Wednesday is Poker, Thursday - Live Music & Jam Night, Friday - Girls Night and much more. Please call for reservations for dinner or jump in to enjoy your night out. Gift certificates available.

In Hamilton for 2 nights. Enjoyed this spot twice . One of…read morethe few bars we could belly up to as many in NZ seem to have no stools. Great cocktails and beer selection. Friendly, engaging staff.

This is a serious contender for best bar in Hamilton. I came here Saturday night with my husband…read moreand a couple friends. Why, why have I not been here before now?! I used to live just up the block! My husband had already been here and, somehow, did not bring me in immediately. This is one of those places where I had a "love at first sight" moment. Even on a fairly crowded night, the vibe in this place is super-cool. It's small, almost uncomfortably so, but in spite of that (because of that?) it has a great intimate feel. The cocktails are pricey, but different and skillfully prepared. There is a good selection of whiskey (my whiskey-loving friend tells me). There was a DJ artfully spinning a weird, awesome, "did-he-just-do-that?" selection of tunes. The decor is comfortable/cool, with walls of exposed bricks and "I never want to get up" comfy couches. The back walls are lined with loads of books and one portion of the ceiling is covered with records. They appear to have some bites to eat, but admittedly, we were just there for drinks. It's a little tricky to find, set back from Victoria Street down a side alley. But, it's SO worth finding.

Perfect assortment of food choices! Cheese bread was delicious! Waitress and host were very…read moreattentive. Prompt service and will go back again for sure!

Awesome. Great friendly professional service. They were happy to accommodate us in allowing us to…read morewatch the NRL final even after they had closed. We ordered food and drink and they continued to serve us with a smile and professional service. I wish I had a place like this near me. I will definitely be back and be recommending it to everyone.

A healthy lunch with pan fried Red Gurnard fish and a summer salad consisting of baby fennel,…read moreoranges, free range chicken and rocket with a light sauce at "The Loose Goose" . Food : 4/5 Service : 4/5 Price : $$ Place : 3/5

We came here on a recommendation from our bed and breakfast nearby. It is a cute little…read morecafe/restaurant. Staff is very friendly. Food is incredible with great service. I highly recommend!

This is a great spot for anyone looking for a bite to eat and stray away from the somewhat boring…read moreand predictable cafe franchises scattered along the main road. The fit-out is camp and eclectic. Super duper service from staff who all have a bit of sass and a twinkle in their eye. The owner has personality plus. Good menu options, inviting cabinet food and Supreme coffee. Food orders were taken and delivered promptly. You'll leave Matamata having enjoyed another facet of Hobbiton's community.

Aggressive owner = No Longer a Regular customer…read more I am so so sad. After being a regualar Saturday customer I won't be back. I oftend used to go to this cafe every second Saturday and get breakfast, coffee and something to take away for my husband that was working. I would stay for about 1.5hours. Today I was aggressively told to move or leave as the owner wanted the table. He failed to see I was still having my coffee; also to be yelled at that he is not a charity when I am a regular paying customer is so sad. If I was asked nicely and not yelled at or insulted I would have done by best. However after being yelled at for merely being a customer I left. I won't be back.

Excellent value for what you get. $15 for a decent sized entree. Looks like it would be a great…read morespot to grab a pint too!

The food was delicious but a little pricey. The chef did an excellent job with the food. My…read moresalmon was slightly raw in the middle but apparently this is how people eat salmon (accordingly to waitress).

I can't believe this place isn't on here . I want to let you know this is THE place to go for a…read moredrink in Rotorua . The service is pretty snappy and the music which what I thought was just an iPod was actually a two piece band . Go now !

Great bar, great music from the Dj and great brews. Easy to…read morefind on eat street. We are having a great time.