Experience a magical afternoon tea
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Plato

4.6
·491k reviews·,

A charming seafood restaurant with unique decor, offering high-quality dishes and stunning sea views.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
Experience a magical afternoon tea

Plato

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A charming seafood restaurant with unique decor, offering high-quality dishes and stunning sea views.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"Best meal of our trip to NZ! Highlights were: potato-top fish pie, housemade bread, avocado + seaweed salad, and eggplant vinegar chilli crisp."

TIP

Book Ahead

Reservations are highly recommended to guarantee a table at this popular establishment.

Share Your Main

Portions are generous; consider sharing mains if you have a smaller appetite.

Third hero image

Quick Facts

Closed·Opens 5PM

Cuisine

Seafood

Price

$$$

Phone

+64 3 477 4235

Address

2 Birch Street, Central Dunedin, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand

Insta-Factor

High

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Extensive Seafood Menu

Extensive Seafood Menu

Savor a vast selection of top-quality, fresh seafood dishes, from classic fish pies to adventurous curries.

Quirky Collectible Decor

Quirky Collectible Decor

Immerse yourself in a unique atmosphere with an eclectic interior filled with collectible items.

PLATO, Dunedin, New Zealand - Neat PlacesThe Best Restaurants In Dunedin
Surprising Desserts

Surprising Desserts

Indulge in delightful and unexpectedly delicious desserts that are a perfect end to any meal.

Google Review
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Titi, a 1 hatted restaurant in Dunedin is definitely worth a visit! 💖 Expect a surprise with every dish because they don’t tell you what’s on the menu until they serve it to you. ✨ This place is perfect for all you indecisive people out there! 😉 #titi #dunedin #dunedinnz #nzfoodie #nz #nztiktok #newzealand #newzealandtiktok #newzealand🇳🇿 #nzrestaurant #nzculture #foodie #food #foodtiktok #foodnz
@maiquezangel
43 likes • 6.7K views

Book Ahead

Reservations are highly recommended to guarantee a table at this popular establishment.

Share Your Main

Portions are generous; consider sharing mains if you have a smaller appetite.

That food was insanely good! 💗✨💫 Noble Dunedin 📍 #dunedin #otago #nz #cafe
@sammys_vanity
770 likes • 19.2K views
The Corner Store, Dunedin 🍳☕️ #Dunedin #DunedinNZ #NewZealand #Aotearoa #DunedinEats #DunedinFood #DunedinFoodie #NewZealandEats #NewZealandFoodies #DunedinCafe #EggsBenedict #Breakfast #Brunch #NZ #EatWithChelsBadger #ChelsBadger #LifeInNewZealand #AucklandFoodie #TheCornerStore #TheCornerStoreDunedin #LifeInDunedin #AussieInNZ #TravelNZ #NZTravel #NewZealandHiddenGem #HiddenGemNewZealand #CuteCa...
@chelsbadger
116 likes • 10.8K views

Explore Local Drinks

Try the house beers from Birch St Brewery and other local beverages on offer.

Visit Off-Peak

Opt for weekdays or less busy hours for a more relaxed dining experience.

everything is $9 what the heck 🤤 @Graze & Glow Dunedin #food #Vlog #review #newmenu #nz #newzealand #dunedin #dunners #otago #Foodie GIFTED
@rachael_h99
1.6K likes • 23.5K views

Tips

from all over the internet

Book Ahead

Reservations are highly recommended to guarantee a table at this popular establishment.

Share Your Main

Portions are generous; consider sharing mains if you have a smaller appetite.

Explore Local Drinks

Try the house beers from Birch St Brewery and other local beverages on offer.

Visit Off-Peak

Opt for weekdays or less busy hours for a more relaxed dining experience.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Plato is celebrated for its extensive and high-quality seafood offerings, generous portions, and the unique, collectible-filled ambiance. The service is frequently praised for being friendly and attentive, contributing to a memorable dining experience. While most diners rave about the food and atmosphere, some find the restaurant can get quite loud, and a few have noted the pricing as being on the higher side.

"Amazing experience. This is the most extensive seafood restaurant that serves fresh produce and variety of different fishes that are of top quality.

The desserts are a sneaky over achiever of a restaurant that’s known for great seafood"

Michael

"Food and service was 10/10. Probably the most friendly service I've gotten in Dunedin. However the restaurant got too loud for me. They sit you all next to each other, rather than spread out. But restaurants do that I guess?"

Chynal Prior

"The entrance was kind of confusing for the first time visitors like me. The interior decorated with various collectible items, that created a unique vibes. Started with the raw oysters, following a fish main course, finally finished with crème brûlée. Overall the dishes and service were good. Reasonable value."

Kenny Mok

What People Like

Exceptional seafood variety and quality
Unique, quirky interior decor
Friendly and personable staff

What People Dislike

Can get loud
Higher price point
Entrance can be confusing

Frequently Asked Questions

Plato is renowned for its extensive seafood menu, unique interior decor filled with collectibles, and surprisingly delicious desserts.

The Best Restaurants In Dunedin New ZealandThe Best Restaurants In Dunedin

Yes, it's highly recommended to make reservations in advance to secure a table, especially during peak times.

Seafood - Ōtepoti | Dunedin New Zealand official website

Yes, diners often mention that the portion sizes are generous. It's suggested to consider sharing mains if you have a small appetite.

Google Review

Plato showcases a wide range of local beverages, including house beers made onsite at Birch St Brewery.

Seafood - Ōtepoti | Dunedin New Zealand official website

The restaurant features a unique and quirky ambiance, with an interior decorated with a variety of collectible items.

PLATO, Dunedin, New Zealand - Neat PlacesGoogle Review

Desserts are described as surprising and delicious. Specific mentions include chocolate brownie and cheesecake.

Google Review

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Plato is a relaxed eatery occupying a lovely spot on Dunedin’s harbor front. Since opening in 2002, the restaurant has brought an uncomplicated approach to food to the area, offering fresh produce, traditional tastes and friendly service to its diners. The brunch, lunch and dinner menus are extensive, with a distinct slant towards the fruits of the sea – no surprise considering its location.

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A favorite among locals, this waterfront eatery that was once a seafarers' hostel provides great food and excellent service. Everything is delicious, from the bread and house-made pâté to the perfectly cooked seafood and chicken dishes that maximize the use of local ingredients. They also do a mean coffee and great desserts.

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Situated right along the Otago Harbour, this seafood restaurant comes with high-class dining and views. With unique dishes such as southern-style fish curry, fish pies or clams in horseradish broth, your taste buds are in for an absolute treat. If you’re overwhelmed by the selection, go for the seafood platter – that way you can pretty much taste one of everything and not be nervous about getting food FOMO (yes, that’s definitely a real thing in our books).

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With an amazing range of fresh produce and world-leading wines right on our doorstep, we don't need to look far to find the best items for our ever-changing menus. Sorry if you’d like to bring your own cake, it’s a no-no, but don’t be too worried, we can stick a candle in most things - like our delicious desserts, so just let us know. At PLATO we use the freshest ingredients, wherever possible sourced locally.

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Plato has made its quirky home in a former hostel for seafarers from around the world. With an ever-changing menu that delights in the local abundance of all things seafood, this place is a firm favourite of locals. Plato also showcases a wide range of local beverages, and every visit should include a sampling of their very own house beers made onsite at Birch St Brewery.

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Hidden under the Otago Peninsula Road overpass you will find PLATO, an eatery that is retro both inside and out. Formerly a hostel for seamen, Mondrian-inspired blocks of red, white and blue cover the exterior and interior walls, whilst upstairs in the bar the retro theme continues with tan-coloured finishings and paintings of Tretchikoff-looking girls.

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An abundance of freshly caught seafood treasures from the deep will find their way to your plate at the quirky Dunedin institution, Plato. Classics such as fish pie line up with more avant-garde fishy dishes for an outstanding culinary experience, complemented by the in-house Birch Street Brewery bevvies and retro trinket décor.

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For a dining experience that combines contemporary cuisine with a quirky ambiance, Plato is a top choice. Situated near the Otago Harbour, Plato offers a menu that focuses on fresh, local ingredients, particularly seafood. The restaurant’s eclectic decor, featuring an array of vintage items, adds to its unique charm.

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The Plato restaurant in Dunedin is preferred by Cuisine Magazine, and is rated as "the best restaurant in New Zealand". The restaurant is near to the seaport, and retro, with a wide range of beer and wine on the list. You could try the signature dishes here: Indian seafood curry, grilled salmon on potato gnocchi.

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For people who are looking for a relaxed eatery which is located on the waterfront, Plato is a good place. This restaurant is found on Birch Street, and it was initially established as a hostel for seafarers before it transitioned to a restaurant. Some of the foods to eat here include fish, meat, and desserts.

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Moeraki, the little South Island fishing village, 70km north of Dunedin is famous for the giant Moeraki Boulders and – Fleurs Place. Fleurs Place is located on the old jetty in town and owner Fleur Sullivan, a bit of a celebrity in these parts, sources her seafood straight from the Moeraki Bay fishing boats.

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One of the best restaurants in Dunedin in terms of bang for bucks is Plato. Classic New Zealand dining in a waterfront character building with sea views of the Otago Harbour. Savour freshly caught salmon or their signature fish pie, and experience genuine southern hospitality.

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Situated by the Otago Harbour sits seafood specialist PLATO serving delicious dishes for lunch and dinner. Aside from their stunning seafood palatte (all ethically and locally sourced) PLATO has their own microbrewery where they handcraft their own wine and beer.

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Enjoy seafood chowder and classic fish and chips served up at Plato on the waterfront, or check out the sophisticated range of cafés and restaurants offering plenty of exceptional dining options beyond seafood. These are a few to consider.

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That’s Plato, across the tracks in the city’s grungy waterfront warehousing area. There you’ll find the oceanic celebrities of Otago such as littleneck clams, blue cod and paua to enjoy with a beer from their in-house Birch Street Brewery.

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We came for dinner together and after reading the various reviews I was skeptical how the restaurant really was. But the food was great and the staff was friendly!. I would definitely recommend and would definitely come back again.

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Enjoy large portions at this harbourside delight but don’t worry quality certainly isn’t compromised. Plato specialises in seafood as you would expect with the location but offers a good range of other dishes on menu.

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Using locally sourced ingredients, PLATO is well known for its beautiful fresh seafood. They have catering and cakes made to order and Birch Street Brewery is on-site.

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