Pig & Whistle Historic Pub occupies one of Rotorua's most distinctive civic buildings. Opened in 1940 as the city's police station, the structure served that purpose until 1969 and was built with unusually substantial concrete walls, brick facing and carved details. Māori motifs near the roofline gave the former station a local identity even before it became a pub. Today the corner of Tutanekai and Haupapa streets is a far more convivial address, but the scale and character of the old building still shape the experience inside.
The sharing menu suits a pub where groups often settle in for more than one round. Three-cheese mac-and-cheese balls come with chipotle relish, while a skewer platter combines lemon-pepper prawns, New Zealand lamb and harissa chicken with three sauces. A mixed seafood platter brings together mussels, fish bites, calamari and garlic bread. Buttermilk chicken tacos and overnight-cooked pulled-pork buns cover the meatier side, with turmeric-grilled vegan chicken tacos and jackfruit buns giving plant-based diners equally considered alternatives.
Main courses stay close to the generous logic of classic pub cooking. Lamb shank is slow-cooked in rosemary gravy with mash and Yorkshire pudding, brisket cooks for twelve hours before meeting potato bake and bacon jam, and pork ribs arrive with macaroni cheese, cornbread and slaw. Fish can be ordered battered or pan-fried, while salmon, scotch fillet, pork belly and a beef-cheek ale pie widen the choice. Root-vegetable lasagne supplies a vegetarian and gluten-free main, and apple crumble, brownie and a banoffee sundae finish in familiar comfort-food territory.
New Zealand craft beer, cider and wine are central to the bar, and the venue adds live bands on weekend nights. That combination of food, drinks and entertainment makes the pub useful for both an ordinary meal and a longer social evening. An upstairs private bar and a range of platters support functions, from braised brisket with bread and pickles to house spreads, roast root vegetables and pizza. The history is unmistakable, but the building now works as an active seven-day pub rather than a preserved landmark.
Address: 1182 Tutanekai Street, at the corner of Haupapa Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
Moved or closed? Tell us: Moved·Temporarily closed·Permanently closed
Pig & Whistle Menu
Option tags, such as Vegan Option (VGO), mean the dish can be made that way on request: ask for that version when you order.
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To Start
TOASTED GARLIC BREAD
4 slices
TEAR & SHARE GARLIC LOAF
With dip {serves 4+}
TODAY’S SOUP
With freshly baked bread. Please see board for chef’s flavour
SEAFOOD CHOWDER
With freshly baked bread
Snack & Share
CRUMBED MAC & CHEESE BALLS (v)
Made with three cheeses, served with rocket & smoked chipotle relish
MIXED GRILL SKEWER (GFI)
Crispy lemon pepper prawn skewers, NZ lamb skewers, harissa chicken skewers. Served with tzatziki, sweet chilli and aioli
SEAFOOD PLATTER
Thai green curry mussels, prawn skewers, fresh fish bites, lemon pepper calamari & garlic bread
BUFFALO HOT WINGS
With carrot & celery sticks & a blue cheese dip
VEGAN NACHOS (v)(gf)(df)
Chilli tofu & coriander scramble with black beans, tomato & corn salsa, chipotle tortilla chips & vegan chipotle mayo
CHICKEN TACOS
Chicken bites marinated in spicy buttermilk with fresh crisp slaw, flaky corn chips, smoked chipotle aioli & fresh coriander
PULLED PORK STEAMED BUNS
Overnight cooked pork shoulder with cider BBQ sauce, kewpie mayo, apple & fennel slaw & daikon carrots pickle
BRISKET LOADED FRIES
Straight cut fries smothered with cheese, slow cooked brisket, mushroom & bacon gravy (serves 2-4)
PORK BELLY LOADED FRIES
Straight cut fries with pork belly bites, kewpie mayo & hot sauce (serves 2-4)
JACK FRUIT STEAMED BUNS (ve)
Pulled jack fruit steamed buns served with apple & fennel slaw, daikon carrots pickle, topped with vegan aioli, BBQ sauce & crispy shallots
SPICY BEEF NACHOS
With melted cheese & sour cream
PIGTAIL FRIES
Served with tomato sauce & aioli
STRAIGHT CUT FRIES
Served with tomato sauce & aioli
Pub Classics
FISH & CHIPS (df)
Beer battered OR pan-fried fish of the day served with pigtail fries, salad & tartare sauce
ROASTED SALMON (GFO)
South Island salmon with a creamy Tuscan sauce, served with straight cut fries & salad
PORK BELLY (gfo)
With kumara & potato mash, herb & apricot stuffing, seasonal vegetables, apple & pineapple sauce & gravy.
SCOTCH FILLET (GFO)
300g prime fillet served with fries & salad OR vegetables and kumara & potato mash. Choice of mushroom & bacon OR garlic sauce
VEGE LASAGNE (v) (gf)
Layered root vegetables with a house made tomato sauce, gluten free lasagne & green salad
PORK SPARE RIBS
Slow cooked for 12 hours with a dry rub. Served with mac & cheese, corn bread, Alabama slaw & smoky BBQ sauce
SLOW COOKED BRISKET
12 hour slow cooked brisket with potato bake, portabello mushroom, seasonal vege, bacon jam, sour cream & gravy
CAULIFLOWER STEAK (v) (gf)
Slow roasted cajun cauliflower steak with fresh beetroot salad, pumpkin seeds, walnuts & maple tahini dressing
BEEF CHEEK, ALE & MUSHROOM POT PIE
NZ beef cheek slow cooked with winter ale, rich gravy & mushrooms. Served with butter puff pastry top, kumara & potato mash & steamed seasonal vege
NZ LAMB RUMP (GFO)
NZ lamb marinated in garlic & mint, served with quinoa, olive, feta, mint, sun-dried tomato, baby green spinach, hummus, tzatziki, served with garlic pita pocket
SWEET CHILLI CHICKEN PASTA
Chicken thigh, bacon, spinach & green onion in a creamy sweet chilli sauce
Burgers & Sandwiches
Burgers & sandwiches are served with pigtail fries & tomato sauce – excluding the Gluten Free Vegan Burger. Option: change fries to salad for no extra charge.
SMASHED BEEF BURGER
Maple BBQ prime NZ beef patties, streaky bacon, cheddar cheese, fresh tomato, lettuce, red onion, tomato relish & BBQ sauce
PULLED PORK BURGER
Maple BBQ pulled pork, McClure’s sweet & spicy pickles, slaw, crispy onion rings & kewpie mayo
NZ LAMB BURGER
Prime NZ lamb patties with beetroot relish, cheddar cheese, fresh tomato, lettuce, red onion, aioli & tomato relish
CHICKEN SATAY BURGER
Grilled marinated free range chicken fillets with spicy satay sauce, asian slaw, lettuce, red onion & aioli
CRISPY CHICKEN CAESAR BURGER
Crumbled chicken thigh, cos lettuce, parmesan crisp, bacon, fried egg & Caesar dressing
OPEN BRISKET SANDWICH
Cheese kaiser roll topped with 12 hour slow cooked brisket, grilled onion & capsicum, tomato jam, melted cheese, fried egg, lettuce, tomato, aioli & cheese sauce.
VEGGIE BURGER (v)
Water chestnut & mushroom pattie & corn fritter with tomato relish, portobello mushroom, cheddar cheese, fresh tomato, lettuce, red onion, aioli & chargrilled vegetable chutney
GLUTEN FREE VEGAN BURGER (GF,VE, DF)
Beyond meat pattie, fresh tomato, lettuce, red onion, vegan cheese, basil pesto, tomato jam & vegan mayo. Served with Proper Crisps.
Salads
All salads can be altered to a vegan option with our vegan chicken.
PRAWN & CALAMARI SALAD
Crispy lemon pepper prawn & calamari served on fresh lettuce, asian slaw, cucumber, tomato & a hoisin & sesame dressing. Topped with sweet chilli aioli, served with garlic pita pocket
PORK BELLY & PRAWN VERMICELLI BOWL (gf) (df)
Pork belly & prawn vermicelli with a peanut hoisin dressing, mung bean sprouts, coriander, pickled vegetables, crispy shallots & soft boiled egg
BEEF GREEK SALAD
Marinated beef strips with straight cut chips on a Greek-style salad of capsicum, cos lettuce, red onion, cucumber, tomato & kalamata olives with a creamy blue cheese dressing
HARISSA CHICKEN SALAD(gfo)(df)
Spicy marinated free range chicken breast strips on fresh lettuce, asian slaw, cucumber, tomato, avocado & cashews. Topped with sweet chilli, aioli & crispy noodles
Vegetarian
See our salads section for more options. All of our salads can be served with vegan chicken.
VEGGIE BURGER (v)
Water chestnut & mushroom pattie & corn fritter, tomato relish, portobello mushroom, cheddar cheese, fresh tomato, lettuce, red onion, aioli & chargrilled vegetable chutney
GLUTEN FREE VEGAN BURGER (GF)(VE)(DF)
Beyond meat pattie, fresh tomato, lettuce, red onion, vegan cheese, basil pesto, tomato jam, vegan mayo, served with Proper Crisps.
CRUMBED MAC & CHEESE BALLS (V)
Made with three cheeses, served with rocket & smoked chipotle relish
CAULIFLOWER STEAK (v) (gf)
Slow roasted cajun cauliflower steak with fresh beetroot salad, pumpkin seeds, walnuts & maple tahini dressing
VEGE LASAGNE (v)(gf)
Layered root vegetables with a house made tomato sauce, gluten free lasagne & green salad
VEGAN NACHOS (GF)(VE)(DF)
Chilli tofu & coriander scramble with black beans, tomato & corn salsa, chipotle tortilla chips & vegan chipotle mayo
JACK FRUIT STEAMED BUNS (ve)
Pulled jack fruit steamed buns served with apple & fennel slaw, daikon carrots pickle, topped with vegan aioli, BBQ sauce & crispy shallots
Sides
Pigtail Fries
Straight Cut Fries
Potato & Kumara Mash
Green Salad
Steamed Vegetables
Extra Dips
Fried Egg
Children's Menu
BEEF BURGER
Smashed beef pattie, cheddar cheese, tomato sauce & aioli. Served with pigtail fries
CRUMBED CHICKEN TENDERS
Served with pigtail fries
FRESH FISH BITES
With tomato sauce & aioli. Served with pigtail fries
KIDS MEATBALLS & LINGUINE
In a tomato sauce, topped with melted cheese.
Desserts
(gf) = gluten free; (gfo) = gluten free option by request; (GFI) = gluten free by ingredients only; (v) = vegetarian; (ve) = vegan; (veo) = vegan option by request; (df) = dairy free
PINK LEMONDADE RAW SLICE (GF, VE)
With compote & coconut yoghurt
COCONUT & MANGO PAVLOVA
with lime ice-cream
BANOFFEE SUNDAE
Banana, vanilla ice-cream, biscuit, toffee sauce, cream, shaved chocolate
CHOCOLATE BROWNIE (gf)
Warm chocolate brownie, served with ice-cream & chocolate sauce
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+ Log your visitHow prices compare
Against typical prices in Rotorua
- Fish and chips Typical in Rotorua: $28.95 $32.90
- Seafood chowder Typical in Rotorua: $20.95 $19.90
- Nachos Typical in Rotorua: $23.00 $24.90
Recent price changes
Tracked each time the menu updates
-
CHICKEN SATAY BURGER
October 30, 2026
$31.90$32.90 up -
BRISKET LOADED FRIES
October 30, 2026
$27.90$28.90 up -
SEAFOOD PLATTER
October 30, 2026
$38.90$39.90 up
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