Aqua Restaurant & Bar occupies Level 1 of Whangārei's Hundertwasser Art Centre, so the setting is unlike a conventional dining room. Curved forms, vivid colour and the building's playful rejection of straight lines provide a memorable backdrop from breakfast through dinner. A dedicated entrance makes the restaurant accessible without visiting the galleries, while the room's capacity for private functions of up to 100 people gives the distinctive space a useful role for celebrations and group occasions.
The kitchen grounds that exuberant setting in Northland produce and a practical approach to sustainability. Local sourcing and nose-to-tail use shape the menu, with Pinenut Bakery and Haku Kingfish among the named suppliers. Rather than restricting itself to one style, Aqua moves between fresh seafood, carefully handled meat and considered plant-based cooking. That breadth suits an all-day restaurant serving Town Basin visitors, local regulars and evening diners in the same venue.
Brunch can be sweet or savoury: pancakes combine fruit, mascarpone and lemon curd, while smoked-fish hash, a Vietnamese omelette and eggs Benedict provide fuller starts. Lunch adds pide sandwiches and a corned-beef toastie alongside Provençale seafood chowder, mushroom and ricotta gnocchi, kale slaw and spiced lamb. The range makes a quick daytime stop possible without limiting guests who want a composed meal and time to take in the unusual surroundings.
Dinner develops the menu's seafood and meat emphasis through panko squid, seafood soup, lamb rump, beef sirloin, twice-cooked chicken and salmon with prawn, while gnocchi and a dedicated vegan selection keep the choice broad. Dessert is equally individual: coconut dumplings meet miso caramel and mango sorbet, Middle Eastern doughnuts offer a warm finish, and peach with prosecco brings a lighter option. Children's dishes complete an offering that can flex from family dining to a special evening in the Art Centre.
Address: Level 1, Hundertwasser Art Centre, 81 Dent Street, Town Basin, Whangārei 0110, New Zealand
Moved or closed? Tell us: Moved·Temporarily closed·Permanently closed
Aqua Restaurant And Bar Menu
Brunch
Served from 9.00am till 3.00pm. We are proud to be using Pinenut Bakery Organic Sourdough – PnBOS.
Smoothie
Ask about today’s fruity combo [vgn] [gf]
Fresh from the Oven
Cheese Scone | Danish Pastry | House Made Muffins [v]
Pancakes
Stewed Fruit Compote | Passionfruit Mascarpone | Lemon Curd | Freeze-Dried Berries [v]
Corned Beef & Eggs
Sauteed Potatoes | Fried Eggs | Pickled Jalapenos | Spring Onion | Jus Tortillas [gfa] [dfa]
Smoked Fish Hash
Smoked Warehou | Crushed Kumara | Poached Eggs | Tomato Salsa | Curried Butter Sauce [gf]
Pan Fried Lambs Liver
Thick Cut Bacon | Saute Mushrooms | Wilted Spinach | Grain Mustard Thyme | Cream | Grilled PnBOS [gfa]
Vietnamese Omelette
3 Eggs | Crispy Pork | Prawn | Chilli | Coriander | Slaw | Lemongrass | Peanuts | Vietnamese Mint | Citrus Soy Dressing [gf]
Prawn Pate
Semi Dried Tomatoes | Marinated Olives | Grilled PnBOS | Vegetable Pickle [gfa]
Free Range & Organic
Waipu Hens Egg: Poached, Fried or Scrambled | Grilled PnBOS [v] [gfa] [dfa]
Benedict
Soft Poached Hens Eggs | Spinach | Grilled PnBOS | Citrus Hollandaise [v] [gfa]
Brunch Sides
Thick Cut Bacon
[gf] [df]
Cold Smoked Salmon
[gf] [df]
Egg
[gf] [df]
Grilled PnBOS
[dfa]
Field Mushroom
[gf] [dfa]
Hash Browns
[gf] [df]
Fresh Spinach | Gazpacho Dressing
[gf] [vgn]
Pancakes | Jam
Gluten Free Bread
[gf] [dfa]
Salads
Served from 9.00am till 3.00pm
Mechoui Spiced Lamb
Romesco | Mesculin | Goats Cheese | Tomatoes | Pickled Garlic | Medjool Date Chutney | Toasted Almonds | Le Puy Lentil Vinaigrette [gf] [dfa]
“Andiamo” Caesar
Cos Lettuce | Spinach | Anchovy Dressing | Parmigiano | Lemon Vinaigrette | Warm Poached Waipu Hens Egg | Polenta Croutons | Crispy Bacon [gf]
Vietnamese Chicken Salad
Served Chilled | Pulled Poached Chicken | Avocado | Slaw | Smoked Cashew Nuts | Mayonnaise | Mint | Chilli | Coriander | Lemongrass | Lime | Ginger | Garlic Sesame [gf] [df]
Kale Slaw
World Famous in Whangarei! Peanut & Sweet Soy Dressing | Coriander | Vietnamese Mint | Pickled Onions | Lime | Red Curry Mayonnaise [vgn] [gf] [df]
Lunch
Served from 9.00am till 3.00pm
Fries
Vegan Aioli +1.50 | Big Daddy Sauce + 2.50 [vgn]
Garlic Bread
Grilled Turkish Pide
Polenta Chips
Basil Pesto Aioli [gf]
Oysters – Locally Sourced
Natural or Truffled Kombu Soy or Spiced Gherkin Caviar or Bloody Mary Granita [gf] [df]
Turkish Pide Sandwich
Grilled Chicken Breast | Sauteed Mushrooms | Tomato | Courgette | Harissa Sour Cream | Fries
Corn Beef Toastie
PnBOS | Red Cabbage Sauerkraut | Spiced Pickle | Cumin Haloumi | Big Daddy Sauce | Fries [dfa]
Provencale Seafood Chowder
Smoked Warehou | Mussels | Prawns | Potato | Leek | Saffron Fish Veloute | Crayfish Rouille | PnBOS | Prawn Butter
Baked Mushroom & Ricotta Gnocchi
Oyster Mushrooms | Leek | Edamame | Baked Artichoke | Beurre Noisette | Toasted Feta | Green Pea Puree [v]
Kids Menu
Available 9.00am-close
Battered Hotdog
Fries | Slaw | Tomato Sauce
Kids Chicken Salad
Served Chilled | Pulled Poached Chicken | Smoked Cashew Nuts | Slaw | Mayonnaise | Mint | Chili | Lemongrass | Lime | Ginger | Garlic | Sesame [gf] [df]
Kids Kale Slaw
Peanut & Sweet Soy Dressing | Coriander | Vietnamese Mint | Pickled Onions | Lime | Red Curry Mayonnaise [vgn] [gf]
BBQ Pork Ribs
Slaw | Fries | Big Daddy BBQ Sauce [df]
Kids Dessert
Kids Waffle Cone
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream | Jelly | Chocolate Flake
Warm Coconut Dumplings
Miso Caramel | Sorbet | Toasted Coconut | Pineapple [vgn] [gf]
Vegan
Served from 9.00am till 9.00pm
Garlic Bread
Grilled Turkish Pide
Olive & Tomatoes
Warm Marinated Olives | Semi Dried Tomatoes | Grilled PnBOS | Confit Garlic | Vegetable Pickle [gfa]
Mechoui Spiced Cauliflower
Courgettes | Roasted Carrots | Tomatoes | Romesco | Mesculin | Pickled Garlic | Medjool Date Chutney | Toasted Almonds | Le Puy Lentil Vinaigrette [gf]
Crumbed Eggplant
Panko Crusted | Green Gazpacho | Heirloom Tomatoes | Avocado | Basil Vegan Aioli | Sweet Garlic [vgn]
Kale Slaw
World Famous in Whangarei! Peanut & Sweet Soy Dressing | Coriander | Vietnamese Mint | Pickled Onions | Lime | Red Curry Mayonnaise [vgn] [gf]
Vegan Sides
Fries
Vegan Aioli +1.50 [gf]
Warm Kumara Salad
Kimchi | Shaved Pumpkin | Lemon Vinaigrette | Toasted Seeds | Puffed Rice [gf]
Snacks
Served from 3.00pm till close. We are proud to be using Pinenut Bakery Organic Sourdough – PnBOS
Garlic Bread
Grilled Turkish Pide
Panko Crumbed Squid
Miso Mayonnaise | Pickled Ginger | Spring Onion [df]
Polenta Chips
Basil Pesto Aioli or Mushroom & Blue Cheese [gf]
BBQ Pork Ribs
24 Hour Cooked Saint Louis Ribs | Big Daddy BBQ Sauce | Jus [gf] [df]
Oysters – Locally Sourced
Natural or Spiced Gherkin Caviar or Truffled Kombu Soy or Bloody Mary Granita [gf] [df]
Fries
Vegan Aioli or Big Daddy Sauce
Entree
Served from 5.00pm till 9.00pm
Prawn Pate
Semi Dried Tomatoes | Marinated Olives | Grilled PnBOS | Vegetable Pickle [gfa]
Crumbed Eggplant
Panko Crusted | Green Gazpacho | Heirloom Tomatoes | Avocado | Basil | Vegan Aioli | Sweet Garlic [vgn]
Roasted Duck Salad
Served Chilled | Asian Slaw | Smoked Cashew Nuts | Coriander | Mayonnaise | Vietnamese Mint | Chilli | Lemongrass | Lime | Ginger | Garlic | Sesame [gf] [df]
Provencale Seafood Chowder
Smoked Warehou | Mussells | Prawns | Potato | Leek | Saffron Fish Veloute | Crayfish Rouille | PnBOS | Prawn Butter
Mains
Served from 5.00pm till 9.00pm
Beef Special
Changes Daily, Ask us for Todays Version Price: Market Price
Locally Line Caught Fish
Changes Daily, Ask us for Todays Version Price: Market Price
Baked Mushroom & Ricotta Gnocchi
Oyster Mushrooms | Leeks | Edamame | Baked Artichokes | Beurre Noisette Toasted Feta | Green Pea Puree [v]
Grilled Pork Sirloin
Butternut Pumpkin Puree | BBQ Rib | Charred Corn, Quinoa, Tomato & Bell Pepper Salad | Black Onion Mole | Salsa Verde
Mechoui Spiced Lamb
Romesco | Mesculin | Goats Cheese | Tomatoes | Pickled Garlic | Medjool Date Chutney | Toasted Almonds | Roasted Carrots | Le Puy Lentil Vinaigrette [gf] [dfa]
Mains Sides
Fries
Vegan Aioli or Big Daddy Sauce
Warm Kumara Salad
Kimchi | Shaved Pumpkin | Lemon Vinaigrette | Toasted Seeds | Puffed Rice [gf]
Grilled PnBOS
Dessert
Served from 11.00am till close
Warm Coconut Dumplings
Miso Caramel | Lychees | Toasted Coconut | Charred Pineapple | Chilli | Fresh Mint | Mango Sorbet [vgn] [gf]
Middle Eastern Doughnuts
Sugar Dusted Yoghurt Doughnuts | Rose Water Poached Red Fruit | Pistachio & Baked White Chocolate Crumble | Chantilly | Cardamom Custard
Peach & Prosecco Tutti Frutti
Schnapps Macerated Greek Peach | Lemon Sorbet | Seasonal & Freeze Dried Berries | Prosecco Float [vgn] [gf]
The Original Affogato
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream | Ozone Espresso [gf]
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