Solera

Smack-bang In the heart of downtown Mount Maunganui, Solera is a wine bar and restaurant that champions small New Zealand wine producers, while offering a contemporary menu centred around the art of cooking over fire. A seat at the stunning wooden bar offers a bird’s-eye view of an impressive open kitchen, featuring a captivating fireplace that imparts smoky depth to dishes that are a celebration of seriously innovative sharing plates. Highlights include a crayfish and prawn yuzu custard tart, a mussel tostada with flavours of smoked beetroot, pine nuts and oregano, and the pork skewers with a pork-skin granola and mustard glaze. An intimate place to linger over a wine list that is a cleverly curated journey through New Zealand’s vineyards. There’s an array of lesser-known varietals and blends to perfectly complement the flavourful offerings on the menu and all are available by the bottle or glass. Much more than just a local wine bar, this is a destination for those seeking an exceptional dining experience that delivers on creativity.