Hawkes Bay: Lunch at Cape Kidnappers

Did you know you can have lunch and dinner at the fabulous Rosewood Cape Kidnappers without being an in-house guest?

Cape Kidnappers is an area around the coastline from Napier in Hawkes Bay, and the lodge here has a magnificent golf course and super posh accommodation. Napier has the second largest collection Art Deco buildings (only to Miami), due to the massive 1931 earthquake that saw the city (and nearby Hastings) being rebuilt during this fabulous architectural era.

But happily, not only is Rosewood Cape Kidnappers Lodge open for meals to Joe Public like you and me, but they are also on First Table, so you can dine for 50% off. There are some catches, however…

Firstly, First Table is an app with hundreds of participating restaurants, and they entice diners to eat early (you’ll probably need to arrive before 6pm, but check the calendar), and offer them 50% off their meals for up to four people.

There are some excluded items that differ for each restaurant, like the crayfish tail at the Park Hyatt the other day 😀

You will probably also need to buy at least one glass of wine per person. But if dining at one of the fanciest lodges in New Zealand is on your bucket list, but your wallet says no, this might loosen it up.

Cape Kidnappers view — Our view over the farm to the ocean at Te Awanga

Rosewood Cape Kidnappers currently offer a 3-course set menu for $135, and a 5-course tasting dinner menu for $240 – and both are 50% off with First Table bookings. (Note, you will also pay $15 to First Table).

My family members dined there this week, and honestly, they were disappointed. The ambience is amazing, but don’t go for dinner in winter as there is no view in the dark. Go for lunch, would be the first tip. The $240 meal comes in at $120 on First Table, but the cheapest bottle of wine is $120. The food was only ok, was their summation. Bones in the fish (totally unacceptable in a fine dining restaurant, and yes the chef was told).

Here’s what you can expect this month if you plan to do the 5-course menu…

Rosewood menu winter 2024 — Menu, winter 2024

My husband and I stayed here a few years back on a media hosted overnight in a junior suite and I thought it was amazing. My photos are below of our room, some of the other rooms in the main lodge and even a baby kiwi that I got to hold from their on-site sanctuary.

Cape Kidnappers — Begin with a drink in one of the many nooks and rooms decorated with fresh flowers and furniture that tells a story

The following photos are from a few years ago when I dined there, your dishes will be different.

Cape Kidnappers wagyu — This little amuse bouche was a surprise – wagyu beef tartar, shitake, horseradish, crispy bread and a sesame soy dressing

Cape Kidnappers lunch — This raviolo filled with shrimps and scallops with a saffron bisque foam was the taste of the day for me. It came with melted leek, snow peas and tomato raisins. Who ever knew?!

Cape Kidnappers kiwi — The highlight of the day! Kiwi and other native birds live in the huge protected Cape Sanctuary and this 4-month old named Harvest was brought in for a little pat. Awwww. Lodge guests can join the rangers and go on a Kiwi Discovery Walk.

Cape Kidnappers Hawkes Bay — Then a little stroll to the pool down by the chalets

The Farm Cape Kidnappers — You can only laze out here with a book if you are staying, but for this view, it might just be worth it!

Initially owned by the Robertson family, the three lodges have been sold to Rosewood and are now renamed Rosewood Cape Kidnappers and their sister properties Rosewood Kauri Cliffs in Matauri Bay the North and Rosewood Matakauri Lodge in Queenstown.

They all come with fabulous restaurants like this, and golfers as well as those who love a pampering spa treatment will not even want to pop out and experience the region!