Rosewood Matakauri

The room was clean, and everyone seemed well meaning, so it wasn’t a bad stay. But the price left us frustrated, since we expected more from Rosewood or a similar brand. We had dinner at the restaurant once. The food was good, though service felt disorganized, with people needing to ask about things more than once. It may have been because it was New Years, but the meal moved slowly even with only two tables, ours included. We stayed in the Lakeview Deluxe Room, which felt like an attic space off the lobby. Noise from downstairs carried through, there was a strange exit sign and another staircase in the room with no clear destination, and the shower was tiny with only a small wand. We left feeling we might have spent our money better elsewhere.

The meal and service at first were very good, but the payment experience spoiled everything. My card had been approved, yet I was followed into the car park and asked to pay again. I was questioned unnecessarily and they wrote down my card details. Later, I got a call confirming that the payment had in fact gone through. It was embarrassing and below what I expected from a luxury hotel.

We only ate here, we didn’t stay overnight, and it was amazing across the board: the food, service and views. I’ve lived in town for 20 years and can’t believe I missed this place for so long. A rare find, and a truly A+++++ experience that everyone should try at least once.

We went for the three-course lunch tasting menu, with a separate kids menu for our child. The dining room was intimate, beautifully appointed and had a superb view, though it felt a little short on atmosphere, perhaps because we visited in the off-peak season. Thanks to Rosewood for opening the lodge restaurant to locals, rather than keeping it just for hotel guests. The wine list had plenty of local choices. I tried the Kauri Bees Knees, made with gin, homegrown honey and basil. It was like a gimlet, subtle and refreshing. The chef kindly replaced the fish starter for one of us with a very nice vegetarian option. My kingfish crudo looked lovely but wasn’t quite to my taste, though I can be fussy about crudos. The venison main was excellent, with complementary flavours and none of the gaminess venison can sometimes have. Bone marrow on the steak, however, overpowered its flavours. Dessert was the highlight, with depth of flavour and balanced sweetness. A highly recommended meal in a beautiful setting. This review is about the restaurant, not Rosewood Matakauri accommodation.