Explore

Having spent many years doing the market, festival and event rounds with their OG food truck, On A Roll have clocked up a devout following of local foodies from all around Hamilton. So, we weren’t the only ones who were pretty wrapped when the doors to their permanent Vialou Street spot opened in 2021. The eatery itself is the embodiment of good vibes. You’ll notice industrial cement blocks contrasted with bold feature walls and a larger-than-life tiger mural. Accented with warm wood tones, leather seating and bohemian lighting, they’ve simply nailed the aesthetic. Known for their flavour-packed take on Asian-fusion bites, On A Roll is a serious crowd-pleaser when it comes to dining out with the crew. Our advice? Sharing is caring, so order one of everything because we guarantee you’ll want to taste it allllll.

With its signature red interior and exterior, murals, and neon lights, it’s a vibrant space, topped off by the background of friendly chatter, clinking cutlery, and attentive staff moving from table to table. With different levels of spice, vegetarian and gluten-free options (as well as the cheeky option of taking home some of their incredible frozen dumplings for a lazy weekday meal), even people with dietary requirements can enjoy the glorious Chilli House cuisine.

Offering an expertly crafted menu, calming decor and even executive meeting rooms for hire, it’s the ideal place for a catch-up with colleagues. The interior styling alone is everything you’d want from your weekday coffee spot. Bright open spaces are complemented by cooling hues across the tiling and feature walls, while warm timber accents, lush greenery and rattan chairs make this Hamilton café an inviting destination to order up a treat and smash through those emails.

Cream Eatery flung its doors open in early 2021 and it’s been a hit from day dot. Owners Luke and Chrissy Houghton sure know a thing or two about creating dishes people love to devour. Luke himself is a trained chef, while Chrissy is an expert at whipping up mega-impressive cakes. Lucky for our taste buds, this is a match made in heaven.

One thing is for sure—only good things come out of Riverbank Lane. Those who know the area will be well aware this place has it all: a café, a bar, a hairdresser, a barber, and a bookshop. We love it so much, it made the cut for our round-up of New Zealand’s best hidden laneways.So it’s safe to say when Café Kopi found a home in this community, we were pretty stoked. The vibe of this little caffeine haven is pretty chic, to say the least. You’ll find sky-high concrete walls adorned with exposed copper pipes, flanked by dramatic floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Complemented by warm wooden panelling and dappled sunlight on a good day, there’s no better place to while away the afternoon.

In the heart of Hamilton’s vibrant Riverbank Lane, with its cosmopolitan Melbourne-like ambience, you’ll discover Rüdi’s—a micro-bakery that perfectly marries Nordic minimalism with artisan passion. The interior, painted in serene shades of deep blue and pristine white, resonates with a cool, understated elegance. Concrete floors contrast with warm wooden accents and fresh botanicals, creating a space that feels both modern and welcoming. After spending over a decade abroad working in other fields, Stefan (architectural and interiors photographer) and Fern (director in innovation) returned to New Zealand in 2021 with their young family.

Tucked away in a corner of Hamilton city is an enchanting little laneway that evokes the charm of Italy, with its pottery and art studios, water fountains, and curated gardens. This is where you’ll find the adorable pink facade of Hello Rosie. The tiny vegan haven is more than just a feast for the eyes, their menu is chock full of nostalgic comfort food that’s good for the soul.

Bamboo Sweets is an artisan chocolate shop nestled in Hamilton’s Casabella Lane, dedicated to crafting exceptional chocolates that promise to sweeten your day. With a commitment to using premium ingredients and modern techniques, Bamboo Sweets ensures that every creation is of the highest quality. The focus on small-batch production ensures big, bold flavours in every mouthful, making it a must-visit destination for any chocolate lover.

A few steps inside Harper Inc and you know you’re in dangerous territory... Dangerous because you’ll find yourself amongst some of the most beautiful contemporary fashion in New Zealand at the moment, where leaving empty-handed is a very hard thing to do.Proud to be a small family business, the mother-daughter duo involved are true shopaholics themselves and thought it only right to bring their passion to the streets of Hamilton. In the store, you’ll find a heap of products from well-known designers from NZ as well as across the Tasman.

Madam Woo is a beloved fixture in Hamilton’s dining scene, and for several years now, it’s been wooing its customers with far more than just its delicious food. Its central location, its modern but cosy ambience, and the infectious energy of the staff are the perfect ingredients to create an experience that’s going to leave you wanting more… and we haven’t even started on the menu. At the heart of every great restaurant lies great food, and Madam Woo is no exception.

Dot & Winnies is an owner-operated café situated in the heart of Hamilton, renowned for its welcoming atmosphere and memorable food. Inside is spacious, comfortable and versatile, meaning it’s perfect for everything from large gatherings to more intimate get togethers.Its name is a heartfelt nod to the owners’ grandmothers, Dot and Winnie, both of whom were passionate about baking, cooking and all things hospitality. Their legacy of warmth and care is infused into every aspect of Dot & Winnies, from the smile and wave you receive at the door to the homemade recipes made with love.

A humming place due to the atmosphere as much as the buzzing machines, Flax Roots Tattoo is a Hamilton institution for those wanting to add to, or purchase their very first tattoo. Paintings, prints and sculptures plaster the walls from entrance to studio, and there’s no doubting the Māori influence here with proud depictions of the ancient art at every turn. Eclectic and creative, the space mixes a sense of mastery with fun, and it seems there’s truly no quirky design the team wouldn’t be able to do.

Tucked away on London Street, this store showcases designer brands from all around the globe as well as clever designs from our very own shores. Aptly named, the boutique was established by sisters Julie and Claire in 2008, whose love of fashion and individuality led them to open a boutique where other locals could visit, be inspired, and perhaps leave with a stylish new piece for their wardrobe. Big fashion names like Sass & Bide, Zimmermann, Karen Walker and Miss Crabb fill hangers and racks, as do bags by Deadly Ponies, The Wolf Gang and Status Anxiety, candles by Damselfly, and jewellery by Meadowlark and Stolen Girlfriends Club, to name a few.

Every year in August, Hamilton Book Month celebrates New Zealand authors and their writing, with events covering different genres and age groups. Readers from the Waikato and beyond are invited to meet authors, listen to them discuss their work, and ask questions. With activities and events for all ages, all month, this is a local celebration you won't want to miss.

Visit their website for the full schedule of events.

Opening: 5.30 - 7.30pm

Thursday 14th August 2025

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Exhibition Date: 14th August - 13th September 2025

In Reflex, Sarah Munro invites viewers into a quiet, instinctual space — where watercolor becomes not a tool of control, but a collaborator in uncertainty. These works arise from a process of immediate, unfiltered response: to memory, to mood, to the body’s own rhythm.

Watercolor, with its fluidity and resistance to overworking, mirrors Munro’s interest in what lies beneath conscious thought. Each brushstroke is a reflex — quick, unrehearsed, and honest. Color seeps, bleeds, and settles in ways that cannot be entirely predicted, revealing the tension between surrender and intention that defines her practice.

Rather than plan or perfect, Munro listens. She listens to the way water moves, how pigment pools or vanishes, how gesture meets gravity. The result is work that feels ephemeral yet grounded—at once fleeting and deeply rooted in presence.

Reflex is not a narrative. It is an impulse. A visual record of the moment before interpretation, before language. In this body of work, Munro explores what happens when we trust the immediacy of the hand, the weight of the brush, and the quiet logic of the unconscious.

Han Chao - Hanrad Gallery

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Artist Statement:

I am a studio-based painter in Hamilton, New Zealand and an academic specialising in creative practice research in painting and embodied cognition. I have exhibited in New York, Italy and France. Since 2018, I have taught art theory and supervised Honors and Masters-level creative practice research at Waikato Institute of Technology. My doctoral studies explored how painting activates embodied cognition and I am committed to developing this research in both my painting practice and teaching.

 Sarah Mitchell Munro

The Bruce Springsteen Experience is an international-level show dedicated to honouring the timeless music of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Featuring a full nine-piece lineup, this captivating performance delivers an electrifying blend of visual and audio excitement. Audiences are consistently wowed, with standing ovations being the norm.

As 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the iconic "Born to Run" album, The Bruce Springsteen Experience will perform the album in its entirety, along with a selection of The Boss's greatest hits. This special celebration promises to be a remarkable tribute, allowing fans to relive the magic of Springsteen’s music like never before. Don't miss this unforgettable experience!

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Saturday Night Fever defined the disco era and the high-energy second act delivers chartbuster after chartbuster from the Bee Gees, K.C. and the Sunshine Band, Yvonne Elliman, The Trammps, Graham Bonnet and others – Night Fever, Jive Talkin’, Disco Inferno, Stayin’ Alive, More Than A Woman, Emotion, Warm Ride, If I Can’t Have You, How Deep is Your Love, You Should be Dancing and so much more.

Saturday Night Fever was the biggest selling sound recording between 1977 and 1980 with highest daily sales of 200,000 USA copies, and topped the popularity surveys of Billboard, Cashbox and Record World.

Awarded the Album of the Year Grammy in 1979, the release stayed in the Top 200 for 29 consecutive months and made Barry Gibb the first solo songwriter in history to have three consecutive #1’s and four songs in the Top Ten simultaneously.

Saturday Night Fever has since been added to the American National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress as “culturally, historically and aesthetically significant”.  Stayin’ Alive continues to make history as it features the first drum loop ever recorded on a pop music track and the Brooklyn Shuffle moves are still in evidence on the dance floor.

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After humble beginnings in a garage, to a record-breaking rise to the top of the podcast charts, Aotearoa’s favourite trio — Jordan Vaha'akolo, Brook Ruscoe, and Marc Peard — are taking The Morning Shift to the people. This August and September, they’ll be bringing eight massive shows across Aotearoa and Australia in their first-ever LIVE tour.

Real people, real talk and now real life. Expect all the stuff you love from the podcast: deep kōrero, big laughs, a few tears, spontaneous/questionable singing, plus whatever Jordan decides to overshare that night. The live show brings the podcast to life, with that signature Morning Shift energy that turns commutes into therapy sessions and takes gym workouts to another level.

The Morning Shift is more than a podcast, it's a community. Having now ticked over two years of being #1 in your hearts (sometimes #1 in the charts), their podcast has become a staple for thousands of New Zealanders who tune in daily.Whether you’re a Day One Shifter or just joined the movement last week — this is your moment.

Rally the crew, book the babysitter, and get ready for a night that promises to shift you.Thanks to Nando’s, who’ve helped take this dream from the garage to the stage.Shift Nation, we on.

The Black Flames are ready to burn the house down.

It’s been 30 years since Aaron Gascoigne stormed Hamilton stages fronting local rock legends ColdShock — a band that left its mark on the city with raw power, sweat, and sound. Now he’s back. And this time, he’s bringing fire, brass, and a full-blown musical machine.

The Black Flames are an 11-piece supergroup fusing rock, funk, and soul — the brainchild of Netherworld Dancing Toys founder Nick Sampson, alongside longtime collaborators Tim Robinson and Steve Shaw.

Up front:
Gascoigne — Waikato-born and battle-tested — a showman with the grit of rock and the heart of soul.

Beside him: Moana Richardson — a phenomenal young soul vocalist whose star is rising fast. Taking on the mantle once held by Annie Crummer, Moana brings undeniable power, grace, and soul well beyond her years. She’s the real deal — and she’s just getting started.

On guitar and vocals, Nick Sampson — the songwriter behind some of New Zealand’s biggest anthems (and yes, For Today is in the set).

In the engine room: Steve Shaw (The Loving Arms) on bass, Tim Robinson on drums, and Michael Larsen (ex-Jan Hellriegel band) on keys.

Overhead? A horn section that slaps — five of NZ’s finest from The Instigators, Wonderfish Collective, The Alibis and more — razor-sharp and loud as hell.

Their brand new single launches live on the night.

And it’s not just The Black Flames lighting up the room — opening the night are two of NZ’s most exciting young bands:
Pocket Watch — a gritty, high-energy crew with killer riffs and youthful swagger.
The Rain — indie rock with soul, heart, and hooks that stay with you long after the lights go out.

This isn’t just a gig — it’s a homecoming.
A new chapter.
And a chance to dance like it's 1994 again — but bigger, tighter, and groovier than ever.

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A celebration of Afrikaans with Bobby van Jaarsveld, Ruhan du Toit and Corlea Both with JD Mars.

This is three hours of great Afrikaans music by the best from South Africa. Kom kuier saam in jou taal by Afrikaans is Lekker. Moontlik gemaak deur die ondersteuning van Afriforum Wereldwyd.

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Hamilton’s own Berkley Normal Middle School turns up the volume with Disney’s Camp Rock The Musical!

Mitchie, Shane and their friends square off against rival Camp Star in a winner-takes-all showdown bursting with guitar-driven anthems, energetic choreography and hits like “This Is Me,” “Can’t Back Down” and “We Rock.”

Packed with humour and heart, this 70-minute, family-friendly production proves that friendship beats fame and music shines brightest when shared. Enjoy high-energy performances and irresistibly catchy pop-rock numbers, brought to the stage by Berkley students. Book now and join the jam!

Disney’s Camp Rock The Musical is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are supplied by MTI.

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SkyCity Hamilton this August presents the very best in Local and International Stand Up comedy once again.

Their headline act this month is the amazing Hayley Sproull. Star of the ZM Morning show, Taskmaster, 7 Days and host of this year's Comedy Gala, we are honoured Hayley will be at Hamilton's newest and best comedy club.

Support will be from one of Hamilton's finest exports, Paul Douglas. The master yarn spinner has been one of the busiest comedians in New Zealand since he broke onto the scene 10 years ago with commanding performances on The Comedy Gala and 7 Days.

“There are many ways to enjoy pleasure and laughter as a human being, one of the easiest is watching Paul Douglas” - Dai Henwood

The show will be hosted by the hairiest and best known faces in NZ comedy, Ben Hurley.

R18

General Admission: $43.28 each ($39.00 + $4.28 fees)

Step inside a compelling visual narrative that challenges society’s assumptions and celebrates the power of change. RAW Beauty is a transformative photographic master’s exhibition curated by Annah
Stretton, bringing to light the stories of waahine with lived experience of incarceration not as statistics, but as women of deep strength, mana, and untapped potential.

In this collection of striking portraits and personal reflections, the exhibition directly responds to the historic injustice of the state mugshot imagery captured and circulated without agency or consent. Here, those same women reclaim their image, voice, and future on their own terms.

The work has been developed in partnership with the waahine of RAW (Reclaim Another Woman), a pioneering social initiative that supports high-risk women to exit cycles of offending, poverty, and dependence. RAW offers a long-term, wraparound model of care that includes education, employment, and whaanau reconnection, walking alongside women both during and after their time in prison.

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11am – 12.30am
1pm – 2.30pm
3pm – 4.30pm
5pm – 6.30pm
7pm – 8.30pm 

Ticket Price 

Non-Members Ticket Price - $50 

Bookings for a Table of up to 4 Guests

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Choose from 40+ available wines to taste

8 different countries and over 20 different regions
Taste up to 15 different wines & Specialty Products
No BYO. Food availability at venue
Parking available on site
Book a table for up to 4 people
Exclusive Event Only offers available on the day

Limited seats available. Register early to secure your preferred day & session time.

The Wine Community Members (and guests)  - FREE

No Large Group Bookings. Maximum 1 Table per group

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After months of hard work, Bruce Cooper and I are proud to share The View from Poets Corner – a short film packed with creativity that brings Bruce’s poetry to life.

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Premiere Night – Saturday 9 August

Nivara Lounge, Hamilton

Doors 7PM | Screening 8PM

Koha/donation entry – everyone welcome

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Join us for the very first public screening, with a live poetry reading from Bruce and music from the incredible one-man band Mike Conlon.

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Come grab a drink, hear the words, and see the film on the big screen for the first time.

Big Thanks To Hamilton City Council, The Creative Communities Scheme, and Creative Waikato for Funding and Support in the Development of this Film

About the Film.

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Bruce Cooper, a Māori street poet from Fairfield, shares four raw and reflective poems inspired by the signs and stories of Poets' Corner. Filmed with a DIY spirit, it blends lo-fi charm and poetic grit – with cardboard props and handmade sets bringing Bruce’s words to life. Honest, creative, and rooted in place, The View from Poets' Corner turns everyday struggle into spoken word theatre.

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Champagne Weather sounds like diving headfirst into a pool. For a moment, everything disappears. For a moment, you're wrapped in a bubble that drowns out the noise.It's bold new music from Canadian Folk Music Award-winners and JUNO nominees James Hill and Anne Janelle. Both artists have one foot in folk music and the other in contemporary classical. Champagne Weather finds them artfully bridging these two worlds with a sound that evokes Philip Glass and Steve Reich even as it harks back to Appalachian fiddle and English folksong.Champagne Weather creates space. Space between the mind and the body, space to be together, space to be alone. Strange and beautiful music for strange and beautiful times.Special opening set by Wildhorse.

All ages.

$19.00+BF