👋🏼 Hello Hamilton
Just across the ditch, Melbourne and Brisbane really make the most of their riverfront views.
They’ve got restaurants, bars, and entertainment strung along the water’s edge. It brings visitors in, gives locals somewhere to meet, and really connects the place with the cities’ scenery.
In comparison, I think it’s fair to say Hamilton’s own mighty Waikato Awa feels largely unutilised. The river runs right through the heart of our city, and carries with it so much history, mana and meaning.
MADE, Mr. Pickles, Gottenburg, and the BNZ Theatre all face towards the river. They’re incredible spots. But they don’t feel quite connected to it.
Paul and Jess Gittings have decided to unlock that potential.
Jess, Paul, Georgie (3), and Cooper (t-minus a few months).
For the past two years, they’ve been working on Regatta, a new restaurant soon opening up on Grantham Street, next to the Hamilton Rowing Club.
Hamilton is home for Jess and Paul, and it’s a place they care deeply about.
After living in Australia for a few years and doing a bit of travel, Paul tells me he returned home and “saw a bunch of opportunity in Hamilton.”
They didn’t exactly plan to open a restaurant right by the river, but when the venue opened up, they couldn’t resist.
“You just walk into that room and it feels pretty special”, Paul says.
And it really does. With front-row views of the Waikato River, under Victoria Bridge's arch, Regatta feels like something Hamilton has been missing.
The name is a nod to the area’s history, with the annual Regatta and Carnival once held on Ferry Bank from the early 1900s through to the late 1960s.
Left: One of the earliest regattas in 1907. Right: Regattas weren’t the only event happening on Ferry Bank - how about a light-hearted rafting race! Source: Hamilton City Libraries.
The building itself dates back to the 1960s, and Paul tells me he was clear from the beginning that he didn’t want to strip that character away.
“Since we committed to this place, we didn’t want to build anything that was shining and white and new - we wanted to do something that felt like it belonged”.
That thinking sure does comes through in the design. Regatta leans into its 60s roots, with natural timber, warm muted tones and cosy booths. It feels relaxed, familiar, and a bit nostalgic.
Paul aims for a dining experience that feels instantly welcoming.
“We want you to be able to just be yourself - be comfortable and relax.”
The menu follows the same idea. It’s proudly Kiwi, unfussy and full of familiar favourites, with thoughtful flavour combinations rather than garnish for garnish’s sake. Simple, hearty food done well.
With Regatta set to open this September, Jess and Paul are getting excited (and so are we).
Their dream is for it to be one of those places you take friends and family when they visit Hamilton. Somewhere that shows off the river, the city, and the kind of hospitality we do so well here.
“I’ve always been keen to push things forward in Hamilton because I think it's a great place. It's got a lot to offer.
There’s heaps of really cool people here doing cool stuff, and I’m keen to be part of that and contribute what we can,” Paul says.
If you’d like to see Hello Hamilton stay human-written, independent, and ad-light, please consider becoming a paid member for the price of a couple coffees a month. Thanks for your support ❤️
And special thanks to Sarah Blake for contributing the words ✍️ and the 📸 awesome shots for this edition of Hello Hamilton.
— Ben Woodgates
