Welcome to Wānaka, a happening little town surrounded by stunning mountains in the heart of New Zealand’s South Island. An adventure playground for outdoor enthusiasts, Wānaka also offers a diverse range of food and beverage choices – fine dining restaurants, casual eateries, local breweries and award-winning wineries.
1. Finer Dining
Bistro Gentil, a local favourite, invites you to savour French cuisine while enjoying a fabulous outlook. Located on Golf Course Road, this quality restaurant is a three-minute walk from Copper Beech Lodge Wanaka and a popular choice for most guests after a strenuous day of hiking or cycling.
Muttonbird located in Post Office Lane offers an exceptional yet relaxed experience with top quality, seasonal dishes and super friendly service. Muttonbird has an awesome range of dishes including lamb, fish and really interesting vegetarian choices.
Arc café and restaurant is known for its contemporary sharing plates and showcases locally sourced ingredients. Located on Ardmore Street the setting is modern and attractive with great service.
Kika has been recently listed on the 50 Best Discovery List and delivers a unique and delicious tapas style menu that changes with the seasons.
2. Casual Dining: Pizza, Asian Infusions, and Mexican Delights
The Cow is renowned for its great pizza and is cosy and inviting, snuggle up to a roaring fire during colder months.
Fudog brings you a modern Asian infusion, blending Japanese, Chinese, and Korean influences.
Spice up your evening with authentic Indian curries at locally owned The Spice Room or enjoy tasty curries with breathtaking lake views at Bombay Palace.
For hot Mexican cuisine and cool Margaritas, head to the Wānaka institution, Amigos.
Paloma, a recent addition to Wānaka’s exciting food scene, makes great tacos with New Zealand ingredients.
3. A Pub Affair: Lakeside Views and Generous Portions
Enjoy good quality pub fare with stunning lake views at Speights Bar, Lake Bar, and the Hawea Hotel.
For a taste of history, the Cardrona Hotel, just a short drive from Wānaka, offers a quaint setting and ample garden area—an ideal stop before or after conquering the Crown Range.
4. In Between and On the Run: Quick Bites and Sunny Delights
Pembroke Wines, in a central and sunny location, serves awesome snacks and platters alongside your favourite wine or a tasting paddle.
For something on the run, indulge in delicious savoury galettes and sweet crepes from Charlie Brown Crepes, a caravan all the way from France.
The Brownston Street food village alongside Bullock Creek offers a variety of food trucks ranging from Bagels and Burgers to Japanese, Southeast Asian, and Mexican cuisines.
5. Local Beer and Wine: Cheers to Local Delights
Beer lovers will be impressed by the four local, award-winning breweries in Wānaka.
- The Ground Up Taproom pours a variety of Ground Up beers and local Kombucha.
- Rhyme x Reason Brewery offers an eclectic mix of craft beers in a lively brewpub setting.
- Try b.effect brewery’s range of sustainably produced craft beers at b.social taproom & eatery.
- Wānaka Beerworks, the first brewery in town, is located near Wānaka airport and you can sample their range while enjoying the views at Brew Bar.
Local winery Aitken’s Folly has a cellar door on Riverbank Road where Ian & Fiona will take you through their delicious range of wines including Pinot Noir.
Enjoy wine tasting and a platter at Maude’s Tasting Room while soaking up lake and mountain views. Within a few minutes walking distance from Copper Beech Lodge Wanaka this is a really handy option for a relaxed afternoon.
Paddons Paddock winery has a lovely outdoor area to sample their wines.
A little further afield, the Nanny Goat provides great platters to complement wine tasting.
Māori Point wines offers the ingredients to build your own platter to enjoy alongside your chosen wines.
Wanaka Wine Tours provide a range of options to enjoy local and regional vineyards ranging from a couple of hours to full day tours.
Whether you seek fine dining experiences, casual eateries, award-winning craft beers or tasting amazing wine, Wānaka has it all. When you plan your next adventure to this special place, make sure you experience some local treats.
