Welcome to Wānaka, a vibrant 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 high-quality food and beverage choices – fine dining restaurants, casual eateries and award-winning local breweries and wineries.
1. Finer Dining
Bistro Gentil is on Golf Course Road, just a few minutes’ walk from Copper Beech Lodge Wānaka. Very popular with the locals, the cuisine is French and the outlook is fabulous. During the afternoon, Maude Tasting Room is a great spot to sample some local wines. It is a popular choice for most Copper Beech Lodge Wanaka 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
Bambina is Wanaka’s newest eatery offering authentic Italian classics – fresh, handcrafted pasta and pizza.
Francesca’s is also serving Italian with a seasonal menu, local ingredients and a Wanaka twist. Busy with a lovely atmosphere.
Sofi is a relatively new to town mediterranean bar & grill on the lakefront – inspired by cuisines of Greece, Spain and Morrocco.
Paloma makes great tacos with New Zealand ingredients, offers a good value set menu and has a nice outdoor area for warmer evenings.
The Cow – a local institution for great pizza. It’s 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.
Big Fig offers great homecooked style food with a range of meat, vegetables and salads from bain-marie. Counter service only and very busy.
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. Guests at Copper Beech Lodge Wanaka enjoy a complementary bottle of Aitken’s Folly 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. Maude offers a range of Pinot Noir along with white varietals including Sauvignon Blanc and their Rose is available exclusively at the tasting room.
Paddons Paddock winery has a lovely outdoor area to sample their wines, located on State Highway 6 towards Wanaka airport.
A little further afield, but within an hour’s drive, is Bannockburn cornerstone of Central Otago wine region.
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.
