Exceptional Eats and Delightful Drinks in Wanaka

With cool cafes, rad restaurants, brilliant bars, wonderous wineries and beaut breweries on offer, you will be sure to find a new favourite in Wanaka. You would be forgiven for thinking the size of the town represents a small food and drink scene. However, in Wanaka we love our local produce, indulging in some great quality food and enjoying a drink at the end of the day; and this town sure delivers!

Check out our quick guide around town and start planning your food & drink destinations for your next visit.

Tasty Takeout

Who doesn’t love a gourmet handmade burger? Red Star offers a large range of burgers to suit all preferences and has some fun with their creative changing specials. Tasty hot chips and a variety of sauces will really complete your meal.

If you’re craving Mexican, Burrito Craft is sure to fill the void. Burrito’s packed with flavour (also available ‘naked’ in a bowl) and tacos to tantalise your taste buds. Be warned, their heat levels do not lie.

Maybe it’s a kiwi classic you’re after. Pick up your fish and chips from Erik’s Fish & Chips colourful food truck and you can head down to enjoy it sitting right on the lake front. Try a deep-fried kiwi fruit while you’re at it. 

Casual Catchups

If you simply want “food made good” then head down to the lakefront to Kai Whakapai. Enjoy as a café by day and bar by night. You’ll find great coffee, local beer on tap, day and evening menus and large selection of cabinet food.

Set yourself down at The Lake Bar for the best lake views inside and out. You are sure to get a real ‘kiwi’ feed here, served up in generous portions. The menu is well varied for snacks and meals.

Asian fusion with a focus on Japanese, Chinese and Korean dishes is what you’ll find at Fu Dog. This menu is great for a group as it lends itself well to sharing and means you get to try more. Local beers on tap along with a range of wine and cocktails.

High end highlights

You might have read about this one before. Kika is a modern restaurant and bar serving up innovative shared style plates. With so much on offer it can be hard to choose, but don't worry you can order the chef’s Just Feed Me menu for a well-rounded evening.

Do you want to experience our wonderful kiwi produce in a different style? Bistro Gentil serves modern French cuisine showcasing the regions finest ingredients and harvests from their own kitchen garden. Each meal can be perfectly complimented with their range of fine wines.

Ode Conscious Dining will give you more than just a meal, it is a full experience. With their local organic produce and biodynamic wines, they offer set menus and are happy to cater for most dietary requirements.

Vegetarian & Vegan Victories

Your carnivore friends can also enjoy each of these to get their meat fix, or to discover how much flavour is packed into vegetarian dishes.

Each day you can pick from a selection of exciting salads at Fedeli, mix them up as you please to enjoy in the peaceful courtyard or to take away. Along with sandwiches, wraps, sweet treats and a great selection of coffee, teas and smoothies, there is something for everyone.

Slow food, served fast is the Big Fig motto. Fill your plate as your please from the smorgasbord of hot veggie dishes, slow cooked meats and salads. Middle eastern inspired dishes and tasty dessert slices make for tough decisions. 

From the unassuming little food truck, Dripping Bowl serves up nourishing meals that only use 100% wholefoods, often organic and locally sourced. Well known for its acai bowls and smoothies, you can jump on the health train here. 

Family Friendly Feasts

Tuck into pizza and pasta created in a hearty kiwi style at The Cow. The rustic stone building will have you cosy in winter with the blazing open fires and cool in summer with the courtyard seating in Post Office Lane. 

Speights Ale House sits on the lakefront next to Bullock Creek. Enjoy the large deck for outdoor dining and after your meal, you can head straight across the road to the lake and dinosaur playground.

For an authentic Italian dining with homemade pasta and traditional woodfire pizza, it has to be Francesca’s Italian Kitchen. If you have missed out on a table to dine in, their pizzas are also available for takeout from their food truck.

Delectable Drops and Badass Brews

When you need a drink at the end of the day but not sure what you’re after, Cork is the perfect stop. With a huge selection of wine, spirits, cocktails and changing beers on tap, the friendly bar staff will make sure you get what you need to hit the spot. Open daily 3pm - late.

Check out the funky little craft brewery and bar at Rhyme and Reason. With exciting brews on tap, a cosy beer garden and weekends often complete with food trucks on site, you will be set up for an enjoyable afternoon/evening. Open daily from 12pm.

For a daytime tasting paddle, or those travelling with kids, hit up Wanaka Beerworks. With the tasting room located in the National Toy and Transport Museum you will be in for a quirky experience. Open daily 11am – 5pm.

Trust us, there is so much more in town than listed above but we could have gone on all day. This is just a sample of the drool worthy options in and around town. Come stay with us, ask the staff about our favourites and get tasting!

Posted by Andrea Kendrick on May 15, 2020