Did you know that Wānaka offers some of the best eats in New Zealand? Yep, this is a destination where you can combine prime outdoor activities in New Zealand with delicious food and drink. Where superb skiing, hiking and biking came with gourmet foodie experiences. Yep, these matches made in heaven happen right here in Wānaka.
Obviously, the excellent and abundant local produce helps, as do dedicated chefs, and together, they create delicious dishes just like the delicious plate above from Francesca Wānaka. Even better, Wānaka restaurants cater for all palates and wallets, whether you’re a steak lover, French foodie, pizza fiend or gourmet. And most open daily, all year-round, so you can enjoy them whenever you’re on holiday in Wānaka.
To help you sift the best eateries from the run-of-the-mill, we’ve done the hard tasting and compiled our list of the best Wānaka restaurants. You’ll find them listed by category and in alphabetical order. If your favourite is missing, let us know and we’ll add it to our guide.
Did you know? Most of the Wānaka eateries in this list serve local craft beer and wine, giving you the chance to taste the best of the area on your plate and in your glass.
Discover the best places to stay in Wānaka in 2026
Family-friendly Wānaka restaurants
Chances are that you’ll be staying in Wānaka with the kids and want a restaurant that takes them in its stride. We recommend these:
Amigos – un poco de Mexico in Wānaka
Take any Mexican food and it’s on the menu at this family-friendly restaurant in Wānaka, creating tacos, burritos, fajitas, guac and topotos since 1995. And this Mexican fare is all prepared from scratch, so you know you’re eating fresh flavours. Add to this an uber wallet-friendly lunch menu and bargain tacos on Tuesday. Pleasing everyone in the family is a given.
Ambience – informal, and kids are more than welcome.
Location – 71 Ardmore Street
Come here for – the kids’ colouring competition, sure to keep them amused while you wait.
The Albie Tavern – somewhere for the whole family to enjoy
It’s not often that an eaterie ticks everyone’s boxes, but with pool tables, outdoor dining, sport on the telly and soft play for the kids, The Albie Tavern comes pretty close. The menu – eat indoors or out – does traditional pub grub, with burgers, blue cod and St Louis ribs taking centre stage. Don’t miss the fun events such as pub quizzes, live sport and bingo. Rain or shine, this is one of Wānaka’s top family-friendly restaurants.
Ambience – informal and relaxed.
Location – 20 Alison Avenue, Albert Town. About a 10-minute drive from Wānaka.
Come here for a little something from the 20 rotating taps, a glass of Central Otago wine or an artisan gin.
Did you know? Many of our Wānaka holiday rentals are within easy walking distance of the town and all these restaurants.
Gourmet Wānaka restaurants
If you fancy elevating your taste buds and savouring the very best on plates in town, head for one of these.
Bistro Gentil – oh là là on a plate
French cuisine travels to Wānaka at this informal venue, with prime views of the lake and mountains. Produce sourced locally and from the restaurant’s kitchen garden stars in typically French creations such as onion soup and crème brûlée, as well as in haute cuisine dishes such as the Lumina lamb backstrap with aubergine purée. Don’t forget to order a side of the signature truffle fries. Bon appetit!
Ambience – smart casual.
Location – 76A Golf Course Road
Come here for a table by the window for lakeside views and the sunset.
Francesca – beyond your usual Italian
The owners might be from Italy, and the dishes may ring a bell, but this gourmet restaurant in Wānaka adds a local twist to a familiar Italian story. So, the ossobuco is venison, the tortellini filled with local lamb, and the nduja pizza also has green lipped muscles. In an even bigger nod to us Kiwis, there’s even blue cod on the menu (but the herbs are Italian).
Ambience – casual.
Location – 93 Ardmore Street
Come here for Italian hospitality and food with a Wānaka vibe.
Kika – when you share the fine dining
Global culinary inspiration joins fresh New Zealand produce at this top restaurant in Wānaka, winner of Best Casual Dining in the 2024 Cuisine Awards. Chef James Stapley creates sharing plates (large and small), with seasonal ingredients and innovative touches. Think Lake Ohau Wagyu short rib with chimichurri, stracchino with hot kika honey… But whatever your choices, do leave room for one of the desserts – so good you might not want to share yours.
Ambience – relaxed and friendly.
Location – 2 Dunmore Street
Come here for a glass (or two) of local red Pinot Noir wine; six feature on the Kika wine list.
Sofi – the Mediterranean in the Southern Alps
It might be on the other side of the world, but the Mediterranean stands proud at this restaurant, reflecting the culture and cuisine from Morocco to Greece via Spain and Lebanon. Think tagines, mezzes, falafel, pil pil, and focaccia… all chasing your taste buds as you dine in the comfy inside space or outside on benches with stunning lake and mountain views.
Ambience – informal.
Location – 151 Ardmore Street
Come here for a feast that takes you around the Mediterranean in a lunch or dinner.
Tititea Steak House – worship that meat
Taking its name from Mount Aspiring, this carnivore heaven serves locally-sourced meat – Lumina lamb, Lake Ohau Wagyu and wild venison – in a variety of ways, but always tenderly delicious. Whether it’s a steak, stonegrill or a slow-roasted cut, meat at Tititea is always a treat worth waiting for on your Wānaka holiday. Views of the lake while you dine are a given.
Ambience – casual.
Location – 123 Ardmore Street
Come here for a table on the outside terrace in the summer.
Did you know? If you’re looking for romantic dining at Wānaka restaurants, all these gourmet picks make great options for a date night on your holiday. Make it extra dreamy with the ideal couples’ retreat.
Walk-in Wānaka restaurants
Some eateries in Wānaka cater for walk-ins, including these must-tries:
Big Fig – savour the slow lane
Something of a catch-all because it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, this restaurant in Wānaka specialises in slow cooking. The menu changes with the seasons, but a wide variety of hot dishes and salads feature all year round. Hot Fig also suits your appetite – choose a small, medium or large plate depending on how hungry you are.
Ambience – casual all day.
Location – 105 Ardmore Street
Come here for the Middle Eastern granola, where the cardamon and orange blossom get the day off to the perfect start, or unctuous slow-cooked feel-good food.
The Cow – truly regal Italian
Perhaps the only restaurant in the world serving Italian dishes against a backdrop of pictures of Queen Victoria (also on the logo), this veteran eaterie has garnered a well-earned reputation for serving the best pizza and spaghetti in town. The pasta comes in six different ways, while the pizzas come huge and hearty.
Ambience – casual.
Location – 33 Ardmore Street
Come here for Her Majesty’s Pleasure pizza (we’re not sure what Queen Victoria would make of the pepperoni, but it’s delicious!).
Did you know? In high winter and summer, book a table at any of the top restaurants in Wānaka (they’re the best for a reason!).
Wānaka restaurants at a winery
While most vineyards in Wānaka offer wine tastings, few cater beyond the classic Kiwi platter. Paddons Paddock is one exception, with a varied menu to pair with the house wine (or beer). Pizzas are a mainstay and crafted with fresh and local ingredients, but the platters take the limelight and showcase local cured cold cuts and cheeses. Try the Paddock Platter for the best of the bunch. All with stunning views of the vineyards.
Ambience – informal.
Location – 477 Wānaka-Luggate Highway, 4.5km from central Wānaka.
Come here for great wine and food in a truly authentic setting.
Did you know? Central Otago is famed for its exceptional Pinot Noir. Discover the wineries in Wānaka producing it
Best takeaway Wānaka restaurants
Too tired to cook for yourselves and can’t face getting up the oomph to go out? Fancy getting some nosh to go? Or want to try the amazing Wānaka food truck scene? Then a takeaway is the obvious answer. Wānaka delivers in this department, too.
Charlie Brown Crepes – pancakes as you’ve never tasted them before
Blink and you might miss this mint green caravan, but do look out for this tiny venue because it serves some of the best crepes and galettes in southern New Zealand. The secret lies in the crepes made to order and handmade ingredients, including the lemon curd and hazelnut spread. Go sweet with the house Charlie Brown or savoury with the Kiwi Breakfast.
Ambience – as casual as it gets.
Location – 75 Brownstone Street
Come here for a takeaway crepe and barista coffee to enjoy down by the lake.
Now Bao – homemade baos from a truck
The chefs hail from Chicago and Scotland and together create some of the best street food in Wānaka. As well as steamed baos (do try the slow-cooked venison), they serve burgers and sticky ribs, all with lashings of the house sauces. Finish with a homemade cookie.
Ambience – very informal.
Location – 17 Gordon Road, at the Rhyme and Reason Brewery
Come here for baos as you’ve never tasted them before.
Red Star Burger Bar – burgers like Wānaka makes them
A back record of over two decades of making great burgers says something – not for nothing is this restaurant in Wānaka something of an institution. Their burger list runs long and luscious, with all carnivore and veggie choices catered for. You’ll obviously want house chips (fried in beef fat). Collect in-house or have yours delivered.
Ambience – as casual as you and your holiday accommodation!
Location – 26 Ardmore Street
Come here for the latest special, with a new burger hitting the menu fortnightly or monthly.
Did you know? A private chef is an option in our luxury accommodation in Wānaka, giving you the chance to dine in style at home, without the prep and washing up!
Wānaka cafés
Whether you’re in search of a great breakfast to set up for a day on the slopes, fancy a hearty brunch before an afternoon on the hiking trail or want a good coffee, our favourites all hit the spot.
Curbside Coffee & Bagels – great caffeine and carbs on the go
Organic coffee meets fresh bagels, any which way, at this food truck in Wānaka. The menu comes classic – cream cheese and raspberry jam – and creative, with buffalo tofu and Smokey Hash among local favourites. Order to go or sit a while on the pleasant outdoor tables with river views as you fuel for a day of epic Wānaka adventures.
Ambience – super casual.
Location – 48 Brownston Street
Come here for surprising bagel fillings.
Federal Diner – hang out with the locals
Tuck into a hearty breakfast or lunch at this venue whose watchwords are organic, free-range and local. Go classic with porridge (except these come with pistachios) or a bacon butty, or more adventurous by ordering the Kumara roti roll (roasted with tamarind). And this café in Wānaka ticks the sustainability box too by growing as much of its own produce as possible and joining in with the local Single Use Cup Free campaign.
Ambience – informal.
Location – 47 Helwick Street
Come here for a local cold-pressed juice; choose yours from the daily specials.
Scroggin Coffee & Eatery – coffee, cake & brunch plates
A favourite with Wānaka locals and visitors alike, the coffee here is reliably good as are the chances of you falling hook, line and calories for one of their delicious freshly baked goodies. If you manage to swerve the treat-filled counter and are hungry for something more substantial, their brunch menu is wholesome and delicious. Top tip: grab a table as soon as you spot one and use the QR code to order from their (if you know, you know!).
Ambience – casual, with buzzing local vibe.
Location – 71 Ardmore Street
Come here for a coffee with a decadent cookie or scrumptious egg benny.
Relishes Café – breakfast or brunch with views
Something of a classic on the Wānaka café scene, Relishes has been serving up Kiwi-fusion creations for over 30 years. It also does local with a capital L – think Otago goat and lamb, Wānaka craft beer and the locally-roasted Venus coffee. Plus, they have their own house smokery. The breakfast menu includes eggs any which way and toast with homemade seasonal jam, while the lunch menu offers a world of flavours, with Moroccan spiced goat, Persian roast veg and za’atar roasted wedges.
Ambience – casual, with lake views.
Location – 99 Ardmore Street
Come here for a meal at a table overlooking the lake.
Did you know? Wānaka has a single-use cup free (SUCFree) drive. Join it by drinking inside a café or taking your own mug or cup.
Now to dine out in Wānaka
We imagine this list has got your taste buds tingling and that you can’t wait to sit down at one of these tables. To dine at as many as possible, book a holiday home in Wānaka and eat out deliciously as many times a day as you like. Contact us for more information and lots of inspiration!