Wanaka Restaurants and Dining

(Wanaka, Otago, South Island, New Zealand)

The cuisine of Wanaka is extremely varied and restaurants in the city are positioned around the shoreline of the lake, with those on the aptly named Lakeside Road making the very most of the natural New Zealand scenery and mountainous views. There are also many coffee shops and eateries spread around central Wanaka, offering an enjoyable and inexpensive dining experience.

During the summer months, many of the cafes in Wanaka spill out onto the pavements and courtyards, while during the cold winter months, roaring fires provide more of a cozy, intimate atmosphere. Whilst elegant lakeside dining is always popular around the town, there are also innumerable cheap pizzerias, pasta bars and takeaways dotted around them, and so eating out need not be an expensive affair.

Where to Eat

Close to the south-easterly shore of Lake Wanaka, Armore Street, Brownston Street, Dunmore Street and Helwick Street are all known for their restaurants and bars.

For Indian dining, the Bombay Palace on Pembroke Mall is the place to head, while for pizzas, pasta and Cajun-style chicken, consider a meal at either Tuatara Pizza or the acclaimed Capriccio Restaurant, both of which stand on Ardmore Street and close to Lake Wanaka itself. The Capriccio in particular also offers an extensive wine menu, with a selection of wines originating from around Central Otago and throughout New Zealand.