Custom Travel Itineraries to New Zealand since 1990
Wānaka has a habit of surprising people. Most visitors arrive for the mountains: Roy’s Peak, the still surface of the lake at dawn, and the sheer drama of the Southern Alps at dusk. What they discover is that this small South Island town also happens to have one of the most impressive restaurant scenes in New Zealand.
Wānaka is not Queenstown, and that is precisely the point. While Queenstown’s dining leans into spectacle, Wānaka’s best tables are built on something more considered: a genuine commitment to Central Otago’s extraordinary local produce, a relaxed confidence that does not need to perform, and chefs who could work anywhere but have chosen to be here. For travelers who care as much about what is on the plate as what is outside the window, Wānaka more than delivers.
Here is our guide to the restaurants worth planning your evenings around.
Photo Credits: Kika
If you visit only one restaurant in Wānaka, make it Kika. Multi-award-winning head chef James Stapley has built something genuinely remarkable at this modern tapas-style restaurant in central Wānaka. The dining room offers an elegant, unhurried atmosphere, and the menu changes with the seasons to showcase the very best of what Central Otago produces.
Kika serves everything in sharing plates, which suits the philosophy perfectly. Smaller dishes such as seared tuna with bonito mayo, tea-smoked duck waffles with goat feta and beet purée, and fresh burrata with crispy kale and sourdough give way to more substantial plates like the Te Mana lamb shoulder and Jerusalem artichoke and goat’s cheese agnolotti with brown butter. The drinks list runs from local craft beer to cocktails and spirits. Be sure to book well in advance because Kika fills on word of mouth alone, every night of the week.
Photo Credits: Bistro Gentil
Set just a few minutes from town and surrounded by lavender in season, Bistro Gentil is one of those restaurants that asks nothing of you except to arrive hungry and with nowhere to be. Head chef Mario Rodrigues takes traditional French cuisine and refines it with a modern sensibility, drawing on the kitchen garden and, impressively, on in-house Maude wines.
The French onion soup with gruyère croutons is a standout dish. So too is the half-deboned roast duck with red cabbage relish, chorizo, and Brussels sprouts. For those who want to put themselves entirely in the kitchen’s hands, the five-course tasting menu with an optional wine pairing is a genuinely memorable experience. The “trust the chef” option, which varies each evening, is equally rewarding. Views of both Lake Wānaka and the Southern Alps round out the experience beautifully.
Photo Credits: Arc
Arc earns its reputation as Wānaka’s sophisticated all-day dining restaurant. The kitchen crafts beautifully executed breakfasts that give way to Euro-inflected lunches and decadent evening tapas, all built around regionally sourced produce. The team operates with the kind of quiet passion that generates loyal regulars and visiting diners who wish they could become one.
Whether you stop in for a morning coffee before a day on the lake or return in the evening for small plates and a glass of something local, Arc consistently rewards the visit.
Photo Credits: Big Fig
Big Fig runs on a simple motto: “slow food, served fast.” The Lebanese-inspired menu has fed Wānaka locals and visitors for years and has earned its place as something of a town institution. Slow-braised lamb shawarma, beef cheeks, meatballs, vegetable tagines, and an array of fresh salads are all served canteen-style from the counter.
Breakfast starts at 8am with Middle Eastern influences, including shakshuka and Middle Eastern granola, before the counter transitions to the main event at lunch and dinner. The Tahini chocolate brownie, when available, is worth arriving early to secure. Big Fig does not take reservations, so give yourself a little extra time.
Photo Credits: Francesca Wanaka
Francesca’s has been part of the Wānaka dining landscape since 2012, and its reputation has only grown stronger with time. The kitchen produces Italian food with real conviction: homemade pasta, gnocchi with braised beef cheeks, merino lamb shoulder ragù, and woodfired pizza in the traditional style. Crispy potato skins made from gnocchi cast-offs, finished with truffle oil, porcini salt, and pecorino, have become one of the restaurant’s most beloved starters.
Dessert covers all the Italian classics, from cannoli and tiramisu to affogato and gelato. Wine and produce are sourced locally. Book ahead because this restaurant stays busy every night of the week without exception.
Photo Credits: The Cardrona Hotel
Technically, the Cardrona Hotel sits outside of Wānaka, in the scenic valley between Wānaka and Queenstown about 25 minutes from town. Even so, it belongs on this list because it is genuinely exceptional and because any road trip between the two towns that skips it is a missed opportunity.
The historic hotel serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner through a kitchen that takes pub cooking seriously and elevates it without sacrificing warmth. The garden courtyard, with its glass houses for cooler days, is one of the most atmospheric places to eat anywhere in the region. Note that reservations are required during ski season, which runs from June to October.
Photo Credits: Paloma Taqueria
Paloma has built a loyal following on a straightforward mission: serve New Zealand’s best tacos with a modern twist. The interior features a warm pink palette, curved walls, and an extensive back-lit tequila collection that creates a genuinely inviting atmosphere. The menu brings locally sourced New Zealand ingredients into authentic Mexican cooking with real skill and consistency.
Photo Credits: Neat Places
Fu Dog brings Japanese, Korean, and Chinese-inspired cooking to Wānaka’s dining scene, using the best New Zealand ingredients as the foundation. The restaurant offers a relaxed, flavorful setting that works just as well for a solo dinner at the bar as it does for a group meal with friends. The Mongolian beef and the Japanese pancake draw consistent praise from both locals and visitors.
Photo Credits: Federal Diner | Neat Places
Next to Fu Dog is another great spot, Federal Diner, which fits naturally as a brunch and lunch pick. Locals have long called it their little secret, and it shows: the café draws a loyal crowd for breakfast and lunch, so arriving early is the best way to secure a table.
The kitchen serves Emporio coffee from Wellington alongside a menu that takes familiar formats and lifts them. From the breakfast menu, the Winter Warmer and the Bacon Butty are satisfying options on cooler mornings. Lunch brings more ambition, with dishes like braised pork shoulder roti and lamb kofta flatbread that reflect a kitchen with genuine range. For something quicker, the counter offers cheese scones and almond croissants that pair well with the coffee. Federal Diner also opens for dinner on select evenings, making it one of the more versatile spots on this list.
Photo Credits: Federal Diner | Neat Places
After a day on Roy’s Peak, the Roys Peak Track, or the lake, Red Star Burger Bar is exactly what is called for. Open since 2004, it holds the same place in Wānaka’s dining culture that Fergburger holds in Queenstown: a beloved institution that earns its reputation by doing one thing exceptionally well. The difference is that Red Star tends to be a little easier to walk into.
The menu centres on gourmet burgers built from quality local produce. The Mofo, loaded with beef patty, Swiss cheese, mushrooms, bacon, and egg, is the signature order. Beyond beef, the kitchen offers chicken, lamb, fish, and venison options, and weekly specials bring creative combinations such as a pork gyoza burger with Asian slaw and wasabi mayo. The atmosphere is relaxed and family-friendly, with indoor seating and an outdoor courtyard. No reservations are taken, so aim to arrive before 6pm on weekends.
On the map, look to the top left corner. There, you can open the slider and toggle the restaurant categories on or off.
The four options range from casual and budget-friendly restaurants to Wanaka’s refined dining. This simple filter helps you explore the dining scene at your own pace and find options that match your appetite and budget.
Wānaka is a small town, and its best restaurants fill quickly. This is especially true during the summer season from December to February and ski season from June to October. We strongly recommend making reservations at Kika, Bistro Gentil, and Francesca’s well before your visit. For spontaneous evenings, Big Fig, Arc, and the lakefront casual options are excellent choices.
Wānaka’s location in Central Otago also puts it at the heart of one of New Zealand’s finest wine regions. Pinot Noir features prominently across most menus, and the local producers are among the best in the country. Ask your server for a regional recommendation and let the landscape follow you all the way to the glass.
Contact our team to start planning your New Zealand trip! We have spent over 35 years crafting bespoke New Zealand journeys and know this region intimately.
