Awa Eatery

On the bank where the Kawarau River becomes Lake Dunstan, Cromwell’s Awa Eatery takes its name from the water outside: awa is te reo Māori for river. From the counter, its namesake is never out of sight.

Owners Fernanda Berroeta and Enrique Ortiz have worked their way from baking at local markets to a string of food trucks, and now, quite the address. They’re nestled inside Melmore Terrace’s beautiful Te Puna Mahara, its name meaning “the pool of memories”, gifted by mana whenua (the people with customary authority over the land). Awa’s neighbours include a 400-seat auditorium, a 40-seat cinema, Te Huika Wai Cromwell Museum and a gift shop of local makers. A steel kō by Fayne Robinson and Andre Te Hira greets you at the main entrance, while the stories of the South Island’s principal iwi, Kāi Tahu, are woven through the façade, landscape and memorial garden, where the town’s cenotaph now stands.

Back at Awa, backlit timber battens and pale stone wrap a curved counter where a green La Marzocco is proudly perched. A tan leather banquette and olive chairs all turn towards the lake. Ponder the view over an Allpress coffee and a made-to-order brunch (pancakes, perhaps, or the full Awa breakfast), or pick from a cabinet of cheese rolls, croissants and slices. As for drinks, the list keeps it local: Cromwell wines, Benjer juices, Queenstown’s Canyon Brewing. In fact, Awa bills itself as the only café in town with beer and cocktails on tap, and the margaritas and espresso martinis are the stars for sure.

So, pop in for a brew before browsing the museum, bring the kids for a milkshake or meet friends before a film. New memories, after all, are part of what Awa Eatery’s home was named for.