Muddy Creek Café

It may be a petite town, but Muddy Creek Cafe provides one big reason to hit the brakes and pull up in Omakau. 

The cafe’s charm is unmistakable as soon as you spot it on the corner of Harvey and Wilson Street. With brick-red corrugated iron awnings, rustic steel signage, and a cheerful yellow bicycle suspended out the front, the inviting exterior sets the tone for the warm and welcoming atmosphere inside.

Alice and Marie, both hailing from the south of France, took over Muddy Creek in 2022. We know what you’re thinking – how do two French women end up in a tiny Central Otago town with just a few hundred residents? Well, the pair met while backpacking in Queenstown years before, fell in love with the land, and never left – a classic tale of romance between travellers and Aotearoa. Both passionate foodies, they even started a smoked salmon business together, Fishwives Smokehouse, which you can still find in the cafe’s fridge alongside jars of homemade quince compote.

Once known for its quick takeaway options, the friends have transformed Muddy Creek Cafe into a place to relax and linger over great coffee and food. Everything you see in the cabinet and on the menu is made in-house with a good dose of French flair. Savour buttery pain au raisin, soft brioche, seasonal cake specials, soulful soups, and cheese rolls that respect the traditional recipe but take it to new heights with high-quality cheese, little chunks of onion and a hint of rosemary (authors note: it was the best one on our Central Otago tour).

As well as introducing homemade sourdough pizzas on weekend evenings, the community is regularly invited to come together for ‘French Night’ – where one long communal table is laden with dishes that showcase the different regions of France. 

We love how Alice and Marie have created a destination that celebrates the best of two cultures, with a genuine gift for looking after people through simple but delicious food and warm hospitality.