Kai Whakapai

Bars key icon.
Bars key icon.

Monday7:00 am – 10:30 pm.

Tuesday7:00 am – 10:30 pm.

Wednesday7:00 am – 10:30 pm.

Thursday7:00 am – 10:30 pm.

Friday7:00 am – 10:30 pm.

Saturday7:00 am – 10:30 pm.

Sunday7:00 am – 10:30 pm.

121 Ardmore St, Wānaka

03 443 7795

Have you really been to Wānaka if you haven’t been to Kai Whakapai? An absolute town institution, this place is humming with people Monday to Sunday, winter to summer. Open early till late and offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, it keeps a firm customer base thanks to its credible reputation for quick, friendly service and flexible attitude to dining.
 
Kai is on a million-dollar strip of land when it comes to choosing a spot to enjoy that afternoon beverage. Kick back with a brew from Coffee Supreme or a glass of something cold on the wooden tables street-side as you look out to the lake and recline amongst the steady bustle of the main drag. Or if it’s a slightly more secluded spot you’re after, then the sunny upstairs area generally remains a bit quieter.

As the team behind the bar will tell you, once one keg runs dry, they generally replace it with another type of beer, and with happy drinkers making this their go-to spot, a keg change usually happens daily. Proud to support their local brewers, most of the beers on tap are Wānaka-made, with some guest appearances from other New Zealand crafters (pair a glass with one of the town's famous pizzas for the full experience).
 
Saturated with the coolest kids in town, Kai oozes laidback charm and come happy hour (5–6pm), you’ll be lucky to find a spare table. Don’t let that scare you off, though, as Kai Whakapai is notorious for bringing lovely people together, so squeeze up with some strangers and clink a glass to Wānaka life while you’re there.

Words by Rosie Morrison & Photography by Anna Briggs and supplied

Information not correct? Report an error

Location

121 Ardmore St, Wānaka

Nearby Places

Alice Herald

Two hands holding a beautiful pink diamond ring.
Place Wānaka
Fashion key icon. Services key icon.

Couture is a word most often associated with high-end fashion, but down Wānaka’s sleek laneway, The Precinct, you will find a window displaying Alice Herald’s...

Crumb Bakehouse

Barista behind food cabinet and seating area at Crumb.
Place Wānaka
Cafes key icon.

Definitely the most stylish bakery you'll see all week, Crumb Bakehouse on Helwick Street has become the place to indulge and unwind in downtown Wānaka.

Scroggin

Two savoury dishes, a savoury, filled croissant, a milky coffee and mug of tea on the table at Scroggin, Wānaka.
Place Wānaka Editor's Pick
Cafes key icon.

With a Scandinavian-inspired fit-out to match the mountains and adventures to be had in Wānaka, you'll quickly understand why this coffee and eatery’s tagline is ‘Gather, feast, stay for a while.’

Fearless

Sports bottles and other accessories on display at Fearless, Wānaka.
Place Wānaka
Fashion key icon.

Fearless is a store with a purpose.

Similar Places

Big Fig

A flatlay of plates on a table with four people gathered around at Big Fig in Wānaka.
Place Wānaka
Cafes key icon.

Operating by the motto ‘slow food served fast’, Big Fig dishes up meals with a Middle Eastern twist.

Cork Bar

Brown leather booth seating at Cork, Wānaka.
Place Wānaka
Bars key icon.

The place to go for evening drinks, Cork has an impressive array of wines, beers, fine spirits and cocktails. Served by bartenders who truly do know their stuff, it’s likely you’ll develop an infatuation with this bar very quickly.

Scroggin

Two savoury dishes, a savoury, filled croissant, a milky coffee and mug of tea on the table at Scroggin, Wānaka.
Place Wānaka Editor's Pick
Cafes key icon.

With a Scandinavian-inspired fit-out to match the mountains and adventures to be had in Wānaka, you'll quickly understand why this coffee and eatery’s tagline is ‘Gather, feast, stay for a while.’

Dripping Bowl

A person holds two smoothie bowls at Dripping Bowl, Wānaka.
Place Wānaka
Cafes key icon.

Well known for açaí bowls, buddha bowls, smoothies, gluten-free baking and a niche coffee menu, Dripping Bowl has nutrition and sustainability at its heart.