Kika

Dark and elegant, Kika sits tucked away from Wānaka's busy main street, but it shouldn’t be hard to find as every local seems to have eaten here and will gladly point you in the right direction. 

Aside from the Italian dish names and some of the international wines, this restaurant is like nothing else in the region. And that’s what Kika seems to do best, just when you think restaurants have come up with every idea possible, Kika continues to push boundaries when it comes to both flavour and presentation. Taking all this into consideration and with owner and chef James Stapely at the helm, it's no surprise to hear they've been awarded 2 Hats in the Cuisine Good Food Guide.

A large interior is no obstacle for Kika, as every evening it's filled with enthusiastic guests who have heard the rave reviews or perhaps even written them themselves. The big schist stone chimney in the middle gives the place a clever, well-worn, rustic feel, but it’s not just for looks – come winter, the fire keeps cold toes warm throughout the space.

There's plenty of piccolo to grande mouth-watering plates to share. However, you may need to enlist some help from your dining partner with making choices, and if choosing proves too tricky, you can put your trust in the kitchen with the ‘Just Feed Me’ option, where you'll get to enjoy a fantastic range of dishes (three small, a main, two sides, and a dessert!) picked by the chefs that day, matched with wine or beer if you’re feeling a food-pairing thirst.

And finally, do yourself a favour and don’t leave before having dessert. The creative team behind the scenes here puts a big emphasis on the sweet ending using (of course) local, seasonal ingredients combined in innovative and delectable ways. After a night at Kika, you’ll be sure to feel the thrill that comes from experiencing a world-class eatery.