When the people who live in Wanaka aren’t out and about in the outdoors, they’re indoors eating and drinking well.

Wānaka restaurants are a fine place to start if you also wish to do some eating and drinking in the township, and fair to say there’s plenty of choice when it comes to where to dine. There’s enough space in this picturesque town to ensure even at the height of tourist season, Wanaka remains a tranquil place to be - and that spills over into the restaurant scene too.

Want a restaurant that’s a little more tucked away from the crowds? Keep an ear out for the locals choice, or head a little further afield to Cardrona Valley where there’s an old hotel/restaurant that’s rumoured to be the most photographed building in the country. 

With the growing popularity of the place comes a demand for more food, and luckily Wanaka restaurants are up to the task. Not content to sit within the confines of old school eating though, chefs, bakers and restaurant owners here make sure their establishments offer visitors something a little different. From infamous burgers to pasta made Italian style, foraged foods and burritos served from a caravan, Wanaka plays a varied hand in the hospitality game, and those who love eating and drinking just can’t get enough of it.

Be sure to chalk up a to-do (or to-eat) list before you visit Wanaka restaurants as there’s no time to waste when it comes to ensuring you hit all the hot spots during your time in town.

How To Spend a Snowy Weekend in Wānaka

Tree growing in Lake Wānaka with snowy mountains in the background. Photograph by Casey Horner.
Wānaka's winter appeal doesn’t stop on the hill. This Otago town offers more than meets the eye.

Paloma

Four plates of Mexican food from Paloma Wanaka on a wooden table.
Place Wānaka
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Creators of authentic Mexican fare, Paloma has a simple (but by no means easy) mission: to make the best possible tacos in Wānaka using New Zealand ingredients.

Hāwea Hotel

Inside the restaurant where people are dining and looking out the windows over the lake.
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How do you like the idea of enjoying your morning coffee from a private balcony, with uninterrupted views of mountains encircling one of the country’s largest lakes?

hello RANGER

A plate of lamb koftas, flatbreads and tzatziki on a table at hello RANGER with a pint of beer and other plates in the background.
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Just like any good park ranger, hello RANGER is the heart of its community, there to take care of adventurous people before and after their journeys.

Muttonbird

Enclosed balcony dining area at Muttonbird, Wānaka.
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It’s a seabird you can eat that smells like fish and tastes like mutton.

b.social

Close up of pastel-coloured labels on b.effect's beer cans in the fridge.
Place Wānaka Editor's Pick
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The b.social taproom and eatery is a great spot for eating and drinking that is worthy of a visit (or many), whether you’re just in town for the weekend or call this beautiful region home year-round.

Hāwea Store & Kitchen

Exterior view of Hawea Store & Kitchen.
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A community hub that combines a grocer, café, restaurant and bar overlooking the lake.

FuDog

A dragon print on a wall inside the restaurant.
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While their techniques are worthy of fine dining, this restaurant likes to keep dinnertime fuss-free and fun.

Hook Wānaka - Lake to Plate

Fishing rods on display.
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Fast becoming ‘the thing to do in Wānaka’, Hook provides a unique lake-to-plate experience of catching your own Chinook salmon from spring-fed waters.

Impress Your Tastebuds with Wānaka's Most Delicious Dishes

A staff member holding three plates of food at Kika in Wānaka.
It’s important to get a taste of whatever place you’re visiting, and the best way to do that is to simply get out and about and sit yourself down at some of the neatest restaurants in town.

Bistro Gentil

A birds eye view image of a plate of food from the Bistro Gentil restaurant.
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A fine-dining restaurant boasting a love affair with French cuisine, Bistro Gentil serves excellent meals in a beautiful, sultry interior.

Red Star Burgers

Two tall burgers, a plate of salad and basket of hot chips on the table at Red Star, Wānaka.
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A Wānaka institution, Red Star has been filling hungry bellies with burgers since 2004.

Kika

Flatlay of plates of food from Kika.
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Dark and elegant, Kika is an award-winning restaurant tucked away from Wānaka's main street.

Burrito Craft

Close up of a person's hands holding a taco.
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Easygoing vibes make this permanent food truck a non-pretentious spot to park up and enjoy some food, al fresco style.

Cardrona Hotel

Historic cream and maroon weatherboard frontage of Cardrona Hotel with a vintage cream 1968 Chrysler Model 62 parked in front.
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Rumoured to be the most photographed building in the country, Cardrona Hotel was built in 1863 first and foremost as a place to stay for hardworking gold miners.