Bring Your Appetite to Arrowtown: Your Guide to the Best Eats and Drinks In Town

If you’re an early riser, make your morning meander a deliberate one in the direction of Wolf. You’ll know you’re close when you encounter the smell of roasting coffee beans and spy the iconic, colourful stools out front catching the morning rays. Inside, there’s a choice of coffee bean to make before your usual choice of brew (if this sounds overwhelming, the incredibly knowledgeable baristas are always happy to talk you through what’s written on the board), and then the arguably more difficult choice of doughnut-or-not as the pillowy, fresh bomboloni try to catch your eye from behind the glass cabinet.

Opposite the village green, on a corner no less leafy, is Provisions of Arrowtown. From the white picket fence and fruit trees that wrap around the restored, 150-year-old miners’ cottages in which this cafe is situated, to the famous sticky buns gleaming on the counter, Provisions has a rustic charm. The all-day menu draws on seasonal and local produce, with plenty of options for different taste buds, appetites and dietaries. Park up in the courtyard under an umbrella (or under a blanket during the colder months) and linger over breakfast, brunch, or a late lunch.

Also check out Dishery down the other end of town, with a sunny courtyard adjacent to another of the town’s green spaces, for brunch-meets bistro dining, with excellent coffee, hospitality and kai.

Down a laneway and up a set of narrow stairs, CAVE - Japanese Sake & Tapas - quietly but memorably delivers exactly what’s in the name: refined sharing plates of Japanese flavours in a dark-hued, sleek decor. Lunch here focuses on big plates (the evening menu is small and big tapas), like donburi, ramen, and a selection of sushi rolls. Dine in and enjoy the intimate atmosphere and friendly service, or take your order away (BYO container for a discount) to eat by the river, or in one of the nearby green spaces.

If you’ve got a really specific craving that a menu won’t do justice to, don’t panic, just head to Royalburn Farm Shop. Fridges and shelves are stocked with all sorts of fresh, seasonal produce straight off Royalburn Station itself, an alpine farm just a stone’s throw from town, as well as their charcuterie, local bread and other pantry goods from nearby makers. Fill a basket to your heart’s content, if you’d rather crunch down on artisan chocolate than carrots, this grocer is your oyster.

Set in an historic stone building on a prominent corner site, The Fork and Tap is a classic gastropub, the kind of establishment you’d happily have in your neighbourhood. Inside, the schist walls now house the bar area, with plenty of seating scattered around a fireplace that earns its keep and a drinks list that focuses on (but is certainly not limited to) innovative local beers and Central Otago wines, while the restaurant space is down a couple of steps within a contemporary extension that spills out onto a sizeable beer garden. It’s a prime spot for people watching as you tuck into a nourishing meal; from burgers to pizzas to seasonal specials and bar snacks (we’re looking at you, polenta fries), the kitchen pumps out hot and tasty food from 12 pm every day.

For a taste of Latin America’s late-night energy, step into La Rumbla, tucked just back from Arrowtown’s main drag. The atmosphere isn’t the only thing that’s lively here, designed to be shared, the menu is fresh, creative, and inspired by stretches of time spent in Catalonia. Everything is made from scratch, including the seasonal sorbets flavouring the cocktails. The wine list, which changes almost daily, is thoroughly researched to pair memorably with the dishes. Come hungry, and savour the vibrancy on your plate and all around you.

A love letter to Northern Italy, evenings at Aosta unfold slowly. Inspired by Central Otago and Italy’s Aosta Valley, regions that both sit on the 45th parallel, the menu is a symphony of the valley’s rustic Italian (and subtle French) heritage along with the finest local produce of the moment. Like many an institution in Arrowtown, the stone walls of this restaurant have been standing for over 150 years, while the contemporary additions of timber ceilings and flooring and smoked glass lampshades bring an elegant touch to the heart of the place. The passion for showcasing great food is obvious, dining at Aosta is an experience you’re unlikely to forget.

Swiftsure is an exciting new chapter by the reputable makers of Man O’ War wines up on Waiheke Island: a bistro and wine bar in the heart of Arrowtown, with one of the best terraces around. Refined but relaxed, the ambience is warm, the service polished and the menu thoughtful and seasonal. Snacks, small plates, bigger plates and sides are all inspired by the rugged terrain of their South Island vineyards, and the wine list feels like an exclusive tour through the Man O’ War library, a wine story that stretches from Waiheke’s sandy shores to Central Otago’s striking landscape.

Makers of premium, small-batch gins, started by two Kiwi builders who are ‘pretty fond of gin’, Rifters’ name and story nod to the gold-rush era Arrowtown locals who once searched the surrounding rifts for nuggets of gold. Using artesian Aotearoa water and distilled with locally foraged botanicals, their award-winning gins are made with care for the landscape that inspires them – with every bottle sold supporting local climate and biodiversity projects in the Queenstown region. Rifters also supplies bars around Aotearoa using a waste-free distribution system, saving more than 10,000 glass bottles from landfill. Their tasting room, set inside the heritage-listed stone Dudley’s Cottage, offers the chance to try these world-class spirits right where it all began.

Down on Ramshaw Lane and under a big red verandah is specialist wine store The Winery. Unlike other stores or cellar doors, at The Winery you can sample more than 60 wines, including some boutique drops that don’t have cellar doors, and the experience is totally DIY, you pick which wines you’d like to try, the volume (taste, half or full glass), and you only pay for what you’ve selected. There’s an extensive range of Aotearoa wineries as well as award-winning international names, and if you’d prefer, you can opt for a whisky or gin tasting instead.

Upstairs at Dorothy Browns Cinema is quite potentially the smallest bar in this list (and there’s some seriously cosy competition). A bit of a lesser-known secret, the Balcony Wine Bar is a quiet escape from the main street with views of the forest and mountains. There’s a curated selection of local and international wines, refreshing spritzes for warmer nights, and small plates and treats to satiate any hunger. Comfy and low-lit, it’s a welcoming spot for a pre- or post- show or dinner drink, or somewhere to curl up with a good book.

Small, moody and magnetic, The Blue Door is the kind of local watering hole you wish was yours. Behind the peeling blue paint of the entrance door, the ceiling is low, the light is low and the hum grows as the night gets darker. Classic and craft cocktails are poured perfectly here, the wine list is comprehensive and the allure is unmistakable. Don’t be surprised if you encounter an intimate live gig as you duck under the low doorway with thoughts of a nightcap on your mind.