Central Otago Destinations

Arc Wānaka

After a hard day at the desk, or out on the slopes, it’s nice to sink into a chair in a warm, relaxed spot and say, “Just feed me”. This is a popular menu option at this main-street bistro which delivers innovation on a plate. Their native-garden courtyard is a hidden treasure.

Bistro Gentil

The vista is definitively Southern Alps, but the food bears traces of the opposite hemisphere. A modern French menu teams with Central Otago ingredients and that surreal view of snow-dusted peaks. In season, the lavender fields bloom and dinner guests can raise a toast to the sun as it sinks silently into the lake.

Muttonbird

There are no tītī on the special’s board, just an ever-changing selection of small and large dishes that celebrate the seasons and love of the local. This is smart-casual food, tweaked to suit the catch, find or forage of the moment. On the wall, a menu dating from the 1940s advertises muttonbird & chips for 1 shilling, 6 pennies.

Paloma Taqueria

A sparkling collection of tequila displayed within a curved white plaster feature says it all: this is Mexican with a modern slant. Game-changing housemade tacos are the soul of the menu but there are wood-fired meats, too. Drinks include the classic ‘paloma’ – the most popular tequila-based cocktail in Mexico.

We’d love to know about your favourite spots.
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