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.
74 Ardmore St, Wānaka
03 428 4938 /
arcwanaka.co.nz
![Cuisine Favourite Destination](https://www.cuisine.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Set4_favorite-black.png)
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.
76A Golf Course Rd, Wānaka /
03 443 2299 /
bistrogentil.co.nz
![Cuisine Favourite Destination](https://www.cuisine.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Set4_favorite-black.png)
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.
Post Office Lane, 33 Ardmore St, Wānaka /
03 428 4223 /
muttonbird.co.nz
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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.
28 Helwick St, Wānaka
03 443 1288 /
palomawanaka.co.nz
![Cuisine Global Destination](https://www.cuisine.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Set4_global-black.png)
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Cuisine Good Food Guide Hatted Restaurants
Resilience, innovation and exceptional dining experiences are the hallmarks of this past year’s Cuisine Good Food Awards, with a commitment to excellence within the New Zealand hospitality industry.
Cuisine Good Food Guide Category Winners
Discover the best restaurants, chefs and innovators of the year across New Zealand’s culinary scene. From Restaurant of the Year to Regional, Metropolitan and Rising Talent, meet the award-winners shaping the future of dining out.
Cuisine Good Food Guide Destinations
Start planning your best-ever culinary adventures with Cuisine’s Good Food Guide Destinations. From casual to high-end global tastes to wineries that deliver a great menu or favourites we return to again and again, you are guaranteed a deliciously good time.
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