Kai Whakapai Eatery & Craft Beer Bar

Prime lakeside real estate right on Ardmore Street. Kai Whakapai delivers proper kai with a relentlessly vibrant energy—morning through night. Wānaka weekenders make a straight beeline for the legendary Brisket Benny—a towering masterpiece stacked on flawlessly crunchy, house-made hash browns. Absolute perfection. Upstairs? Gorgeous lake vistas and hyper-efficient service, even when the floor is absolutely packed. The morning crowd is all about the house-baked sourdough Eggs Benedict, zesty avo smash, and stellar flat whites dusted with iconic Whittaker’s chocolate. Come sundown, the vibe shifts. The outdoor heaters crank up, and the patio buzzes. Serious hop-heads pile in for a cracking rotation of local craft beers paired with brilliant 12-inch thin-crust pizzas—the salmon pie is a total knockout. Bustling, cozy, and effortlessly cool. Grab a pint, order the brisket loaded fries, and settle in.