Muttonbird

Tucked quietly behind MacPac on Ardmore Street—blink and you’ll miss the signage—sits Wānaka’s most electrifying dining room. Discerning gourmands quietly trade reservation tips for Muttonbird, a funky, art-draped space radiating serious open-kitchen energy. The vibe? Pure Aotearoa hospitality. Relaxed. Intimate. Like crashing a wildly talented friend's dinner party. Skip the menu anxiety—surrender completely to the Chef’s Choice tasting menu. Culinary travelers constantly highlight the sheer invention coming off the pass. Think phenomenal sourdough slathered in coffee butter. Impossibly rich lamb neck. Crispy fried monkfish bites perfectly textured with a rice crispy coating. Plates burst with bright, hyper-local kai—beef carpaccio spiked with fresh mint, or delicate lightly fried parsnips. Wash it all down with a flawless Blood Orange Negroni. Service is incredibly warm and agile, gracefully navigating dietary tweaks on the fly. Just save room for the finale. A chocolate mousse layered with cookie crumble and licorice gel that borders on absolute genius.