The 15 best breakfast and brunch in Wanaka

Great food and service. We came in twice on different days - on the first, they were kind enough to serve us 30 mins before closing time. We were craving toast and they made it for us despite it not being on the menu. Scones were served with an extremely generous helping of clotted cream and jam. We knew we had to come back the next day and it was one of the best decisions made this trip - seafood chowder was amazing. Smoothies were great, too!

A lovely hidden gem our friend led us to last weekend, so glad we got to try this wee spot. The coffee was delicious! Food was tasty/a little pricey. I tried the Mexican madness breakfast dish. Generous with the potatoes and avocado, I think it would be good with a little chorizo to make it have more flavor. I'd come back and try other menu items 😊

Grateful for the vegan options but we did not care for the composition or taste of the food! The ambiance is great though!

We had a great breakfast. French toast was so good. A generous sized kids scrambled eggs. Great coffee.

This was a super cute breakfast spot tucked away. The food was pretty quick and I would say the prices were reasonable. The staff were very friendly and helpful to us especially when I poured my water all over myself and the floor 😭. I would definitely recommend coming here for a peaceful breakfast in wanaka.

Awesome breakfast spot! Lively and great food! They have great vegetarian options, including houlumi cheese!

Warm and welcoming on a wet Wānaka morning. Scrambled egg with a side of bacon hit the spot. Well worth the detour of the main road and down the alleyway.

The food here was a little bit on the bland side, we ordered the eggs, Lamb Burger and the Chicken Rice. The chicken rice was probably the nicest! Drinks were good too.

I couldn't rave about this place more than I already do. The food was delicious, the service was quick and the staff were lovely. Local beer available on tap. Gluten free options (not that we were but good to know) available. Would come again next time we visit Wanaka.

I'm a fussy kiwi when it comes to flat whites and having been out of the country for 10 years my expectations are high. Sophie's flat whites are by far the best I've had while traveling around.

So good I went twice in one day. My friend lives in Wanaka and loves the place so we met for an early morning coffee. Super cute place with great views and friendly staff. The porridge is world class delicious (there’s a sentence I never thought I’d type!). Took my husband there for lunch later and had a glass of Amisfield Pino Gris (yum) and this pumpkin soup with cheese garlic bread and a grand to go. Incredible value for money, super delicious food and the warmest friendliest team. Don’t miss out if you’re in the area. PS I forgot to get a pic of the porridge but trust me it’s like nothing you’ve ever experienced 🤩

The hot honey chicken rice was super good, as was the coffee, and everything came out promptly. I dropped my wife’s credit card on the ground when I went to the toilet and didn’t realize it until after I left. The barista, Damon, had found it, kept it for us, and kindly refused the tip I tried to give him afterwards. Lovely people, would recommend this place on all levels!

Food was great, and their flat white is probably the best I’ve had in New Zealand—dare I say, even better than some I’ve had in Oz. Highly recommend!

Delicious breakfast! Everything cooked perfectly. However, the kids platter was definitely an afterthought unfortunately. Cheese rolls weren't very good and slice was dry / not one a child would eat. Would stick to adults menu for child in future.

Definitely stop in at Scroggin if you’re in the area! 🍴 The food was a real standout — I had the one hander and the banana bread, and both were delicious and beautifully presented. The staff were warm and welcoming, which really added to the relaxed, friendly vibe of the place. All in all, a great spot with tasty food and good energy. Highly recommend for a casual meal or a coffee break! 🌟

Had breakfast here two days in a row. Inventive breakfast and brunch options backed by good drinks and equally good pastries. It’s a very popular cafe so can take about 20 minutes to get food after ordering, but they are very accommodating with take away options.

Review is based solely on their cookies and mocha, since we didn’t try their other offerings - and we thought it was a pretty unique cookie to say the least! 🍪 the sea salt chocolate cookie was pretty much a “cakey-though-tough” cookie, not the crispy nor soft ones that we are used to - which brings about a unique texture, not to mention the generous amount of chocolate chips found within the cookie itself! Worth the $8 for a try. ☕ the mocha wasn’t to our liking, and seeing how much we enjoyed the flat white at their sister cafe (Crumb), we would opt to stick with their flat white in future! Definitely a cafe worth visiting for their bakes and coffee!

Stopped in at Scroggin on a chilly Friday morning and couldn’t have picked a better spot to warm up. I ordered the potato & leek soup and a hot chocolate—and wow, both were next-level! The soup was rich, hearty, and full of comforting flavour—truly the kind that makes you sit back and enjoy every sip. The hot chocolate was gorgeous, but the real highlight? A giant, homemade marshmallow perched on top—soft, fluffy, and totally worth mentioning! The vibe was cozy, staff super friendly, and everything tasted homemade with care. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, Scroggin is 100% worth a stop.

The Scroggin Benedict was incredibly delicious! My tastes bud were dancing. The mushroom cacao mug was unique and divine - tastes like a merge of chai latte and hot choc! Don’t even get me started on the chocolate banana bread loaf - it was scrumptious! Highly recommend this place!

Absolutely gorgeous coffee, and freshly baked deliciousness! I'll add food pics tomorrow - I was so in love wth my coffee, I forgot to take pics of the kai :)

Tried Scroggin Coffee and Eatery recently and was pleasantly surprised by their Cold Smoke Salmon toast – the toast itself was beautifully crispy yet soft, perfectly done. The salmon was decent, though nothing too special. The Mushroom Toast had mushrooms that didn’t taste super fresh, but the sauce underneath was surprisingly good and paired well with the mushrooms, definitely a plus. Their Mocha Latte was unexpectedly delicious, with a fragrant matcha note that I really enjoyed. The iced Americano was just okay, a bit too bitter for my taste. We also grabbed a Blackberry Scone to go, and it was delightfully crispy and tasty 😋 The place was busy and packed when we arrived, yet the staff were attentive and made us feel well taken care of. Overall, it’s a spot I’d still recommend.

Nice place serving 16 draft local beers, hot and cold drinks plus cakes and warm food. The food cabinets by 1.30pm though were a nearly empty so may need to keep ready made meals going longer. Few pies and cakes only left. All the food being prepared though looked fabulous. Would definitely recommend. Easy access for wheel chairs and buggies with seating inside and outside under cover. Enjoy

[ok la] 1) Overall - Cafe with lake view, strategic location, friendly staff, limited seating and do expect queue, cozy atmosphere, food and drink selection are coffee, beer, pizza, baked goods and more from Kai Whakapai Eatery & Craft Beer Bar 2) coffee - aromatic and strong 3) corn fritter - Crispy on the outside, soft and sweet inside. The corn kernels were juicy and fresh, giving nice bursts of flavor. Lightly seasoned – great as a snack or side dish. Would be even better with a dipping sauce or a bit of spice.

Food was amazing and this place was in a super convenient location. The staff were very friendly and the atmosphere was great. The kitchen did forget my food but the staff were super helpful with it and got it sorted for me straight away and also gave me a free drink with it. I would definitely recommend giving it a go if you are in wanaka.

Drawn to this bar due to its vibes, and tried out two of their craft beer! The friendly staff shared his recommendation of Kai Time and Sinker when i asked for 2 light flavoured ones, but ended up getting Kai Time and the Ginger variant since the latter one got me hooked for what it was. 🍺 the Kai beer was quite heavily flavoured, in a way that i could taste the wheat with each sip. The ginger variant tasted very much like a kombucha which was good and pretty light. At 25NZD, it’s not the cheapest ones out there, but definitely a good spot to come by and try out the variety they have while enjoying the spring breeze!

Been here a couple of times, ambience was good. Ordered the gluten-free salmon pizza and loaded fries, everything was okay, but the salmon was a bit dry. Spent about $70, not the cheapest for this level of quality.

Brilliant spot for brunch! The Eggs Benny was absolutely delicious—perfectly poached and full of flavour. Coffee was just as great, smooth and rich. Highly recommend for a relaxed and tasty start to the day!

This restaurant is usually very busy. Great to sit outdoors, facing the lake view to enjoy a lunch. Food standard is acceptable. Staffs were friendly and helpful to provide sharing plates for us.

Back after 6 years, glad its still here! The crepe is still absolutely delicious and perfect to eat in whichever weather! Love the crepe, the COMPLETE savoury crepe was amazing and delicious! I had it for lunch and it was good! A little on the pricey side though.

I recently visited Charlie Brown Crepes and ordered the sugar and butter flavor. It was delicious! The crepe tasted great, and the staff was incredibly friendly. It's definitely a sweet spot to indulge in a treat. I’ll be back for more!

Super delicious crêpes! Love Charlie Brown's - absolutely authentic French cuisine! The owner is so friendly and funny. Will definitely return if I ever visit Wanaka again!

This was one of the culinary highlights during our visit to Wanaka. As we absolutely loved the very authentic crêpes and galettes offered here and made it a daily stop for a snack or coffee or both.

Hot toasty crepe on a cold weather. Ordered a Gourmande and it was great. The staff were very welcoming and friendly too!

Authentic crepes. Reasonably priced. Cosy little spot.

First thing to do when you get to Wanaka! Came back for white chocolate and blueberry crepè I had around 10 years ago. So glad to taste it again, thank you 🥹

Amazing bagels and coffee! 🥯 ☕️ We came here every morning during our stay in Wanaka. Lovely outdoor area with cozy furs in winter. A bit pricey, but definitely worth it!

In the same vicinity as the best burrito and good chicken wings, this coffee and bagel shop opens in the morning and sports a long queue when we visited around 10 on a weekday. The queue does move pretty quickly, and orders are prepped rather promptly too. 🥯 the hash bagel was pretty good, bagel was pretty soft which should be the same for all their bagels, and the fillings were good though not wow. It’s pretty pricey for what it was though it was enough for 2 of us for a light breakfast. ☕ the coffee was similarly bitter, as with all that we tried in NZ so far, but lacking that aroma i was looking for, but a solid drink nonetheless. 🍫 mocha was okay, the less preferred drink amongst the 2 Overall, it’s a good spot to chill and soak in the morning vibes while having a coffee.

Great coffee! Also had the cheese and jalapeño scone heated with butter and it was really really good! Very nice seating area with a stream running through! Highly recommend!!

Lovely little spot - really enjoyed the coffee and the breakfast bagel (with added hash brown) was delicious. I’d have liked a little bit of crunch for texture but taste was spot on. Loved sitting outside in the sun!

The haloumi bagel was very good! Finally, a café that offers vegetarian/vegan options that aren’t just avo on toast or falafel—something different and delicious. The coffee was alright, could be better, but the setting of the place is absolutely beautiful. 😍 Definitely worth a visit.

So impressed with our bagels - one veggie, one vegan and divine coffee and matcha. Fair portions, well presented and so tasty, we can’t wait to come back! 10/10

Before I leave Wanaka I decided to get a lovely matcha in the town. What I saw is on the left and what I got was a super light matcha(right picture) The picture I saw looks good and rich matcha. What I’ve got was taste watery and doesn’t taste good. It’s disappointing to this.

OMG the Buddha Bowl with lamb. I cannot begin to express in a simple review how delightful the Buddha bowl is. When you add the chermoula sauce to the top, it’s a flavor explosion. I had this while staying in town and then a few days later drove an hour out of my way to have it again! The owner of the shop was working and you can tell she has a passion for what she does, it’s evident in the flavors in the bowl. I could continue to wax poetic about the freshness that is the Buddha bowl, but you should just go get one

Awesome smoothie bowl (snickers) - so tasty, lovely presentation and great selection of toppings. They offered the addition of pea protein but I’m not a fan of the taste! Offering a vanilla whey protein in addition to the vegan option would be great. Unfortunately I wasn’t a fan of the coffee. I ordered a small flat white and it was bitter, watery and way too hot. The milk hadn’t been textured properly. As I was wasn’t going to drink mine, I asked for a fresh coffee as thought maybe mine had just come out wrong / a different person made it. The lady next to me had what looked like a great coffee! The second was better, but still not that great (watery and bitter - possibly over extracted?) It’s a food truck type set up next to a car park, but they’ve done a nice job of the seating area.

We had the Buddha bowls, one with salmon and one with chicken. Such great quality and very healthy! All the sauces are incredible. Had the snickers bowl to split as a dessert. So good and so full. Came back to get the açaí bowl the next day. Also incredible. Great job team!

Evelyn is so lovely! I needed a big order of their beautiful fresh pressed juices with very little notice, and she went out of her way to accomodate - even giving me her personal number. Service like that goes such a long way and I'll definitely be back.

Buddha bowl tasted healthy and wholesome but the combination of ingredients felt a little too raw, might be nicer to match with a little more flavorful toppings. Opted for the regular size but disappointed to see that there’s no portion change in the protein as compared to a baby Buddha bowl (only rice and a few extra toppings), so the price point was expensive for the portion and value. Loved the energy and service of the staff (or owner)!

Fulfilling bowls! It is pricey, but you can tell they are using the best quality products and one of their smoothie bowls fills you pretty well. Had the snickers one and tried the salmon salad from my friend. We were a bit disappointed with the size, but it was really tasty regardless

Love this place so much! Great, healthy food, lots of vegan options and such a friendly vibe! The açaí bowls, the Buddha bowls, the coffee, the raw desserts — everything is so yum! Loved chatting with Vinnie who is awesome!

We had a lovely stay at Makarora Country Cafe & Camp. Waking up to snowy mountains and birdsong was amazing, and in the morning we were greeted by their playful cat. Super friendly and helpful owner and the showers are warm with great pressure. Unfortunately for us the café was closed during our visit, so do come prepared to make your own meals when staying at the campsite. The shared kitchen is on the small side with only one hob, so it’s best for one-pot meals or using the microwave. Luckily for us we were the only ones there and had the kitchen to ourselves. We’ll definitely be back!

We stayed the night here in our Campervan and had dinner in the Cafe. Great place to stay with good facilities available (showers, toilets, kitchen & laundry). The people (staff and locals) were really friendly and the steak, chips and salad for dinner was delicious! When they found out it was my husband's birthday they even brought out a delicious slice of carrot cake and scoop of icecream! So enjoyed our stay.

A quiet and nice café. We stopped by for tea and breakfast. I also bought some soaps and souvenir gifts.

The best cafe I've had in New Zealand. I enjoyed a really good ice cream in front of the fireplace; it's very peaceful and relaxing. The service was very friendly :)

Such a lovely stop. We arrived a bit grumpy and planning on just taking away coffees. But as soon as we walked in we felt so comfortable we ended up having coffee, lunch then an ice cream. Great atmosphere, food and staff.

We have had an unplanned stop here: delicious food, nice and heartful staff, lovely decorated. What a joyful surprise :-)

Absolutely lovely cafe, friendly people, warm fire and good coffee. The campsite is 40 dollars for non powered spot, basic facilities but everything you need. Hot showers and a very basic kitchen.

The view from this restaurant is fantastic. The food and service is good but isn’t great for the price. The pork belly popcorn was by far the best dish. The dry aged rib eye lacked flavor. The staff is friendly but it seemed like service was slow (maybe understaffed or maybe it was too busy when we ate) I recommend getting a reservation if you are going to eat here as it fills up fast.

A beautiful menu of locally sourced produce, absolutely stunning views that make you not want to leave, but best of all... the restaurant staff! A great restaurant always stems from great management. Kenny runs the A team who are so friendly, happy and authentically hospitable - World Class! We hope to see you again in the not too distant future, thank you. JS

We popped in for afternoon tea as nothing much else was open around 3pm in Wanaka. Had coffee, the Oreo cheesecake and pannacotta. The desserts were so much better than expected. Super fresh, not too sweet and refined flavors. Cheesecake was up there with the best ones I've ever had and the black Doris plum syrup with the pannacotta was so delicious. Views of the lake were stunning and the staff were incredibly attentive but not annoying. Perfect balance of great service and delicious food. Wish we had time to go back and try more of the menu.

I can honestly say it was the best food we've had in a long time. The Crispy Korean Cauliflower is amazing, as is the Popcorn Pork Belly. The Lamb Shoulder was beautifully tender and Duck Fat potatoes are always a guilty pleasure. The mulled wine was so good we had to have more. The staff were extremely friendly, helpful and attentive and the views of the lake stunning. Definitely will be back when we're next in Wanaka.

We went for the scones - we were told about the "scones as big as your head" and had to check them out! They weren't that big, but they were tasty! We had four different flavours and enjoyed them all. The views out to the lake are stunning. Most interesting was the ginger but they were all good. Make sure you get in early if you want the scones!

What a fantastic place! The food was absolutely incredible and the portions so generous. I almost cried when I couldn’t finish my main dish because I’d enjoyed the starters so much. Between us, we ordered the onion petals, chicken liver parfait, prawn toast (best I’ve ever had! Ever!) as well as the Korean cauliflower and stuffed pork belly. Stuffed and happy bellies for both of us by the end of this dining experience! 😁 Highly recommended. And the view! Like the name suggests, you really are right on the water, with a clear view of the lake, people walking, cycling or running by, and surrounded by the gorgeous mountains. It also helped that the timing of a first table coincided with the sunset!

We had a great time here! Our server Jake (also front of house) was so attentive and amazing, it was a pleasure to talk to him! Our food was delicious. We had camembert and pork belly popcorn which was great. Our mains (short rib and steak) were also good then the cookie dough pudding was to die for. We loved the atmosphere, especially being sat near the fire. Overall we had a great time, service was fantastic and we definitely recommend this place.

Very good pastries, sandwiches, breads and donuts. And good coffee too! But I had to ask 3 times for what I wanted and still had to correct them and show what I meant (no I do not have a thick accent). And the coffee was hot but the food was not. With unclean facilities even very early in the morning (birds love the free food - as seen in the pictures) and unfriendly staff you will not have a very good experience. Dark haired woman made a face when I asked for my food to be heated. Then she made a face again when I asked for sugar. Can't imagine how much worse it could be later in the day when they're actually tired... Oh except I do know how it is in the evening: they park their truck at the door rather than use one of the many - many! - parking spots available making it very hard for others to use the actual parking spaces.

Looks flash and inviting . Unfortunately the food and service was very average. Steak and cheese pie filling was a jelly like stew . Service was abrupt .

The person serving me forgot my order and then served her colleague a leftover pie before I even received my order. I had to re-ask for it to be heated and then it still took over 20 minutes for me to receive my food and my partner had already finished his food. I really wanted to support a local cafe being a visitor in the area, but I will not be coming back to support this place. Should have gone to Subway, I'm sure I would have got better service there.

Stopped here while waiting for our van to get fixed. Unsuspecting but turned out to be actually insane food. Got a couple sandwiches which were some of the best food we have had in New Zealand. 10/10 recommend!

I’ve visited countless cafes across both the North and South Island, but unfortunately this was one of the worst experiences I’ve had. The customer service was appalling. When a staff member asked her colleague to serve us, she outright refused, no greeting, no friendliness, just attitude. We weren’t acknowledged with a simple hello or goodbye, which made the entire interaction feel cold and unwelcoming. To make matters worse, the cleanliness of the café was shocking. The couches were visibly dirty and covered in sand and dust and many of the tables hadn’t been cleared or wiped down. It felt neglected and unhygienic, which is especially concerning in a food environment. The food itself was passable; the pie was average at best, a bit dry but edible. Overall, this place has potential, but it’s being completely let down by the standard of service and lack of care in its environment. With better staff and attention to cleanliness it could be much better.

I’ve generally had a good experience at this café. The front-of-house team is friendly and welcoming, and the girls have always been efficient. However, a couple visits ago, I was sitting on the couch when a gust of wind blew through the cafe causing a painting above me to come loose and fall on my head. I had just gotten 2 of my teeth removed, so this was my last straw, It was a pretty unpleasant surprise. The young girl in the glasses was very sweet and comforting. A week later I came to grab my coffee and noticed the painting fall off on another Young girls head!! I think it points to a safety issue that needs attention! I’d encourage the café to double-check how their wall décor is secured, as it could have caused a more serious injury. Once that’s sorted, I’d be happy to keep coming back since the atmosphere and service are otherwise lovely.

The sourdough loaves “fell flat” for me. No rise, super dense crumb, majorly over floured top. Very tough bread.

Such a nice little spot ! Decaf flat white was delish and the carrot loaf was incredible, not too sweet, so moist and the cream cheese icing just 👌🏻

Best scones and toasties in NZ. Great coffee. Prices are cheap, food is great. The scones grilled and topped with butter were so good we had to buy another round. Lovely customer service (and sweet old pupper to say hello to).

My regular coffee was awesome but my wife’s decaf was really weak and tasted more like warm milk than coffee. So I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re a decaf person, but for regular coffee it’s awesome.

Delicious coffee (had decaf) and chai latte. Date scone was amazing toasted with melted butter. But the showstopper was the carrot cake, not overly sweet, just perfect, best we've ever had! Friendly owner too.

Good sourdough breads. We tried corn beef and ham cheese. Very friendly owner.

Very cute little caravan cafe that was an excellent bike ride from Wanaka. Vegan options available. They also had alternative milks. The chai and hot chocolate with oat milk were excellent and the vegan toastie was made of beautiful sourdough bread, a homemade patty, pumpkin, hummus and mesclun. Very tasty!

Fabulous find! Just to the side of the Hawea garage. Great coffee, selection of delicious home made cakes and sandwiches including some amazing healthy raw treats. Lovely sunny spot with a table and chairs to sit out and clean toilets. Total gem, we came back 3 times in 2 days!! Thank you

Very happy with The Hammer & Nail Bakery! We were travelling NZ for my husbands 40th Birthday which fell on a Sunday when the bakery is normally closed. Ryan made a small GF chocolate cake for us and allowed me to pickup on the Sunday. So friendly and easy to deal with and a very fair price. Also the cake tasted absolutely delicious 😋 Thanks so much! So so happy - great taste, appearance & service!

Coffee was the absolute best. Unfortunately, the attitude from the server not so much.

Whoever was making the coffees on the morning of Thursday feb 15th 2024, that has got to be one of the best coffees I’ve ever had!! Our whole office was saying how great their coffees were that morning. Please get that person to do the barista training from now on ;);)

Exceptional hospitality from these folks, particularly Raewyn. She went above and beyond for our crew, I highly recommend the H&N team for your next caffeine fix.

Croissants and breads bake home, it's so yummy 😋🍞🥐

Good food, seems like a subsidiary of 'the bakery' so it's reliable quality. Can be patchy on seating but generally really good. Coffee is decent but not top 5 in Wanaka.

Apparently has award winning vegetarian pies, but have never been able to try one as they never have them available. We have come to this place over 10 times and they’re not available. Other vegetarian options are slim. Overall not impressed.

Phenomenal! I was longing for a chicken sandwich for over a week while travelling around Queenstown and Wānaka and finally found this joint on my last day (which might’ve been a secret blessing otherwise I probably would’ve had this sandwich every single day). Coffee was great. Sandwich was divine. Cookie was good. Great price. Service was really lovely and kind. Highly recommend.

This quiet courtyard cafe was a real gem after driving to Wanaka from Queenstown. The toasted sandwiches are drop dead delicious and the coffee was flavourful. There is shelter from the wind and the sun hits the place too. The kind woman serving had an amazing presence also. Love this place.

So I've been multiple times, and honestly, this is one of the simplest but best places to get simple toasties, coffee and cookies from. I think we've now sampled just about every option on the menu, and most of the cookies, and can honestly say I don't think I've come to a more consistent and excellent place as this. And coffee in old school acoroc mugs? Yeah boooyyy. Coffee is excellent, have never had a bad one. Just have a look at the quality on that toastie, it honestly never gets old, and is our go to for a nice lunch down in Wanaka. It's squeezed inbetween Outside Sports and Mt Outdoors down an alleyway, but you'll not regret it, go for a look!

Came here for lunch, we grabbed a pastrami and a chicken sandwich. Pastrami was banging! Chicken was nice, I reckon a wee bit more herby herb seasoning and maybe a cheeky bit of relish would’ve got it a few extra points in my book but the focaccia was flawless. Nice vibe overall and surprised how quickly the food came out. Might have to go back and try one of those cookies!

Alleyway is just the best, the staff, the sandwiches and easily the best cookies in Otago! I’ll make the trip from Queenstown just to go here. The staff really make this place what it is!! They are always bright and bubbly, no matter if it’s your first or fifty time here they are always so happy to see u

Good coffee on a frigid day. Revisiting Wanaka after 10 years. What a warm welcome. Sandwich menu looks sick too … might try it next time.

Received a tip-off from a friend who spoke about Alleyway’s sandwiches and cookies with such reverence and praise that it required investigating. Indeed, the findings were consistent with my friends. The Herby Chicken focaccia was glorious and the Salted Caramel cookie was nothing short of stupendous! The flat white is also good, a genuine hidden gem!