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Are you thinking of dropping by Arrowtown for the day? Well, chances are you’ll be in need of a coffee at some point!
This small town has a lot to offer, with lots of fun activities to try and places to see. All this exploring can be thirsty work, but luckily, there are some great cafés to pick from.
With that said, there’s almost too much choice when it comes to café options here! That’s why I’ve put together this list – to showcase the very best of the best cafés out there.
This way, you can savor every drop of your visit to Arrowtown with the very best local cup of Joe!
The 5 Best Cafés in Arrowtown
1. Provisions of Arrowtown
On Centennial Avenue (one of the oldest streets in Arrowtown) is this restored old miners’ cottage turned café called Provisions of Arrowtown. The building dates as far back as the 1870s and was lovingly restored to re-open as a café in 2010.
Provisions of Arrowtown serves up fresh produce with a modern twist and offers both a daily specials menu as well as yummy counter food. Their all-day menu offers some great options like my personal favorites – the rainbow salad and the Bombay bowl. A lot of the menu is vegan and gluten-friendly too! If you have a sweet tooth be sure to try their lemon meringue donut or their sticky buns (which they’re famous for).
The coffee is also excellent – they serve up kiwi favorite Allpress beans (which was founded in Auckland).
There’s a large garden with a seating area outside, and the garden here is blooming with flowers in the spring and summer months. This is one of the most popular cafés in Arrowtown and so my advice is to get there early to nab a good seat especially during the busier times of 11 am to 2 pm.
Worth visiting too is the Arrowtown Farmers Market which happens every Sunday at 10 am in the Library Green, just opposite Provisions. It is a seasonal market and typically runs from October to April. Grab a coffee from Provisions then head over for a wander at the Farmers Market.
Provisions of Arrowtown is open daily from 8am – 4pm. It’s located in central Arrowtown and I often swing by to grab a coffee to-go whenever I have to drive between Wanaka and Queenstown.
2. The Chop Shop
Located on 7 Arrow Lane is the beautiful café The Chop Shop . Especially popular with locals, the menu has a slight Asian twist.
Worth noting is the menu at The Chop Shop is seasonal, so it changes frequently and fresh produce takes center stage. I love the Turkish Eggs from the Light Menu (which is available until 11 am). From 11 am there’s a larger menu available and a very popular option is the Nasi Goreng.
If it’s on the menu (remember their menu is seasonal) try the Crispy Pork Belly Bao with Mango Salsa – it is to-die-for! For those with a sweet tooth, the pancakes are my favorite! Dare I say, the food at The Chop Shop is easily some of the best in Arrowtown!
The coffee, of course, is excellent too. You can’t go wrong with a flat white, which you may not know was invented in Wellington. The interior is all vintage decor inside with a cozy feel. On a nice day grab a seat on the balcony outside and watch the world pass by below.
Worth noting is they don’t take bookings for daytime service so get there early to get a table as it does get very busy here – especially on weekends. It is open daily between 8 am – 3 pm.
Related Read: Check out the top ten best places to go for breakfast and brunch in Queenstown!
3. Patagonia Chocolates
Patagonia Chocolates was founded in 2005 by Argentinian-born owners Lorena Giallonardo and Alex Gimenez. They felt New Zealand was missing out on the awesome chocolate so famous in their homeland. In fact, their very first cafe was right here in Arrowtown.
Patagonia Chocolates serves up some of the yummiest handmade chocolates in New Zealand. And as a result, is particularly popular with tourists and large tour groups so expect to queue especially at peak lunch hours.
There’s a total of four Patagonia Café’s in Queenstown – one in central Queenstown, one in Wanaka, one in Arrowtown, and the last at Queenstown Airport.
The Arrowtown store serves up ice cream, chocolates, desserts, breakfast, and of course coffee. There are several tables inside the modern cafe. If you fall in love with their handmade chocolate truffles (like I have) you can thankfully purchase boxes of them to take home with you. Tip – my favorite flavors are raspberry and passionfruit!
Their breakfast menu is small but has something for everyone like chocolate croissants or muesli with fruit. And if you truly want a treat after lunch in Arrowtown you can’t go wrong with one of Patagonia’s indulgent ice cream sundaes.
My top tip – if you like hot chocolate, Patagonia Chocolate’s is pure indulgence. A great warm-me-up drink for a cold day in Arrowtown.
Patagonia Arrowtown is located on 31 Ramshaw Lane and is open from 9 am – 5 pm daily. if you don’t get a chance to visit this location, be sure to do so in Queenstown.
4. Arrowtown Bakery
The Arrowtown Bakery’s pies are famous, in fact, both locals and tourists have been known to call it the “greatest little pie shop in New Zealand”. There’s an array of yummy pie flavors from venison to chicken. Thankfully, their coffee is equally as great as their pies. Their menu also offers a variety of sandwiches and hot food items.
FYI – expect to queue here but the queue always moves pretty quick.
There’s a takeaway shop next door to Arrowtown Bakery’s cafe where you can get cakes, pies, fresh bread, and smaller counter items if you’re in a rush.
In the café itself, there’s a limited selection of both indoor and outdoor seating, but I recommend getting a takeaway and heading over to the Arrowtown Chinese Mining Settlement, which is completely free and full of interesting facts about the gold rush.
If pies aren’t your thing, then I suggest the Builders Bap – filled with hash browns, bacon, egg, and cheese and served on the fresh bread roll.
P.S you’re likely to smell the yummy food from the bakery as soon as you get out of the car in Arrowtown. The busiest times here are between 12 pm and 2 pm, so avoid those times if you don’t fancy queuing for a while.
Arrowtown Bakery is located on 14 Buckingham Street and is open from 7 am – 3:30 pm daily.
Related read: Want to eat great food in Queenstown? Check out the best restaurants in Queenstown as voted by me!
5. Good Day Arrowtown
Excellent donuts, strong coffee, and a varied hot food menu are what make this new-ish café off Buckingham Street a firm favorite with locals. In fact, Good Day Arrowtown roasts their own coffee here (it’s called Wolf Coffee Roasters) and you can purchase their beans in-store.
Good Day Arrowtown also does some great sandwiches (I love the brioche egg & hash brown option). The Breakfast Burger is also very popular. And I’m sure the very yummy donuts displayed at the counter are sure to tempt you – they’re huge!
Their little outdoor area is a bit of a sun trap, so it’s a great place to chill out after a morning of cycling or hiking on one of Arrowtown’s many trails.
Good Day Arrowtown is open from 7 am to 3 pm Monday to Friday, and 8 am to 3 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Special mentions: Some other great cafés in Arrowtown include Terra Mia and Postmasters Café, both on Buckingham Street. If you’re after a café slightly outside of town and with great scenery – then, The Hole in One Café at Millbrook Resort is a fantastic option. Or if you’re looking for a great meal, my list of the best restaurants in Arrowtown will help!
Where to Stay in Arrowtown
Arrowtown is a really cool place to stay in the Wakatipu Basin for those in the medium to high budget, with lots of great hotels to pick from. There are also lots of Airbnbs and bach/holiday homes available!
Arrowtown Holiday Park – $
While Arrowtown has lots of fantastic choices when it comes to midrange and luxury hotels, unfortunately there isn’t a great selection of budget options! That said, I’d class Arrowtown Holiday Park as budget-friendly, especially if you’re staying in a campervan or motorhome, or don’t mind camping in a tent.
A one-night stay in one of their Oregon lodges costs $92 NZD per night, however a tent site starts at $45 NZD, and a powered site costs $58 NZD per night. You can check availability and reserve your accommodation here on Booking.com.
Settlers Cottage Motel – $$
One of my favorite mid-range hotels is Settlers Cottage Motel. This boutique motel is located in a historic building that’s only a 5-minute walk from downtown Arrowtown. They have a limited selection of rooms that come in either studios or two-bedroom cottages and have free parking included.
Every room or cottage includes a kitchenette as well as a fridge – perfect for a short stay where you can prepare your lunches for the busy days ahead! Prices start at $199 NZD for a studio, and $319 NZD for a family of 4 in one of their bespoke cottages – you can check availability and book your room online here.
Millbrook Resort – $$$
For a more luxurious stay, consider spending a few nights at the Millbrook Resort (yep, remember the golf course with the epic views?). The resort is located on the outskirts of town and is pure luxury. With an indoor pool, outdoor jacuzzi, and the golf course at your front door, it’s easily one of the most luxurious places to stay in Arrowtown.
Rooms here at the Millbrook Resort aren’t cheap, starting at $560 NZD per night, but if you’re looking to spend some quality time in a super luxurious environment (and maybe a little golf!), then this might just be the accommodation you’re looking for. It is a popular resort though, so don’t forget to book your room in advance to secure your dates.
Thanks for reading!
There’s a coffee shop for every mood in Arrowtown. Plus, seeing as New Zealand is known for its excellent coffee you can be sure to have a great cup of coffee in all of the cafés in Arrowtown. Those were 5 of my favorite cafés in Arrowtown and I hope you will love them too.
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! If you found this guide helpful, then be sure to browse around some more. I have so many more great blogs on New Zealand to help plan your trip and make sure you don’t miss a thing!
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