Arrowtown is one of my favorite small towns in New Zealand and visiting is considered one of the best things to do in Queenstown. Firstly, it’s exceedingly pretty – some say like a movie set thanks to its gold mining past that left behind architecture from that time. Secondly, there are lots of fun things to do in Arrowtown. From hiking and biking to enjoying a great New Zealand coffee in one of the towns’ cozy cafes, you won’t get bored in Arrowtown.
If you’ve spent any amount of time in New Zealand you’ll know that Kiwis are very fussy about their coffee. So it’s no surprise then that all the cafes in Arrowtown serve up some of the best coffee on the South Island.
It can be hard to choose where to have coffee in Arrowtown, there are simply so many very different options. However, in this blog, I’ve put together a detailed list of the 5 best Cafes in Arrowtown. The list includes a popular chocolate shop with the best chocolate truffles in New Zealand and ‘the best little bakery in New Zealand’ according to Lonely Planet. Of course, all the cafes listed here also serve up fantastic coffee – this is New Zealand after all!
I hope you’ll find one of your new favorite cafes in Arrowtown on this list!
5 Best Cafes 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 cafes 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 to Wanaka from 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. This is a great place to fuel up before enjoying one of the best hikes in the area.
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. Getting an ice cream along the waterfront is one of the best cheap things to do 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 in Arrowtown. 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 cafe off Buckingham Street a firm favorite with locals. In fact, Good Day Arrowtown roast 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 located on 8/50 Buckingham Street (behind Betty’s Liquor Store) and is open from 7 am – 3 pm Monday – Friday and 8 am – 3 pm Saturdays and Sundays.
Special mentions: Some other great Cafes 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. There are also plenty of amazing cafes in Queenstown well worth checking out!
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. There are lots of great hotels and Airbnbs or bach/holiday homes to choose from.
One of my favorites is Settlers Cottage Motel. This boutique motel is located in a historic building only a 5-minute walk from downtown Arrowtown. They have very few rooms that come in either studios or two-bedroom cottages. It’s great value especially considering you can sleep the entire family in the cottages.
For a more luxurious stay, consider spending a few nights at the Millbrook Resort (yep, at the golf course.) 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 one of the most luxurious places to stay in Arrowtown.
Unfortunately in Arrowtown, there are very few budget places to stay with the only option being the Arrowtown Holiday Park which is only cheaper for those in campervans, tents, or motorhomes.
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 cafes in Arrowtown. Those were 5 of my favorite cafes in Arrowtown and I hope you will love them too.
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