Dining al fresco in Victorian style, opposite Ophir Post Office.
There’s something for every palate, and wallet, in and around Ophir. Of course, if you’d prefer to stay in and try some of the local delicacies, can we suggest to head here to find our favourite rabbit recipes.
Pitches Store
45 Swindon St, Ophir.
This beautifully restored heritage building has an award winning restaurant, which serves seasonally inspired cuisine for lunch and dinner and great coffee and cake from 10am. Good range of high quality local wines and craft beers.
Spacious dining area, with the original doors up-cycled as counter-detailing, rustic wooden tables, sideboards and chairs perfectly complimented by contemporary furnishings and décor.An open fireplace provides the perfect spot to enjoy an extended meal with friends, or choose one of the more intimate tables for a more romantic ambience. In summertime, an outdoor courtyard with a shade sail is ideal for open-air dining.
Phone: +64 3-447 3240
Opening hours: 10am-8pm, 7 days during summer
pitches-store.co.nz
Blacks Hotel
Corner of Swindon St & Ida Valley-Omakau Rd
Blacks, a 1920’s Art Deco Hotel, is a great pub with both indoor and outdoor seating. Saskia, Chris, Daisy and Bella are the new owners. They offer a large collection of whisky, gin, local wines and craft beers to ensure you won’t go thirsty. The restaurant serves a seasonal menu changing throughout the year, using local produce, herbs and garnishes
Blacks’ welcomes your well-behaved four legged friends.
Restaurant
Dinner: 6-8pm Every day
Lunch : 12 – 2pm Wednesday – Sunday
Bar
Monday – Tuesday 4pm – close
Wednesday – Sunday 12noon – close
Phone: (03) 447 3826
blackshotel.co.nz
Chatto Creek Tavern
1544 Omakau-Chatto Creek Road, alongside the Central Otago rail trail
The first publican fell on a pitchfork and bled to death and some say his spirit still lingers in the shed. Inside the tavern is the original stonework and eclectic charming decor. Cosy, warm with a fire and inviting. Outside is great summertime eating and drinking in a large, sunny garden with cheeky donkeys close by.
Owners Fiona and Grant, along with their friendly team look forward to seeing you at theirs, whether you’re after a traditional pub meal, or something a little lighter, the extensive menu provides great options, prepared with fresh and local ingredients.
Open Every Day 10:30 – 23:00
Phone: +64 (0)3 447 3710
chattocreektavern.co.nz
Muddy Creek Café and Takeaway
2 Harvey St, Omakau
Great wee spot for coffee, breakfast and lunch. Wholesome country home-made food including some of the best gourmet pies in the region, slices and fresh muffins.
Also great takeaways (especially the blue cod).
Open Every Day 8:30 – 19:00
Phone: +64 3-447 3344
Commercial Hotel, Omakau
1 Harvey St., Omakau
The Commercial Hotel was built in 1898 by William Leask as Omakau’s first homestead then accommodation house for weary travellers. Eugene and Sharyn, and the Team now welcome you with some good old-fashioned hospitality.
The hotel has a great selection of Central Otago wines and ales available to quench your thirst. The restaurant prides itself on flavour and presentation, offering low & slow BBQ smoked items and a range of traditional country hotel delights.
You can take shade and dine in the garden area, the courtyard of the taproom or in one of the character dining rooms including the “Pomona Room” which is the original dining room of the homestead.
Phone (03) 4473715
omakau hotel.co.nz
Lauder Hotel
3313 Becks-Lauder Road, Lauder
A great little country hotel on the Otago Central Rail Trail. Built in 1904, the Lauder Hotel has a proud history of serving the area. Once known as the Lauder Railway Hotel, when rail services dwindled the building was turned 180 degrees and moved to face the road where it sits today.
The Lauder Hotel is known for its great service and friendly staff, that is always ready to help. The comfortable atmosphere is just what you need after a hard day on the rail trail. The restaurant offers gorgeous New Zealand cuisine including tasty salmon, ribeye and salads at reasonable prices, and the pub offers good draft beer among its drinks.
Open every day from 12 noon-8pm
Phone: 03 447 3706
www.lauderhotel.co.nz
The Adventure Hub, Poolburn
845 Ida Valley – Omakau Rd, Oturehua.
Since the 1920s the Poolburn Hotel has been the meeting place of the Ida Valley. No longer a pub, but housing a café and bar, a dining room, entertaining area and lush outdoor areas, it also offers guided activities to adventurers.
Always open
Phone: +64 2788 46709
poolburnhub.com
The Vulcan, St Bathans
1670 Loop Road, St Bathans
This iconic hotel was built in 1882, and has its very own ghost, said to be the spirit of a sex worker named The Rose, who was murdered in one of the rooms more than a century ago.
The Vulcan serves lunch and dinner as well as great coffee and light snacks (the cheese scones are to die for). It has cosy seats around a fire as well as a dining room and some outdoor seats to watch the world go by.
Open 7 days 10am-8pm
Phone: 03-447 3629
summer means dining outside, preferably in a shady spot.
Wee Red Coffee Shed
Becks- St Bathans Road
A great wee place for coffee on the go, or sit, relax and enjoy the view. Small selection of delicious sweet and savoury snacks available. It also offers a few beautiful gifts
Open Fridays and Mondays only 9am-1pm
Phone: 027 444 9854
Lammermoor Distillery
1321 Upper Taieri-Paerau Road, Serpentine
Distilled illegally since 1863, Lammermoor Whisky & Gin Distillery are proudly family owned. A unique farm distillery handcrafting New Zealand Whisky & Gin from paddock to bottle, from grain to glass. One of few distilleries to grow their own grain, malt, mash, ferment, distill and mature on site. You can learn about the history of Lammermoor Station and how the Distillery was started with a personal tour from owners John and Susie Elliot. Tours take between 60-90 minutes. Following the whisky tasting and tour Susie will guide you through her gin making process while tasting the various craft gins produced at the distillery. Bookings are essential.
Phone: 03-444-9564
lammermoordistillery.com
Monte Christo Berry Farm & Cafe
100 Springvale Road, Clyde
Monte Christo Raspberry Cafe is set in a beautiful garden and specialises in delicious berry fruit desserts, homemade scones, cheese rolls, the best real fruit ice creams for miles. Coffeeworx coffee too.
phone: 03-449 2268
Hayes Engineering Cafe
Oturehua
Open daily from 9-4pm September to May, the cafe at Hayes Engineering is a great place to stop by and refuel in the Ida Valley.
phone: 03 444 5801
Website here
