Where to Eat
Cromwell's Great Places to Eat
article written by Alexia Santamaria
Right on the shores of Lake Dunstan, Cromwell is an incredibly popular spot for visitors to the Central Otago region. Everyone loves the Heritage Precinct - a fascinating mix of original and reconstructed buildings from the old main street of the 1860s gold town which is now home to galleries, cafes and other cute shops. If you’re staying in Cromwell and looking for great places to eat, you’re in luck - there are a few to choose from. Whether you’re looking for grab ‘n go bakery fare or one of the most high-end dining experiences in the region, you’ll love what’s on offer.
Fusee rouge Cafe
Located in the main shops you’ll love the cabinet offerings at Fusee Rouge. Turn up first thing in the morning to the unmistakable smell of still-warm home baking, shelves heaving with cheese scones, cinnamon scrolls, caramel slices, wraps loaded with fresh fillings, sausage rolls, cakes, pies and their famous donuts - all made with Central Otago love. The cinnamon scrolls are particularly popular and often sell out early. There’s also a short made-to-order menu if you feel like waffles, eggs benny, granola or a big brekkie - or even mince on toast!
The Stoaker Room Bistro & Bar
The Stoaker Room is always a good time, constantly filled with locals sharing a bite, a drink and a laugh. But the really interesting part is that all the food is cleverly steamed, baked, grilled and smoked in cookers made from French oak pinot noir barrels - does it get any more Central Otago than that?
The Stoaker Banquet is always an excellent option to share - a long board with delights such as local venison, tandoori lamb rump, pork belly, pulled duck crouton and salmon plus great sides to round it all out.
Cromwell Farmers and Craft Market, Cromwell Heritage Precinct
Farmers' Market @ cromwell heritage precinct
The Central Otago Farmers' and Craft Market is held every Sunday morning from Labour Weekend through to early March and is a great place for picking up local edible treats. There is a wonderful array of fresh produce including stone fruit, local cheeses, olive oil, saffron, lamb, nuts, fresh pasta, flowers and much more, depending on the season. It’s a great place to connect with passionate local growers and producers.
The Cloudy Bay Shed
While you may associate the Cloudy Bay brand with Marlborough, The Shed is unmistakably Central Otago. It’s all centred round Te Wahi, their stunning local Pinot Noir, plus their whole wine range is available for tasting and drinking.
The food is some of the best in Central Otago - every clever dish a perfect balance of flavour and texture. You can tell that enormous thought has gone into the whole dining experience with creative high-end food, stunning interior design (that manages to be elegant but simultaneously very approachable), beautiful art on the walls and floor-to-ceiling windows on one side so you can gaze dreamily at a picture-perfect view of Lake Dunstan, Sugarloaf and the Pisa Range between exquisite bites.
Allow extra time as you’re really not going to want to leave.
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