Mora Wines & Artisan Kitchen

The Verdict

Where do we even start? If you haven’t heard of this absolute gem, then your world is about to get a whole lot better. As you walk up the cobblestone path to the gorgeous white weatherboard cottage that is Mora Wines & Artisan Kitchen (formerly Akarua), you’ll feel instantly at home. This well-loved and well-known Central Otago winery not only has a boutique cellar door on-site where you can sample their latest and greatest award-winning wines, but it serves up absolutely delicious food from 9 am - 5 pm daily. Whether you’re after a destination breakfast venue (one of the best around in our opinion) or a long-lunch location, this is the spot.

The courtyard is perfect year-round, transforming into a winter wonderland in the cooler months with a stunning translucent marquee, outdoor heaters and plenty of blankets to keep you snug and warm. For breakfast, you can’t go wrong with the seared halloumi with dukkah and poached eggs or the waffles with brulée banana and honeycomb butter—we can assure you it’s as tasty as it sounds. The lunch menu is designed to share with beautiful cuts of meat like the fall-off-the-bone Central Otago lamb shoulder, fresh seafood like the Mt Cook alpine salmon and so many delicious starters and sides. It’s such a beautifully unique location that we suggest grabbing your friends and making a whole day of it, and just in case you need any more convincing they do an epic magnum of rosé.

Image credit: Mora Wines & Artisan Kitchen.