Ways to spend a winter evening in Arrowtown

After a day on the slopes or in the snow, exploring Arrowtown’s boutiques, museum or extensive trail network, the long evenings are a chance to unwind and let the night stretch on.

Winter in Arrowtown means snuggling down at a local eatery or bar, enjoying a drink or a hearty delicious meal that warms you from the inside out. Here are some of our top ways to spend a winter’s night.

1. Dine in style

Arrowtown has a renowned foodie scene and includes one-hatted restaurant, Aosta, the brainchild of Ben Bayly. Aosta’s menu features mouth-watering North Italian cuisine created with local ingredients and the restaurant is intimate and welcoming. For a unique dining experience, you can also book a private evening with Aosta and Bonham Art & Design. Sit amongst the handpicked selection of art and design while you dine. Just outside of Arrowtown, you will find Amisfield which has three-hats. Its multiple course menu, curated by Vaughn Maybee, reflects the tastes of the region and is designed to be matched with wine from Amisfield’s organic single vineyard estate.

2. Enjoy a family-friendly meal
While many places are family-friendly including the gastropubs listed above, there are a few that stand out for a kid’s winter meal. Slow Cuts has slow-roasted meats, sliders, macaroni cheese gratin, and more while Kobe has gyoza and sushi. Little Aosta has kid-friendly pastas and pizzas set in a trattoria-style restaurant. Mantra is an authentic Indian restaurant with options to suit all ages and spice levels as well as inventive Indian dishes, while Arrow Thai offers fresh Thai dishes in a friendly, casual setting.

3. Savour a cocktail or beverage
If you’re looking to relax with a local wine, craft beer, or cocktail, you have many options in Arrowtown. La Rumbla is a Spanish, Latin American and Mediterranean-influenced tapas restaurant with an extensive cocktail and drinks list. Hyde Liquor & Social is a speakeasy-style bar with live music, plush furnishings and outdoor fireplaces to enjoy as you savour a hand-crafted cocktail. The Blue Door meanwhile, is a local secret hidden behind a blue door. Head inside to find a rustic and cosy bar with live music and acts, a wood fire, winter cocktails and mulled wine.

4. Relax with a movie
Wander up the laneway beside Arrowtown Pharmacy and you will find Dorothy Browns, a boutique cinema, bookshop and gin bar. The cinema is cosy and delightful, with quaint decor, blankets, beanbags and spacious armchairs. Nestle down and watch a movie alongside a cheeseboard, popcorn, mulled wine, or beer.

5. Gaze at the stars
This one isn’t an eatery or bar, but Arrowtown’s night skies can be simply breathtaking. On a clear night, you can sit back and view the Milky Way, planets and constellations. In the early morning in the middle of winter, you may also catch a glimpse of Matariki (Pleiades). You can also head to Gibbston Valley or Kinross for a dining experience under the night sky in the Kawarau Gibbston Dark Sky Park.