Kai Whakapai Eatery & Craft Beer Bar

Honestly pleasantly surprised by Kai Whakapai. The food was great, full of flavour and an overall great environment. The steak sandwich with sun-dried tomatoes was cooked fabulously and levelled up with truffle mayo on the side. The crispy lamb salad was refreshing. The loaded fries with thick cut fries was heavy as needed, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. There’s a reason this restaurant is packed!

Maybe the busiest cafe on the front. A slow queue to order and then a ten minute wait just for coffee. But it was great coffee and tasty treats. The scones looked wonderful. Indoor, upstairs and outdoor seating. Views to the lake and not too roady.

Been here a couple of times, ambience was good. Ordered the gluten-free salmon pizza and loaded fries, everything was okay, but the salmon was a bit dry. Spent about $70, not the cheapest for this level of quality.

Drawn to this bar due to its vibes, and tried out two of their craft beer! The friendly staff shared his recommendation of Kai Time and Sinker when i asked for 2 light flavoured ones, but ended up getting Kai Time and the Ginger variant since the latter one got me hooked for what it was. 🍺 the Kai beer was quite heavily flavoured, in a way that i could taste the wheat with each sip. The ginger variant tasted very much like a kombucha which was good and pretty light. At 25NZD, it’s not the cheapest ones out there, but definitely a good spot to come by and try out the variety they have while enjoying the spring breeze!

[ok la] 1) Overall - Cafe with lake view, strategic location, friendly staff, limited seating and do expect queue, cozy atmosphere, food and drink selection are coffee, beer, pizza, baked goods and more from Kai Whakapai Eatery & Craft Beer Bar 2) coffee - aromatic and strong 3) corn fritter - Crispy on the outside, soft and sweet inside. The corn kernels were juicy and fresh, giving nice bursts of flavor. Lightly seasoned – great as a snack or side dish. Would be even better with a dipping sauce or a bit of spice.

Relax, eat and drink! Cool place with great tasting food. Food is tasty and with a local beer it hits the spot.

probably the best eggs benny i have ever had , sourdough didn’t require a chainsaw lol most cafes, super smooth coffee and scones were great. fairly priced and nice team

Food was amazing and this place was in a super convenient location. The staff were very friendly and the atmosphere was great. The kitchen did forget my food but the staff were super helpful with it and got it sorted for me straight away and also gave me a free drink with it. I would definitely recommend giving it a go if you are in wanaka.