Mora Wines & Artisan Kitchen

The place was absolutely gorgeous. I’d never even heard of it until a friend who was visiting from out of town suggested we do lunch there, and I’m glad she did! The aroma of the flowers was a lovely accompaniment to the beautiful surrounds, though the sun was a little bitey as we were not seated under an umbrella. Each dish was meticulously prepared and the attention to detail was evident in both flavour complexity and appearance. The only negative I have was that the wait time for food was quite long for lunch given there was a short turnaround on the table (and we’d arrived early accidentally). On the flip side, they were quite accomodating for us to sit with our desserts while they packed up for a wedding around us, otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to finish our meal in the time allotment. We would not hesitate to recommend this place for a lunch date. It’s stunning and makes the perfect backdrop for all conversations with good company. We are considering going back again before my friend’s trip ends, that’s how much we enjoyed it.

My husband and I are world travelers and have dined at many Michelin restaurants. Mora Wines & Artisan Kitchen completely rivals most of those restaurants. Our favorite experience was in Slovenia at Gostilna Na Gradu. Mora's Chef can match that experience by preparing the most delicious food with local, seasonal ingredients, very clean and beautifully presented. The multi course sampling we elected had the most amazing flavors and combinations I would not have thought of putting together. I am a vegetarian and the Chef even accommodated my needs, where other locations in Queenstown would not. My husband also had wine pairings from Mora's Vineyards, and surprisingly to him, he fell in love with their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. He is not a Chard guy so that says much about the wine.

A beautiful alfresco dining experience! We stopped in here late afternoon for a meal and wine tasting. We didn’t expect to get more than some afternoon snacks or a cheeseboard, but we were pleasantly surprised to be able to order a beautiful lunch. The menu had a great chefs selection tasting for around $98, which I saw being delivered to the table next to us, and it looked wow! There were also hearty mains to share… beautiful options of Pork Belly, Beef Cheek, Blue Eye Cod or Salmon. All for around $65 for two, shared. We chose the confit of Pork Belly and it was absolutely divine! We ordered a beetroot and goats cheese accompaniment which was just delicious. Everything was so flavourful I wish I could have tried everything on the menu. The garden dining was so pretty with lush flowers and greenery. White tables and chairs spread out beautifully with little vases of flowers on the table and thoughtfully draped blankets on the back of chairs in case it got chilly. The cutest little birds confidently darted around on the tables and chatted away with their chirping, hoping to be tossed a tasty crumb or two. After enjoying our meal and a couple of drinks we sat and enjoyed a wine tasting in the cool shipping container converted to a funky tasting area. We left with full bellies a big smile and a lovely bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. I highly recommend this place as a beautiful experience with friends or intimate dining for two.

Great stop in Arrowtown! The staff helped us select wines from a long list of their options. It was busy on a Thursday so I’m glad we had a reservation for lunch! The food was fresh and had excellent flavor. I only wish we could do a wine tasting at the table- this is only offered at the cellar. We appreciated the outdoor kid play area which they sat us nearby to keep an eye on our kids. It is its own separate room accessed from outside that has books and toys. There is also an outdoor sandpit area next to it.

OMG! This place was and is amazing. The place had its own vibe, very welcoming and relaxing. The staff was very nice and warm. The food and wine was amazing. We also had great weather that day and it made the experience a great one! Will definitely recommend to everyone!!!

Why an unbelievable experience. The setting is gorgeous, the staff and all the people working at Mora are so kind and friendly and the food is wonderful. We had delicious wines and incredible service. Cannot wait to go back!

Another fabulous lunch at Mora followed by and even better wine tasting with Vicky and Norman at the cellar door. Such a great location, friendly staff and delicious food. Whenever we come to Queenstown this is a must to do.

We had an outstanding experience at Mora Wines in Lake Hayes, just outside of Arrowtown. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by Vicky, who delivered exceptional service and shared an impressive level of knowledge and passion for the wines. We had also visited a few other highly recommended cellars, but Mora was in a league of its own. The attention, expertise, and genuine care Vicky provided made all the difference – and the quality of the wines was second to none. If you’re in the Queenstown or Arrowtown area, do yourself a favour and make Mora Wines a must-visit. A truly memorable and world-class tasting experience!

Akarua Wines & Kitchen was our second winery that we checked out in Lake Hayes. Akarua means two vines, which is how they originally started out. It's a couple minutes drive from Amisfield. We dropped in on a Friday afternoon (around 4:45pm). It's a cute spot with a garden and plenty of tables/bean bag chairs to lounge about. The wine tasting is done in a cool converted industrial box. They do tastings ($5.00 NZD/person) where you get to try 5 wines; all five are pre-picked for you. Our server was friendly and gave us good descriptions about each wine. But man, the pours were tiny. - Akarua sauvignon blanc 2017 - decent but we've had better elsewhere. - Akarua riesling 2017 - RUA pinot noir 2016 - this one was young, light and had a very dry finish to it. We didn't enjoy it. - Akarua pinot noir 2016 - this one was aged for longer. Much smoother. - Akarua alchemy ice 2017 - intensely sweet. Our host said to try, then eat a bite of chocolate and try again. That actually worked wonders. Akarua paled in comparison to our earlier visit at Amisfield. Wines were decent but that's about it.

What a great place for a tasty lunch! The food was amazing, fresh and artfully prepared. We all enjoyed our wine and menu choices. The wait staff was very helpful in suggesting the appropriate amounts for a table of 5. It was all so delicious we ate almost every bit.

The experience was wonderful it had many options of drinks and food the staff were lovely and had a smile on their face would definitely recommend wonderful for children and adults.

Cozy little cafe / restaurant with a charming garden. An interesting menu including burgers, and the more exotic Gado Gado (delicious) and sweet including banana pancakes (delicious) and waffles. Situated near Lake Hayes, close to Arrowtown.