Your Insider's Guide to Après Ski in Wānaka

Wānaka’s après scene is a lot smaller and more relaxed than like Queenstown, but it’s still actually very diverse and fun. On the whole it caters more to a lower key market of serious skiers/boarders and kiwi families, compared to its much rowdier and more cosmopolitan neighbour over the hill. 

So that you can match the Wānaka après bar to your vibe on the night, we’ve created the following list of après spots, organised by the type of experience you’re likely to enjoy there. 

• Kai Whakapai Café & Bar is the classic Wānaka après bar with outdoor tables, live music and happy hour drinks. Located on the corner of Helwick and the lake shore this is the perfect place to experience Wanaka night life. 

• Lake Bar is a kiwi sports bar on the waterfront with epic lake views, beer on tap and NRL footie on TV. Nothing fancy, but a great place to hang out. 

• Shooters Bar Wanaka this is another lakefront bar with karaoke nights and live entertainment if you’re feeling like you’ve got a bit of spare energy left after a day on the mountain. 

• Paddy’s Irish Pub Wanaka. Everywhere needs and Irish pub and Wānaka is no different. It has a welcoming relaxed atmosphere with live music and a friendly crowd.  

• Cork Bar Wanaka is known for its monster whisky, gin and wine list plus a relaxed and atmospheric courtyard to enjoy it all in.

• Verve Bar Wanaka is a stylish cocktail spot with cosy booths and a chill vibe.  

• Rhyme x Reason Brewery is a local brewery tasting room with a colourful interior and tasting paddles.  

• Ground Up Brewing is a craft brewery with armchairs, board games and experimental beers. If you love trying new brews this is heaven on earth!

• Barluga Cocktail Bar has DJs and courtyard dance floor on weekends, making it one of Wānaka’s most Queenstown-like venues.  

• Red Rock Bar Wanaka is a busy bar with pool tables and bar food that gets packed in winter.  

• Lalaland Lounge Bar Wanaka is a cool and groovy cocktail bar with DJs and a young crowd.  

• Cardrona Alpine Resort has the Mezz Bar with outdoor decks where you can enjoy a quiet drink before heading home. Do not under any circumstance drink and drive – get a shuttle or have a sober driver. 

• Treble Cone Ski Area has a modest slope-side bar with possibly the best views anywhere in the country. Lake Wānaka stretches out in front of you to the north and the Southern Alps take it from there. It’s mindblowing! 

• Cardrona Hotel. Can you really say you’ve been to Wānaka without having a drink at the historic Cardies pub built 1863. There are fireplaces and mulled wine, and realy nice garden where you can rug up in the cold and enjoy a beverage as the sun sets over Cardrona ski field up above. 

• Après is the Cardie and TC's Wānaka HW justoutside town that just happend to also serve delicious pizza, beer and wine. It also hosts Outside Sports movie nights!

• b.social Brewery & Eatery. This brewpub in the Anderson Heights industrial area is where the locals gather. There are movie nights and industry events. And the beer is pretty good too. 

• The Albie Tavern is a relaxed local tavern in Albertown which is between Wānaka and Hāwea. There are lots of AirBnBs in Albertown so if that's where you’re staying this is your local. Support it!