Dining at Copper Bluffs
Bannockburn Restaurant and the Nevis Lounge sit side by side on the lake side of the ground floor. Central Otago produce, a list built on Gibbston Valley, and room service around the clock. Both are open to hotel guests and to anyone else who books.
Bannockburn & the Nevis Lounge
Sixty-four covers along the lake windows, and a bar next door that stays open considerably later.
Bannockburn Restaurant
Named after the sub-region an hour up the road that supplies a good part of the wine list. The kitchen works to a short menu that changes with what Central Otago is actually producing — five or six mains at a time rather than twenty. Bread, pasta, ice cream and the pastry are made in the building.
The Nevis Lounge
A long bar, an open fire, deep chairs and the same view. The cocktail list is short and seasonal, built around New Zealand gin and Central Otago fruit. All ages until 9pm, then 18 and over as a licensed bar. Separate from the gaming lounge upstairs, which is 20 and over at all times.
The Cellar Room
Private dining for up to twelve around one table, below the restaurant and among the wine. Set menus of three or five courses with matched wines, or a bespoke menu written with the head chef. Booked with a day’s notice.
On the menu
Fiordland venison with beetroot and juniper. Cardrona lamb rump, kūmara, salsa verde. Whole market fish for two. A vegetable plate that changes weekly and is not an afterthought. Cheese from the Whitestone dairy at Oamaru.
Fish is landed at Bluff and Riverton and driven up the same day, so what is listed depends on the weather in Foveaux Strait. Stone fruit comes out of the Cromwell basin from December; through winter the menu turns towards braises and root vegetables without apology.
The list runs to around 180 bins, two-thirds from Central Otago — Gibbston, Bannockburn, Bendigo and Felton Road — with fourteen wines by the glass on a Coravin, local beer from Wanaka and Arrowtown, and a non-alcoholic list that is more than one tired option.
A table by the lake windows
When we are open
Bannockburn — breakfast
6:30am to 10:30am daily; to 11am Saturday and Sunday. NZ$36 per person, included in most packages.
Bannockburn — lunch
12pm to 2:30pm daily. A short menu — five dishes and a sandwich.
Bannockburn — dinner
5:30pm to 9:30pm, last orders 9pm. Booking advised year round and essential from June to September.
The Nevis Lounge
11am until late, seven days. Supper menu 9pm to midnight, for people who came off the last gondola or out of the gaming lounge.
Room service
24 hours, the full Nevis Lounge menu. Hot food until midnight, a cold and reheated menu overnight, breakfast from 6am. No tray charge.
Dietary requirements
Tell us when you book. Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan versions are written in advance rather than improvised at the pass.
Bookings for Bannockburn are taken on +64 3 441 7250 or through the enquiry form. The Nevis Lounge does not take bookings except for groups of eight or more.
Central Otago on the plate and in the glass,
with the lake outside the window