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Ratings and reviews

RATINGS
Food
Service
Value

Details

PRICE RANGE
US$3 - US$20
CUISINES
Cafe, New Zealand
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
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meals, features, about
Reviews (498)
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473 results
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272
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24
21
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Traveller rating
272
119
37
24
21
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All reviews brunch eggs benedict pork belly salmon salad steak great coffee service was great mulled wine lake mains nz
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Reviewed 4 September 2023

Best place in town for brunch with outstanding views. My favourite place. Great staff and relaxing atmosphere

Date of visit: September 2023
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Reviewed 18 August 2023 via mobile

I have eaten at some of the best restaurants across NZ. Alchemy is right up there with the best. High quality, big flavour food, and great wait staff. I’m not sure why people aren’t talking more about this place

Date of visit: August 2023
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Reviewed 15 August 2023 via mobile

Good food, helpful staff, good wine, great spot in the middle of the waterfront area of Wanaka. All very good but not fabulous..

Date of visit: August 2023
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Reviewed 15 August 2023 via mobile

Four beer taps, only one working, some of food was acceptable like the Rump Steak ($70) and charred cabbage. But potato dish and broccoli appeared to have been prepared a few days before. Won't recommend this establishment

Date of visit: August 2023
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Reviewed 11 August 2023 via mobile

We had eaten here before it has changed it was 48$ for 1 very small share plate we were told was enough for two it wasn’t even enough for 1 my husband ordered potatoes deep fried I was told they could make a salad for...me what a joke it was what they use for garnish with super thin radishes 4 pieces 16$ we will never eat there again staff we nice but flustered probably at the ridiculous mealsMore

Date of visit: August 2023
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Reviewed 3 June 2023

Wow Alchemy has certainly upped its game! We chose a “trust the Chef” menu and were generously rewarded with 12 dishes exquisitely presented by chef Floyd explaining each dish. Initial dishes bite sized but what a great way to try so many beautiful flavours. Rather...than choosing one entree and one main, “ trust the chef felt more of a “dining experience” We were pleasantly full by the end of the evening but didn’t feel like the food was too rich or too much. The staff were super attentive and professional. Would highly recommend Alchemy as an excellent dining experience.More

Date of visit: June 2023
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Reviewed 27 May 2023

Service staff were attentive and knowledgeable but the food was not up to expectation. We chose chefs choice which was 8 small dishes.chicken breast was ok although very moist and. dripping in either butter or oil , the other main dish was John Dory, very...small potion and so over cooked it was tough also the twice deep fried potatoes were floury. We did mention this to staff and to their credit we were offered another potion, we refused but considered with the prices an over cooked potion should not have been served. We would not recommend this restaurant at $185 total including 2 glasses of average wine and a can of beer the standard of food was not good.More

Date of visit: May 2023
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Reviewed 24 May 2023

Amazing meal. We'd heard Alchemy had made some big changes and thought it was worth a try with friends saying it was really good. So off we went. We did 'trust the chef' amongst 5 of us, it was well worth it. I had a...friend from Wanaka say it was the best meal she had had in Wanaka in her 3 years living here and out-of-town friends from Melbourne and Queensland also say it was one the best meals they had had in a while. The Cos Lettuce dish is a must. The Korean Chicken was also a highlight. But could go on. The only thing I thought didn't live up to the level of everything else was the Steak. But in terms of sharing plates, they are perfectly portioned for easy sharing. We left comfortably full! The service was attentive and accommodating. There is a great list of cocktails too, and the $15 special on them seemed to be attracting a good wee crowd on a pleasant Saturday eve, to create a nice wee vibe. Would recommend it for a nice cocktail alone as it's a great spot to watch the sun go down over the lake and much preferable to some of the other spots around that may not have the same outlook. If you have time for only 1 meal in Wanaka make sure it's Alchemy.More

Date of visit: April 2023
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Reviewed 20 May 2023 via mobile

Brunch is back from 9am to 2pm. Well in truth, it’s 9am to 1:50ish. Walked in with 10 mins to spare and all that was on offer were some overpriced drinks. Glass of sparkling and an espresso martini $41. Shame

Date of visit: May 2023
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Reviewed 13 March 2023

I dinned with my family at Alchemy on 10th March. We ordered a selection of dishes, one being the: "55 days dry-aged striploin beef, pickled onion, confit garlic, yeast df, gf $58" This dish was totally unacceptable; It was over cooked but even more appalling...it contained a strip (1/3 of the steak size) of inedible gristle. For as restaurant of this standard this not acceptable. The next evening, we dined at the Speights Ale house (Opposite end of Town) and ordered steak, served to perfection and significantly lower priced.More

Date of visit: March 2023
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Reviewed 15 February 2023 via mobile

Stopped for a coffee such a great place with great coffee, Beautiful place on the outdoor tables in the sun the coffee is great and cinnamon scrolls were very yummy

Date of visit: February 2023
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Reviewed 12 February 2023

Highly recommended. Very interesting food, beautifully prepared and very friendly and efficient waiting staff. Stand out dishes were the lamb ribeye and beef marrow bone with burnt kiwi chermoula. We went back the next evening to try some other dishes we hadn’t been able to...stuff away the previous evening! Also excellent cocktails.More

Date of visit: February 2023
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Reviewed 24 January 2023 via mobile

Food was average. Service not great. We constantly had to keep waving down the server. There was no kids menu which was a surprise. Wouldn’t go back unfortunately.

Date of visit: January 2023
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Reviewed 24 January 2023 via mobile

1 of only 2 smart NZ cuisine restaurants in town that are open for dinner in the summer of 2023. Sharp, efficient service, well-trained friendly front-of-house staff. Good food. Lively, pleasant atmosphere. I had Pink Oyster Mushroom, coconut glaze, puffed forbidden rice (5) and Crispy...John Dory, Green lipped Mussels foam, garlic scales (4). For wine I had Maude SB 2022 (vg) & Man O' War Island Blend (excellent) (this wouldn't match with fish, but would be a great partner for lamb).More

Date of visit: January 2023
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Reviewed 23 January 2023 via mobile

After loving coming to Alchemy over the last few years we were very disappointed with the extremely overpriced and average menu with meals that came out undercooked and poorly executed. We didn’t have one finished meal in our group aside from the bowls of fries....Such a shame when it used to be our first choice restaurant whenever we were in town!More

Date of visit: January 2023
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Questions & Answers
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TracyB3240
11 March 2017|
Answer
Response from PadreNZ |
Best question ever Tracy B (note 0 reviews). I particularly enjoyed the complete lack of information you've provided about why your meal was terrible. Letting one meal ruin a whole weekend (unless you were subject to... More
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Donna M
16 December 2016|
AnswerShow all 2 answers
Response from Carl H | Property representative |
Sorry we are closed christmas day and boxing day. Kind regards.
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ALCHEMY, Wanaka - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Alchemy

Yes, Alchemy offers takeaway services.

Alchemy is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 4.5
  • Service: 4.5
  • Value: 4