The Grand Hotel & Beer Garden - Akaroa

About The Grand Hotel & Beer Garden - Akaroa

Just an hour's drive from Christchurch, the historic Grand Hotel in Akaroa is the perfect place to stay, eat, drink and relax. The Akaroa Hotel was established in 1860, and today The Grand offers live music, great food and an extensive drinks list.

Families and dogs are not only welcome but encouraged, with plenty of space to sit outside and soak up the sun. The kitchen makes the most of local produce, including Akaroa Salmon featured in both a chowder and a marinated main, alongside sharing plates, burgers, tacos and hearty mains.

The Grand runs a daily happy hour with 20% off house wine, house spirits and tap beers, plus regular events including live music, monthly pub quiz nights and house bingo nights.

The Grand Hotel & Beer Garden Akaroa: History, Local Salmon and Good Times

Just an hour's drive from Christchurch, the historic Grand Hotel in Akaroa is set up as the perfect place to stay, eat, drink and relax. The Akaroa Hotel dates back to 1860, and today The Grand carries that history forward with live music, great food and an extensive drinks list.

Families and dogs welcome

The Grand describes families and dogs as not just welcome, but encouraged, with plenty of outdoor space to sit and soak up the sun — a fitting match for its beer garden setting.

A menu built around local produce

Sharing plates cover everything from a garlic loaf and marinated olives to Grand Fried Chicken and pork and chive dumplings. House classics include a Salmon Chowder made with Akaroa Salmon, homemade butter chicken, and a lamb rogan josh. The Grand Burgers and Grand Tacos ranges cover pulled pork, grilled fish, smoked brisket, Korean spicy fried chicken and vegetarian options, while the 'Somethin' Healthy' section offers a poke bowl, beetroot salad and chicken salad for lighter eating.

Mains lean into the local catch with the Akaroa Salmon, marinated in lemon and herbs, alongside a 250g rib eye, chicken schnitzel, smoked salmon pasta, lamb souvlaki and slow-cooked pork ribs. Loaded fries, classic sides and desserts like a seasonal cheesecake and chocolate brownie round out the menu.

A serious drinks list

The Grand's drinks list runs from Champagne and sparkling wine through to a full range of New Zealand sauvignon blanc, pinot gris, chardonnay, riesling, rosé, merlot, shiraz and pinot noir. Cocktails include an Espresso Martini and a range of spritzes, alongside a solid list of 0% mocktails and non-alcoholic beer and cider options.

Happy hour and events

The Grand runs a daily happy hour Monday to Friday from 4pm to 6pm, with 20% off house wine, house spirits and tap beers. The venue also hosts regular events, including live music, a pub quiz night on the third Friday of each month, and house bingo nights on the first Friday of each month.

Visiting The Grand Hotel

The Grand is open Monday to Friday from 3pm till late, and Saturday and Sunday from midday till late. It's located at 6 Rue Lavaud, Akaroa, and can be reached by phone for bookings and enquiries.

Signature items

• Akaroa Salmon
• Salmon Chowder
• Grand Fried Chicken
• Chicken Schnitzel
• Rib Eye
• Grand Mac

Menu

Mains

• Rib Eye — 250g rib eye served with fries and garden salad, choice of gravy, mushroom sauce or garlic butter. Gluten free.
• Chicken Schnitzel — Panko crumbed chicken breast served with peas and feta, buttered mash and gravy; mushroom sauce or garlic butter can be added.
• Akaroa Salmon — Fresh Akaroa salmon marinated in lemon and herbs, served with buttered mash, green salad and dukkah. Gluten free, contains nuts.
• Smoked Salmon Pasta — Pappardelle with cream, capers, red onion, garlic, parmesan and rocket.
• Lamb Souvlaki — Moroccan spiced NZ lamb, red onion, lettuce, slaw, pickled onion, pita, tzatziki and fries.
• Pork Ribs — Half rack slow cooked in BBQ sauce, served with fries and garden salad. Gluten free, dairy free.

Rosé

• Main Divide Rosé — Waipara.
• Rebel Rosé — Hawke's Bay.

Desserts

• Seasonal Cheesecake — Homemade, served with ice cream.
• Chocolate Brownie — Homemade chocolate brownie served with vanilla ice cream.
• Vanilla Ice Cream Sundae — Choice of three flavoured toppings — strawberry, chocolate or caramel.

Red Wine

• Main Divide Merlot — Waipara.
• Rebel Merlot — Hawke's Bay.
• Mudhouse Shiraz — South Australia.
• Brookfields Syrah — Hawke's Bay.
• Peregrine Saddleback Pinot Noir — Central Otago.
• Rebel Pinot Noir — Marlborough.
• Astrolabe Pinot Noir — Central Otago.

Cocktails

• Espresso Martini — Classic espresso martini.
• Lychee & Yuzu Martini — Lychee and yuzu martini.
• Frozen Seasonal Cocktail — A rotating frozen seasonal cocktail.
• Grand Spritz — House spritz cocktail.
• Grapefruit Spritz — Grapefruit liqueur, prosecco, soda and rosemary.
• Apple Spritz — Apple liqueur, prosecco, soda and lemon.
• Hugo Spritz — Elderflower liqueur, prosecco, soda and mint.
• Aperol Spritz — Aperol, prosecco, soda and orange.
• Lychee Spritz — Lychee liqueur, prosecco, soda and apple.

Mocktails

• Raspberry Fizz — 0% Gordon's gin, raspberry, lime, ginger beer, mint and orange.
• Pink Gin Garden — 0% Gordon's pink gin and Fever-Tree Lime & Yuzu soda.
• Amalfi Spritz — Lyres 0% Italian spritz, a 0% take on an Aperol spritz.
• Grand Garden — 0% Gordon's gin, Fever-Tree Raspberry Tonic and seasonal garnish.

White Wine

• Peregrine Sauvignon Blanc — Central Otago.
• Rebel Sauvignon Blanc — Marlborough.
• Jules Taylor Sauvignon Blanc — Marlborough.
• Main Divide Pinot Gris — Waipara.
• Rebel Pinot Gris — Central Otago.
• Main Divide Chardonnay — Waipara.
• Rebel Chardonnay — Hawke's Bay.
• Trinity Hill Chardonnay — Hawke's Bay.
• Main Divide Riesling — Waipara.

Grand Tacos

• Pulled Pork Tacos — BBQ pulled pork, pickled cabbage and apple slaw. Dairy free, two per serving.
• Fish Tacos — Freshly battered fish, chilli mayo slaw and pickled red onion. Dairy free, two per serving.
• Brisket Tacos — Smoked beef brisket, jalapeño slaw and pickled capsicum. Dairy free, two per serving.
• Chicken Tacos — Grilled chicken, guacamole, house salsa and slaw. Dairy free, two per serving.
• Veggie Tacos — Black bean mix, guacamole, seeds and slaw. Dairy free, two per serving.

Tea & Coffee

• French Press Coffee — Filter coffee.
• Earl Grey Tea — Black tea.
• Peppermint Tea — Herbal tea.
• Green Tea — Green tea.
• English Breakfast Tea — Black tea.

Grand Burgers

• Pulled Pork Burger — BBQ pulled pork, classic slaw, apple and aioli on a seeded brioche bun.
• Grilled Fish Burger — Freshly grilled fish of the day, swiss cheese, lettuce, pickled red onion and tartare.
• Brisket Burger — Smoked beef brisket, classic slaw, pickles and jalapeño mayo.
• Korean Spicy Fried Chicken Burger — Chicken breast, kimchi slaw and korean bbq sauce — spicy.
• Grand Mac — Homemade beef patty, American cheddar, chopped lettuce and classic burger sauce.
• Veggie Burger — Portobello mushroom with blue cheese and onion jam. Vegetarian.

House Classics

• Fish and Chips — Freshly battered fish of the day with classic slaw and tartare. Dairy free.
• Bangers and Mash — Beef sausages on buttered mash with brown gravy and green peas.
• Nachos — Black bean mix with sour cream, guacamole and chopped salsa. Gluten free; nacho beef mince can be added.
• Salmon Chowder — Cream based chowder made with Akaroa Salmon.
• Butter Chicken — Homemade butter chicken with basmati rice and poppadoms. Gluten free, contains nuts.
• Lamb Rogan Josh — Homemade lamb rogan josh with basmati rice and pita. Gluten free.

Sharing Plates

• Garlic Loaf — Baked ciabatta baguette with garlic butter. Vegetarian; cheese can be added.
• Crispy Squid — Crispy lemon peppered squid with jalapeño mayo. Dairy free.
• Mac and Cheese Croquettes — Served with jalapeño mayo.
• Pork & Chive Dumplings — Eight dumplings served with a chilli caramel sauce. Dairy free.
• Marinated Olives — Mixed olives marinated with rosemary, garlic and thyme. Vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free.
• Grand Fried Chicken — House spiced, served with chilli mayo and kewpie mayo.

Somethin' Healthy

• Poke Bowl — Chicken, pickled onion, pickled cabbage, house salsa, avocado and rice on mesclun with dukkah. Gluten free, dairy free, contains nuts.
• Beetroot Salad — Beetroot, pear, toasted walnuts, feta and lemon dressing. Gluten free, vegetarian, contains nuts.
• Chicken Salad — Grilled chicken breast, pickled onion, avocado, toasted nuts and seeds, honey mustard dressing. Gluten free, dairy free, contains nuts.
• Hummus — Beetroot hummus with whipped feta and dukkah, served with toasted pita. Vegetarian, contains nuts; BBQ pulled pork or fried chicken can be added.

Bubbles & Sparkling

• Veuve Clicquot — 750ml bottle.
• Cloudy Bay Pelorus — 750ml bottle.
• Daniel Le Brun — 750ml bottle.
• Daniel Le Brun Rosé — 750ml bottle.
• Canti Prosecco — 200ml bottle.
• Canti Prosecco Rosé — 200ml bottle.
• Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava — 200ml bottle.

Soft Drinks & Juice

• Coca-Cola / Coke Zero Sugar — Soft drink.
• Schweppes Ginger Ale — Soft drink.
• Sprite — Soft drink.
• Schweppes Soda / Tonic — Mixer.
• Lemon Lime Bitters — Soft drink.
• Ginger Beer — Soft drink.
• Mother Energy — 250ml energy drink can.
• Kombucha — Fermented tea drink.
• Bundaberg Range — 375ml soft drink.
• Keri Orange, Pineapple or Apple Juice — Fruit juice.
• Fever-Tree Tonics — Indian, Mediterranean, Elderflower tonic or Lime & Yuzu soda.

Loaded Fries & Sides

• Loaded Fries — With rich brown gravy and cheese.
• Loaded Wedges — With rich brown gravy and cheese.
• Mash — Creamy buttered mashed potatoes.
• Onion Rings — Homemade battered onion rings.
• Fries — Chilli salt fries.
• Wedges — Classic seasoned wedges.
• Slaw — House slaw mix.
• Garden Salad — House salad mix.
• Peas — Buttered peas and feta.
• Butter Chicken Sauce — A bowl of butter chicken sauce, great for dipping fries.
• Aioli — Housemade garlic aioli.

Beer & Cider (0% & Low Alc)

• Macs Mid Vicious 2.5% — Low alcohol beer.
• Garage Project Tiny Hazy IPA 0% — Non-alcoholic beer.
• Corona 0% — Non-alcoholic beer.
• Pal's RTD 0% — Non-alcoholic RTD.
• Zeffer Apple Cider 0% — Non-alcoholic cider.

Frequently asked questions

What are The Grand Hotel's opening hours?

Monday to Friday 3pm till late; Saturday and Sunday 12pm till late.

Is The Grand Hotel family and pet friendly?

Yes, families and dogs are welcome and encouraged, with lots of outdoor seating.

Is there a happy hour?

Yes, Monday to Friday 4pm-6pm, with 20% off house wine, house spirits and tap beers.

What events does The Grand Hotel host?

Live music, a pub quiz night on the third Friday of each month, and house bingo nights on the first Friday of each month.

What is The Grand Hotel known for?

Locally caught Akaroa Salmon dishes, the Grand Fried Chicken, and a wide range of burgers and tacos.

How old is The Grand Hotel?

The Akaroa Hotel was established in 1860.

Where is The Grand Hotel located?

6 Rue Lavaud, Akaroa.

Tips

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• {"body":"Monday to Friday, 4pm-6pm, for 20% off drinks.","title":"Catch happy hour"}
• {"body":"Pub quiz and bingo nights run monthly.","title":"Check socials for events"}
• {"body":"Both are welcome, with plenty of outdoor seating.","title":"Bring the family and the dog"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Families and dogs are welcome and encouraged, with plenty of outdoor seating.","dietary":"Many dishes are marked gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, or note nut content."}