Little Aosta is a family-friendly Italian restaurant tucked into Arrowtown's historic laneway at 18 Buckingham Street, located behind sister restaurant Aosta and beside the Blue Door. The menu, created by award-winning chef Ben Bayly, brings Northern Italian cooking and Valle D'Aosta charm to a relaxed, casual setting, with woodfired pizza, fresh pasta, and fish and meat dishes designed for sharing, either in the cosy dining room or as takeaway.
Ben Bayly's love of Italian cooking began in the alpine kitchens of Italy's Valle D'Aosta, and after building a reputation at acclaimed restaurants including three-hatted Ahi in Auckland and two-hatted Aosta in Arrowtown, he brings that same dedication to craft into Little Aosta's more relaxed, family-style setting. Almost everything on the menu comes from trusted local growers, fishermen, hunters and foragers, so dishes highlight the flavours of Queenstown and Central Otago.
The food blends Northern Italian tradition with subtle French influences and the finest local ingredients, from woodfired focaccia and seasonal small plates through to handmade pastas, rustic mains, and a dedicated chef's selection. Walk-ins are welcome, and pairing a meal with local wine, craft beer or an Italian spritz is part of the experience.
Tucked into Arrowtown's historic laneway at 18 Buckingham Street, Little Aosta — or "LA" as locals call it — is chef Ben Bayly's family-friendly Italian restaurant, located just behind his acclaimed Aosta and beside the Blue Door. It's designed to be the relaxed, casual counterpart to its sibling restaurants, bringing the same culinary care to a warmer, more informal setting.
Ben Bayly's love of Italian cooking was born in the alpine kitchens of Italy's Valle D'Aosta, and that heritage runs through Little Aosta's entire menu. Raised in the farming community of Te Awamutu in the Waikato, Bayly spent almost a decade working alongside world-class chefs in France, Italy and the United Kingdom before returning to New Zealand. He's now known for three-hatted Ahi in Auckland — winner of the 2024 Best Restaurant in New Zealand award — and two-hatted Aosta in Arrowtown, and brings that same dedication to craft and flavour into Little Aosta's more relaxed, family-style setting.
Almost everything on the menu comes from trusted local growers, fishermen, hunters and foragers, so the food reflects the flavours of Queenstown and Central Otago as much as it does Northern Italy. The kitchen blends Northern Italian tradition with subtle French influences, starting with a woodfired focaccia selection — from a simple mascarpone cream, truffle and black pepper version through to a stracciatella brûlée topped with wild shot game sausage.
The seasonal plates section is where Little Aosta's local sourcing really shows. Dishes range from a Mountain Meat Tartare with house made mustard and piadina, to a Red Deer Ossobuco Raviolo with boudin noir and truffle, a Mackerel Ragu with tomato tagliatelle, and a Pappardelle & Paua finished with crispy leek and purple shiso. For those after something simpler, there's Cavatelli Cacio e Pepe with pecorino and an Aosta pepper blend, or Golden Beetroot with ricotta and white balsamic caramel. The Lake Ohau Wagyu 400g Ribeye, served with confit potatoes, watercress and pecorino, sits at the top end of the menu for a special-occasion dinner.
For a fuller taste of the kitchen's range, the Chef's Cuts selection brings together seven items finished with the restaurant's signature AOSTA Tiramisu. That same tiramisu is also available on its own from the dessert menu, alongside a Sweet Cheese Gelato with pistachio and house brewed amaretto.
Little Aosta pairs its food with a selection of local wines, craft beers and classic Italian spritzes, and the whole experience is built around sharing — plates are meant to be passed around the table rather than eaten solo. Walk-ins are welcome for smaller groups, though bookings of more than eight people are asked to call or email ahead.
Little Aosta is open every day from 5pm to 9pm, for dining in or takeaway, tucked behind Aosta in the heart of Arrowtown's historic village.