Bendix Stables is a cherished local gastropub set on Buckingham Green in the heart of Arrowtown, New Zealand. The building's story stretches back to 1873, when it began life as the horse stables of Bendix Hallenstein, a notable local entrepreneur whose groundwork helped shape what is today one of the town's most beloved gathering spots.
The kitchen here is all about seasonal, local produce, turning out internationally influenced gastropub fare that changes with the seasons — from succulent mussels to the fan-favourite Grilled Cheeseburger. Behind the bar, the focus is just as local: an exclusive selection of beverages from area breweries, vineyards and distilleries, poured through the pub's unique gravity-fed tap system.
Bendix Stables is as much about atmosphere as it is about food and drink. In winter, a crackling outdoor fire draws people in; in summer, live music on the deck makes the most of the long Central Otago evenings. Upstairs, the Hayloft offers the perfect setting for larger reservations and private celebrations. Open daily from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, with the kitchen serving throughout, it's a haven for relaxation with ample space for family and friends — the quintessential Arrowtown experience.
Some places earn their character over decades. Bendix Stables has had well over a century to work on it. Set on Buckingham Green in the heart of Arrowtown, this gastropub began life in 1873 as the horse stables of Bendix Hallenstein, a notable local entrepreneur. The name sticks, the history shows, and today the same spot serves a very different kind of gathering: one built around good food, local drinks and easy company.
There's something fitting about a building that once housed horses now hosting a steady stream of locals and visitors. Bendix Stables has become a haven for relaxation, with ample space for family and friends to spread out and settle in. It's the kind of place that works equally well for a long lunch, a fireside drink or a whole evening that stretches longer than planned.
The pub leans into the seasons rather than fighting them. In winter, a crackling outdoor fire becomes the natural centre of gravity — the sort of spot where you can warm your hands and lose track of time. Come summer, the action shifts to the deck, where live music plays through the warmer months. Between the two, there's rarely a bad time of year to pull up a seat.
The kitchen at Bendix Stables takes pride in a menu that changes with the seasons. The approach is internationally influenced cooking built on New Zealand's best produce, sourced locally wherever possible. Two dishes tend to do the talking for the kitchen: the succulent Mussels, a staple of the seasonal menu, and the Grilled Cheeseburger, a self-declared fan favourite that keeps regulars coming back.
The drinks list follows the same local-first philosophy. Rather than chasing big-name imports, the bar curates an exclusive selection of beverages from local breweries, vineyards and distilleries. The serve is distinctive too: a unique gravity-fed tap system that has become part of the Bendix character. If you're keen to taste your way through the region, this is an efficient — and enjoyable — place to start.
What ties it all together is the setting. Buckingham Green puts you right in the middle of Arrowtown, a town known for its historic streets and its easy walkability, so Bendix Stables slots naturally into a day of exploring or an evening out. The vibe is warm rather than formal — a gastropub in the truest sense, where the food is taken seriously but the atmosphere stays relaxed.
The space itself is part of the appeal. Indoors there's plenty of room to settle in; outside, the deck and the fire pit mean the weather rarely has the final word. Whether you arrive for a plate of mussels and a locally brewed pour or you're simply after a spot to watch the seasons change, the room adapts.
Upstairs, the Hayloft gives Bendix Stables a second life as a functions venue. It's pitched as the perfect setting for larger reservations and private celebrations — think birthdays, work dos, or any occasion that deserves a room of its own above the hum of the pub. If you're travelling with a group or planning something special, it's worth asking the team about up there.
Bendix Stables is open every day from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, with the kitchen serving across those same hours, so both a late lunch and an early dinner are easy to fit in. You'll find it at 28 Buckingham Street, Arrowtown, and tables can be booked in advance through the website. If you're stuck for a gift, the pub's vouchers — valid for a year from purchase — can be bought online or by calling Reception on 03 409 8484.
A historic shell, a seasonal kitchen, local drinks and a deck with live music in summer: it's a simple formula, and Arrowtown has embraced it. Come hungry in winter, come thirsty in summer, and let the seasons decide the rest.