Ma Maison Restaurant & Bar - Akaroa

About Ma Maison Restaurant & Bar - Akaroa

Ma Maison Restaurant & Bar is one of Akaroa's hidden gems, set on Rue Balguerie with breathtaking waterfront views over Daly's Wharf and Akaroa Harbour. The dining room features an open fire and bi-fold doors that keep the harbour views uninterrupted, and the restaurant describes itself as the best place to eat in Akaroa.

The menu is built as a culinary expression of the region, focused on freshness and simplicity and using locally sourced ingredients wherever possible - the stated intent is to create a delicious home-cooked meal worth leaving your own house to enjoy. Dishes lean heavily on seafood, from a tuna crudo and pāua and prawn dumplings to a Chatham Island blue cod and an Akaroa salmon fillet, alongside beef fillet, an Angus cheeseburger and a seafood linguine.

Ma Maison also runs an extensive wine, cocktail and spirits list, with a strong focus on Central Otago and Canterbury wines, craft beer and house cocktails. The restaurant is open seven days a week and also hosts functions, events and weddings, with gift cards available.

Ma Maison Restaurant & Bar: Waterfront Dining in Akaroa

Tucked into Akaroa, Ma Maison Restaurant & Bar describes itself as one of the town's hidden gems - a dining room built around an open fire and bi-fold doors that keep the breathtaking views over Daly's Wharf and Akaroa Harbour uninterrupted. The restaurant calls itself the best place to eat in Akaroa, and its menu backs that claim with a genuine focus on the region's seafood and produce.

A Menu Rooted in the Region

Ma Maison's kitchen describes its food as a culinary expression of the region, built on freshness and simplicity with locally sourced ingredients wherever possible. The stated goal is simple: a delicious home-cooked meal worth leaving your own house to enjoy. That shows up across the menu, from warmed fresh baked bread with house smoked cheddar through to sharing plates like tuna crudo and pāua and prawn dumplings.

Seafood at the Centre

Given its harbourside setting, it's no surprise seafood runs through the menu - a Chatham Island blue cod, tempura battered and served with fries and aioli, sits alongside an Akaroa salmon fillet with piperade and saffron potato, and a seafood linguine loaded with mussels, clams, fish, prawns and squid. For those after something else, there's an Angus cheeseburger, a beef fillet with bearnaise, and a sweet pea risotto with chevre and olive tapenade. Dietary needs are well catered for, with gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan markings across much of the menu.

A Serious Drinks List

Behind the bar, Ma Maison runs an extensive wine list leaning into Central Otago, Waipara and Marlborough producers, alongside craft beer, a dedicated cocktail and mocktail list, and a broad spirits selection spanning gin, whisky, rum and more. It's the kind of list built for lingering over a meal rather than rushing through it.

Visiting Ma Maison

Ma Maison is open seven days a week - Monday to Friday from 12pm to 3pm and again from 5pm to 9pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 11:30am to 9pm. The restaurant is closed on Christmas Day, directing guests instead to its sister venue, The Grand Hotel Akaroa. Beyond regular dining, Ma Maison also hosts functions, events and weddings, and offers gift cards for those wanting to share the experience. Whether it's a relaxed lunch by the fire or a harbourside dinner over seafood linguine, Ma Maison positions itself as Akaroa's destination table.

Signature items

• Tuna Crudo
• Pāua and Prawn Dumplings
• Chatham Island Blue Cod
• Akaroa Salmon Fillet
• Beef Fillet
• Seafood Linguine

Menu

Mains

• Angus Cheeseburger — Pickles, mac sauce, onion jam (gluten free option, dairy free option)
• Fish and Chips — Market fish, fries, garden salad, aioli (gluten free option)
• Chatham Island Blue Cod — Tempura battered, fries, garden salad, aioli (gluten free option)
• Akaroa Salmon Fillet — Piperade, saffron potato, courgette, sauce vierge, yoghurt (gluten free, dairy free option)
• Beef Fillet — Onion jam, pommes frites, black pepper sauce, bearnaise (gluten free, dairy free option)

Sides

• Mixed Green Salad — Mānuka honey vinaigrette (gluten free, dairy free, vegan option, vegetarian option)
• Sautéed Greens — Miso butter (gluten free, vegetarian)
• Smashed Potatoes — Rosemary, garlic, caramel (gluten free, vegetarian)
• Fries — Garlic chilli salt, aioli (gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian)

Warmed

• Fresh Baked Bread — House smoked cheddar (vegetarian)
• Warmed Olives — Rosemary, orange, confit garlic (gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, vegan)

Salads & Pasta

• Salt & Pepper Squid Salad — Fragrant herbs, Asian sweet chilli dressing, sesame, citrus (gluten free)
• Sweet Pea Risotto — Chevre, tomato, olive tapenade (gluten free, vegetarian, vegan option)
• Seafood Linguine — Mussels, clams, fish, prawns, squid, chilli, garlic (dairy free option)

Sharing Plates

• Tuna Crudo — Pickled cucumber, orange, dashi miso creme, yuzu ponzu (gluten free, dairy free)
• Crispy Tamarind Courgettes — Green tahini, pine nuts, shallots, chilli (vegetarian)
• Pāua and Prawn Dumplings — Black vinegar and ginger, chilli crisp
• Beef Fillet Tataki — Pickled shiitake, shallots, daikon, citrus soy, horseradish miso butter (gluten free, dairy free option)
• Scallops — Cauliflower, golden raisins, vadouvan oil (gluten free)

Something Sweet

• Burnt Basque Cheesecake — Thyme honey, brandied apricot (gluten free, vegetarian)
• Creme Brulee — Rhubarb, oat crumble (gluten free option)
• Chocolate Cremeux — Candied orange, olive oil, sea salt (gluten free option, vegetarian)

Frequently asked questions

Where is Ma Maison Restaurant & Bar located?

At 6 Rue Balguerie, Akaroa, Banks Peninsula 7520, New Zealand.

What are the opening hours?

Monday to Friday 12pm-3pm and 5pm-9pm, Saturday and Sunday 11:30am-9pm, open 7 days a week.

Is Ma Maison open on Christmas Day?

No, it's closed on Christmas Day; guests are directed to the sister venue, The Grand Hotel Akaroa, for Christmas Day dining.

Does the menu cater for dietary requirements?

Yes, many dishes are marked gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian or vegan - please advise staff of any requirements.

Are there surcharges on card payments?

Yes, a 1.6% surcharge applies to credit cards and PayWave, and a 10% surcharge applies on public holidays.

Can I host an event or wedding at Ma Maison?

Yes, the restaurant hosts functions, events and weddings in addition to regular dining.

Does Ma Maison sell gift cards?

Yes, gift cards are available through the website.

Tips

• {"body":"The dining room's open fire and bi-fold doors are designed to keep views over Daly's Wharf and Akaroa Harbour uninterrupted.","title":"Book for the harbour view"}
• {"body":"Dishes like the Chatham Island blue cod, Akaroa salmon and pāua and prawn dumplings showcase the region's seafood.","title":"Try the local seafood"}
• {"body":"Ma Maison is closed Christmas Day; The Grand Hotel Akaroa is the sister venue open instead.","title":"Plan around Christmas Day"}
• {"body":"The restaurant hosts private functions, events and weddings beyond its regular dining service.","title":"Ask about functions and weddings"}

Good to know

• {"dietary":"Many dishes marked gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian or vegan; please advise of any dietary requirements","payments":"1.6% surcharge on credit cards and PayWave; 10% surcharge on public holidays"}