Emberz at Ascot is the dining hub of Ascot Park Hotel, on the corner of Tay Street and Racecourse Road in Invercargill, spanning three distinct venues: EMBERZ Restaurant, EMBERZ Courtyard, and EMBERZ Bar. EMBERZ Restaurant offers New Zealand cuisine at a fine dining standard, serving breakfasts and a signature dinner menu that includes Southland delicacies, combining local, southern hospitality with world-class service.
EMBERZ Courtyard sits alongside the restaurant, set amongst native shrubs and water features, and is described as ideal for a sunny afternoon long lunch or dinner, serving lunch every day of the week. EMBERZ Bar offers a more casual alternative, in a large, warm room with native timbers, stonework and an ambient fire, serving an all-day menu alongside beers, wines and coffee.
EMBERZ is open to both hotel guests and local diners, caters for dietary requirements including gluten-free and vegetarian, and offers a children's menu so families can dine together. The restaurant proudly showcases Southland produce, featuring local meats, seafood and seasonal ingredients throughout its menus, and is proudly part of ILT, supporting sport and community projects across Southland.
At Ascot Park Hotel, on the corner of Tay Street and Racecourse Road in Invercargill, EMBERZ at Ascot brings together three distinct dining spaces under one roof: EMBERZ Restaurant, EMBERZ Courtyard, and EMBERZ Bar. Together they cover everything from a fine dining dinner to a relaxed pint with the game on.
EMBERZ Restaurant is built around New Zealand cuisine served to a fine dining standard, described as combining local, southern hospitality with world-class service. Breakfast runs Monday to Friday from 6am to 9:30am, and Saturday to Sunday from 6am to 10am, while dinner is served every night from 5:30pm to 9pm, built around a signature menu that includes Southland delicacies. Separate breakfast, dinner, dessert and kids menus are all available to download, giving guests a clear picture of what's on offer before they arrive.
Set alongside the restaurant amongst native shrubs and water features, EMBERZ Courtyard is described as ideal for a sunny afternoon long lunch or dinner, and a great spot to enjoy Southland's famous twilight evenings. Whether it's fine dining, a laid-back lunch, or coffee and cake with an old friend, the courtyard serves lunch every day of the week, with its own all-day menu.
For something more relaxed, EMBERZ Bar offers a large, warm room finished with native timbers, stonework and an ambient fire — the kind of welcoming inn atmosphere the hotel describes as a long and comforting tradition. Open daily from 11am until late, the bar serves an all-day menu alongside a selection of beers, wines and great coffee, making it a casual alternative to the fine dining restaurant for a lunch date or a laid-back dinner.
EMBERZ isn't just for hotel guests — it's open to both hotel guests and local diners, whether they're celebrating something special or simply joining for a relaxed meal. The kitchen also caters for a range of dietary requirements, including gluten-free and vegetarian needs, with guests encouraged to mention any requirements when booking or on arrival. Families are well looked after too, with a dedicated kids menu ensuring the whole table can eat together. Hotel guests staying on-site can also charge meals and drinks straight to their room account.
EMBERZ takes pride in showcasing Southland where possible, featuring local meats, seafood and seasonal produce throughout its menus. The venue is also proudly part of ILT, meaning that dining at EMBERZ helps support sport and community projects across the wider Southland region — giving every meal a small connection back to the local community it serves.
With three venues to choose from — a fine dining restaurant, a courtyard for long lunches, and a casual bar for drinks and an all-day menu — EMBERZ at Ascot is set up to suit almost any occasion. Bookings are recommended for the restaurant, particularly on weekends, event nights, or for larger groups, though the team does its best to accommodate walk-ins whenever possible.