Bistro Lago

About Bistro Lago

Nestled within lush greenery overlooking Lake Taupō at the Hilton Lake Taupo, Bistro Lago provides a refined yet welcoming dining experience focused on New Zealand's exceptional regional produce. With picturesque panoramic views across the lake, the restaurant celebrates seasonal ingredients sourced thoughtfully from respected growers and artisan partners across both islands.

From breakfast service through to lunch and evening dinner, the menu blends contemporary dining with classic bistro traditions. Guests can enjoy everything from casual midday dishes and vibrant poke bowls to premium cuts from the grill, delicate seafood, and curated set menus for special occasions.

Bistro Lago: Regional Flavours and Picturesque Views at Hilton Lake Taupo

Perched on Napier Road in Hilltop, Bistro Lago sits surrounded by lush gardens with expansive vistas across the shimmering waters of Lake Taupō. Operating from within the grounds of the elegant Hilton Lake Taupo, the restaurant has established itself as both a welcoming retreat for hotel visitors and a beloved dining room for local residents seeking thoughtful, seasonally inspired New Zealand cuisine.

The culinary philosophy here revolves around a clear commitment to provenance. The kitchen curates its seasonal lunch and dinner offerings using ingredients gathered from trusted producers throughout the country. From Fiordland Wapiti venison and Nelson pearl veal to Lumina Farms lamb, Hawke's Bay produce, and local Kinloch honey, the menu connects diners directly with the landscapes that yield each component.

Seasonal Menus from Lake, Land, and Ocean

Dining at Bistro Lago spans several distinct services throughout the day. Mornings begin with breakfast available seven days a week, extending into a relaxed lunch that pairs casual midday fare with composed modern plates. Lunch guests can choose from fresh, vibrant poke bowls featuring yellowfin tuna, spicy salmon, or beef tataki, alongside comforting favourites such as the slow-baked chicken pot pie, grilled red snapper wraps, and classic battered fish and chips.

As the afternoon gives way to evening, the dining room transitions to a more intimate dinner setting. Starters such as Hokkaido scallops with candied Hawke's Bay back bacon or mānuka-smoked deer tataki introduce complex, earthy profiles. Larger plates highlight premium cuts and regional specialities, including braised First Light Wagyu beef brisket with horopito and feijoa chocolate mole, delicate steamed blue cod complemented by shiraz caviar, and charcoal-kissed Pearl Farm veal cooked over the hibachi.

The Grill, Sharing Cuts, and Family Fare

A cornerstone of the evening service is the grill selection, where diners can select cuts such as 250-gram ribeye, eye fillet, striploin, or Tairāwhiti Coast kingfish, accompanied by house sauces like chimichurri, red wine jus, and Café de Paris butter. For celebratory occasions or shared dining, the impressive grassfed beef tomahawk is carved for two and served alongside triple-cooked potatoes and roasted garlic greens.

Families are equally catered for through a dedicated young diners menu featuring scratch-made soups, sliders crafted with South Island beef, and fresh fish. Whether stopping in for a relaxed lunch, sampling high tea, or enjoying an evening drink in the bar lounge, Bistro Lago pairs warm hospitality with some of the finest scenery in the Taupō region.

Signature items

• Mānuka Smoked Fiordland Wapiti Deer Tataki
• Hokkaido Scallop & Hawke’s Bay Candied Back Bacon
• Grassfed Beef Tomahawk
• Braised First Light Wagyu Beef Brisket
• Steamed Blue Cod
• Hibachi Charcoaled Pearl Veal Striploin

Menu

Sides

• Buttered Autumn Vegetables — Seasonal autumn vegetables tossed in butter
• Buttered Winter Vegetables — Seasonal winter vegetables tossed in butter
• Pomme Purée — Creamy whipped potato purée
• Shoestring Fries — Crispy shoestring French fries
• Kinloch Honey Roasted Root Vegetables — Root vegetables roasted with local Kinloch honey
• Maple Syrup Roasted Root Vegetables — Root vegetables roasted with sweet maple syrup
• Truffle Fries — Shoestring fries tossed with truffle
• Truffle Parmesan Fries — Fries tossed with truffle oil and shaved parmesan

Sauces

• Chimichurri — Herb-infused chimichurri sauce
• Mixed Mushroom Cream — Creamy mushroom sauce
• Red Wine Jus — Rich red wine reduction
• Café de Paris — Classic seasoned butter sauce
• Peppercorn Jus — Savory peppercorn-infused jus

Poke Bowls

• Yellowfin Tuna Poke Bowl — Choice of sushi rice, quinoa or mixed leaves with sesame soy, avocado, crispy onion, edamame, and wakame
• Spicy Salmon Poke Bowl — Choice of sushi rice, quinoa or mixed leaves with chilli mayo, tomato salsa, avocado, and edamame
• Beef Tataki Poke Bowl — Choice of sushi rice, quinoa or mixed leaves with ponzu, fried garlic, avocado, crispy onion, and edamame
• Kimchi Chicken Poke Bowl — Choice of sushi rice, quinoa or mixed leaves with spicy kimchi, kewpie, cucumber, and daikon

Young Diners

• Potato & Leek Soup — Warm potato and leek soup served with toasty bites
• Chicken Slider — Crispy chicken, maple syrup, shoestring fries, and ketchup
• Beef & Cheese Sliders — 100% pure South Island beef, cheddar cheese, shoestring fries, and ketchup
• Cheese Jaffle — Cheddar cheese closed toasty served with curly fries and ketchup
• Fish & Chips (Young Diners) — Red snapper fillet in tempura batter, steak fries, and remoulade sauce
• Sausage & Mash — Choice of pork, beef, lamb, or chicken sausage served with mashed potato and green peas

From The Grill

• Brick Chicken — Cooked on the grill with your choice of sauce
• Tairāwhiti Coast Kingfish (200g) — Grilled kingfish fillet with your choice of sauce
• Striploin (250g) — Grilled striploin steak with your choice of sauce
• Eye Fillet (220g) — Grilled eye fillet steak with your choice of sauce
• Ribeye (250g) — Grilled ribeye steak with your choice of sauce
• Grassfed Beef Tomahawk for Two — Served with triple cooked potatoes, roasted garlic greens, and a selection of sauces

Lunch Specials

• Chicken Pot Pie — Served with cucumber, tomato, kalamata olives, lettuce, oregano & lemon vinaigrette
• Grilled Brassicas — Hazelnut hollandaise, tonkatsu, oyster mushroom, and candied tofu
• Pearl Farm’s Veal Schnitzel — Warm potato salad and sweet mustard vinaigrette
• Bangers & Mash — Tauranga griller, potato purée, and red onion jus
• Fish & Chips — Catch of the day, steak fries, cucumber, tomato, kalamata olives, lettuce, oregano & lemon vinaigrette
• Market Fish — Catch of the day served with watercress risotto and lemon beurre blanc
• Braised Lamb Shank — Black garlic & kumara purée, grilled broccoli, and horopito pepper sauce

Burgers & Wraps

• Chicken Burger — Cajun ranch dressing, rucola, parmesan, served with shoestring French fries
• Blackened Snapper Wrap — Grilled red snapper, blackened spice, lemon aioli, served with shoestring French fries
• Black Angus Beef Burger — Pohutukawa red cheddar, red onion jam, bbq sauce, served with shoestring French fries

Dinner Specials

• Free Range Pork Belly & Crackling — Kinloch honey sautéed endive & radicchio, pomme dauphine, xo sauce
• Braised First Light Wagyu Beef Brisket — Watercress risotto, horopito & feijoa chocolate mole
• New Zealand Lamb — Lamb rump & chilli kofta, parsnip, parmesan churro, carrot & star anise beurre blanc
• Steamed Blue Cod — Shiraz caviar, quinoa & polenta fritter, white wine velouté, lemon gel
• Hibachi Charcoaled Pearl Veal Striploin — Oyster mushroom & brussels sprout sauté, croissant potato, Hawke’s Bay apple beurre blanc

Starters & Salads

• Housemade Breads — Served with whipped butters
• Potato & Leek Velouté — Served with mushroom pesto
• Pear & Organic Blue Cheese — Pear, candied walnut, endive, and chardonnay vinaigrette
• Choy Sum & Sweet Potato Dumpling — Served with chestnut & coconut velvet
• Mānuka Smoked Fiordland Wapiti Deer Tataki — Pōkeno winter malt, sichuan pepper, fire roasted & pickled beetroot
• Hokkaido Scallop & Hawke’s Bay Candied Back Bacon — Smoked sunroot artichoke puree, legumes, fermented kombu & shiitake dashi

Frequently asked questions

Where is Bistro Lago located?

Bistro Lago is located at 80–100 Napier Road, Hilltop, Taupo, situated within the Hilton Lake Taupo property.

What are the restaurant's opening hours?

Bistro Lago is open seven days a week. Breakfast runs Monday to Friday from 7:00 am to 10:00 am, and Saturday, Sunday, and Public Holidays from 7:00 am to 11:00 am. Lunch is served daily from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, dinner is served daily from 5:30 pm to either 9:30 pm or 10:00 pm, and the bar opens from 12:00 noon until 10:00 pm.

Does Bistro Lago accept cash?

No, Bistro Lago operates strictly as a cashless venue, accepting all major credit and debit cards.

How can I book a table for a large group?

For bookings of more than 12 people, guests are asked to email AKLLT_FB@hilton.com or call +64 7 376 2319. Set or tailored menus may apply to group reservations.

Are vegetarian and vegan options available?

Yes, the menu includes dedicated vegetarian and vegan items, such as the potato and leek velouté, choy sum and sweet potato dumplings, grilled brassicas, roasted root vegetables, and adaptable poke bowls.

Is there a children's menu available?

Yes, Bistro Lago provides a Young Diners menu featuring items such as sliders, cheese jaffles, tempura fish and chips, and sausage and mash.

Tips

• {"body":"Bistro Lago does not accept cash, so be sure to have a valid debit or credit card on hand when settling your bill.","title":"Prepare for Card Payments"}
• {"body":"Breakfast runs an hour later on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays until 11:00 am, making it ideal for a relaxed morning.","title":"Extended Weekend Breakfast"}
• {"body":"If you are planning to dine with a party larger than 12 people, get in touch with the team directly by phone or email in advance to arrange set menu options.","title":"Group Reservations"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Dedicated young diners menu available.","dietary":"Vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free items marked on menus.","payments":"Cashless venue; all major credit and debit cards accepted."}