Verve

bar — Wanaka · Wanaka

About Verve

Verve is all about beer and wine in the heart of Wānaka, located on Helwick Street - a spot to join for a tipple or three after an adventure in the mountains.

The bar describes itself as being about the wines, beers and good times, fun tunes and sunshine, with no pretension and lots of attitude - a place to try something new, and sometimes something old. Food is always available, sometimes from one of Verve's many pop-up chefs, alongside an in-house seasonal snack menu.

Verve's drinks list changes daily, spanning wine by the glass and bottle from New Zealand, Spain, France, Italy and Australia, a rotating selection of craft beers on tap, canned beers and ciders, cocktails, and a softies list for non-drinkers.

Verve: Wine, Beer and Good Times in the Heart of Wānaka

On Helwick Street in the heart of Wānaka, Verve is all about beer and wine - the kind of place to join for a tipple or three after an adventure in the mountains.

No Pretension, Lots of Attitude

Verve sums itself up simply: wines, beers and good times, fun tunes and sunshine, slow cuts and cute butts. It's a bar built around trying something new, and sometimes something old, without any pretension - just genuine attitude and a good time.

Food, Sometimes from Pop-Up Chefs

Food is always available at Verve, though the menu shifts depending on the day - sometimes it comes from one of the bar's many rotating pop-up chefs, other times from the in-house seasonal snack menu. That in-house menu includes Bar Nuts, Focaccia served with balsamic and oil or charred peppers and confit garlic, a Butterbean Hummus with basil pesto, Whitestone Brie with nectarine and honey, Sardines with pickles and toast, and Shoestring Fries with roasted garlic aioli.

A Drinks List That Changes Daily

Verve's drinks list changes daily, but the sample menu gives a strong sense of what to expect. Wine by the glass ranges from New Zealand producers like Maude, Huia and Burn Cottage through to Spanish, French and Italian selections, while the bottle list steps up further with names like Felton Road Pinot Noir, Louis Roederer's Cristal Champagne, and an Amarone from Italy's Le Salette.

Beer lovers can check the rotating tap board, featuring craft names like McLeod's, Parrotdog, Garage Project, Sawmill and 8Wired, alongside a canned selection covering everything from Coopers Pale Ale and Guinness Stout to a Limoncello Sour and non-alcoholic options. The cocktail list keeps things classic with an Aperol Spritz and Negroni made using Hastings Distillers spirits, plus martinis, spirits with mixers, and vermouth served over ice or soda. For non-drinkers, the softies list includes a Jasmine Kombucha, a housemade Lemon, Lime & Bitters, and sparkling water.

Visiting

Verve is open Monday to Thursday from 4pm to 11pm, and Friday to Sunday from 2pm to 11pm. Located at 40 Helwick Street, Wānaka, it's a fitting spot to wind down after a day in the mountains, with a drinks list worth returning to explore night after night.

Signature items

  • Whitestone Brie
  • Sardines
  • Shoestring Fries
  • Aperol Spritz
  • Pinot Noir
  • Beers on Tap

Menu

Beers

  • Beers on Tap — A rotating beer board featuring the likes of McLeod's, Parrotdog, Garage Project, Sawmill, 8Wired and more.
  • Pale Ale — Coopers.
  • Lager — Corona.
  • Stout — Guinness.
  • Cider — Peckham's.
  • Limoncello Sour — RxR.
  • Non-alc IPA — ParrotDog.
  • Nimble — Sawmill non-alcoholic beer.

Softies

  • Jasmine Kombucha — b.effect.
  • Lemon, Lime & Bitters — Housemade.
  • Coke / Lemonade — Coca Cola.
  • Tonic / Soda — Schweppes.
  • Sparkling Water — Antipodes.

Food & Snacks

  • Bar Nuts
  • Focaccia — With balsamic & oil, or charred peppers & confit garlic.
  • Butterbean Hummus — With basil pesto & bark.
  • Whitestone Brie — With nectarine, honey & crackers.
  • Sardines — With pickles & toast.
  • Shoestring Fries — With roasted garlic aioli.

Cocktails & Spirits

  • Aperol Spritz — Hastings Distillers.
  • Negroni — Hastings Distillers.
  • Martini — Dirty vodka or dry gin.
  • Tequila, Vodka, Gin — Served with mixer.
  • Vermouth — With ice or soda.

Wine By The Glass (Sample, Changes Daily)

  • Bubbles — Maude, NZ.
  • Pet Nat — 15 Minute Bottles, NZ.
  • Champagne — Louis Roederer, France.
  • Sauvy B — 15 Minute Bottles, NZ.
  • Albariño — Lagar de Costa, Spain.
  • Dry Riesling — Maude, NZ.
  • White Grenache — Coca i Fito, Spain.
  • Rosé — Huia, NZ.
  • Orange — Valli, NZ.
  • Chardonnay — Enate, Spain.
  • Tempranillo — Pagos de Araiz, Spain.
  • Chilled Red — Unkel, NZ.
  • Pinot Noir — Burn Cottage, NZ.
  • Grenache — Le Gardeta, Spain.
  • Syrah, Grenache — Jaspi Negre, Spain.

Wine By The Bottle (Sample, Changes Daily)

  • Blanc de Blancs — Quartz Reef, NZ.
  • Champagne (Cristal) — Louis Roederer.
  • Chardonnay — Felton Road, NZ.
  • Vermentino Blend — Ca'Marcanda Vistamare, Italy.
  • White Grenache — Trossos del Priorat, Spain.
  • Rosé — Arzuaga Navarro, Spain.
  • Pinot Noir 2023 — Felton Road, NZ.
  • Rioja 2019 — Murua, Spain.
  • Syrah 2016 — Enate, Spain.
  • Shiraz 2022 — Kalleske, Australia.
  • Amarone 2017 — Le Salette, Italy.

Frequently asked questions

What are Verve's opening hours?
Monday to Thursday 4pm-11pm, Friday to Sunday 2pm-11pm.
Does Verve serve food?
Yes, food is always available - sometimes from a pop-up chef, sometimes from the in-house seasonal snack menu.
Does the drinks list change?
Yes, the drinks list changes daily; the menu shown is a sample of what's typically on offer.
What beers are on tap?
A rotating beer board featuring craft brands like McLeod's, Parrotdog, Garage Project, Sawmill and 8Wired.
Where is Verve located?
At 40 Helwick Street, Wānaka.
How can I contact Verve?
By email at drink@vervewanaka.nz.

Tips

  • {"body":"The beer selection on tap changes regularly - ask what's currently pouring.","title":"Check the tap board for rotating beers"}
  • {"body":"Food sometimes comes from a rotating pop-up chef rather than the standard snack menu.","title":"Ask about the pop-up chef menu"}
  • {"body":"Standout options from the in-house seasonal food menu.","title":"Try the Whitestone Brie or Sardines"}
  • {"body":"Good way to see what's on and what's currently pouring.","title":"Follow along on Instagram or Facebook"}