The Wānaka Bullock Bar is the classic kiwi pub on Ardmore Street — a bar, grill and restaurant in the heart of Wānaka whose motto, "it just feels like home", is backed up by friendly staff, plenty of local characters and a warm, unpretentious room. It pours one of the largest beer ranges in town — Speights, DB, Export, Tui, Monteith's Original and Old Dark, Guinness, Heineken and local craft beers — alongside wines and spirits, and screens all the major sports across 16 big-screen TVs, from rugby and soccer to boxing, UFC and American football. There's a pool table, dart boards and giant Jenga, 18 gaming machines, and Wānaka's only full-service TAB in a comfortable, temperature-controlled gaming lounge.
The Grill & Restaurant opens 6pm til late, seven nights a week, serving big hearty meals: a 300g Scotch fillet cooked to your liking, the famous smoky BBQ pork ribs, battered fish and chips, chicken parmigiana and the Bully Double Smash Burger. The menu changes with the seasons — succulent lamb shanks and stews in winter, sensational fresh salads in summer — while the firm favourites stay year-round. Families are welcome with high-chairs and an affordable small children's menu; cozy corners suit a quiet dinner for one or two, and groups of up to 50 seated (or over 100 standing) can be catered for, up to booking out the whole venue.
Practicalities are easy: free parking is available, and the bar sits within walking distance of most accommodation providers, the lakefront and major transport services. Happy hour runs 5pm–6pm seven days, Fridays bring the Lions meat raffle with complimentary bar food, and Sundays stack up with free pool and darts, drink specials and Speights giveaways. Book ahead by phone — 03 443 7148.
On Ardmore Street, right in the heart of Wānaka, the Wānaka Bullock Bar does what a classic kiwi pub should do: pours one of the biggest beer ranges in town, grills big hearty meals and makes everyone from solo travellers to families to sports teams feel like regulars. "It just feels like home" is the house motto, and the place backs it up with friendly bar staff, plenty of local characters and a location within walking distance of most accommodation providers, the lakefront and major transport services. Free parking nearby doesn't hurt either.
The set-up is a genuine bar, grill and restaurant under one roof. Come from 11am (10am on Saturdays) for a quiet beer and the sport, settle in for dinner at the Grill from 6pm, or stay for the evening — the doors run until late, seven nights a week.
Beer lovers are spoilt. The Bullock Bar reckons it has one of the largest beer ranges in town, and the lineup backs it up: Speights, DB, Export, Tui, Monteith's Original and Old Dark, Guinness, Heineken and local craft beers, plus wines and spirits for anyone not chasing a pint.
Sports fans get 16 big-screen TVs showing rugby, soccer, boxing, UFC and American football all day long. Have a specific match you want to watch? Let the team know and they'll see about getting it on. Away from the screens there's a pool table, dart boards and a giant Jenga, along with 18 gaming machines and Wānaka's only full-service TAB — a comfortable lounge with heating or air-conditioning depending on the temperature and a gaming attendant on hand.
The Grill & Restaurant opens at 6pm and runs until late every night of the week. The menu changes with the seasons, but the firm favourites stay year-round — and they're proper country-town servings rather than dainty tasting plates.
The Scotch fillet is the anchor: 300g of steak cooked to your liking with creamy mash or fries and a garden salad, finished with your choice of gravy, pepper sauce or garlic butter. The smoky pork ribs are the house legend — a famous half rack covered in smoky BBQ bourbon sauce, served with zesty slaw and fries. Around them sit crispy battered fish and chips with tartare sauce, a crumbed chicken parmigiana topped with house-made marinara, ham and mozzarella, and the Bully Double Smash Burger: two smashed beef patties, double American cheese, crisp white onion and the house-made Bully signature sauce.
When the weather turns, winter brings succulent lamb shanks and delicious stews; come summer, the kitchen shows off the freshest greens in sensational salads.
Seating is flexible, too. Cozy corners suit a quiet dinner for one or two, groups of up to 50 can be seated, and over 100 can be catered for standing if you book out the whole venue for a proper shindig. Call ahead on 03 443 7148 to book or check availability.
Happy hour runs from 5pm to 6pm, seven days a week. Fridays bring the Lions meat raffle with complimentary bar food. Sundays stack up nicely: Sunday Funday serves up free pool and darts, drink specials, giant Jenga and Speights giveaways, while Triple Shot Sunday gets you three shots of any spirit with a mixer for $10.
This is a genuinely family-friendly pub. High-chairs are available and there's an affordable small children's menu, so parents can settle in for the rugby over dinner while the kids are looked after. Whether you want a quick bite in front of a game, a long sit-down feast or a full venue booking, the Bullock Bar covers it — all in the heart of Wānaka, with the lakefront, accommodation and transport a short walk away and free parking if you drive.