Big Fig Wanaka

restaurant — Wanaka · Wanaka

About Big Fig Wanaka

Big Fig is a Middle Eastern-inspired café and eatery on Ardmore Street in Wanaka, built around the idea of slow food served fast. The kitchen turns out an ever-changing selection of dishes — slow-cooked meats, hot plant-based options, and tasty salads — alongside barista coffee and fresh baking, all made with care and ready to go.

The menu changes regularly, so diners can expect variety rather than a fixed set of dishes, with Middle Eastern flavours running through much of the food on offer. Big Fig serves breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the day, with coffee and baked goods available continuously.

The café operates on a casual, no-reservations basis — just turn up and grab a table, whether you're eating in or grabbing takeaway. Big Fig is fully licensed, open seven days a week from 8am to 8:30pm.

Big Fig Wanaka: Middle Eastern-Inspired Slow Food, Served Fast

On Ardmore Street in the heart of Wanaka, Big Fig has built a loyal following around a simple idea: slow food, served fast. The café turns out an ever-changing lineup of hot dishes, salads, coffee and baking, all packed with flavour and made with care, without the wait times you'd expect from slow-cooked food.

An Ever-Changing Menu

Rather than sticking to a fixed menu, Big Fig rotates its offerings regularly, drawing heavily on Middle Eastern flavours and cooking styles. Expect slow-cooked meats, hot plant-based dishes, and tasty salads, with the exact lineup shifting as the kitchen works through new ideas and seasonal produce. It's the kind of café where returning a few times over means trying something different each visit.

Breakfast Through to Dinner

Big Fig covers the full span of the day, serving breakfast from 8am to 10am, lunch from 11am to 4pm, and dinner from 5pm to 8:30pm. Coffee and baking are available continuously throughout opening hours, making it just as suited to a quick mid-morning coffee stop as a full sit-down dinner.

Casual, No-Fuss Dining

There's no need to book ahead at Big Fig — the café operates on a simple walk-in basis, whether you're after a table to eat in or grabbing something to take away. Big Fig is fully licensed, so a meal can be paired with a drink for those eating in.

A Wanaka Local Favourite

Situated centrally on Ardmore Street, Big Fig has become a go-to spot for locals and visitors alike looking for food that's a bit different from the standard café fare — flavourful, largely Middle Eastern-inspired cooking, made fresh and served without the fuss of formal dining. Whether it's a slow-cooked dish for dinner, a plant-based lunch, or simply a coffee and something baked, Big Fig aims to deliver food packed with flavour, quickly.

Visiting Big Fig

Big Fig is open seven days a week from 8am to 8:30pm at 105 Ardmore Street, Wanaka. No reservations are needed — just turn up and find a table, or grab your order to go.

Signature items

  • Slow-Cooked Meats
  • Hot Plant-Based Dishes
  • Tasty Salads
  • Barista Coffee
  • Fresh Baking

Menu

All Day

  • Barista Coffee — Coffee made to order all day
  • Baking — Fresh baked goods available all day

Breakfast (8am-10am)

  • Breakfast Dishes — Rotating breakfast menu served each morning

Lunch & Dinner (11am-8:30pm)

  • Slow-Cooked Meats — Slow-cooked meat dishes, part of the rotating hot food selection
  • Hot Plant-Based Dishes — Middle Eastern-inspired plant-based hot dishes
  • Salads — Fresh, flavour-packed salads

Frequently asked questions

Does Big Fig take reservations?
No, it's a walk-in café — just turn up and grab a table.
Is Big Fig licensed?
Yes, Big Fig is fully licensed.
What are Big Fig's opening hours?
Open Monday to Sunday, 8am to 8:30pm.
Does Big Fig offer plant-based options?
Yes, hot plant-based dishes are part of the regularly changing menu.
Can I get takeaway from Big Fig?
Yes, Big Fig offers both eat-in and takeaway.
Is coffee available all day?
Yes, barista coffee and baking are available all day.

Tips

  • {"body":"Just walk in and find a table — reservations aren't required.","title":"No bookings needed"}
  • {"body":"Expect a different selection of hot dishes and salads on each visit.","title":"Menu changes regularly"}
  • {"body":"Handy for a quick stop outside of standard meal times.","title":"Coffee and baking all day"}

Good to know

  • {"dietary":"Hot plant-based dishes available"}