The sounds of laughter and music and the tantalising smell of freshly prepared pizza attracted Laura Williamson to take a closer look at Wanaka’s Post Office Lane…

There is something remarkable happening behind Wanaka’s Post Office. In an old alley once visited only by delivery trucks and stray cats, a unique food and beverage precinct has emerged and it’s creating a buzz with visitors and locals alike.

Post Office Lane, a small thoroughfare off Ardmore Street, is home to three of the town’s most exciting venues for food and drink - Barluga, Woody’s and The Cow.

Nestled below street level, this mini neighbourhood has become a hub for eating, drinking and socialising, featuring indoor and outdoor seating, open fires, and a something-for-everyone selection of bars and restaurants.

The Lane got its start in May 2005 with the opening of Barluga, a stylish lounge bar with comfy leather chairs an extensive wine list and a décor that would appeal to James Bond and Austin Powers—funk and class rolled into one.

“We wanted to offer something completely different for Wanaka,” explains Barluga manager Mike McLaughlin. “There are lots of bars here for the younger crowd. Our goal is to provide the thirty plus market with somewhere they can enjoy a nice bottle of wine and a cheese board, and have a conversation without yelling.”

And it has worked. Mike says he has had an overwhelmingly positive response.

“Some people had wanted to go out but didn’t because there wasn’t anywhere they felt comfortable.” Their enthusiasm, he says, is both satisfying and gratifying reinforcing for them that they have the recipe right.

Barluga’s drink menu features a rotating list of cocktails, from the traditional Martini to the Moscow Mule, quality spirits, a full page of cellar stock and a range of wines including a strong showing of Wanaka and Central Otago labels. The bar also specialises in the après ski drink Gluhwein in winter.

The next stop on Post Office Lane is Woody’s, a cosy sports bar with wall to wall pool tables, wide screen televisions, and a slightly more casual atmosphere than its neighbour. Here one can still order a glass of Pinot Noir but the emphasis is on having a beer and watching a bit of sport.

Woody’s is also about choice, especially for those a little older than Wanaka’s younger party crowd. Wood-panelled walls and a roaring fire bring to mind a comfortable family lounge.

“Woody’s offers people a different place to go. It’s a casual bar, but where you still feel you’re somewhere nice,” says Mike.

Both bars are open every night until 2.30am.

The Cow is Post Office Lane’s casual dining restaurant. An institution in Queenstown for 30 years, Wanaka’s Cow serves up pizza and spaghetti in a fun atmosphere popular with all age groups, both visitors and locals.  Owner Josie Waters says the restaurant has been a drawcard  since its opening.

Built on what was once a paddock cow, the restaurant adds an 1800s frontier flavour to Post Office Lane. In fact, with its stone walls, brick floors, vintage photos and copper drain pipes, it looks a little like the set of an old Western. 

The restaurant is open from midday to midnight, seven days a week, no matter what, says Waters.

“It’s always warm at The Cow, with good fun, good value and the best coffee in Wanaka … that comes in a plunger,” he jokes.

Whether you prefer Barluga’s lush interior, the wooden panelling of Woody’s or The Cow’s stonework and weathered beams, Post Office Lane is gaining an outstanding reputation for its community atmosphere.

 “People like to be where other people are, and we have become a meeting place,” says Mike. “ The vibe in The Lane just keeps on growing”.