• Kai Whakapai Cafe and Bar

  • (21)
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  • White Veg-options
Lacto
Ovo
Pizza
Western
Beer/Wine
Non-veg

Serves meat, vegan options available. A cafe and bar offering vegan pizza using vegan cheese, plus can make any pizza vegan. Sometimes has vegan chocolate cupcake. Alcohol served from 8am. Open Mon-Sun 7:00am-11:00pm. Outdoor area open until 10pm.


Venue map for Kai Whakapai Cafe and Bar
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21 Reviews

First Review by Elliemichaela

RyanMcNie

Points +26

Vegan
28 Apr 2024

Gorgeous burger

Delicious burger with chups, great beer selection and great scenery. Highly recommend

AliceHagan

Points +88

Vegan
24 Nov 2023

Yummy brunch

We visited for a late morning brunch and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the vegan options here. Had the shakshuka (tofu scramble instead of eggs) which was very tasty. Would recommend if stopping in Wanaka.

currawong90

Points +170

Vegan
20 Aug 2023

Tasty & generous vegan options

The ‘Forest Mushrooms on Toast’ was my highlight breakfast of the trip (vegan option). Super generous with the oyster mushrooms and flavours were great. Rare finding vegan breakkie options this good. Hot choc powder also vegan.
Great atmosphere and lovely spot along the river. Upstairs dining space is bright and lovely in the morning.

Updated from previous review on 2023-08-20

Pros: Generous portion, Tasty options, Great atmosphere and view

aimee__a

Points +163

Vegan
05 Aug 2022

Great atmosphere and delicious lunch

Great coffee and lots of craft beers! We had the avo smash with cauli which was delicious asks the margarita pizza with vegan cheese which was okay, the base was really nice!

deadendjob

Points +2550

Vegan
14 Apr 2022

Good food, decent price, good selection of local beer

Had the Vegan Burger with Fries. Tasted good and was reasonably priced.

Leylnaz

Points +152

Vegan
26 Feb 2020

Vegan food options is great

Ate here twice during my trip in Wanaka but there soy cappuccino was like thick soup and I ask for almond milk. It was ok, they mentioned it's the soy milk. I recommended them that they may need to change their selection of coffee for nondairy milk coffee as this was my first experience of thick soupy coffee after. Have experienced it anywhere else

Pros: Good food

ManuelaGhinassi

Points +44

Vegan
16 Nov 2019

amazing food and vegan pizzas

the staff is very acknowledged of what vegan means . Their pizzas are amazing and they have vegan cheese at no extra charge .
I had the mushroom and walnuts with vegan cheese and it was soooo good that I had to buy another one

Pros: vegan pizzas , vegan breakfast, friendly staff

Cons: no cons

BennyLava

Points +215

Vegan
25 Oct 2019

Ask for the vegan menu.

Ask for the vegan menu. I had the delicious marinated tofu with broccoli & edamame slaw, mesclun salad, miso dressing, vegan furikake, shiso microgreens, & vegan wasabi mayo. Delicious! The portion size was small. Nice outdoor seating by the lake.

Pros: Vegan menu , Delicious food & drink, Nice outdoor seating by the lake

Cons: Vegan pizza not available before 3pm , Small portion size for marinated tofu dish

MelaniePearson

Points +471

Vegan
23 Apr 2019

Good place

This place was pretty good we enjoyed a vegan pizza and the Buddha bowl. Nothing amazing but a good place to get a feed. There aren’t many options in Wanaka so it’s good to have this place !

MBTP

Points +28

Vegan
08 Mar 2019

Great

Only a couple of vegan options but the pizza and the buddha bowl are delicious.

Pros: Tasty food

Cons: Only a couple of vegan options

leont

Points +702

Vegan
22 Feb 2019

Try the Buddha bowl

You could also try the delicious Buddha bowl which can be made vegan with Tofu.
I can’t recommend the side salad as it is to oily.

Pros: Go Upstairs for a quiet table!

FionaWallace

Points +211

Vegan
16 Dec 2018

Mmmmmm pizza

This is an extremely popular place with seating outside so you can enjoy the lake view. The vegan pizza in my opinion is one of the best if not the best I've had and the staff are all friendly. Great spot.

jenny_noisy

Points +695

Vegan
14 Oct 2018

Craft beer and vegan pizza, what else?

During our long stay in Wanaka (5 months) it was our favorite place! The place is really nice, cosy and so friendly. The vegan pizza is really good, sometimes they change the recepie, based on seasonal vegetables. And if they don't have all the vegetables, they just improvised.

They also have a vegan breakfast and sometimes a vegan wrap with falafel. You can also go there just to enjoy an amazing craft beer with delicious fries or wedges.

I hope one day they have vegan pastries. :)

Pros: Amazing pizza, Delicious craft beers, Friendly staff

Marikiwa

Points +197

Vegan
11 Sep 2018

Delicious pizza

We ordered the pizza with roasted pumpkin, pine nuts (and other stuffs I can't recall now) vegan cheese and we looooved it! Kai is such a cool cafe with good vibes, the staff is nice and everyone seem to love meeting their friends there so we were happy to be able to sit and enjoy good food. A shame they only have soy milk as a dairy free option for coffee!

Pros: Pizza with vegan cheese, Friendly staff, Always great atmosphere

Cons: Only dairy free milk is soy, Not a lot of vegan options

shaeschifilliti

Points +40

Vegan
02 Jul 2018

Sick place, good vibes, vegan options

Just sat down as the sun set over the water and ordered a vegan pizza. They have vegan cheese!!! And despite not having all the ingredients available, they improvised and it tastes sensational. House made pizza bases and the staff are awesome. Not the biggest vegan range but so damn good for what you can get!

EmSmith

Points +40

Vegan
19 May 2018

Tasty Pizza, Very Helpful

They had vegan cheese! I really enjoyed my pizza and overall a lovely experience.

Pros: Vegan Cheese, Really helpful

Cales

Points +13

Vegetarian
18 Apr 2017

Lovely

Charming spot with charming staff. They were out of the vegan cheese for the pizza but one staff member went out of her way to explain the other options on the menu that they could veganise 👍 I ordered the big breakfast and it was beautiful and filling. My husband had the eggs benny and loved it.

Pros: Perfect spot, Lovely staff, Yummy meals

Cons: Didn't get to try the pizza

Adams

Points +20

Vegan
08 Apr 2017

Pizza dinner

Superb location at live street near lake, lovely staff. We ordered a vegan pizza and falafel and everything was delicious. We can only recommend (based on one visit).

Pros: Vegan options, Location, Staff

Cons: Possibility that there will be few vegan options d

Shalyaesishua

Points +85

Vegan
30 Mar 2017

Ok but

Wanaka is a sweet nice town. The restaurant is in front of the lake, the place is nice. I've take a pizza and fries. Everything taste good, but I think the pizza was a bit... like a desert, 5 slices of tomato, same for oignon and mushroom. So it makes me feel like my pizza was bit empty. The people working there were very nice and kind.

Pros: Make your own vegan pizza, Fries are cooked in vegetable oil

Cons: Empty pizza that makes it to expensive for what it

haydenmicallef

Points +42

Vegan
12 Dec 2016

Great Service and VEGAN CHEESE!

This pub is a great place for a vegan pizza in Wanaka.
The staff are all very lovely and chatty.
We ordered a vegan pizza with:
- Sundried Tomatoes
- Mushroom
- Pineapple
- Capsicum

As well as a large bowl of wedges.
The pizza was very tasty and the bowl of wedges was massive!

Pros: Service , Pizza with vegan cheese, Great lakeside location

Cons: A little bit pricey: $25 for the vegan pizza (most

Elliemichaela

Points +40

Vegan
09 Jun 2016

good service

Kai Whakapai only has 1 dish for vegans- the vegan pizza. After I ordered, someone came to the table to inform me they couldn't find any vegan cheese so they offered a cheese-less pizza and my money back. It still tasted great and I can't get mad at free food. But I'm not sure if vegan cheese is kept stocked at all times.




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