A MODERN FRENCH AFFAIR IN BEAUTIFUL WANAKA
Whatever reservations you may have about the French, their cuisine is what makes it all worthwhile. Bistro Gentil brings the delights of French gastronomy to the beautiful shores of Lake Wanaka.
“We revisit typical flavour combinations using fresh seasonal ingredients from our kitchen garden and the best of our region. Lumina lamb, Red Tussocks venison, Lake Ohau Wagyu…”
— Mario Rodrigues, Head Chef
Just minutes from town, our bistro is a serene spot to unwind, with sweeping lake views and sunsets worth savoring.
“Enjoy timeless favourites from our À La Carte menu, from French Onion Soup and Beef Tartare to our signature Crème Brûlée.”
Pair your evening with a visit to the Maude Tasting Room earlier in the day, and don’t forget to reserve your table for dinner.
Bienvenue au Bistro Gentil
Bon appétit !
The food was good, the service attentive, the tables are well spaced, the restaurant had a nice buzz but not too noisy for conversation. All the makings of a very... read more pleasant evening
holyisle
Absolutely surprised by the stunning food and ambience! The French onion soup was epic! 11/10 worth the visit alone...and the steak !
Glen C
One of Wanaka's top rated restaurants with fine dining, Bistro Gentil didnt disappoint. Nestled on a road above the town - we walked two miles there - it was packed... read more full. For starters we had tomato and chilli soup and a seared salmon starter and...More
shaunsouthern
Outstanding food and out on terrace was exceptional. They even had hats until the sun dropped enough. Great local wines to enjoy as well as many others.A lovely garden and... read more outlook.
H349ORpaul
Tasty food, presented well. I felt the sauce on the aged steak masked the flavour of the steak a bit, but apart from that it was good. The proportions of... read more the salmon in the start was laughably small. I suppose you could argue its fine dining...but it didn't look like it took a lot of effort to justify the price of the starter compared to other places I've been... Which served better tasting salmon dish. Overall worth the visit, great views, but don't necessarily expect to be blown away by the cuisine
943felixl
TA and our lodge host recommended this restaurant and booked for us. It was full and we can see why. Whilst it is not cheap ($100 a head... read more (4 of us) - 3ish courses (2 shared desserts), 2 drinks and one bottle of wine, plus...More
Myclare
We dined at Bistro Gentil on Sunday 18th February, and it was an amazing culinary experience. The French Onion soup was very tasty and rich, but this was surpassed by... read more the best venison dish we have ever eaten. Subtle flavours abounded, but only enhancing the amazing taste and quality of the meat. Lastly the plum tart was a stunning finale. There are some good restaurants in Wanaka, but in our opinion, none came close to emulating the cooking skills on evidence here. If you are in Wanaka and love your food, this is a must destination. The staff were great and the chefs passion absolutely shines through.
collette t
Magnifique - what a delight it was to sit at a table and dine at Bistro Gentil. The food & wine was amazing and enjoyed by all.
The service... read more was attentive with good knowledge of each plate offering. Highly recommend Bistro Gentil for your next dining experience.
RobynD1060
We had this restaurant recommended by one of our hosts on the rail trail plus it starred on Trip Advisor
Great service great food kiwi/ French and tight but well... read more thought out wine list reflecting the restaurant is Maude Wines tasting room during the day
The crème brûlée was the very best I have had in a long time
Will be back
davidgC4241ZK
Spent a week in Wanaka early December and had the great pleasure of two delicious dinners at Bistro Gentil. Interesting menu - beautifully prepared.Absolutely wonderful - the best food... read more in South Island.
Tessa CTo make a reservation, simply complete the form below, a credit card registration will be required to confirm your booking. No charge will be made to the card at this stage. In the case of ‘no show’ a $50 fee will be charged to the card. Please refer to our booking policy below.
For private hire, large groups and special requests email bistrogentilwanaka@gmail.com.
For parties larger than 9 people, we offer a 3 course set menu so we can deliver the best service. Please email us for more details.
If you are unable to make a reservation online call us on 03 443 2299 as we may still have availability.
BOOKING POLICY
Please note that the cancellation must be requested 24 hours prior to the reservation time otherwise cancellation charges may apply. When booking we request credit card details via the secure Stripe payment platform in order to confirm the booking.
Bistro Gentil reserves the right to charge a cancellation fee of $50 per head when one of the following conditions has been met:
A request from us:
If you are unable to honour your reservation or would like to make any changes, please let us know as soon as possible. It is important that we reallocate seats to our waiting list during busy times.
We are a small restaurant, so the amount of staff on in an evening is based on our bookings. We will love you for it!
Merci!
Opening Hours
Monday – Saturday 6 pm – late
Sundays from 6:30 pm – late
To Make a Reservation
Click here
For Inquiries
Ph: 03 443 2299
Email: bistrogentilwanaka@gmail.com