Essence
2 Michelin Stars · Cuisine Good Food Awards Restaurant of the Year · Cuisine Good Food Guide 3 Hat
Our verdict
Just outside the bustling city centre, Essence is perched on a hillside above Lake Wakatipu. The low-key room exudes understated elegance, so it doesn’t steal the thunder from the food. The two tasting menus draw on premium seasonal New Zealand produce, finessed by solid European techniques, ingenious creativity and modern sensibility. Every plate tells a story with refined, yet expressive flavours. Pinot Noir lovers should not miss the wine list.
Pearl is the En Primeur Club membership app, where members save venues, book tables and use the concierge.
The menu
What to order
- Prelude tasting sequence (multi-course small plates)
- Oyster with kiwifruit and cultured cream
- Crayfish with sweet potato and vanilla
- Autumn Walk mushroom with fallen apple
Just outside the bustling city centre, Essence is perched on a hillside above Lake Wakatipu. The low-key room exudes understated elegance, so it doesn’t steal the thunder from the food. The two tasting menus draw on premium seasonal New Zealand produce, finessed by solid European techniques, ingenious creativity and modern sensibility.
Every plate tells a story with refined, yet expressive flavours. Pinot Noir lovers should not miss the wine list.
Recognition history
Dated appearances from independent guides and award organizations, with the underlying list record or original source where available.
Michelin 2 Stars
Michelin
Cuisine Good Food Awards Restaurant of the Year
Cuisine Good Food Awards
Cuisine Good Food Guide 3 Hat
Cuisine Good Food Guide
Full recognition history (4 entries)
Cuisine Good Food Guide Selection
Cuisine Good Food Guide
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Details
- Elegant
- Modern
- Intimate
- Scenic
- Sophisticated
- Date Night
- Business Dinner
- Group Dining
- Special Occasion
- Celebration
- Solo
- Panoramic View
- Design Destination
- Hotel Restaurant
- Local Sourcing
- Waterfront
- Mountain
- Tasting Menu
- A La Carte
Current opening hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- 6–11 PM
- Wednesday
- 6–11 PM
- Thursday
- 6–11 PM
- Friday
- 6–11 PM
- Saturday
- 6–11 PM
- Sunday
- Closed
Hours can change for holidays and private events. Hours as of .
An intimate, understatedly elegant fine dining room perched on a hillside above Lake Wakatipu, with modern styling designed not to distract from the food and a calm, refined atmosphere focused on the tasting menu experience.