New and approved: Awa Eatery, Cromwell
A hot chocolate at Awa. (Photo: The Spinoff)
Tara Ward recommends the cafe inside Cromwell’s new community events centre.
What is it?
Awa Eatery is a cafe and bar that recently opened on the shores of the Kawarau River/Lake Dunstan in Cromwell, Central Otago. It’s managed by the experienced team of Enrique Ortiz and Fernanda Berroeta, who also run local food truck business SmokoRun.
Where is it?
Awa is tucked inside Te Puna Mahara, Cromwell’s new events centre on Melmore Terrace. As well as Awa Eatery, the events centre features a 40-seat cinema, Te Huika Wai Cromwell Museum, a 400-seat auditorium, meeting rooms, a retail store and a movement studio.
There’s a lot of buzz about Te Puna Mahara in Cromwell, which offers the fast-growing town a contemporary, flexible space that brings community events together. On the days we visited, there was a musical festival in the auditorium, the museum and exhibition space was busy with visitors, people were buying tickets to see Sense and Sensibility at the cinema, a pop-up clothes boutique was doing a roaring trade and cyclists were stopping by to enjoy a coffee break along the Lake Dunstan Trail. It's an impressive space that hosts everything from night markets to conferences to community line-dancing classes, and is set to become Cromwell's creative beating heart.
What’s new about it?
Everything. The cafe and events centre opened in July, but there’s also an important link to the past with Te Puna Mahara. The $48.5m centre replaces the former Cromwell Memorial Hall, which was built in 1960 in tribute to local war veterans. To honour the memorial hall, Te Puna Mahara features a new war memorial garden, the relocated cenotaph and a wall of remembrance, and the original mataī flooring was reused inside the new building.
What are the vibes?
Modern, relaxed and friendly. The cafe was busy when we visited on Labour weekend, with plenty of seating inside and on the outside deck, both of which come with major views across Lake Dunstan and down towards Cromwell Heritage Precinct. We came to Awa three times over the long weekend, including for the Saturday night “Sundown Session”, which featured a pizza cart, cold beers and a DJ. The cafe decor is in earthy brown, green and orange tones, which complements the impressive lake views, even on a cloudy day when the wind whips across the water.
What should I order?
Awa does simple cafe food well, and there’s a fully stocked cabinet of sweet and savoury options, including hearty cheese rolls, cute little carrot cakes, frittatas, muffins, slices and croissants. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, you’ll do well here – the chocolate brownie came in a huge slice and was delicious. If you’re heading to the cinema, they also offer movie-friendly snacks like ice-cream tubs and popcorn.
The all-day brunch menu is small but includes reliable cafe staples like smashed avo on toast, pancakes and a granola bowl. My daughter hoovered down her scrambled eggs on toast with salmon, and I had the full Awa breakfast, which came in a huge, hearty serving and filled the gap on a lazy Sunday morning.
For caffeine lovers, Awa serves Allpress Coffee, but if you feel like something a little stronger, there’s a solid range of Central Otago wines, beers and a couple of cocktail options too. There’s also a selection of smoothies, shakes and juices, including Cromwell’s own Benger Juices. Whatever you order, make sure you get a table near the wide wall of windows to best enjoy the spectacular view.
What will it set me back?
Brunch and drinks for two set us back about $50. Cabinet food starts at $6.50, and the Saturday night Sundown Session pizzas around $20.
Awa Eatery
Te Puna Mahara Cromwell Memorial Events Centre, 38 Melmore Terrace, Cromwell
8.30am-5pm Sun-Thurs, 8.30am-7pm Fri-Sat
Tara Ward
Tara Ward has written about television and culture for The Spinoff for several years. She lives in Ōtepoti Dunedin, where she tries to avoid walking up hills.
