New Orleans Hotel

We had lunch here while exploring Arrowtown, and I’m so glad my friend from Japan and I stopped in. The pub has a cosy feel and a great atmosphere. It was sunny, so we sat on the raised back deck with a lovely view of the river and autumn-coloured trees. We both chose the roast lamb, and it was the best I’ve ever had: tender meat, fresh, vibrant vegetables, rich gravy, and mint jelly. It felt like a home-cooked meal, only better than my mum’s, though I probably shouldn’t admit that. Do yourself a favour and visit, and definitely order the roast lamb. You won’t regret it.

On January 27, 2026, at noon, my friend and I came here to eat. Two staff members greeted us and asked us to wait to be seated, saying someone would serve us. We waited 20 minutes without help. We kept looking over at the staff, and both noticed us, but they continued chatting. When local customers arrived, they were immediately greeted warmly and looked after. Even after their food arrived, nobody came to us. I felt this was racial discrimination, and I wouldn’t want others to go through it. If the restaurant was closed or couldn’t take us, they could have simply said so. They may have thought they were humiliating us, but I think the person who ended up humiliated was them. In response to Kerry: I can’t tell whether there was a problem with your recording equipment or the footage was misread, but the people shown entering at 10:15am could not have been us. We saw a clearly displayed sign saying the restaurant opened at 11:00am, so we walked around nearby streets instead of arriving early. We took photos along the way, including some at 11:06am that show us still outside photographing the area. Those records make it impossible for us to have entered before 11:00am, and we have enough evidence to support that. As for service, my friend and I have each lived, studied, and worked overseas for more than eight years, so we’re familiar with different dining and service styles. Your staff member explicitly told us we could sit anywhere and that someone would come to serve us. If we were expected to order at the bar, nobody told us. We wouldn’t both have misunderstood the same instruction, and we’d have ordered there without hesitation if that’s what we’d been told. Being on our phones didn’t mean we didn’t need help like other guests. We were waiting for a menu or a greeting. My comment about the atmosphere was based on the obvious difference in how we were treated compared with the “known customers” you mentioned. Diversity in hiring is commendable, but it doesn’t guarantee every guest has an inclusive experience.

We had a drink one evening and came back for dinner the next. The service and atmosphere were lovely, and it was warm and lively here when most places in Arrowtown are quiet at night. The pork was amazing, with no fat, and came with sweet potatoes, vegetables, and a Yorkshire pud. One of my favourite meals in NZ. We also had a fun game of pool! 😁

The place itself is really cool, but the service was atrocious. A blonde female staff member was rude and had a terrible attitude when we ordered. When we asked about the menu, she acted like she was better than us and didn’t want to be there.