The New Orleans Hotel - Arrowtown
27 Buckingham Street, Arrowtown 9302
Rating: 4.1 ★ (638 ratings)
Details
The New Orleans Hotel - Arrowtown is an enduring landmark in historical Arrowtown, established in 1866 and renovated in June 2019. This original country pub retains a distinctive charm, set on Buckingham Street amidst the town's quaint shops and historic buildings. Its atmosphere is further enhanced by a large open fire during winter and a sun-drenched, north-facing balcony for summer enjoyment. Directly across from the hotel lies the Arrow River, offering picturesque views towards the mountains and a magical walking track.
Accommodation includes both double rooms and a two-bedroom apartment, some providing delightful river and mountain vistas. Each room features an ensuite bathroom, cable or SkyTV, tea and coffee making facilities, electric blankets, and complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi. The hotel's on-site restaurant and bar operate seven days a week, serving classic New Zealand pub fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with an emphasis on fresh, seasonal, and local ingredients. Guests can also benefit from free public parking.
This historic establishment is well-suited for those seeking a blend of heritage and comfort while exploring Arrowtown's rich past. It provides an ideal base for various stays, including family holidays, romantic getaways, or business trips. The hotel's inviting ambience, whether by the winter fire or on the summer balcony, makes it a perfect spot to unwind with a meal or a local Otago wine. Its appeal extends to guests appreciating a traditional country pub experience with convenient access to local attractions and outdoor pursuits.
Location
Contact
+64 21 165 6636 | http://www.neworleanshotel.co.nz/
Comments
It was a beautiful sunny day, so we sat outside on the elevated back deck, overlooking the river and the stunning autumn-colored trees. We both ordered the roast lamb, and it turned out to be the best decision. It was the best roast lamb I’ve ever had—perfectly tender, with fresh, vibrant vegetables, all topped with a rich, flavourful 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.
Rooms very rundown and needs some work.
The bed would sink in when lying on it, the walls were covered in scuff marks that could be easily cleaned off, the shower temperature kept fluctuating from really hot to cold, the bedside table door was broken, 2 chairs weren’t even the same and the carpet looked gross.
I made the mistake of not looking at the tons of reviews on booking.com of people saying the same things.
Definitely didn’t look like any of the photos that were shown on booking.com and don’t think it was worth $170.
Regarding the time of entry, I am unsure whether there may have been an issue with your recording equipment or whether the footage has been misinterpreted. However, what I can state with certainty is that the individuals shown entering at 10:15am could not have been us. We saw a clearly displayed sign indicating an 11:00am opening time and spent time walking around nearby streets so as not to arrive early. During that time, we were taking photos along the way, including photos taken at 11:06am, showing us still outside photographing the surrounding area. These records make it impossible for us to have entered the restaurant before 11:00am, and we have sufficient evidence to support this.
Second, regarding the service process: both my friend and I have lived, studied, and worked overseas for more than eight years, and we are very familiar with different dining and service styles. We were explicitly told by your staff member that we could sit anywhere and that someone would come to serve us. If the expectation was that customers must order at the bar, this was not communicated to us, and we would not both have misunderstood the same instruction. Had we been told to order at the bar, we would have done so without hesitation.
Being on our phones does not mean we don't require assistance like most guests, we were simply waiting for a menu or a greeting. My comment regarding the atmosphere was based on the clear difference in how we were treated compared to the "known customers" you mentioned. Diversity in hiring is commendable, but it does not automatically guarantee an inclusive experience for every guest on the floor.
Claire
A terrible experience—pure racial discrimination. On January 27, 2026, at noon, we planned to dine at this restaurant. Two staff members greeted us and asked us to wait to be seated, saying someone would serve us. We waited for 20 minutes with no attention. During that time, we kept looking at the staff—they both noticed us—but they continued chatting among themselves and didn’t come to serve. When local customers arrived, they immediately became friendly and attentive. Even after their food was served, no one attended to us. If you don’t want to be discriminated against, do not come here! I don’t understand what arrogance you are showing, or why you refuse to serve Asian customers. You could have just said from the start that the restaurant wasn’t open or couldn’t accommodate us. You may think you humiliated us this way, but the one humiliated is yourself.
The food was unbelievable not one complaint from a table of 15 with a good variety of food ordered we all shared our plates and every plate was amazing will definitely come back for a mean feed brew and chill chur.
Toilets needed a bit of a clean up but other than that great place