Our Story
Inspired by the alpine beauty of Arrowtown and Italy’s Aosta Valley, Aosta serves vibrant Northern Italian flavours using the freshest seasonal produce from Central Otago. Our menu is a modern celebration of local ingredients, creativity, and bold taste in every dish.
About Us
At Aosta, we celebrate the unique connection between Arrowtown and Italy’s Aosta Valley, both set on the 45th parallel, shaped by dramatic landscapes and a deep love for exceptional food.
Our menu blends the traditions of Northern Italy with the best seasonal produce from Central Otago, preserved and prepared to capture the flavour of our region all year round. Subtle French influences, a reflection of the Aosta Valley’s Franco-Italian heritage, add refinement to our hearty, mountain-inspired cuisine, rooted in the land we proudly call home.
About Chef Ben Bayly
Aosta’s menu is led by acclaimed chef Ben Bayly, winner of the 2024 “Best Restaurant in New Zealand” award for his Auckland restaurant, Ahi. Born in the rural Waikato town of Te Awamutu, Ben’s love for food took him on a decade-long journey through France, Italy and the UK, honing his craft in world-class kitchens.
Returning home, he has become a leading voice in New Zealand’s food scene, known for championing local produce and nurturing culinary talent. At Aosta, Ben and Josh bring a refined yet authentic taste of Northern Italy to Arrowtown, blending time-honoured traditions with their own creative flair, and showcasing the very best of Central Otago’s seasonal produce.
The Kitchen Today
Ben’s vision is carried onto the plate each night by Head Chef Josh Phillips, who trained in kitchens across the UK and France before joining Ben’s team. Under his hand, Aosta’s kitchen has become one of the most decorated in the South Island — earning Two Hats and Regional Restaurant of the Year at the 2025 Cuisine Good Food Awards, a Bib Gourmand in the inaugural MICHELIN Guide New Zealand, and for Josh himself, Cuisine’s Clyth MacLeod Rising Talent of 2025. A hunter and forager, Josh brings wild game and Central Otago’s seasons into Ben’s Northern Italian framework — proof that the story Aosta set out to tell is in very good hands.
