AMAZING food. The food is fresh, made with local ingredients, creative, and so good with every bite. See photos for what was ordered. This was such a pleasant surprise in a small town, especially after a long hike through the snow. I called ahead to make a reservation so we were seated right away when we arrived. We were there on a weekday but think this place would be really busy on a weekend so plan ahead on that if needed. As for ambiance, it felt more like a cafe than a restaurant. We were right across the fireplace which worked well for us especially when we could feel the cool air every time the door was open. Overall, we loved our experience and enjoyed the food. Will recommend to a friend who will be in the area in the next few weeks. read more

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Probably my favorite meal in my 10 day journey of the South Island. Recommended by our motel staff, it was a short walk away. We sat out on the patio for an early dinner which was really nice. The food was phenomenal. And I don't just think that about all meals. The bread was super fluffy and fresh to start. This place cooked the salmon perfectly and the filet was out of this world. If I lived closer I'd be here all the time. read more

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We went to Poppies after a tour and was astonished at how good the food and service was! The look like a dive from the outside but this is a gem!! The food is amazing. The salmon not only is presented beautifully but the flavor is outstanding. My husband has the steak and it was beautifully prepared. The dessert is like the American molten chocolate lava cake with ice cream on the side and was delicious. This is a fabulous find in this small town. Would highly recommend and the service was great. Recommend making a booking it was very busy . read more

Pop by Poppies for some solid food. My boyfriend and I dropped by for dinner and were promptly seated. Most of the service we've had on our trip has been subpar (possibly due to the previously nonexistent tipping culture?), but our waitress at Poppies was warm and friendly. I ordered the $19.50 local salmon gravlax, which consisted of 4 strips of house-cured local salmon, a rocket (aka arugula) and lemon side salad, a dollop of horseradish cream, and slices of crostini-like bread. The salmon was fantastic, and the portion was just right for my not-so-hungry appetite. My boyfriend got the $37.50 Canterbury lamb rack, which was 3 pieces of lamb pan-roasted to medium rare on top of a lamb, pumpkin, and cumin filo parcel (looks like a quiche slice) with a helping of beetroot chutney and a side dish of steamed seasonal vegetables drizzled with aioli. Damn, that lamb was on point! Juicy, tender, and that medium-rare was done right. The veggies were also quite tasty--perhaps I should start drizzling mayo on my veggies. Prices are a bit steep, but the food and service are spot on. While there aren't too many dining choices in Twizel, dining at Poppies is a good choice. read more

Poppies Cafe & Restaurant - Local salmon gravlax, $19.50, with a side salad and bread. Delicious and recommended! - Cafes Near Me - Twizel, CAN

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We had a a stellar dinner at Poppies. The food is creatively and thoughtfully prepared. I personally went back to the kitchen to thank the chef for the delicious meal. read more

This amazing restaurant was an unexpected gem in the small town of Twizel. Excellent service without feeling rushed. After tasting their yummy homemade bread with dips, we tried three entrees: the salmon and beef filet were both melt-in-the-mouth tender with unique and flavorful garnishes such as smooth, puréed parsnips. Plating was artistic and beautiful. The buttery gnocchi bowl with roasted sweet potato (we added prawns) was just delicious. Finally, desserts: the carrot cake with Chantilly cream and roasted strawberries was a moist explosion of flavors, totally unlike the heavily iced carrot cake served in the US. And the "Poppies special" dessert was a unique light and delicious pumpkin cheesecake served in a round pumpkin colored edible shell with lovely garnishes. Along with Mew Zealand wines, this was a most memorable meal! read more

When you're staying in a town like Twizel (where you have maybe 5-6 restaurants to choose from), it's easy to keep expectations low. But even so, this place was a pleasant surprise for us. A simple grilled alpine salmon (locally sourced from glacial river farms!) with horseradish sauce all on top of a bed of herbed risotto was very well done. The salmon was so good it didn't need any horseradish sauce- there wasn't any fishy flavor to cover. The fish of the day was a sole covered with a bernaise sauce of sorts- also done very well, flavors were balanced, though the portion of fish left a bit to be desired. They also serve some thin crust pizzas- we got one topped with smoked salmon, tomatoes, basil, and cheese. Again, excellent execution, especially for a joint literally across the street from a hotel that came out of the 1970's...I'm serious, there were still sinks with separate hot and cold water faucets in the room we stayed in. I love supporting local small businesses regardless of where we are, and this place is no exception. A solid spot. read more

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Amazing food. Stopped in on way out of Mount Cook. Best food and service. Highly recommend. You won't be disappointed with anything you order. read more

Good food and they managed to make some vegetarian options for us. So, yay! Probably the only option in a few mile radius read more

Great Poppies Breakfast. Salmon salad and fresh fish with risotto were also very good. Enjoyed their cappuccino as well.

Excellent food always divine every time I dine here, one of my favourite places for lunch and dinner here in Twizel. great place to stop if you are passing through. Try it you just might be surprised read more

Poppies Cafe & Restaurant - Beef sirloin salad, a delight to eat definitely a must have meal if you are passing through Twizel! - Cafes Near Me - Twizel, CAN

After a 9-hour Mueller hut trail hike, Poppies was the best place for dinner! My husband enjoyed the lamb curry which was very well done and I had the pasta dish - both were perfect reward after the hike! The service and ambience were the added benefits here...would certainly come back if we're ever in Twizel again! read more

Stayed in Twizel after a Mt Cook adventure. Got a recommendation on Poppies and it did not disappoint. I had the special which was a venison pie, it was a hot hearty meal perfect after a day of wondering in the cold. The wine and whiskey selection was great as well. If I ever came through Twizel again I'd make a stop here. read more

I ordered the salmon salad w cooked veges. It was delicious! My BF ordered the fish and chips. He said that he would definitely order it again. This place has a cute atmosphere and the customer service is excellent. Would recommend to anyone passing through!!! read more

Poppies Cafe & Restaurant - Salmon salad! Yum! - Cafes Near Me - Twizel, CAN

After driving from Christchurch our Airbnb host in Ben Ohau suggested Poppies. It was a wonderful evening. Poppies has terrific waitstaff, Lucas shone with exemplary service and menu suggestions. Partner had the pasta dish which he raved about and had enough for lunch leftovers the next day. The Burke's brewery lager was a nice compliment to his pasta dish. I had the salad if mixed greens with balsamic dressing and a lovely small bottle of New Zealand brut. We finished with chocolate fondant dessert which was plated as beautifully as it tasted. read more

We were excited to try this place given the glowing reviews on Yelp, TripAdvisor, etc, but were thoroughly disappointed by our experience. We had two brief experiences with the restaurant, both of which were less than spectacular. The first night we were in Twizel, we came to the restaurant at 9PM after driving for 3 hours from our previous destination. We had thought the restaurant would be open for business at that time, since I saw somewhere on the web that it operates until 11PM (although the business hours of this restaurant were extremely difficult to find). Unfortunately, when we walked in and requested a table the waitress told us that she would check with the kitchen, then promptly came back and told us it had just closed. I was quite upset with the situation because I felt that the restaurant should have maintained up to date records about important info like opening hours on the internet (especially since Twizel is literally a town with mostly passersby!!). Additionally, we were obviously traveling from out of town and sought refuge at the restaurant for a meal, but were quite bluntly turned away without empathy. So, we left and tried the restaurant around the corner. The next morning we went to Poppies for breakfast. We had one smoothie, one bagel (with cream cheese and jam), and one salmon eggs benedict. Unfortunately, the salmon benedict was way too salty and the eggs were not poached properly. The whites of the eggs were still gelatinous (good poached eggs should have solid whites with moderately runny yolk), which meant the eggs weren't cooked long enough. I also had a mild case of diarrhea in the afternoon that day, which I attribute to my benedict since it was the only meal we had eaten that day. Anyway, I would not recommend this restaurant for a traveler to Twizel. Maybe dinner would have given us a different impression, but alas we weren't given the chance to dine. read more

Pleasantly surprised by the food. Pretty good considering what we have been getting in NZ. Good menu!

A nice cafe restaurant with a large and appetising menu. After a day pecking I was looking for something small and the spicy pumpkin soup with freshly baked bread fitted the bill. The soup was good and the bread really really good. This restaurant caters to a mix of tourists and locals and seems to be doing a good job of finding the right mix. The service was very friendly and this would definitely be top of my list on any return visits. read more

My husband and I had an excellent dinner here during our brief stay in Twizel. He had the pasta and I the fish of the day; both were delicious. There aren't many options in Twizel, but Poppies' quality of food would hold up in a bigger city as well. read more

This place is a must try. For dinner I had the fish of the day and my wife had the filo. Both were perfect. This is a gem in a very small city, great staff and really great food. We were planning to have dinner at one of those super busy places in lake tekapo, glad we didnt. read more

Woo, so wonderful! Absolutely surprise us with the greatest tasting! Salmon, pork, and pasta, all perfect and strongly recommend! read more

Poppies Cafe & Restaurant - This is the answer of the taste here! - Cafes Near Me - Twizel, CAN

Very good food. We ate at a place in Geraldine (just up the road; the restaurant looked like a barn) the day before. For around the same price, Poppies is much, *much* better. Despite its humble appearance, everything came together very nicely. Would definitely go back. read more

Excellent food, nice atmosphere and good service. We had BLT, toastie, and side salad all were excellent.

It was such a delight to find this restaurant, especially in a small town. It had some of the best food we experienced during our two week trip in New Zealand. My partner had the sole in Béarnaise sauce which was delicate and delicious. I ordered the fish and chips, but later wished I had ordered something a little more interesting. The fish and chips were well executed and they provided a generous portion of 3 fillets over fries. Each main also came with either a side of salad or roasted assorted vegetables. The roasted vegetables were delicious. The atmosphere was cozy and relaxed. I would definitely recommend. read more