The sister restaurant of Arrowtown’s already acclaimed Aosta , family-friendly Little Aosta opened in February 2022. Find it tucked down the brick-lined laneway to the left of its predecessor.

The cosy 50-seater from Kiwi chef Ben Bayly and executive chef Steve Sepsy takes the homestyle cooking of northern Italy and pairs it with the best ingredients from the South Island.

Case in point is the PPL pizzetta, cooked in the wood fire and topped with pāua, purple potato and lardo (a type of salumi, or cured meat). Woodfired venison meatballs with tomato and sage sugo is a standout dish on a mains menu big on shared handmade pasta dishes – just like at an Italian family home.

Wine comes in a carafe and the vibe is casual and chatty. Save room for dessert such as vanilla panna cotta or Nutella tiramisu.