The Best Food Experiences and Places to Eat in Queenstown
Queenstown might be the “Adventure Capital”, but it could well be the “Foodie Capital” too. Surrounded by gorgeous vineyards and home to talented artisans, brewers, winemakers, local and international chefs, Queenstown offers a great deal of food-related experiences for travellers.
Whether you’re looking to indulge in a cruise with gourmet cuisine at the destination or simply try out the town’s street eats, there are plenty of options to suit foodies with all budgets. We go through the food tours, the restaurants, the self-catering accommodation and hotels with fantastic restaurants, as well as the best places to eat in this complete food guide to Queenstown!
The 15 Best Places to Eat in Queenstown
What are the best places to eat in Queenstown? Here’s our ultimate list of the best restaurants and cafes with something for all tastes and budgets.
- The Bunker (14 Cow Lane)
- Amisfield Winery & Bistro (10 Arrowtown-Lake Hayes Road, Frankton)
- Rata (43 Ballarat Street)
- Erik’s Fish & Chips (13 Earl Street)
- Fergbaker (40 Shotover Street)
- Devil Burger (5/11 Church Street)
- Flame Bar & Grill (88 Beach Street)
- Balls and Bangles (62 Shotover Street)
- Bespoke Kitchen (9 Isle Street)
- Blue Kanu (16 Church Street)
- Stratosphere Restaurant (Top of the Skyline Gondola, end of Brecon Street)
- Nest Kitchen + Bar (139 Fernhill Road)
- True South Dining Room (The Rees Hotel, 377 Frankton Road)
- The Bathhouse (38 Marine Parade)
- Finz Seafood & Grill (88 Beach Street)
Scroll down to “About The Best Places to Eat in Queenstown” to learn more about our top picks!
The Best Food Tours in Queenstown
Queenstown is not just about the restaurants (which we’ll get onto that later), it’s about experiencing the food through hands-on experiences. Here are some of our top food tour picks for Queenstown…
Walter Peak Farm Tour and BBQ
Combine food, a cruise, history and Kiwi farming life on the Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Lunch experience. Depart from Queenstown on the historic steamship, the TSS Earnslaw on a scenic cruise across Lake Wakatipu. You’ll arrive at Walter Peak High Country Farm to dig into a barbecue lunch of Central Otago cuisine at the homestead. Day-trippers also get treated to a sheep shearing demonstration or a sheepdog demonstration. Find out more about the trip, read reviews and book the tour for yourself on Viator, Tripadvisor, Klook or KKday.
Queenstown Winery Tours
Did you know that Queenstown is part of a wine region? Explore the Gibbston Valley wineries that follow the scenic Kawarau River on one of the many tours offered in the region. Ride to the wineries yourself on a self-guided tour with Around the Basin Bike Tours (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor) or join a small-group tour with Queenstown Wine Trail (on Viator, Tripadvisor and Klook), which also includes a traditional New Zealand-style lunch and cheese tastings. Learn more about the wineries and vineyards in the 10 Wonderful Wineries in Queenstown.
Craft Beer Tours
As well as wine, Queenstown is also home to a small craft beer community. Visit some of the local craft breweries and microbreweries with free beer tastings with Queenstown Beer Tours. The tour takes you through the scenic Gibbston Valley and includes lunch with specially-matched beer. You’ll also get a behind-the-scenes tour at some breweries to learn how they make the good stuff. Find out more on Viator, Tripadvisor or Klook.
More Food Tours in Queenstown
- Go on a progressive dinner tour with Alpine Wine Tours (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)
- Browse the Remarkables Market in summer
- Try a famous oversized burger at Fergburger or (our favourite) Devil Burger
- Have a cocktail at the Below Zero Ice Bar
- Spin your own honey at the Buzzstop Bee & Honey Centre
- Have a private helicopter picnic or a pavlova among the peaks with Over the Top Helicopters (on Viator, Tripadvisor or Klook).
For more information on each activity, check out 10 Best Foodie Experiences in Queenstown.
About the Best Places to Eat in Queenstown
The restaurant scene is almost as buzzing as the tourist activities available in Queenstown. In fact, choosing a place to eat is almost overwhelming. We’ll make things a little easier with some fine dining and cheap eat recommendations!
Fine Dining in Queenstown
For a more “upmarket” foodie experience, check out some of the fine dining establishments scattered across Queenstown and the surrounding area. For town centre fine dining, enjoy the rustic ambience and Kiwi cuisine of The Bunker (14 Cow Lane). This back-alley restaurant offers intimate dining beside a crackling log fire. Try The Bunker’s game meats, red meats and local specialities, as well as wine or a cocktail off their extensive drinks menu. Later into the evening, the bar transforms into a late-night venue playing house music.
For those wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of town, make a special trip to the Amisfield Winery & Bistro. The winery specialises in all things Otago, from its award-winning Central Otago wines to food made with only local and seasonal ingredients. We recommend the surprises in store on the “Trust the Chef” degustation menu…
A true foodie experience awaits at Rata, run in collaboration with a Michelin Chef and Celebrity Masterchef judge, Josh Emett. Rata’s ever-changing menu aims to showcase the best of Central Otago’s produce and vineyards, presenting international travellers with a chance to indulge in true New Zealand flavours.
And that’s really just the beginning. See our 10 Best Fine Dining Restaurants in Queenstown for more recommendations.
Cheap Eats in Queenstown
Queenstown might have a reputation for being expensive, but it doesn’t have to be thanks to the array of the more affordable eateries and street eats available. Head to the food trucks, such as Erik’s Fish & Chips on Earl Street for NZ$10 Kiwi fish, chips and soft drink meal deal. And don’t forget to try their deep-fried kiwifruit!
Treat yourself to the most insane donuts you’re ever likely to see at Balls and Bangles (62 Shotover Street), dishing out NZ$9 donuts with extravagant toppings and flavour injections.
Finally, while Fergburger gets all of the love when it comes to places to eat in Queenstown, its neighbour Fergbaker (40 Shotover Street) shouldn’t be skipped! Try a classic New Zealand savoury pie with an array of hearty fillings all for under NZ$10.
Check out much more recommendations in The Top Cheap Eats in Queenstown.
Queenstown Restaurants with a View
Get unbeatable views of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables mountain ranges from atop the Skyline Gondola (end of Brecon Street). Dine at the Stratosphere Restaurant for an all-you-can-eat four-course buffet lunch or a six-course buffet dinner of local specialities, like prime meat and seafood, and a range of crowd-pleasers. The tiered seating arrangement ensures every diner gets a good view. Check out the Skyline Gondola’s buffet experience on Viator, Tripadvisor or KKday.
For more excellent Queenstown restaurants with a view, enjoy the elevated vistas from Nest Kitchen + Bar (139 Fernhill Road) along with fine dining degustation dinners. Take a water taxi to the True South Dining Room of The Rees Hotel (377 Frankton Road) for award-winning local cuisine. And for lakeside dining in town, choose The Bathhouse (38 Marine Parade) for lunch or Finz Seafood & Grill (88 Beach Street) for dinner.
Alternative Things to Do in Queenstown
There’s more to do in Queenstown than just eating! Be sure to complement your stay with some of the non-foodie experiences. Here are a few suggestions.
Other Things to Do in Queenstown
- Do a bungy jump
- Do a skydive
- Go skiing or snowboarding in winter
- Go on a jet boat ride
- Go white water rafting
- Visit the Lord of the Rings filming locations
- See native wildlife at the Kiwi Birdlife Park (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)
- Party at the bars and clubs
- Do the Shotover Canyon Swing (on Viator, Tripadvisor, Klook and KKday)
- Cruise around Lake Wakatipu with Southern Discoveries (on Viator, Tripadvisor and Klook)
- Indulge in a soak at the Onsen Hot Pools (on Klook, Viator or Tripadvisor)
- Do a guided hike of the Routeburn Track (on Klook, Viator or Tripadvisor)
- Play golf…
And the list seriously goes on and on… Get more information in our 20 Queenstown Must-Dos.
Foodie Accommodation in Queenstown
These are the accommodations in Queenstown that either have an amazing restaurant or have self-catering facilities.
Accommodations with the Best Restaurants
Self-Catering Accommodations
- Villa Del Lago
- Peppers Beacon
- Garden Court Suites & Apartments
- Nomads Queenstown
- Amity Serviced Apartments
Find out more about each place to stay in our 10 Best Accommodations in Queenstown for Foodies or The 50 Best Accommodations in Queenstown.
More About Queenstown
That’s it for our food guide to Queenstown with the best food tours and places to eat but is by no means the end of our Queenstown advice! Check out the following guides for more Queenstown tips:
- 10 Queenstown Travel Tips for First-Timers
- The Travel Guide to Queenstown on a Budget
- The Travel Guide to Queenstown for Families
- The Luxury Travel Guide to Queenstown
- The Honeymoon & Romantic Getaway Guide to Queenstown
- Queenstown – Guide for Backpackers
Finally, get more tips for exploring Aotearoa in The Foodie Guide to New Zealand and plan the rest of your travels through the South Island using the South Island Food Itinerary: Two Weeks or South Island Food Itinerary: One Week.
Author
Laura S.
This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor in chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in New Zealand over 10 years ago and with a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to travel New Zealand. She knows Aotearoa inside-out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience New Zealand’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also editor of several other South Pacific travel guides and is the co-host of NZ Pocket Guide’s live New Zealand travel Q&As on YouTube.