When it comes to finding the best restaurants in Queenstown, there are a lot of great options to choose from. Here, you’ll find a list of the top destinations, along with key meals and menu information regarding the hot spot. Here’s a list of the best restaurants in Queenstown.

Best for: Fine Dining

As it was voted one of the best restaurants in NZ, it goes without saying this is one of the best restaurants in Queenstown’s proximity. The cellar door is cosy, unpretentious fine dining at its best, showcasing all the best flavours in food and wine from the Central Otago region. We strongly recommend you have the indulgent, seven-course set menu and matching wines, of course.

If you fancy a visit to one of Queenstown’s hatted restaurants, then look no further than The Sherwood. Not only is the food to die for, but the seasonal menu is born from a passion for sustainability; produce grown in The Sherwood’s own organic kitchen garden and sourced from local growers, with 100 per cent of its organic waste returned to the kitchen garden. The same goes with the bar, with over half of the wine bottled in-house. The menu is designed to share, with plenty of delicious sides on offer, so we recommend inviting some friends to share a conscious, tasty meal.

Best for: Atmosphere

One of the best restaurants in Queenstown, when you’re in the mood for some seriously tasty, tender steak, Botswana Butchery is the way to go. The fine-dining spot takes no shortcuts when it comes to luxury vibes, views, food and all-around good times. 

Looking for a restaurant in Queenstown with some of the best views in town? Look no further than Nest Bar & Kitchen. The highest alfresco eatery in Queenstown, with panoramic views over Lake Wakatipu, Nest offers a modern take on Mediterranean classics with plenty of street food and small bites, perfect for sharing. We can’t go past the charred eggplant and miso-glazed fish, and if you have room for dessert, the pina colada, with pineapple, coconut, sesame and pink peppercorn is out of this world.

For a restaurant in Queenstown offering a modern Asian fusion menu, head to Rata. Michelin-star chef Josh Emmett is behind this fine-dining restaurant and he’s also the proprietor of New Zealand’s Hawker and Roll and Madam Woo, so if you’ve eaten at either of these places then you know you’re in for a treat. The seasonal menu is fresh and constantly changing and we strongly recommend the oysters, with ginger, and bonito vinegar. We’re drooling just thinking about how many we could scoff down.

Best for: Selection

A Queenstown institution, and not just because Ed Sheeran said so, but because this burger joint is undoubtedly one of the best in the world.

Best for: Take-Away

One of the best restaurants in Queenstown for modern Asian cuisine, Madame Woos is the ultimate casual dining spot. The menu includes the likes of authentic Hawker-inspired Malaysian food, drawing on the region’s local produce and adding a few twists typical of the region. 

The Lodge Bar is the fancy culinary venture of premium menswear brand Rodd & Gunn, and it provides an exciting new addition to the Queenstown dining scene. With a primo location overlooking Lake Wakatipu against a mountainous backdrop, the bar encapsulates an upmarket, European influence and we think it’s just what Queenstown has always needed. Along with fine wines from the region and around the world, the food menu is also just as worldly, featuring hand-cut fettuccine, blue crab, sea urchin butter, bottarga, lemon and chives, as well as more classic options like the dry-aged NY strip steak.

One of the best restaurants in Queenstown for Japanese, Tatsumi is a cosy venue with a fresh, Japanese fusion menu. Originating in Christchurch and expanding to Auckland and now Queenstown, owners Koichi and Yoko put years of experience and passion into their food, which you can both feel and taste. On offer are traditional Japanese options like Sushi, Sashimi and Tempura, as well as more modern dishes like their Tempura Calamari, made with squid ink! Not placing any limits on themselves, they also have an all-day tapas menu and an eight-course degustation offering that covers both traditional and modern Japanese.

Best for: Drinks

If you’ve come to Queenstown on the hunt for distinct New Zealand flavours, look no further than The Bunker. Hidden away down an auspicious alley in the middle of Queenstown, The Bunker is a dark, moody, intimate spot with romantic fireside seating.

So, you’ve been out adventuring all day and you just want a tasty, cheap meal to re-fuel you before a long, dreamy sleep. The answer? Margos – cheap and cheerful Mexican with all-around good vibes. Serving up food from many regions of Mexico, you’ll be met with a flavour explosion with every option on the menu. We can’t go past the coca-cola BBQ pork ribs, served with corn crumble and chipotle mustard, and Margos’ take on the classic guac and corn chips is something you have to try for yourself. Combined with walls adorned with eye-catching street art and kitsch decor, it’s a must-visit if you’re in Queenstown.

The motto here is pizza first, then party, and we can’t think of any better way to spend a night enjoying the vibrant Queenstown nightlife. Winnies has become an iconic Queenstown institution, first serving up cheap pizza and then turns into a club later in the night, with an epic dance floor and DJ sets. One spot for dinner, drinks and a party? We don’t know what could be better.

Located within the boujee St Mortiz Hotel, Lombardi is the epitome of #treatyoself. With stunning views over the quaint town shadowed by surrounding mountains and lakes, its lively open kitchen encapsulates all the best flavours of the region, and they even have a wood-fired pizza oven! Some of our favourites on the menu include the blue cod and the wood-fired lasagna, also, the Brussels sprouts here are seriously something else.

When you feel like combining fine dining with pure luxury, head to The Grille, located in the five-star luxury hotel Eichardt’s. The menu and decor take inspiration from the streets of New York, but still showcase all the best local produce from the Central Otago and Southland regions. No visit is complete without trying their infamous seafood chowder, paired with a glass of local wine, of course.

If you’re vego or vegan, it might best to steer clear of this one – Flame is a meat-lovers haven bursting with the best ribs, steaks and everything else meaty in all of Queenstown. This doesn’t mean they make compromises in the other departments, however, with delicious sides (like classic roast potatoes and sour cream) as well as burgers, seafood and salads. The portion sizes are pretty mammoth, so make sure to arrive with an appetite.