Best Restaurants in Queenstown

Where to Eat & Drink

Discover the best places to eat in Queenstown, from award-winning fine dining to casual lakeside cafés and local favourites. This guide highlights top restaurants, must-try dishes, and unique dining experiences to include in your Queenstown itinerary.

Queenstown’s vibrant food scene offers something for everyone—from fresh local fare to global flavours, and options to suit all diets, including vegetarian and vegan. Whether you’re after a relaxed lunch or an unforgettable dinner, you’ll find great dining just a short walk from the town centre.

As locals, we believe the best meals are found where the locals eat, so we’ve handpicked a list of top Queenstown restaurants known for quality, atmosphere, and consistency. These recommendations are perfect for adding flavour to your stay.

Please note that we don’t make restaurant bookings on your behalf, as dining times and preferences vary for each guest. We strongly recommend making reservations as early as possible, as many of Queenstown’s most popular restaurants book out weeks in advance. We're happy to provide suggestions to match your tastes—just ask!

An assortment of Asian dishes on a wooden table, including steamed buns, dumplings, edamame, salads, grilled meats, and various sauces, along with drinks and bowls of rice.

White + Wong’s

Food Style: Asian Fusion

Suitable for: Vegetarian, Gluten Free

An east meets west fusion concept, bringing together the best of both cultures for a fun and diverse dining experience.

Address : 59 Beach Street Queenstown

A plate of seafood including lobster, clams, oysters, and fried items, with lemon wedge on the side.

Finz Seafood and Grill

Food Style: Seafood

Suitable for: Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten Free

Finz Seafood & Grill offers casual relaxed waterfront dining right in the heart of Queenstown.

Address : Ground Floor Steamer Wharf, Beach Street Queenstown

A variety of dishes on a rustic wooden table, including a grilled meat platter, salads with edible flowers, cheese and charcuterie board, bread, and lemon garnishes.

Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Dining - Vintage Steamship TSS Earnslaw

Food Style: Buffet

Suitable for: Vegetarian, Gluten Free

Although not a Queenstown restaurant, this is a fantastic dining option

Enjoy a quintessential Kiwi experience – a delicious gourmet BBQ buffet meal and a farm demonstration in a stunning lakeside setting

A cooked beef ribeye steak garnished with herbs on a white plate, with side dishes including fried potatoes in a black bowl and a salad with greens and sliced vegetables, on a dark table.

Botswana Butchery

Food Style: Fine Dining

Suitable for: Gluten Free

WORLD CLASS WINE LIST

With spectacular lake views and signature roaring log fires inside and out, Botswana Butchery is one of Queenstown’s most stylish restaurants.

Address : 17 Marine Parade Queenstown

A bowl of Asian salad with shredded vegetables, herbs, grilled shrimp, and lime wedges, garnished with red chili slices, on a dark table with black cups and bottles in the background.

Blue Kanu

Food Style: Asian Pacific Fusion

Suitable for: Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten Free

A vibrant collision of Asian and Pacific flavours to float your boat. All serviced with oceans of Aroha in a style we call Polynasia.

Address : 16 Church Street Queenstown

Indian meal with stuffed eggplant curry, vegetable salad, grated cheese, and saffron rice served on a wooden tray.

The Taj Indian Kitchen

Food Style: Indian

Suitable for: Vegetarian

Boutique Indian Cuisine, Indian Street Food, Fine Dining Indian. Fusion Indian Cuisine.

Address : 75 Beach Street Queenstown

Barbecue rack of ribs coated in sauce, accompanied by roasted potatoes and a small bowl of white dipping sauce on a wooden cutting board.

Flame Bar and Grill

Food Style: South African BBQ

Suitable for: Gluten Free

Flame. A secret South African BBQ recipe wrapped around amazing ribs and steaks.

Address : Level 1, Steamer Wharf, 88 Beach Street Queenstown

Plate with a taco filled with colorful vegetables and sprouts, on a wooden table with a drink and other plates of food in the background.

Margo’s

Food Style: Mexican

Suitable for: Vegan, Vegetarian

Raise your salt-rimmed glasses and meet the new Mexican!

Address : 26 Ballarat Street Queenstown

Japanese food spread on a dark wooden table including gyoza dumplings, edamame, sashimi, and various side dishes in bowls and plates.

Tanoshi Teppan and Sake Bar

Food Style: Japanese

Suitable for: Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten Free

Tanoshi is a teppan and sake bar located in central Queenstown that offers a fun and intimate dining experience with tapas style dining.

Address : Cow Lane Queenstown

A variety of dishes on a wooden table, including a green salad, a tomato and mozzarella salad, pasta with greens, fried appetizers, seafood, and a bread basket, with utensils and a glass of beer.

SODA

Food Style: Mediterranean Inspired

Suitable for: Vegetarian, Gluten Free

With stylish waterfront views and a vibrant yet relaxed vibe, SODA in central Queenstown serves modern Mediterranean-inspired small plates

Address : Rees Street Queenstown

Plate of shrimp and vegetable stir-fry garnished with fresh basil leaves, red chili peppers, and shredded cheese, on a dark wooden table with lime slices and radishes nearby.

At Thai Cuisine Queenstown

Food Style: Thai

Suitable for: Vegetarian, Gluten Free

Casual Thai eatery featuring a menu of curries, noodles & wok dishes, plus balcony seats.

Address : level 3/8 Church Street Queenstown

Slices of cooked meat garnished with fresh green herbs on a ceramic plate

Rata

Food Style: New Zealand Contemporary

Suitable for: Vegetarian, Gluten Free

WORLD CLASS WINE LIST

Rātā creates genuine dining experiences featuring well balanced and inspired New Zealand cuisine, coupled with generous service delivered by our skilful team

Address : Te Nuku, 43 Ballarat St

A plated dish featuring a rolled pastry garnished with edible flowers and green leaves, served on a textured blue plate with a creamy sauce dotted with black and brown seasonings.

Amisfield (voted top restaurant in New Zealand)

Please note this is the only restaurant on the list that is not in central Queenstown and transport is required. However we can’t leave New Zealand’s top restaurant off the list.

Food Style: New Zealand Contemporary

Suitable for: Vegetarian, Gluten Free

WORLD CLASS WINE LIST

Having honed his craft at a three-star Michelin restaurant in San Sebastian, Spain, Executive Chef Vaughan Mabee was invited to showcase his extraordinary talents at two-star Michelin phenomenon Noma in Copenhagen.

Now bringing his creative genius to Amisfield, Vaughan with his team create dishes that represent the work of a small group of fisherman, hunters, gatherers and farmers. They bring their products together to epitomise the tastes of Central Otago and in doing so, highlight the relationship between the raw produce and the finished product. These dishes cumulate in a dining experience that helps define NZ cuisine to the world.

Address : 10 Lake Hayes Road, RD 1

A server wearing a black apron with the name "Amisfield" is holding two plates of food outdoors, with three other staff members in the background carrying trays. The scene appears to be at a restaurant or event in a natural setting.