Top 5 Restaurants in Queenstown
2.6 min read
The Chop Shop Food Merchants
At this cafe in Arrowtown, husband-and-wife team Sawa and Kei Sakashita pride themselves on local, free-range eggs and poultry on their all-day menu. Don’t go past the signature Turkish eggs or ricotta hotcakes with pecan crumble and poached tamarillos.
Amisfield Winery & Bistro
For wine tasting and lunch, it’s got to be Amisfield winery and bistro, a 20-minute drive from Queenstown. The region is renowned for its pinot and there are plenty of excellent varieties to sip and savour at Amisfield’s cellar door. Have lunch at the on-site bistro, which is especially inviting in the warmer months when you can enjoy dining out on the terrace. The ‘Trust the Chef’ degustation menus offer a wonderful way to sample the region’s locally sourced food, expertly put together by celebrated executive chef Vaughan Mabee.
Rata
Rata should be at the top of your list for dinner in Queenstown. Chef Josh Emett serves up great food with a wine list showcasing beautiful varieties of the region. Select the Feast menu for dishes such as goat's cheese profiteroles with Rata blossom honey, slow-cooked Merino lamb shoulder as well as cured Marlborough salmon — all perfect for sharing.
Botswana Butchery
At Botswana Butchery you will enjoy roaring fireplaces and spectacular views of Lake Wakatipu. I will often seek out the signature Butcher’s Block menu for a range of premium lamb, venison, pork and beef. Other great choices include red curry of South Island wild goat and Central Otago rabbit.
Madam Woo
Another delicious project by Josh Emett, Madam Woo is a great little Malaysian Hawker serving tasty food in fun setting. It's best to go with a small group so you can share a few different things. You can’t go past their famous Madam Woo hawker rolls or the rendang with nasi lemak. The 'Woo Crew' are pretty good at offering suggestions if you can’t decide on what to order. If you have room for dessert, finish with the roti doughnuts with gingernut ice cream… amazing!