Food · Queenstown · New Zealand
What to eat in Queenstown
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Queenstown, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, CC0
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Quick answer
Start with Gourmet burgers, Central Otago pinot noir and Lamb. Tour, cycle or drive the Gibbston Valley's cellar doors along the Kawarau River, finishing with lunch at a winery restaurant. Book dinner ahead in peak summer and ski season; popular restaurants fill days in advance.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Gourmet burgers
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 4
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected in New Zealand.
- Food experiences
- 3
9 foods to try
Street food
1.Gourmet burgers
Queenstown's late-night burger culture is famous, led by Fergburger on Shotover Street, with thick patties of beef, lamb, venison or blue cod in oversized buns.
Where: Fergburger on Shotover Street (expect a queue, often late into the night) and other burger joints in the town centre.
Drink · Vegetarian
2.Central Otago pinot noir
The world's southernmost major wine region produces intense, fruity pinot noir, along with aromatic whites such as riesling and pinot gris.
Where: Cellar doors in Gibbston Valley, Bannockburn near Cromwell and wine bars in Queenstown and Arrowtown.
Dish
3.Lamb
Lamb from Otago and Southland high-country farms appears as slow-cooked shoulder, rack or rump on menus all over town.
Where: Restaurants in the town centre and Arrowtown, and the farm barbecue at Walter Peak.
Dish
4.Venison
Farmed New Zealand venison (often labelled Cervena) is lean and tender, served as steaks, in pies or in burgers.
Where: Bistro and fine-dining menus around Queenstown and Arrowtown.
Snack · Vegetarian
5.Cheese rolls
A southern South Island tradition sometimes called 'Southland sushi': slices of white bread spread with a cheese-and-onion-soup mixture, rolled up and toasted with butter.
Where: Cafés and bakeries across Otago and Southland, especially in winter.
Dish
6.Whitebait fritters
Tiny translucent juvenile fish bound with egg and fried as a fritter, often eaten in buttered white bread with lemon. Whitebait is caught in a regulated spring season.
Where: Cafés and restaurants in spring, usually from September to November.
Dish
7.Bluff oysters
Large, briny wild oysters dredged from Foveaux Strait at the southern tip of the South Island, prized in a season that usually runs from about March to August.
Where: Seafood restaurants in Queenstown during the season.
Snack · Vegetarian
8.Central Otago stone fruit
Cherries, apricots, peaches and nectarines grow in the hot, dry summers around Cromwell and are sold fresh from roadside stalls.
Where: Fruit stalls and orchards on the road to Cromwell, mainly from December to February.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Flat white
The espresso-and-microfoam coffee New Zealand claims as its own, served at cafés from early morning before ski and tour departures.
Where: Cafés in the town centre, Frankton and Arrowtown.
Food experiences
Gibbston wine trail
Tour, cycle or drive the Gibbston Valley's cellar doors along the Kawarau River, finishing with lunch at a winery restaurant.
Walter Peak farm dinner
Cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw for a barbecue or buffet dinner at a high-country sheep station.
Arrowtown lunch
Arrowtown's historic main street holds well-regarded restaurants and bakeries, ideal after a morning on the Arrow River trails.
Quick bites and street food
- Gourmet burgers — Fergburger on Shotover Street (expect a queue, often late into the night) and other burger joints in the town centre.
- Cheese rolls — Cafés and bakeries across Otago and Southland, especially in winter.
- Central Otago stone fruit — Fruit stalls and orchards on the road to Cromwell, mainly from December to February.
Vegetarian options
Of the 9 foods in this guide, 4 are usually vegetarian: Central Otago pinot noir, Cheese rolls, Central Otago stone fruit and Flat white. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Book dinner ahead in peak summer and ski season; popular restaurants fill days in advance.
- Many cafés close mid-afternoon, while Fergburger and some bars serve food late into the night.
- Supermarkets in Frankton and the town centre are useful for self-catering and picnic supplies.
- Tap water is free in restaurants and safe to drink.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in New Zealand. Leaving around 10% for exceptional service at a restaurant, or tipping an adventure guide, is appreciated but optional.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Kia ora | Hello / thank you |
| Tramping | Hiking |
| Chilly bin | Cool box |
| Sweet as | No problem / great |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Queenstown famous for?
Gourmet burgers, Central Otago pinot noir, Lamb and Venison. Queenstown's late-night burger culture is famous, led by Fergburger on Shotover Street, with thick patties of beef, lamb, venison or blue cod in oversized buns.
+Is Queenstown good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Central Otago pinot noir, Cheese rolls and Central Otago stone fruit.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Queenstown?
Tipping is not expected in New Zealand. Leaving around 10% for exceptional service at a restaurant, or tipping an adventure guide, is appreciated but optional.