Eat & Drink
Close
TheCoolList©
Queenstown
The Coolest Places in Queenstown.
Queenstown sits at the meeting point of lake and mountains, where dramatic scenery shapes an easy rhythm built around good food, social spaces and time outdoors. Mornings start in well-loved cafés, afternoons drift between the water, walking tracks and long lunches, and evenings settle into refined dining rooms, relaxed wine bars or fireside spots as the temperature drops.
It’s a destination that balances energy and downtime naturally, with design-led restaurants, hidden local favourites and standout spa experiences all playing their part. Queenstown rewards slowing down as much as chasing adventure, letting the landscape and the atmosphere do most of the talking.
TheCoolList places in Queenstown's dining scene
See our full list of restaurants in Queenstown
Amisfield Restaurant – Frankton
Set on Lake Hayes near Queenstown, Amisfield Restaurant offers hyper-local tasting menus and house wines in a glass-walled room overlooking Central Otago. Booking ahead is essential, especially for evenings.
Aosta – Arrowtown
Aosta in Arrowtown takes culinary cues from northern Italy, offering handmade pasta, wood-fired meats and Central Otago wines in a refined alpine-inspired setting.
Botswana Butchery – Queenstown CBD
Set in a lakefront cottage in Queenstown, Botswana Butchery pairs bold New Zealand produce with plush interiors and a strong cellar, featuring local pinot noirs and a seasonal truffle menu.
Nest Kitchen + Bar – Fernhill
Nest Kitchen + Bar in Queenstown’s Fernhill offers modern New Zealand cuisine with Mediterranean touches, craft cocktails featuring native ingredients, and lake views from a lodge-style setting.
Lake Hayes, Queenstown
Image credit: Alfie Saunders
Explore our Directory
Amisfield Restaurant – Frankton
Set on Lake Hayes near Queenstown, Amisfield Restaurant offers hyper-local tasting menus and house wines in a glass-walled room overlooking Central Otago. Booking ahead is essential, especially for evenings.
Aosta – Arrowtown
Aosta in Arrowtown takes culinary cues from northern Italy, offering handmade pasta, wood-fired meats and Central Otago wines in a refined alpine-inspired setting.
Botswana Butchery – Queenstown CBD
Set in a lakefront cottage in Queenstown, Botswana Butchery pairs bold New Zealand produce with plush interiors and a strong cellar, featuring local pinot noirs and a seasonal truffle menu.
Nest Kitchen + Bar – Fernhill
Nest Kitchen + Bar in Queenstown’s Fernhill offers modern New Zealand cuisine with Mediterranean touches, craft cocktails featuring native ingredients, and lake views from a lodge-style setting.
Odd Saint – Queenstown CBD
This Queenstown café serves a bold, Asian-inspired daytime menu in a stylish, timber-and-tile space, with strong coffee, tropical drinks and in-house pastries.
Patagonia Chocolates – Cnr of the Mall
Patagonia Chocolates in Queenstown serves handcrafted chocolates, small-batch ice cream, and rich hot drinks with Lake Wakatipu views. Its Mall location remains the brand’s flagship shop.
Public Kitchen & Bar – Queenstown CBD
Public Kitchen & Bar in Queenstown offers lakeside dining with a focus on shareable plates and local produce, alongside regional wines and craft beers in a relaxed, rustic-industrial setting.
Rātā – Queenstown CBD
Rātā in Queenstown is a polished yet relaxed restaurant by chef Josh Emett, offering seasonal South Island dishes and a wine list focused on Central Otago producers.
