The Southern Alps and Fiordland Restaurants
We’ve compiled the best of the best in The Southern Alps and Fiordland - browse our top choices for Restaurants during your stay.
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We’ve compiled the best of the best in The Southern Alps and Fiordland - browse our top choices for Restaurants during your stay.
Indulge with a modern fine French meal at this trendy bistro with lake and mountain views on the outskirts of Wanaka. The menu changes regularly, but the local Cardrona merino lamb is always there in one form or another, accompanied by heirloom vegetables and herbs from the kitchen garden. Help yourself to more oils and balsamic vinegars via the dispensing machines; you can opt to get your wine on tap as well, allowing you to sample several wines by the taste, half, or full glass. If you want to make a real event of it, opt for the seven-course tasting menu.
Dine here and find out why New Zealand is so proud of its beef and lamb: you could take it to the next level with the Wagyu beef, but honestly it's hard to beat the standard Jervois fillet, with onion rings on the side and delicious sauces. Steak is the undisputed hero here, but like the great American steak houses on which Jervois models itself, there's fabulous seafood too, and even a quality vegetarian menu. Warm, interesting decor, and welcoming, knowledgeable staff (they'll bring cuts of meat to your table to show what you're getting) ensure this place delivers a memorable night. If you can't do dinner, try lunch.
With the owners either cooking in the kitchen or out front making sure this is the best experience it can be, this is one of those rare places that's got all the elements right: food, service, and atmosphere. It's a tapas restaurant, but with generous servings; the food is a mixture of Spanish and all sorts of interesting savory influences. Make a reservation if you want to be sure of a table; locals love this place.
Don't let the modest, homey exterior and laid-back attitude of the staff fool you: this restaurant produces the best meals in Te Anau (it was a favorite hangout spot for the cast and crew of The Lord of the Rings during local filming). The menu is strong on wild game and seafood, and if you stay after dinner, you might get to enjoy live music at the bar. It pays to book in advance.
A Queenstown institution, the famous Fergburger gets mentioned in media around the world. It began life as a burger bar serving from a hole in the wall and kept growing; now there's a permanent queue stretching outside. If you're not too hungry, but want to know what the fuss is about, just share one—they're big enough for two.
Feast your eyes on a collection of relics from the 1940s to '60s, right down to the mismatched crockery, and enjoy good food, great service, and a lovely atmosphere. The cuisine here is a delightfully eclectic mix, with flavors from New Zealand and around the world. Try the bacon-wrapped monkfish or the pork duo, either of which will satisfy any cravings. Save room for dessert, or for a delightful finish to your evening ask for an espresso martini.
Just across the road from the lake, this is a great place to sit shoulder to shoulder with the locals for breakfast outside on a crisp sunny morning. The cafe's Māori name means "food made good," and the menu ranges from simple breakfast and lunch choices (coffee and croissants, salads, nachos, and kebabs) to beef ribs and rump roast for dinner. In addition to consistently good meals, "The Kai" has local beers on tap and fresh bread; it's a great place to wind down after a big day.
For nearly 30 years, Masato Itoh has run the only Japanese restaurant in town, combining fresh local ingredients with imported spices and seasoning to produce a traditional Japanese menu. The food is a refreshing change from the more traditional offerings in town; any salmon dish is a winner, but the Bento Box is an especially good value.
This bright and breezy eatery beside the lake on Steamer Wharf has picture-postcard views. In summer, if you don't mind being on display, sit outside for breakfast, lunch, or even dinner (and they'll make sure you're well looked after, with a hat and/or a blanket). Inside, it's cozy with a lovely atmosphere and friendly waitstaff. The regularly changing menu is fresh with regional tastes such as Pacific tuna nicoise salad, Stewart Island salmon, and Fiordland venison. If you're feeling adventurous, consider the Seafood Platter for two.
Set in an extensive garden, Poppies has for years been a great place to eat, drink, socialize, and bask in the sun. Meat, seafood, pizza, and pasta are complemented by organic produce from the on-site vegetable garden along with fresh-baked bread and pizzas. There's also a good range of craft beer and local wines.
You could hit this lakeside spot for every meal of the day, starting with the bacon or salmon eggs Benedict or something house-made and delicious like their cinnamon sticky buns. The café focuses on local, seasonal fare (and caters to all dietary needs), and guests can expect good service and great coffee; check the blackboard at lunch and dinner for ever-changing specials like their pan-roasted Te Mana lamb with crispy potato gnocchi and vegetables, pecorino, and lemon gremolata. The wine list is mainly local NZ, with a good selection sold by the glass. It gets busy here so it's advisable to book for dinner during the holidays.
Built to commemorate the coronation of King George V, this early 1900s bathhouse on the beach now turns out breakfast, lunch, fresh scones, tapas, and dinner from its tiny kitchen. Many people find it by accident as they walk to the Queenstown Gardens, but it's worth seeking out deliberately.
A loungey vibe with log fires, leather armchairs, and an impressive wine list make the Bunker a particularly cozy dining location. Dinner is an all-night affair, especially if you continue with drinks in their upstairs bar; there's even a special Taste of the South degustation menu if you really want to indulge.
This cozy, very personable café–restaurant has big picture windows for grand views of the Alps and all sorts of interesting mountaineering memorabilia and photos to peruse inside. The meals are flavorful, hearty, and wholesome, and they source a lot of organic produce, including organic wines and coffee (if you take it with milk, that's organic, too). There's a big roaring fire to keep you warm in winter. A popular option is their Mountaineers' Breakfast—nitrate-free bacon, free-range eggs, sausages, tomato, mushrooms, hash browns, and ciabatta—served all day. Fresh burgers and pizza are a specialty here, too. They may close early if it's quiet at dinner, so be sure to get there by 7 pm.
This is a long-standing local favorite restaurant and bar, with a winning combination of excellent pizza, pool tables, and beer. At night it becomes a happening spot with DJs and dancing, and it's extremely popular with backpackers. Try and get a table on the balcony overlooking the mall.
In a lovely old cottage in the middle of town, Yonder has outdoor seating in front; a café-style area in the middle; and, finally, a restaurant, bar, and live venue in the rear. The menu is inspired by the countries of origin of the chefs, and it changes to match the seasons and what's fresh.
Hidden down a small alleyway, Agave keeps the menu basic, with a focus on execution. The blue cod tacos nicely incorporate New Zealand seafood, and because former occupants Pesto's old pizza oven remains in the kitchen you can still order a pizza, albeit with a Mexican twist. After dinner, head next door to Blue Door bar.
Burt.Ritos offers a local twist on food cart culture, with an American chef who quit a restaurant to operate out of a vintage trailer in the heart of Wanaka. Authentic burritos can be hard to find in New Zealand, and locals are being educated on what good Mexican food really tastes like. Keep it simple and go for the carnitas burrito before hitting the town.
Built in 1863 as an inn for gold miners, this beautifully renovated old stone building, set in 2 acres of garden, is a nostalgic and romantic place to dine. The food is superb, making the most of New Zealand's flavorful beef, lamb, and duck but with some unexpected combinations. They know their wine, too; there's a wine library and you'll find them on Wine Spectator's award list. There's a six-course degustation menu with matching wine if you want to really settle in for the night. But the same dishes are on the à la carte menu if you'd rather pick and choose. The restaurant will organize free pickup and drop-off for you from Queenstown—just ask when you book your table.
This casual eatery makes great pizza and pasta. If you want a drink in a really nice, comfortable bar, duck across the alley and poke your nose into the affiliated Blue Door. Enjoy the cozy quality of the bar. If you get hungry, don't worry; you can order from Pesto and enjoy your meal without losing your seat next to the bar's roaring fire.
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