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Queenstown, as the main regional resort, has the widest range of restaurants. Throughout the area, menus focus on local produce, seafood, lamb, and venison. Wine lists often highlight South Island wines, especially those from Central Otago and Gibbston Valley. Cafés and restaurants driven by the summer tourist trade shorten their hours in winter. Dress standards are generally relaxed, with jeans or khakis acceptable almost everywhere. At high-end places, particularly in Queenstown, you'll need to reserve a table at least a day in advance.
Outside of Queenstown and Wanaka dining options can be limited. In summer, meals of some sort are available almost everywhere, but outside the high season, there are fewer options in the smaller settlements and they don’t tend to stay open late.
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.
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.
Locals bustle in here daily for lazy brunches and big lunches. On first glance, the menu looks like typical Kiwi café fare, but when you see the gorgeous and generous servings behind the counters, you'll realize this is a special spot. The menu focuses on comforting flavor and large portions, and caters to dietary requirements well. Stop in for brunch, then grab your lunch and sweet treat to take with you on your adventures into Mackenzie country.
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 unique Aoraki salmon burger with potato rosti, cheese, lettuce, red onion, honey mustard, and tomato relish. They may close early if it's quiet at dinner, so be sure to get there by 7 pm.
Owned by a local Argentine couple who missed the desserts of their homeland, Patagonia is the best place around to buy ice cream, chocolates, cakes, and other sweets. They have locations in Queenstown and Wānaka, too.
