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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.
Focused on seasonal ingredients and fresh flavors, Bespoke is considered a top brunch spot by locals. The coffee is top quality and the food is both a visual and literal feast. They cater to an impressive array of dietary needs, and the staff are incredibly helpful if you need something in particular. Make sure you don't miss out on their blackboard specials as they showcase the best of the season. You should expect to make a takeaway purchase of their great counter food, too.
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.
Situated at the main public car park, the Discover Milford Information Centre offers coffee, snacks, and counter food. The view out the front window, across Milford Sound to Mitre Peak and the mountains beyond, is amazing. It's expensive, but there's no real alternative for a quick bite.
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.
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 café'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.
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.
Set in a historic miner's cottage, Provisions gets its name from the range of gourmet preserves they make. The welcoming atmosphere and lovely garden make it a delightful place to have breakfast or lunch. The blackboard menu is enticing and there are homemade treats in the cabinet.
You'll be fighting the locals for a breakfast seat at this Queenstown institution, thanks to its lakefront seating and delicious array of counter food. Eggs Benedict with a classic coffee is probably the most common breakfast order in New Zealand, and this is perhaps the best in the area. The rest of the seasonal menu is full of fresh and local produce.
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.
