Explore Our Editor’s Must-Reads / The Restaurants Worth Travelling For in Queenstown / By Ute Junker

Queenstown may be New Zealand’s adventure capital, but its dining scene is just as compelling. From lakeside lunches to ambitious degustations in nearby Wanaka and Arrowtown, these are the restaurants worth booking now

If you want to add some memorable meals to your New Zealand itinerary, head straight for Queenstown.

The pretty lakeside town and its neighbouring districts are home to a smorgasbord of fabulous food experiences, from relaxed waterfront lunches to world-class degustation dinners. Here are the essential eateries you need to know.

Billy’s, Ayrburn

Two years after the opening of Ayrburn, Arrowtown’s spectacular farm-turned-dining-precinct. its flagship venue has finally flung open its doors, and the wait has definitely been worth it.

Housed in the original family homestead and the adjoining glass conservatory, now a pastel-toned diner’s delight, Billy’s serves irresistible fresh takes on Chinese classics. Start with lamb and leek pancakes, prawn and crab toast and something from the extensive dumpling menu before moving onto the mains.

The cocktails (both alcoholic and alcohol-free) are a perfect match for the bold flavours: try the citrus-and-almond mix of the Scarlet Spice mocktail.

ayrburn.com

The Terrace at ROKI

Looking for a leisurely lunch or a drawn-out dinner that stretches out as long as Queenstown’s  gentle twilights? The Terrace at ROKI Collection, the city’s new luxury lodge, has you covered.

Just a few minutes walk from the heart of town, Queenstown’s most stylish dining room has brilliant views over Lake Wakatipu, the perfect backdrop for the seafood-focused menu.

There are plenty of choices for carnivores too (try the roast chicken or the steak-frites) and to amp up the indulgence, say yes when the caviar trolley is wheeled past.

roki-collection.com

Sofi, Wanaka

With its hanging plants, its woven lampshades and its soft leather banquettes, Sofi has the same easy, goes-with-any-occasion vibe as a classic silk shirt. On a sunny summer day, sit outside one of the umbrella-shaded tables overlooking Lake Wanaka and graze on a selection of small plates, perhaps a ceviche teamed with a Turkish gozleme and a freekeh tabouleh.

If the weather is more wintry, pick a perch closer to the fireplace and tuck into a hearty roast cauliflower or a sirloin steak. The Mediterranean inflection is also evident in the dessert menu: top choices include the baklava and the Portuguese custard tart.

sofiwanaka.co.nz

Cardrona Distillery, Cardrona

Chef Jack Foster clearly loves a challenge.

Not only does he produce magnificent meals out of the tiny kitchen at Cardrona Distillery; he also manages to flavour many of his recipes with the distillery’s best drops.

His delicious crayfish rolls are teamed not just with hazelnut and foraged herbs but with a soupcon of the delicious Rose Rabbit orange liqueur while the pan-seared Fiordland venison is made even richer by the jus flavoured with a single malt aged in an Otago pinot cask.

cardronadistillery.com.au

Muttonbird, Wanaka

“Good food without the fuss” is the promise at Wanaka’s Muttonbird, and this relaxed diner’s ever-changing menu always offers updated versions of old favourites.

You might find squiggles of chicken liver parfait spiked with apple jelly on fried bread, or a beef carpaccio unexpectedly teamed with bean sprouts and wild rice.

Lamb neck is accompanied with daikon and a chickpea pancake, while something as simple as a house sourdough becomes a highlight, thanks to the malty bread and the boldly-flavoured coffee butter that comes with it.

muttonbird.co.nz

Amisfield, Arrowtown

A meal at Amisfield comes with high expectations. Vaughan Mabee seems to have a permanent lock on New Zealand’s “Chef of the Year” awards and dinner here – which can stretch to 23 courses or more – is no casual undertaking.

The fireplace that dominates the dining room looks like something from Game of Thrones, and the meal shares something of that TV drama’s no-holds-barred philosophy.

Mabee, a keen hunter, wants guests to understand exactly what they are eating, so every course – from the delicate baby paua (abalone) to the red deer grilled on the bone – comes with a detailed back story. It is part lecture, part theatre, wholly remarkable.

amisfield.co.nz

Essence at ROKI

For anyone looking for a fine diner in the heart of Queenstown, Essence is hard to beat. The formal restaurant at ROKI Collection is helmed by Paul Froggat, formerly of Kauri Cliffs and Huka Lodge, and every dish here is a revelation.

Each plate riffs on a theme: the dish called Autumn Walk, for instance, features delicate “leaves” of Jerusalem artichoke, celeriac and pumpkin.

A stand-out dessert called Wild Thyme consists of diced thyme cake, puffed wild rice and confit lemon zest and lemon and thyme gelato.

The wine pairings are also excellent.

roki-collection.com

Essence at ROKI | Best Restaurants Queenstown

The Burr Bar, Ayrburn

You could spend the best part of a week working your way through the many eateries at Ayrburn but don’t overlook The Burr Bar.

This tiny drinking den has built a following for its eye-popping décor (think zebra-striped armchairs and stuffed peacocks) and for its range of beverages – barrel-aged negroni is always a popular choice, while the whisky menu will impress even the most dedicated quaffer.

The Burr Bar also has another trick up its sleeve. The snacks are next-level, from caramelised cauliflower croquetas served with black garlic mayo to a beef tartare with a Bloody Mary dressing and crisp potatoes.

ayrburn.com

Burr Bar, Ayrburn | Best Restaurants Queenstown

Kika, Wanaka

Many of New Zealand’s most talented chefs ply their trade in the country’s luxury lodges, discreet havens well beyond the budget of many food lovers.

So three cheers for James Stapley who, having honed his craft at the exclusive Whare Kea Lodge, decided to shift to a more welcome-all-comers approach at Kika. Eight years on it has become a Wanaka favourite, its family-style menus – divided between piccolo and grande plates – covering all bases.

Keep it clean with a scampi carpaccio topped with yuzu mayo and blood orange, or indulge yourself with fried chicken with gochujang dressing – or balance it out by ordering both.

kika.nz

Kika, Wanaka | Best Restaurants Queenstown