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Best Restaurants in Queenstown (2026)

Queenstown's restaurant scene gained international recognition in 2026, when the first MICHELIN Guide to New Zealand awarded two stars to Essence at ROKI Collection and one star each to Rātā, Amisfield and Sherwood. They show the range of the region's cooking, from Essence's tasting menus to Rātā's produce-led town-centre dining, Amisfield's wild and seasonal winery menu at Lake Hayes and Sherwood's garden-to-table approach on Frankton Road.

You do not need a big budget to eat well. Fergburger is open from 7am until 2.30am, The Cow has served pizza and spaghetti from an 1860s stone cowshed for decades, and Aosta in Arrowtown brings Northern Italian cooking and a Bib Gourmand. For a change of cuisine, Billy's at Ayrburn serves modern Chinese food in a historic homestead, and The Woolshed next door offers bistro dishes and grills. Botswana Butchery is the lakefront choice for steak.

Book the starred restaurants well ahead, especially for dinner, and note that some open only on certain days. The Cow takes no bookings, so arrive early or expect to wait by the fire. If you dine in Arrowtown or at Ayrburn, arrange transport if you plan to drink.

10 places · Updated November 12, 2026

Our top 3 restaurants in Queenstown

  1. Essence Contemporary tasting menu, Town CentreThe evening tasting-menu restaurant at ROKI Collection, holder of two MICHELIN Stars and Cuisine's Restaurant of the Year 2026, cooking New Zealand produce with European technique.
  2. Rātā Modern New Zealand, Town CentreJosh Emett and Fleur Caulton's produce-led New Zealand restaurant on Ballarat Street, open since 2012 and awarded a MICHELIN Star in 2026.
  3. Amisfield Winery tasting-menu restaurant, Lake HayesA Central Otago winery at Lake Hayes with a MICHELIN-starred evening tasting menu and a relaxed Cellar Door and Bistro for lunch.

Restaurant

1. Essence

Contemporary tasting menu$$$$Town Centre

The evening tasting-menu restaurant at ROKI Collection, holder of two MICHELIN Stars and Cuisine's Restaurant of the Year 2026, cooking New Zealand produce with European technique.

View details — Essence

Restaurant

2. Rātā

Modern New Zealand$$$Town Centre

Josh Emett and Fleur Caulton's produce-led New Zealand restaurant on Ballarat Street, open since 2012 and awarded a MICHELIN Star in 2026.

View details — Rātā

Restaurant

3. Amisfield

Winery tasting-menu restaurant$$$$Lake Hayes

A Central Otago winery at Lake Hayes with a MICHELIN-starred evening tasting menu and a relaxed Cellar Door and Bistro for lunch.

View details — Amisfield

Restaurant

4. Sherwood

Garden-to-table New Zealand$$$Frankton Road

A garden-to-table restaurant at the Sherwood hotel on Frankton Road, known for wood-fired flatbreads and seasonal local produce, and awarded a MICHELIN Star in 2026.

View details — Sherwood

Restaurant

6. The Cow

Pizza and pasta$$Town Centre

A small pizza and spaghetti restaurant in an 1860s stone cowshed on Cow Lane, serving the same menu since the 1970s and awarded a Bib Gourmand in 2026.

View details — The Cow

Restaurant

7. Aosta

Northern Italian$$$Arrowtown

Ben Bayly's Northern Italian restaurant in an Arrowtown laneway, using Central Otago produce, with handmade pasta and a 2026 Bib Gourmand.

View details — Aosta

Restaurant

8. Fergburger

Gourmet burgers$Town Centre

Queenstown's famous burger joint on Shotover Street, serving big gourmet burgers from early morning until the small hours every day.

View details — Fergburger