Restaurant
1. Ahi
Ben Bayly's contemporary New Zealand restaurant on the second level of Commercial Bay, awarded a Michelin star in 2026 and cooking with produce from its own garden.
View details — AhiRestaurant
2. Essence
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 — EssenceRestaurant
3. Rātā
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 — RātāRestaurant
4. Sid at The French Café
Long-established Symonds Street fine-dining restaurant run since 2018 by Sid and Chand Sahrawat, serving seasonal tasting menus with an award-winning wine team.
View details — Sid at The French CaféRestaurant
5. Amisfield
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 — AmisfieldRestaurant
6. Cocoro
Contemporary Japanese restaurant in an old brick building off Ponsonby Road, led by chef and co-owner Makoto Tokuyama and known for its degustation menus.
View details — CocoroRestaurant
7. Cazador
Family-run Dominion Road restaurant built around wild and sustainably sourced game, with Middle Eastern and Italian influences and a daily delicatessen.
View details — CazadorRestaurant
8. Sherwood
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 — SherwoodRestaurant
9. Botswana Butchery
A lakefront steakhouse in the historic Archer's Cottage on Marine Parade, serving premium cuts, oysters and market fish, and listed in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide.
View details — Botswana ButcheryRestaurant
10. Gemmayze Street
Family-run Lebanese restaurant in the 1920s St Kevins Arcade on Karangahape Road, led by chef Samir Allen, with leadlight windows over Myers Park.
View details — Gemmayze StreetRestaurant
11. Depot
Chef Al Brown's walk-in eatery on Federal Street, cooking small plates over charcoal and hardwood, with an oyster and raw bar and breakfast on weekdays.
View details — DepotRestaurant
12. The Cow
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 CowRestaurant
13. Aosta
Ben Bayly's Northern Italian restaurant in an Arrowtown laneway, using Central Otago produce, with handmade pasta and a 2026 Bib Gourmand.
View details — AostaRestaurant
14. Sri Pinang
Long-running family Malaysian restaurant on Karangahape Road serving Malay and Nyonya home-style dishes, with fresh roti, rendang and a rare BYO policy.
View details — Sri PinangRestaurant
15. Fergburger
Queenstown's famous burger joint on Shotover Street, serving big gourmet burgers from early morning until the small hours every day.
View details — FergburgerRestaurant
16. Prego
Classic Italian restaurant on Ponsonby Road since 1986, open seven days with an all-day menu of pizza and pasta and options for halal, vegan and gluten-free diets.
View details — PregoRestaurant
17. Billy’s at Ayrburn
Modern Chinese cooking in the restored homestead and glass conservatory of the Ayrburn estate near Arrowtown, listed in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide.
View details — Billy’s at AyrburnRestaurant
18. Cafe Hanoi
Vietnamese eating house in Britomart, set halfway along Tuawhiti Lane off Galway Street, serving lunch on weekdays and dinner every night.
View details — Cafe HanoiRestaurant
19. Federal Delicatessen (The Fed)
Al Brown's take on an old-school New York Jewish deli on Federal Street, serving bagels, pastrami, Reubens and matzo ball soup from breakfast onwards.
View details — Federal Delicatessen (The Fed)Restaurant
20. The Woolshed at Ayrburn
A bistro in the restored woolshed of the Ayrburn estate near Arrowtown, serving grilled meats and seasonal plates every day from lunchtime until late.
View details — The Woolshed at Ayrburn