Top eats in Queenstown, New Zealand

If you are after fine dining, authentic Pacific cuisine or a cheap but delicious place to eat, New Zealand’s adventure hub will step up to the challenge.

Set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and against the dramatic Southern Alps, Queenstown has certainly made a name for itself on the global adventure sports stage. Known by many as the adrenaline capital of the world, there isn’t much that Queenstown cannot offer the modern day adrenaline junkie: bungee jumping off the infamous Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge, jet boating through the Shotover River, plentiful ski destinations and even the stomach-turning canyon swing – which includes one of the highest cliff-jumps you can attempt – are all part and parcel of a visit to Queenstown.

However,  the traveller hotspot has also worked its way onto many a foodie’s bucket list, and for good reason too. Sat within a couple hours’ drive of New Zealand’s much revered Central Otago wine regions, plentiful fruit orchards and being just down the road from Wanaka, home to the award-winning Rippon Vineyard,  have meant that food too is an integral part of the whole Queenstown experience.

Whether you want to taste the flavours of the region and savour the local produce, home to more than 200 bars and restaurants you’re bound to find what you’re hankering after.  In Queenstown, fine dining experiences and more relaxed family-friendly spots work alongside award-winning and very Instagrammable cafes and iconic burger joints that seem to have become tourist attractions in their own right.

But where should you really head? With so many options it can be confusing. Fortunately, I’ve put together the following top-pick to make your decision a little easier.

Sitting as a popular location for ski bums, locals, backpackers and even families, The World Bar offers a cool, relaxed and friendly atmosphere where decent live music, fairy lights and a cosy spot are all part of the experience. Perfect for those looking for a budget-friendly bite to eat, The World Bar supports all manner of local producers and preaches a mantra of organic hospitality – both of which translate into tantalisingly tasty dishes and a refreshingly unpretentious menu.

If you’ve worked up an appetite from adrenalin- fuelled expeditions  there are plenty of homemade plates to fix you up; from proper burgers that are made with award-winning Hereford Chuck and ground in-house to classic mains and even their freshly-made Chicken & Waffles featuring southern fried chicken, bacon, bourbon maple syrup and a whipped cinnamon cream which was a real highlight and perfect for that morning-after-the-night-before pick me up!

As the saying goes, many people would choose quality over quantity. But why choose when you can have both? Welcome to Fat Badger’s psyche…

Having first-hand experience working in American pizzerias, the two brothers behind Fat Badgers clearly have a passion and deep understanding for fresh, never-processed and utterly huge pizzas. Offering a diverse choice of traditional and more unique options, the brothers seem to be deft in producing massive 20” hand-rolled and traditionally spun pizzas all day and night, each of which is created with locally sourced New Zealand produce this is a pizzeria like never before.

Sitting on Shotover Street, Fat Badgers is the perfect place to refuel on your way down from completing Queenstown’s gruelling hill to enjoy the spectacular view. A giant pepperoni pizza is certainly light at the end of the tunnel enough for me.

The brainchild of Alex Gimenez – an Argentine with Italian decent – and Lorena Giallonardo, Patagonia Chocolates has three homes: Wanaka, Arrowtown and of course Queenstown. Priding themselves on award-winning artisan chocolates, ice cream, sorbet and frozen yoghurt, Patagonia unsurprisingly uses only the finest quality ingredients and real milk. There’s no room for artificial flavours or colours, emulsifiers and preservatives in their products.

Reflecting both their South American and Italian roots, their unique ice-cream combinations offer twists on classics. For example their Tramontana and Dulce de Lech variety, which paired very well with their firm favourite, the Banana Split option. Both of which have been gold award winners at the New Zealand Ice Cream Awards, the latter being best in category. From offering exquisitely silky and not-too-sweet hot chocolates, rich self-roasted coffees and of course their legendary ice-creams – all of which have been developed by Patagonia from traditional Italian recipes and handmade with a detectable level of passion. Patagonia really is an unmissable member of the Queenstown food scene providing that perfect sweet treat whilst wandering the breathtaking beautiful shores of Wakatipu

Having become almost synonymous with Queenstown itself, this list cannot be completed without mentioning Fergburger.

Indeed, it was the first recommendation that I received from telling people that I was off to New Zealand – both from NZ natives, Queenstown locals and brits back at home. Following, it is safe to say that Fergburger is the most famous burger in New Zealand and arguably in the world, being duped by many as the ‘best in the world.’ On passing, however,  it doesn’t look like much; just another busy burger joint where you should be prepared to eat your burger standing or take it home to be enjoyed. But when you hear that it is open 21 hours and day and never knowingly under-queued – they must be doing something right!

I can now – after two months of committed burger tasting (and 3 trips to Ferg) – say that the Fergburger does indeed live up to its reputation and I’d be happy to class it up there among the most delicious burgers I have ever had. (This is no short list.) Despite the almost cult-following that Fergburger has, they somehow have managed to keep both style and substance and I’d definitely class this a #NZMustDo.

Although they offer a variety of different burger options ranging from classics to more contemporaries like ‘A Chief Wiggum’ that has pork belly and apricot seeded mustard, there’s enough there to let you try a new burger every day of your stay. But personally, if I were to return,  I’d opt for the simple OG Fergburger serving prime New Zealand beef – cooked medium rare – and as juicy as you like paired with lettuce, tomato, red onion, aioli & homemade tomato relish.

Top Tip: Calling ahead is recommended. To save you queuing for hours on end simply call up and collect a meagre 15 minutes later!

As if they weren’t happy enough with being the most sought after burger in town, the Ferg crew decided to open up their own bakery, conveniently located right next door. Acting as Fergburger’s sweeter little brother, Fergbaker is packed with all manner of slices, tarts, pastries and of course pies – we are in New Zealand after all!

From Danish pastries and tempting coffees in the morning to flakey meat pies at lunch, between them, there aren’t many cravings that the Fergs cannot satisfy.  I’d definitely recommends their namesake – the Ferg Pie, filled with braised steak and a rich caramelised onion sauce.