From an old favourite to wood-fired indulgence and world-class views, these restaurants showcase the region’s irresistible dining scene.
THE BUNKER
Any long-time YOUR EX reader knows The Bunker is my favourite restaurant in the world. After months spent eating around Europe in my twenties, my first meal here blew every dish from that trip out of the water. Years later, its emerald-green, mahogany-and-leather dining room remains irresistible. Chef Marius’ new menu, developed with Ngāi Tahu and focused on sustainable, ethical sourcing, delivers kingfish in sesame and pear broth, pork belly, venison, lamb and blue cod, followed by the extraordinary Banana Box, a crisp banana fortress filled with mousses and dreamy creams. thebunker.co.nz
AYRBURN
Ayrburn has become one of Queenstown’s biggest talking points: a sprawling food-and-wine playground built across historic farmland near Arrowtown, with restaurants, bars, a bakery, gelateria, pub and deli. At its bistro, The Woolshed, familiar dishes arrive with clever, sophisticated twists. Scallops are soft, pillowy and gloriously moreish, while the octopus brings meaty texture and a perfectly judged fiery kick. The standout, however, is an Aotearoa take on prawn toast, combining prawn, pāua, coriander and tamarind on rēwena bread. All the while, you are surrounded by lavish, spectacular interior design, which is worth the trip alone. ayrburn.com
TRUE SOUTH DINING ROOM
True South Dining Room may have Queenstown’s most spectacular restaurant view, with Lake Wakatipu appearing close enough to touch. The food matches the setting. A rich brioche toastie is packed with crayfish and aioli, while the mushroom pâté makes an irresistible case for vegetarian dining. Ika mata arrives with coconut cream foam, savoury hop syrup and roasted yuzu, creating a creamy, complex mouthful that changes with every bite. Venison sings with liquorice, cherry and beetroot, and Wagyu beef arrives on a crisp beef-marrow cracker. It is a credit to Waikato-born chef Trent Watson. therees.co.nz
SUNFIRE
Sitting just feet from the harbour, Sunfire pairs Queenstown’s passing bustle with a classic rhythm and blues soundtrack, a generous patio and roaring heat lamps. Its Josper oven lends beautiful smokiness to ribs, salmon and steaks, but the famous seafood tower is the headline act: oysters, garlic-butter crayfish, squid, two kinds of prawns, battered snapper, salmon tacos and green-lipped mussels. Less greedy diners should order the fall-apart ribs or Mozambique prawns in peri-peri cream, then finish with chocolate fondant, white-chocolate mousse and pumpkin-seed sorbet. Heavenly. sunfire.co.nz
FRANCESCA, WĀNAKA
There is a warm, lively buzz at Francesca, where soaring ceilings, low-hanging jar lights, natural timber and living plants create a modern Italian dining room. Begin with comforting pork-shoulder croquettes and snapper crudo sharpened by lime, mandarin, kiwifruit and chilli. The beef-cheek gnocchi is the sort of dish that inspires repeat visits: handmade, feather-light pillows coated in a deeply satisfying sauce. Wood-fired pizzas remain the signature. We chose the indulgent funghi and added black truffle picked in nearby Bannockburn that very day. No regrets. francescawanaka.co.nz
