Discover Queenstown's MICHELIN Guide Restaurants

The Guide singled out two things that make Queenstown particularly rewarding for food and wine lovers. Queenstown’s unique terroir – our schist soils, high altitude, and hot summers, create distinctive wines. Our exceptional local produce also earned praise.

This guide to the MICHELIN restaurants of Queenstown is for gourmet visitors who love to explore a destination through its food. If you’re planning a trip to Queenstown, make sure you build in enough time to eat your way across the region and do justice to the MICHELIN Guide listed restaurants in Queenstown, Arrowtown, and Lake Hayes.

Your Quick Guide to MICHELIN Ratings

But first, what do all these MICHELIN accolades mean? What’s the difference between a MICHELIN Star and a Bib Gourmand? What even is MICHELIN Selected anyway?

MICHELIN Stars

The MICHELIN Guide awards MICHELIN Stars to restaurants offering outstanding cooking.

MICHELIN inspectors consider five criteria:

1. Quality of ingredients.
2. Harmony of flavours.
3. Mastery of culinary techniques.
4. How the chef’s personality is expressed through their food.
5. Consistency across the entire menu and over time.

The Guide also notes that the style of a restaurant has no bearing on the award. Stars aren’t just for fine dining joints. MICHELIN Stars have been awarded to street food stalls.

One MICHELIN Star recognises restaurants “that use top-quality ingredients and prepare dishes with distinct flavours to a consistently high standard.”

Two MICHELIN Stars are awarded to restaurants “where the team’s personalities and talents shine through in expertly crafted dishes, with food that is both refined and inspired.”

MICHELIN Bib Gourmand

The Bib Gourmand was introduced in 1997 to celebrate restaurants that serve exceptional food at great value. The Guide wanted to help enthusiastic foodies on a budget discover delicious food. Bib Gourmand is about dining well without breaking the bank.

MICHELIN Selected

These restaurants are judged by the same criteria used for Starred and Bib Gourmand restaurants. MICHELIN inspectors found their food to be above average, well cooked with quality ingredients, good enough to be listed in the Guide, but not quite at Star or Bib level. In short, MICHELIN Selected is a sign you’ll get a good meal.

The Queenstown Restaurant Awarded Two MICHELIN Stars

Essence by ROKI Collection, 2 Brunswick Street, Queenstown

Essence is the only restaurant in New Zealand with the quality and personality to pull off two MICHELIN Stars. MICHELIN praises their tasting menus for “premium seasonal New Zealand produce, finessed by solid European techniques, ingenious creativity and modern sensibility. Every plate tells a story with refined, yet expressive flavours.” They also give the wine list a shout out for its excellent selection of Pinot Noir.

Guest reviews talk about a beautifully executed dining experience, exceptional service, and an elegant, intimate space perfect for a special occasion. Be sure to book well ahead.

One MICHELIN Star Queenstown Restaurants

These three restaurants deploy top-quality local ingredients to create memorable flavours.

Rātā, 43 Ballarat Street

Rātā has been a hot spot for foodies in Queenstown since 2012. They’re noted for being produce-led and grounded in place. The Guide praises their “modern New Zealand fare crafted with seasonal ingredients … foraged and farmed locally and finessed by a savvy touch and solid techniques. Expect bold season-driven flavours.”

Amisfield, 10 Lake Hayes Road

Amisfield Restaurant near Lake Hayes is famous for their theatrical food sensibility as much as they are for their hyper-seasonal expressions of New Zealand cuisine paired with their own organic wines. The Guide mentions how wild game and seasonal ingredients feature in “ingenious, meticulous creations that meld eclectic influences”.

Sherwood, 554 Frankton Road

Sherwood Restaurant’s garden-to-table ethos means much of their menu is grown on site, and they’re committed to seasonal, locally sourced and foraged ingredients. The Guide calls Sherwood the “quintessence of a country retreat” and raves about their wood-fired flatbread with toppings loaded in smoky depth and “simply divine” sustainable seafood.

Queenstown Restaurants Recognised With a Bib Gourmand

These three Queenstown value picks offer a good time at a fair price.

Aosta, 18 Buckingham Street, Arrowtown

Arrowtown favourite Aosta blends a Northern Italian sensibility with local produce. The Guide makes special mention of their handmade pasta, calling it “unmissable”. The inspectors also liked their iconoclastic take on tiramisu infused with Baileys, amaretto, and salted caramel.

Sundays, Country Lane, 26 Hansen’s Road, Frankton

This charming restaurant in an old church has been a local secret, but the word’s out. The Guide praises its warmth and character, terrific wood-fired pizzas using seasonal produce, and other Italian-inspired dishes such as cacio e pepe or the pecorino churros.

The Cow, Cow Lane

A Queenstown institution since 1977, the Cow’s menu hasn’t changed for 40 years – there’d probably be a riot if it did. The Guide approves of their pizzas, pasta, soups, bread and salads, all made in bona fide Italian country style, rating the chicken liver pasta a must try.

MICHELIN Selected Restaurants in Queenstown

Queenstown and Arrowtown are packed with MICHELIN selected restaurants, all firm local favourites, and some of the best restaurants in Queenstown.

Botswana Butchery gets a mention for steakhouse classics, oysters, market fish of the day and seasonal vegetables that pair perfectly with Central Otago wines.

Jervois Steak House is praised for its Angus beef from New Zealand and Wagyu cuts from Australia and Japan, all expertly cooked over charcoal, along with its extensive wine list.

Nest is named for their creative take on New Zealand cuisine, the gin and tonic menu featuring New Zealand spirits, and the awe-inspiring views of the mountains and Lake Whakatipu.

Soda is commended for pre- or post-meal drinks, anti-pasti, and its Mediterranean menu. The inspectors enjoyed their fire-roasted bread and the grilled octopus.

The Dining Room at Rosewood Matakauri gets a shout out for their fresh, organic produce, terroir-driven menu, extensive wine list, and postcard-worthy views.

Rodd & Gunn The Lodge is praised for locally sourced ingredients and wines, with the market fish of the day and handmade pastas named as standouts.

Toast & Oak is mentioned for its intimate, vibrant European bistro vibe, seasonal European-style fusion cooking, and spectacular New Zealand wine list with 60 by-the-glass choices.

True South Dining Room is named as an intimate space perfect for romantic dates. The chef works closely with local farmers and fishermen and is praised for his interesting use of hops.  

Millhouse at Millbrook is celebrated for its use of seasonal ingredients from its own farm and garden, and its house-milled bread made in homage to the venue’s heritage as a flour mill.

Bianca by Giovi in Arrowtown is chosen for its vintage Italian charm, handmade pasta, and pizzas that stay true to their roots. Their blissful ravioli gets a special shout out.

The Woolshed in Ayrburn is picked for its menu focus on straightforward, deftly crafted bistro classics and grilled meats. The lamb cutlet and lamb saddle are named as stand out.

Billy's, also in Ayrburn, is mentioned for its creative, refined Chinese fare, Chinese themed cocktails and the glazed conservatory where guests dine under the sky year-round.

How to Eat Your Way Around Queenstown’s MICHELIN picks

You might like to cluster your foodie adventures by location or even select different restaurants to suit your mood. Here are some recommendations for eating your way around our MICHELIN listed restaurants. Book ahead to make sure you get the date you want.

MICHELIN Listings in Central Queenstown

• Essence
• Rātā
• The Cow
• Soda
• Toast & Oak
• Botswana Butchery 
• Jervois Steak House
• Rodd & Gunn The Lodge

MICHELIN Listings in Closeburn, Fernhill & Frankton

• The Dining Room
• Nest
• True South Dining Room
• Sherwood Restaurant
• Sundays

MICHELIN Listings in Lake Hayes & Arrowtown

• Amisfield Restaurant
• Aosta
• The Woolshed
• Billy's
• Millhouse
• Bianca by Giovi

MICHELIN Listings with Great Views

• Nest
• The Dining Room
• Soda
• Botswana Butchery
• Millhouse

MICHELIN Listings for Lovers of Local Wine

• Essence
• Amisfield Restaurant
• Toast & Oak
• True South Dining Room

MICHELIN Listings for Special Occasions

• Essence
• Sherwood Restaurant
• Rātā
• True South Dining Room
• Nest
• The Dining Room

MICHELIN Listings for a Good Time with Friends

• Aosta
• Sundays
• The Cow
• Soda
• Bianca by Giovi

Enjoy Exploring the MICHELIN Restaurants of Queenstown

We’re so proud (but secretly not that surprised) that Queenstown’s celebrated food and wine scene punched well above its weight in the MICHELIN Guide.

If you’re a food-led explorer, do factor in enough time to take in all the MICHELIN restaurants of Queenstown. From a MICHELIN starred brunch to lunch in a MICHELIN Selected bistro, to a Bib Gourmand evening feast, even the most enthusiastic gourmet will need to pack elasticated waistbands and spread dining across a few days. Bon appetit. Enjoy your food. Kia pai tō kai.