This was published 4 years ago
Where to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner in Queenstown, New Zealand
By Julietta Jameson
The Grille brunch.
THE EXPERT
Championing green cuisine in a land where meat reigns supreme, Trent Watson is the head chef at No5 Church Lane in Queenstown, which recently introduced a refreshed menu in favour of vegetarians and vegans. See no5churchlane.com
Lady Violette.
BRUNCH
The Grille by Eichardt's sits on the shore of Queenstown Bay – opposite a popular tourist photo spot. There's a new brunch menu here and it's the chargrilled calamari and prosciutto salad with mung bean, coriander, Vietnamese mint, topped with a spicy mayo that keeps me going back. An unexpected option for the first meal of the day but the salty, spicy kick certainly wakes up the palate. For a real treat, opt for the bottomless drinks – a bloody Mary never disappoints. See thegrille.co.nz
COFFEE
Yonder on Church Street serves up the best brew in town: both smooth and strong, a recipe for success when it comes to coffee. A favourite with locals, it's open from brunch through to late drinks and great any time, but it's popular in the morning for that carefully crafted espresso plus specialty drinks such as turmeric, beetroot, and matcha lattes as well as a great selection of teas. See yonderqt.co.nz
LUNCH
Swing by Jervois Steak House in the Sofitel Complex for lunch. It's an extension of the famous Jervois Steak House in Auckland, and celebrity chef, Gareth Stewart helms the grill. My personal favourite is the wagyu eye fillet because there isn't anything more tender but it's all good here. They source from premium producers feeding their cattle and lamb on magnificent New Zealand grass and there's also amazing seafood on the menu. See jervoissteakhouse.co.nz
DINNER
Of course, no trip to Queenstown would be complete without a bite at No5 Church Lane. Book a table for dinner and try our homemade olive pappardelle with slow roasted heritage tomatoes and creamy goat cheese – it's a guaranteed crowd pleaser that looks just as delightful as it tastes. We pride ourselves on having the best vegetarian offering in Queenstown – we do a great vegan pavlova – but there's plenty of great dishes based around New Zealand produce for meat and fish eaters. Our small bites, sharing plates and cocktails are pretty legendary, as well. See no5churchlane.com
NIGHT CAP
Finish off the night with a drink or three at Eichardt's Bar, a Queenstown icon that's been open since the mid-1800s. Their cocktails are interesting and evocative, using ingredients such as local honey, homemade blood orange and thyme sorbet and in their version of an old fashioned, in-house manuka smoked Woodford Reserve bourbon. My favourite is the Lady Violette, which includes gin infused with lavender and Earl Grey syrup. See eichardts.com
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