Weekend Food Diary in Queenstown

With only a few days under our belt, we made sure to prepare a hit-list and overindulge, ensuring we could curate a guide of Queenstown’s must-go foodie destinations! From fine-dining, to cozy nooks, to last minute finds during a flight delay, we managed to tick a few boxes.

The Cow

If I were to dream about a cosy dinner for two, I would see The Cow. Picture dark stone walls, barn style ceilings, candle lit tables, and a big wood-burning fireplace flickering in the centre. The atmosphere feels natural and authentic – mainly because it is! After a wee digging, I found that The Cow has been operating from its historic premises since 1977, making it Queenstown's oldest continuously operating restaurant. Situated in Cow Lane, the stone barn originally housed cows which used to wander down the lane for daily milking!

With an aesthetic like this, I wasn’t concerned about what was to be plated up, and yet they continued to impress with a menu surprisingly jam-packed with Italian favourites.

Must-try menu items:

• Homemade Bread with Garlic Zuppa (emphasis on must-try)
• Bolognese
• Mulled Wine
  
  

Ayrburn

Tucked away on the outskirts of Arrowtown, Ayrburn is a stunning multi-venue precinct where you can enjoy restaurants, bars, wine tastings and more. We were short on time so took our pick at The Woolshed for lunch, followed by a (necessary) walk to burn off the serious plates we tucked into.

Crudo is my personal kryptonite and with Pink Grapefruit, Sorrel, Fermented Chilli Jam, Vanilla Pickled Cucumber, Sesame Seeds & Mandarin Dressing, this one in particular was not going un-ordered. For mains we tried the Pork Schnitzel, Slow Cooked Egg, Gribiche Mayo, Tomatillo Salsa Verde, Grana Padano and the Criollo Bianca pizza with Mozzarella, Zamora Criollo Sausage, Potato & Taleggio.

Our walk after lunch also may or may not have landed us at The Dairy where we indulged in an ice cream and thick shake to top it all off.

Must-try menu items:

• King Fish Crudo, Pink Grapefruit, Sorrel, Fermented Chilli Jam, Vanilla Pickled Cucumber, Sesame Seeds & Mandarin Dressing
• Grilled Octopus, Cucumber, Spicy Peanut & Sesame Dressing, Lim
• Roasted Cauliflower, Sunflower Seed Tahini, Caramelised Yoghurt, Sumac, Pomegranate, Rocket
   

Bespoke Kitchen

Just when I thought my time in Queenstown was over, I found out my flight had other plans, and that plan did not include me. So naturally I did a bit of fossicking around on the internet and found a cafe to settle into. What pulled me into Bespoke Kitchen was their epic vegan, raw, and gluten-free offering. I went for the Breakfast Board–which I wish I saw around more often–it included an orange and apple cider shot, a blueberry and blackcurrant chia pot, and avocado, heirloom tomato, basil bruschetta, poached egg and green salt.

It’s also worth noting that the entire menu is not vegan which I think makes this place such a fabulous option for when you’re going out for brunch with a group and someone has allergies or dietary preferences. Everyone will be happy!

Must-try menu items:

• Quite literally any one of their cakes.
• Breakfast board (DF)