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We've compiled the best of the best in Queenstown - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
In winter, Bardeaux has that upscale mountain-après-ski atmosphere; even in summer there's a fair chance the fire will be roaring. There's a wide selection of whisky and wine, and they know how to fix you up a cocktail. It's a pleasing bar that's good for a quiet, intimate evening.
No matter the season in Queenstown, the atmosphere here always feels like a summer night in Cuba. This hidden little boutique bar is, as the name suggests, a love letter to rum. The menu elevates the classics like mojitos and daquiris, and experiments with unique cocktails and applies rum-accented twists on negronis and martinis.
Ice bars have become feature for big ski towns, and it's great fun if you've never tried one—even just for the beautiful ice sculptures. They deck you out in jackets and gloves prior to entering. In summer, it's a good reminder of how close to Antarctica you are, and, in winter, it just adds to the alpine resort experience. It costs NZ$35 to get in, NZ$40 with a cocktail and NZ$45 for two cocktails. It's best to book online to reserve your spot during ski season.
With its roaring fire, good food, and quirky decor, Searle Lane is a popular Queenstown spot. There's plenty of beer on tap and a good selection of wine by the glass. They do a mean cocktail, too. The food is made for sharing with hearty choices; their specialty is rotisserie chicken, which is seriously good.
This bar offers the best range of New Zealand and international beer in town, including the stand-out local beer, Queenstown's own Altitude Brewing. There's a great pub food menu of burgers and sandwiches and a nice balcony from which to enjoy the hustle and bustle of Queenstown.
This is a great place for drinks in the sun or inside by the huge open fire on colder days. Later in the evening, it turns into a rowdy venue, particularly on the weekend, with DJs playing most nights and live music Friday and Sunday, plus an acoustic open mike on Sunday night. The famed cocktails are served in teapots, and you can get good gastro pub food throughout the day and early evening.
