Breakfast the Kiwi Way in Queenstown
Start Your Day The Kiwi Way!
It's said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. So, before you rush out the door and jump headfirst into all those awesome adventures and activities that Queenstown is famous for, take time to plan your first stop. Breakfast!
If you're not eating with us, and if you’re heading out for a day of adventure and sightseeing you’re going to need as much sustenance as possible! Let us share some of our favourite spots for fuelling up.
Now, culturally, Kiwi's do eat a little different. We enjoy breakfasting, socially or solo, and appreciate both the hearty southern plates and the more eclectic fusion options. Think gluten-free, dairy-free, artisan, vegan..... Queenstown and Arrowtown have some seriously good choices.
Whether you’re after a big breakfast, great coffee, a healthy option or a sweet treat, you’ll find something simply awesome to keep you going until lunchtime.
BUT FIRST... COFFEE
Caffeine addicts rejoice. Queenstown is home to a host of independent cafes with seriously good baristas doing incredible things with espresso machines. You don’t need to lower your standards or suffer the disappointment of bad coffee just because you’re far from your normal coffee house. Ask any local and they are sure to have their favourite spot for a coffee. It may be Vudu Café on Rees Street, Bean Around the World on Athol Street (where the beans are roasted onsite) or the institution that is Joe’s Garage. You don’t have to compromise, so make sure that the first coffee of the day is a good one.
A note about coffee; drinking coffee tends to be a social occasion in NZ. You won't find counters with espresso's ready to go. After ordering, you'll take a seat and wait for your coffee to arrive, at which time you take time to enjoy your coffee. unfortunately, this also means you won't find cheap coffee - it tends to be comparatively more expensive than in Europe. Nor will you find filter coffee and bottomless refills such as in the States. Cafe and coffee culture in NZ is much more artisan!
And Now for Breakfast.
Here’s a round-up of just a few great spots to get breakfast in Queenstown and Arrowtown.
Bespoke - Isle Street, Queenstown
Bespoke Kitchen
Named New Zealand Café of The Year in 2015, Bespoke is the place to go for healthy, nutritious, mouth-watering food. The light-filled, stylish décor offers indoor and outdoor dining, and the food cabinet is always bursting with delicious salads, raw treats and baked goods. On the menu you’ll find cooked breakfasts, juices and much more. Bespoke offers loads of healthy raw treats, as well as chia puddings and fresh salads. It’s the place to go for a Kombucha or a full breakfast heart-stopper! Bespoke is owned by the same formidable team that run Vudu, with both cafes being firm local favourites. The Bespoke team take coffee and good food very, very seriously. You can’t go wrong.
The Boat Shed Café & Restaurant - Frankton Marina, Frankton
We love the Boat Shed because its location is as impressive as its food. And just like Spinnaker Bay, The Boat Shed is situated on the lakefront alongside the Frankton walking track. It’s an ideal location if you want to get a walk in before breakfast. The Boat Shed was once the New Zealand Railways Shipping Office and dates back to the late 1860s. The building has been lovingly restored and its low ceilings and well-trod timber floors hold the connection to its pioneering past. You can grab a coffee and a sweet treat, or sit down and enjoy the view as you enjoy a hearty breakfast. The Boat Shed gets top marks for location and on a sunny day, you can sit out on the deck overlooking the shimmering water of Lake Wakatipu.
Fergbaker - Shotover Street, Queenstown
You’ll easily find Fergbaker, just follow the ridiculously large queue outside its famous neighbour, Fergburger. If a burger for breakfast is too much, then pop next door to Fergbaker for a delicious bakery treat and coffee to go instead. You’ll find pies and sausage rolls in the hot cabinet, an impressive selection of muffins and breakfast rolls as well a ridiculous amount of sweet treats. If there’s one thing you can say about the Ferg offering is that it’s generous. Expect hearty servings that don’t scrimp and a selection of baked goodies that are seriously hard to resist. Fergbaker is the perfect place to go if you want to grab something filling and delicious on your way out for a hike or up to the ski fields.
Provisions - Buckingham Street, Arrowtown
Provisions Cafe
Provisions is the sister café to The Boat Shed, and its most famous offering is the sticky bun. But it’s worth visiting Provisions for its picturesque setting and to grab a table in the quaint garden of this historic Arrowtown cottage on the tree-lined avenue of Buckingham Street. If you can get past the sticky buns, you will also find a great breakfast selection. There is plenty of seating outside and Provisions is located right near the Arrowtown River walking track. The perfect way to walk off a big breakfast and a couple of sticky buns.
Pier 19 - Steamer Wharf, Queenstown
One of the most respected dining spots in Queenstown also happens to occupy an enviable location on Steamer Wharf. From your table outside, you can watch all the action of the busy Queenstown harbour and the grand old lady of the lake, the TSS Earnslaw pulling into the jetty. Expect hearty big breakfasts, gourmet muesli, or a special treat like whitebait fritters. If you want to soak up the classic waterfront Queenstown scenery in the heart of the action, then Pier 19 is for you.
There are a few other breakfast spots worthy of a mention. In Arrowtown, find The French Café, where you can fill up on sweet or savoury crepes amongst a very authentic French setting.
For kid-friendly, check out Graze at Lake Hayes Estate. There is a small playground at the cafe, but it is also just a short hop from the Lake Hayes Estate Playground where the kids can enjoy all the play equipment and bike tracks while you watch with a coffee.
There are so many cafes to explore - Queenstown has a vibrant wealth of interesting eateries so we highly recommend that you allow yourself time to explore this wonderful side of our culture which is an integral part of the very fabric of the Kiwi lifestyle.