I spent my entire trip to New Zealand joking (semi-seriously) that I was going to move there. I was so serious that I had started looking at houses for sale. And while the entire country is breathtaking, if I had to pick a place to put my roots down in, it would be Queenstown. Stunning landscapes, bold adventures, walkability, a big city feel without actually being a big city, and an endless amount of vegan food in Queenstown make it an ideal place for me.
I loved New Zealand, but I loved Queenstown. If I ever went back to the country, I would fly in directly and build my trip around it. From iconic institutions like Fergburger to bungee jumping, it’s no surprise why I fell in love with the town. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll love it too.
But, for starters, though there are no vegan or vegetarian-only restaurants (though I hope that changes), here’s my list of places where you can find vegan food in Queenstown:
Odd Saint
Odd Saint is a non-vegan restaurant on Earl Street with vegan options. Though their online menu isn’t clearly labeled, they should have a separate vegetarian and vegan menu when you dine in person, according to HappyCow. The granola bowl should be vegan-friendly if you replace the Greek yogurt with coconut yogurt, and they have a vegan option for their all day smashburger. They are closed on Tuesdays, so plan accordingly.
Erik’s Fish & Chips
Erik’s Fish & Chips is New Zealand family-owned and operated, and everything is locally sourced. It’s a Queenstown staple! You might be wondering, what would a fish and chips shop have that’s vegan? Well, a few things actually. They have a “VEGES” section of the menu, where most of the options are vegan (chips, kumara wedges, cauliflower bites, spring rolls, potato fritters or spirals, an), and they have three vegan-friendly desserts: deep fried kiwifruit or banana, and pineapple rings.
Fergburger
If there’s one meal you eat in Queenstown, make it Fergburger. It is an iconic Queenstown institution and a must-visit for any traveler in the area. There are two vegetarian burgers (the ferg-lafel and holier than thou), which can both be made vegan, and chips! There aren’t any vegan-friendly shakes, unfortunately. I tried the holier than thou, which is a tempura tofu burger, and I thought it was quite delicious but messy and a little too oily for me. I would recommend visiting during off-peak hours, or ordering ahead of time as the lines get long. There also isn’t a ton of seating room, so plan accordingly.
Caribe Latin Kitchen
Evidenced by the name, if you’re looking for Caribbean and Latin fusion food on the other side of the world, check out Caribe Latin Kitchen. Nothing on their menu is vegan as-is, but they have quite a few options that can be made vegan-friendly: the domino, vegetarian, cheese arepas; the vegetarian tacos; the totopos, queso, and vegetarian nachos; and the mushroom and vegetarian burritos. They also sell their hot sauces!
Fat Badgers Pizza Bar
Despite being a pizza snob, I think every vegan food guide I post has a vegan pizza mention (which is truly a testament to how far the vegan food scene has come in the last several years). So many pizzerias, even if they’re not 100% vegan, offer some sort of vegan alternative. One of these is Fat Badgers Pizza Bar, which doesn’t have a single option, but an entire vegan-friendly menu. They have six different vegan pizza options and a few sides, including poutine and cheesy garlic bread. You can also add vegan cheese to the curry chips for an additional charge.
Yonder
If you’re looking for brunch fare (or dinner), be sure to visit Yonder. They’re a cafe with live music, and they have such a fun, interactive menu on their website, with plenty of vegan options: blueberry and lemon pancakes, matcha porridge, the vegan butty (sandwich), a roast cauliflower bowl, crispy miso tofu, and lemon pepper fries. For diner, they also have a few small plates, crispy tofu bao buns, and vegan chicken tacos.
TANK
For even lighter fare or a quick bite, visit TANK, which is a juice bar chain! They have a variety of options with labeled vegan smoothies, juices, bowls, salads and wraps. Stay energized for your road trip with a refreshing smoothie or start your morning off with juice and all your necessary vitamins and nutrients before you hit your next hike.
Toast & Oak
If you’re looking for a more fine dining experience (maybe a date night?), try the degustation menu at Toast & Oak. They do have a vegan degustation menu option, but several vegan choices on their regular menu. Reservations are highly recommended, and the vegan degustation menu is only available if you book a few days in advance so do it early. It’s a local favorite!
Ramen Ramen (Tanoshi)
Highly rated, Ramen Ramen is a Japanese restaurant with a few vegan options. It’s actually a part of a chain called Tanoshi, and you can find its sister restaurants throughout New Zealand’s South Island, including in Christchurch and Wānaka. Here, you can build your own ramen bowl. You’ll first choose your ramen base with proteins (the veggie tan tan and miso ramen are vegan), then your broth (the osaka broth is vegan), then noodles (the fukuoka style are vegan or you can swap noodles for shredded cabbage), and any extra proteins (like soy mince or crispy tofu) or toppings. The menu is clearly labeled, so you shouldn’t have any trouble figuring out what’s vegan-friendly and what isn’t.
The Locker Room
On our first night in Queenstown, in the pouring rain, we snuck into The Locker Room, which is an aptly named sports bar in the heart of town. The atmosphere was already lively, but we walked in on a trivia night, so we had fun playing along from the back. And if you’re vegan, you’re in luck. They have an entire vegan menu (you just have to ask for it). I started off with the vegan cauliflower wings, and you can pick either a dry-rubbed flavor or a smothered in sauce flavor. When in New Zealand, I had to go with their “Cracks of Mt. Doom” flavored sauce, which was their hottest, and it did burn my tongue, but it was delicious. I also have to try vegan mac and cheese wherever it’s available, and this one was actually quite good. There was something in the sauce I couldn’t quite place, but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love watching sports and eating vegan food, so I would be here every other day on my next trip.
Lone Star
If you’re not looking for North American bar food but more Southern fare, head next door to Lone Star, who also happen to have an entirely separate vegan menu. They have a burger, nachos, burrito, dips, a handful of sides, and even a dynamic dessert duo! If we’d had another night in Queenstown, we would have had dinner here. The atmosphere was created to feel like the Wild West, and there were plenty of families in there when we stopped in to ask about vegan food options.
White & Wong’s
While also having two locations in Auckland, White & Wong’s can also be found in Queenstown. Run by a white woman and a Vietnamese man (hence, the name), this restaurant is an Asian fusion cocktail bar with plenty of vegan options on the main menu, including Korean BBQ tofu gua bao buns, wild mushroom crystal skin dumplings, Korean glass noodles, veggie wontons, pad Thai and Penang curry, and a few other items.
Margo’s
For more fusion food (but Mexican this time), try Margo’s! They have an entirely separate vegan menu for lunch and dinner, with eight vegan dishes (nachos, taquitos, salsas, guac, queso fundido, etc. etc.) and a vegan dessert (churros!). Though it’s not clear on their website, I would inquire about vegan-friendly brunch options.
Soki Sushi Train
You don’t need to go to Japan for a sushi train: Soki Sushi Train has you covered. You order your food through a tablet, and the menu is clearly labeled with a separate vegetarian menu. Vegan options can include veggie sushi rolls, personalized sushi rolls, noodles, and more.
Marmolada Cafe
For a quick coffee and bite fix, stop by Marmolada Cafe (which opens at 6:30am every day for those early mornings!). They have a few reported vegan options, including a roast vegetable roll, pakora wrap, raw slices, cookies and banana bread with a vegan chai and non-dairy milk options for coffee.
Bespoke Kitchen
While not 100% vegan, Bespoke Kitchen is a local favorite and serves healthy, unprocessed, delicious food. Their menu changes seasonally, so as of the publication of this post, their vegan-as-is options include: the blueberry and blackberry pancakes, the katsu mushroom burger, the winter greens vegan Benedict, and vegan butter for their sourdough. They also have a vegan-friendly hemp power smoothie made with almond milk.
My Thai Lounge
As I’ve mentioned in a few of my posts, none of my vegan food guides are complete without mention of Thai food. So if you’re looking for Thai food in Queenstown, look no further than My Thai Lounge, which has a separate vegetarian menu, with many dishes available vegan. These include Tom Yum Goong; coconut tempeh; fried cauliflower; dumplings; spring rolls; red, yellow, or green curry; sweet and sour monkfish; chili and basil prawns; Chiang Mai noodles; railway fried rice; and pineapple fried rice.
Did I miss any good vegan food spots in Queenstown? Let me know in the comments below.
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