13 Best Restaurants in The Southern Alps and Fiordland, New Zealand

Indulge with a modern fine French meal at this trendy bistro with lake and mountain views on the outskirts of Wanaka. The menu changes regularly, but the local Cardrona merino lamb is always there in one form or another, accompanied by heirloom vegetables and herbs from the kitchen garden. Help yourself to more oils and balsamic vinegars via the dispensing machines; you can opt to get your wine on tap as well, allowing you to sample several wines by the taste, half, or full glass. If you want to make a real event of it, opt for the seven-course tasting menu.

Situated at the main public car park, the Discover Milford Information Centre offers coffee, snacks, and counter food. The view out the front window, across Milford Sound to Mitre Peak and the mountains beyond, is amazing. It's expensive, but there's no real alternative.

A Queenstown institution, the famous Fergburger gets mentioned in media around the world. It began life as a burger bar serving from a hole in the wall and kept growing; now there's a permanent queue stretching outside. If you're not too hungry, but want to know what the fuss is about, just share one—they're big enough for two.

Just across the road from the lake, this is a great place to sit shoulder to shoulder with the locals for breakfast outside on a crisp sunny morning. The cafe's Māori name means "food made good," and the menu ranges from simple breakfast and lunch choices (coffee and croissants, salads, nachos, and kebabs) to beef ribs and rump roast for dinner. In addition to consistently good meals, "The Kai" has local beers on tap and fresh bread; it's a great place to wind down after a big day.

For nearly 30 years, Masato Itoh has run the only Japanese restaurant in town, combining fresh local ingredients with imported spices and seasoning to produce a traditional Japanese menu. The food is a refreshing change from the more traditional offerings in town; any salmon dish is a winner, but the Bento Box is an especially good value.

This bright and breezy eatery beside the lake on Steamer Wharf has picture-postcard views. In summer, if you don't mind being on display, sit outside for breakfast, lunch, or even dinner (and they'll make sure you're well looked after, with a hat and/or a blanket). Inside, it's cozy with a lovely atmosphere and friendly waitstaff. The regularly changing menu is fresh with regional tastes such as Pacific tuna nicoise salad, Stewart Island salmon, and Fiordland venison. If you're feeling adventurous, consider the Seafood Platter for two.

Set in a historic miner's cottage, Provisions gets its name from the range of gourmet preserves they make. The welcoming atmosphere and lovely garden make it a delightful place to have breakfast or lunch. The blackboard menu is enticing and there are homemade treats in the cabinet.

You could hit this lakeside spot for every meal of the day, starting with the bacon or salmon eggs Benedict or something house-made and delicious like their cinnamon sticky buns. The café focuses on local, seasonal fare (and caters to all dietary needs), and guests can expect good service and great coffee; check the blackboard at lunch and dinner for ever-changing specials like their pan-roasted Te Mana lamb with crispy potato gnocchi and vegetables, pecorino, and lemon gremolata. The wine list is mainly local NZ, with a good selection sold by the glass. It gets busy here so it's advisable to book for dinner during the holidays.

This is the perfect place to load up on coffee and a hearty breakfast before hitting the road to Milford Sound or Queenstown. It's a simple menu, but the house-made counter food is well presented and delicious.

Built to commemorate the coronation of King George V, this early 1900s bathhouse on the beach now turns out breakfast, lunch, fresh scones, tapas, and dinner from its tiny kitchen. Many people find it by accident as they walk to the Queenstown Gardens, but it's worth seeking out deliberately.

This cozy, very personable café–restaurant has big picture windows for grand views of the Alps and all sorts of interesting mountaineering memorabilia and photos to peruse inside. The meals are flavorful, hearty, and wholesome, and they source a lot of organic produce, including organic wines and coffee (if you take it with milk, that's organic, too). There's a big roaring fire to keep you warm in winter. A popular option is their Mountaineers' Breakfast—nitrate-free bacon, free-range eggs, sausages, tomato, mushrooms, hash browns, and ciabatta—served all day. Fresh burgers and pizza are a specialty here, too. They may close early if it's quiet at dinner, so be sure to get there by 7 pm.

You'll be fighting the locals for a breakfast seat at this Queenstown institution, thanks to its lakefront seating and delicious array of counter food. Eggs Benedict with a classic coffee is probably the most common breakfast order in New Zealand, and this is perhaps the best in the area. The rest of the seasonal menu is full of fresh and local produce.

This is a long-standing local favorite restaurant and bar, with a winning combination of excellent pizza, pool tables, and beer. At night it becomes a happening spot with DJs and dancing, and it's extremely popular with backpackers. Try and get a table on the balcony overlooking the mall.