The Best Restaurants in New Zealand
New Zealand has an astonishingly good restaurant scene for a country with 5 million inhabitants. Here are the highlights, sorted by region:
Auckland
Pasture (Parnell) — 10-course menu over open fire (295 NZD). New Zealand's best restaurant.
Depot Eatery (Federal Street) — Al Brown's sharing plates icon. Raw bar, rotisserie, everything perfect. Main course 28–38 NZD.
Wellington
Ortega Fish Shack (Majoribanks Street) — New Zealand's best fish restaurant. Chowder 18 NZD, whole fish 45 NZD.
Logan Brown (Cuba Street) — Fine dining in a historic bank. Tasting menu 110 NZD.
Queenstown
Fergburger (Shotover Street) — New Zealand's most famous burger. Open 24 hours. Burger 16–21 NZD.
Rātā (Ballarat Street) — Josh Emery's New Zealand fine dining. Tasting menu 130 NZD.
Moeraki (between Christchurch & Dunedin)
Kaikōura
Nin's Bin (SH1 north) — The legendary crayfish stand on the highway. Half crayfish from 35 NZD, whole from 60 NZD. Cash only.
Moeraki
Fleurs Place (169 Haven Street, Moeraki) — A restaurant for which people drive 200 km. In a converted fishing hut at the harbor, Fleur Sullivan (a legend of New Zealand cuisine) serves the freshest fish on the South Island: Blue Cod with caper sauce (38 NZD), crayfish (if available, market price approx. 65 NZD), smoked salmon, and Pāua (abalone). The ingredients come directly from the boat at the door. The atmosphere is rustic, unpretentious, and magical — wind-swept windows, sea view, seagull cries. Reservation strongly recommended. Right next door: The famous Moeraki Boulders — perfectly round rocks on the beach.
