Did you know that Queenstown has an amazing restaurant scene? There's fantastic locally-inspired cuisine and international eats from all across the world. While I've listed the 15 best restaurants in Queenstown, you may be wondering where to find the best food that's vegan in Queenstown.
As someone who has followed a vegan diet for a super long time, I'm always on the search for the best plant-based restaurants. It's really easy to dine as a vegan or vegetarian in Queenstown and all over New Zealand. Some even have their own vegan menus or separate sections on the menu for veggie dishes.
I am still lamenting the fact that Lord of the Fries closed down in Queenstown. It was the only fully vegan restaurant in Queenstown and there isn't one at the moment to fill that void.
While it seems like every Lord of the Fries location in New Zealand has shut down, they still have quite a few locations open in Australia.
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Queenstown Vegan: Bespoke Kitchen
Bespoke Kitchen Queenstown was our first meal in the city and we really enjoyed their breakfast and brunch dishes. The menu at Bespoke Kitchen rotates according to what's in season. So, what you see here might not be what you get.
Fortunately, they have several vegan options clearly marked on their menus. I'll post a picture of our menu at Bespoke Kitchen so you can take a look at what was on offer for us.
You order up at the counter and someone will bring your food to the table. Justin decided to take his meal for takeaway, while I dined at the restaurant. We were quite tired after our long flight and Justin wasn't as immediately hungry as I was!
I ordered the red velvet pancakes (raspberry chia jam, kiwi, black sesame crisp, roast banana, coconut whip) and Justin got the bean superbowl (roast pumpkin, quinoa, refried beans, tomato lime salsa, spiced pumpkin seeds, almond sour cream, coriander pesto).
As you can tell, the ingredients are quite innovative, yet everything combines so wonderfully into each meal.
Bespoke Kitchen also has a fantastic selection of vegan desserts and treats. We couldn't resist taking a couple of the chocolate raw Twix bars with us. Also, there are daily salads and vegan bagels if you'd like to grab something on the go.
Even though Bespoke Kitchen wasn't an entirely vegan restaurant, they had some of the best vegan food in Queenstown.
Yonder
After we slept for hours and hours, we managed to ditch the jet lag (for the most part) and explore Queenstown for the day. Our first stop of the day was Yonder for their brunch menu.
The inspiration for Yonder's menu comes from worldwide travels. Their other primary focus is catering to various dietary restrictions, so they have plenty of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free choices. If you have a particular allergy, don't hesitate to mention it to a staff member as they'll help guide you to an appropriate meal.
The meals are marked as vegan or show that there's a vegan option available. I ordered an interesting dish that I'd never tried before, the Granola with Passionfruit Panna Cotta with Fresh Fruit (toasted oats and seeds, sliced almonds, coconut, dried cranberries, passionfruit panna cotta, seasonal fresh fruit, and a choice of plant-based milk).
Justin got the Smashed Avocado on Toast (smashed avocado on house ciabatta, lemon, herbs, sea salt). I also made sure to order a long black, as I feel that coffee is always a necessity at breakfast.
Yonder has a wonderful patio out front, but we decided to dine indoors where the decor was equally as lovely. There were also some vegan chocolate chip cookies at the front of the shop.
It was very tempting, but I was thoroughly full after my breakfast and knew that I was going to dine at many more vegan Queenstown restaurants that day.
Farelli's by Giovi
Farelli's by Giovi is a vegan-friendly Italian restaurant in Queenstown. It used to have an entirely separate vegan menu. Nowadays, there are a few vegan options marked as such on the menu.
Maybe check to see if they still have their vegan menu. It's worth a try. We ordered some items that I no longer see on their current menu: the Bianco pizza (roast mushrooms, garlic confit, and rocket on creamy alfredo base) and the fettuccini alfredo pasta.
Both of our plant-based meals were so yummy and filling. It's rare to find a vegan creamy sauce at a non-vegan restaurant, which is probably why we both ended up ordering it on our pizza and pasta.
Don't hesitate to stop at Farelli's Trattoria when you're looking for vegan food in Queenstown.
Queenstown Vegan-Friendly Cafe: Vudu Cafe + Larder
If you're looking for the perfect coffee stop amidst your wanders, pop by Vudu Cafe for a quick pick-me-up. They've got a great selection of plant-based milks for lattes, cappuccinos, and flat whites.
Plus, there are loads of vegan and raw desserts in their cabinet up front. Vudu Cafe is a very chill and relaxed environment for enjoying a cup of coffee. While we didn't end up heading there for any meals, it's actually a fantastic Queenstown vegan restaurant, too.
The vegan items are marked on the menu, like the buckwheat orange zest pancakes or super summer food bowl with crispy tofu. Their menu rotates with the changing seasons, but I'm sure they'll always have at least a few vegan meals on it.
FergBurger & FergBaker
FergBurger is one of the most famous fast food spots in Queenstown. As it turns out, they have a couple of vegan options, too!
There are two burgers under the "vegetarian" section of the menu. You may need to make some modifications to make them vegan.
The Ferg-lafel is a falafel burger and you'll need to remove the sauce and aioli to make it vegan. Holier Than Thou is a tempura tofu burger that's almost completely vegan, minus the aioli.
FergBaker has one vegan sandwich, the Quinoa & Black Bean Focaccia. It is completely vegan without any modifications necessary (quinoa balls, Napoli sauce, roquette, dairy free cheese & pesto, all vegan!).
Looking for more restaurant options? My list of the best restaurants in Queenstown includes only vegan-friendly spots in town. So, you'll find even more establishments in that blog post.
Want to read about more vegan eats in New Zealand? So far, I've got a guide to the nearby town of Wanaka. Here's where to find the best vegan food in Wanaka. More to come!
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Jamie Boucher says
I don't ever really eat out but Queenstown is such a good place for vegan food! I did the Ben Lomond Hike last year & rewarded myself with Lord Of The Fries. WOW that was the best takeaway I've had in years.
Awesome post. Love reading about vegan eats. Eating out is something I've struggled with for a long time!
Lauren says
Yes! We were really pleased with all of the vegan options in Queenstown :)