On 30 June, the Michelin Guide held its first ceremony in Oceania, in Auckland, and named New Zealand’s first Michelin-recognised restaurants. Two of them are a short drive from where our guests stay.
Essence, at the ROKI Collection above Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown, received two Michelin Stars under executive chef Paul Froggatt, the only restaurant in the country to be awarded two. Kika, in central Wānaka, received one under chef James Stapley. Rātā, Amisfield and Sherwood, all in the Queenstown area, also received one star each. A further eight local restaurants picked up a Bib Gourmand, Michelin’s distinction for high-quality food at good value: Bombay Palace, Francesca, Paloma Taqueria, Treehouse and Muttonbird in Wānaka, and Aosta, Sundays and The Cow in Queenstown.
Beyond the Stars and Bib Gourmands, a further thirteen restaurants across the district were named in the wider Michelin Selected list, including Arc in Wānaka, Millhouse, Bianca by Giovi, The Woolshed and Billy’s in Arrowtown, and Botswana Butchery, Jervois Steak House, Nest, Soda, The Dining Room, Toast & Oak and True South Dining Room in Queenstown.
It’s a significant result for two towns this size, and it changes something practical for anyone planning a stay here. Restaurants that were already hard to book on a Saturday night are about to get harder. Kika seats a modest room. Essence, tucked into its hillside dining room above the lake, runs two tasting menus and books out early even in shoulder season and it is the dining offering of Queenstown’s newest luxury hotel, which is already lauded by the likes of Robb Report. A table at these restaurants now require more of a plan.
This is where a private stay with us works extra hard for you. Our Travel Fixer team has spent years building the relationships that get a table held rather than requested: at Amisfield beside its own vineyard in Lake Hayes, at Rātā’s Ballarat Street dining room, at the appointment-only cellar doors along the Bannockburn wine road that feed half the region’s kitchens. We book the reservation before you land, not after you’ve tried and failed.
A gourmet stay here was never really about ticking off a list of restaurants between activities, but it can certainly shape your appreciation of our place in the world: a private chef some nights, a table at Kika or Essence on others, a Bannockburn afternoon at Felton Road or Carrick with the right guide, and a fridge stocked with Central Otago produce for the mornings in between. The Michelin recognition doesn’t change that approach. It just means booking early matters more than it did the last time you stayed with us.
If you’re planning a stay built around the region’s dining, tell us early, particularly if Essence or Kika are on your list. We handle the reservations as part of any gourmet package, and the earlier we know, the more likely we are to get you in.
See our full guide to Central Otago wine, private chefs and Southern Lakes dining
Frequently asked questions: New Zealand’s inaugural Michelin Guide inclusions
Which Wānaka and Queenstown restaurants received a Michelin Star?
Essence, at the ROKI Collection above Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown, received two Michelin Stars under executive chef Paul Froggatt, the only restaurant in New Zealand awarded two. Kika, in central Wānaka, received one Star under chef James Stapley. Rātā, Amisfield and Sherwood, all in the Queenstown area, each received one Star.
Which Wānaka and Queenstown restaurants received a Bib Gourmand?
Bombay Palace, Francesca and Muttonbird in Wānaka received Bib Gourmand recognition, along with Aosta, Sundays and The Cow in Queenstown. Bib Gourmand is Michelin’s distinction for high-quality food at good value, separate from and below the Star ranking.
What’s the difference between a Michelin Star and a Bib Gourmand?
A Michelin Star recognises the quality of the cooking itself, awarded on a scale of one to three. A Bib Gourmand recognises a different kind of excellence: a very good meal at a more accessible price. Both appear in the same Guide, but they’re separate categories rather than points on the same ladder.
Which Wānaka, Queenstown and Arrowtown restaurants received Michelin Selected status?
Thirteen restaurants across the district were named Michelin Selected. These include Arc in Wānaka, Millhouse, Bianca by Giovi, The Woolshed and Billy’s in Arrowtown, and Botswana Butchery, Jervois Steak House, Nest, Soda, The Dining Room, Toast & Oak and True South Dining Room in Queenstown. Arc is worth noting in particular: it’s owned by James Stapley, the same chef behind Kika’s Michelin Star, alongside Sam Cooper.
What does Michelin Selected mean?
Michelin Selected is the Guide’s entry-level tier: restaurants whose cooking impressed inspectors enough to be included, without being awarded a Star or a Bib Gourmand. It spans everything from neighbourhood bistros to fine dining and isn’t tied to any particular style or price point. Inclusion on its own is still a meaningful signal, since the Guide reviewed far more restaurants than it named.
Is Essence the only two-Michelin-Star restaurant in New Zealand?
Yes. Essence was the sole restaurant in the country to be awarded two Stars at the inaugural New Zealand ceremony.
When did the Michelin Guide launch in New Zealand?
The Michelin Guide held its first ceremony in Oceania on 30 June, in Auckland, naming 110 New Zealand restaurants across its various categories.
Does Release NZ arrange reservations at Michelin-recognised restaurants?
Yes. Our Travel Fixer team arranges dining reservations, including at Essence, Kika, Rātā and Amisfield, as part of a guest’s stay. Given the level of interest since the Michelin result, we’d recommend telling us early if these restaurants are on your list.