Queenstown’s Amisfield named third best international restaurant
Monday, 7 April 2025
A Queenstown restaurant and vineyard has been named the third best international restaurant in Food & Wine’s annual Global Tastemakers Awards for its bold dishes and “unparalleled dining experience.”
Amisfield is a restaurant and vineyard located near Queenstown in Central Otago.
Food and Wine polled over 400 chefs, travel experts, food and travel writers and “wine pros” from all over the world on their favourite culinary travel experiences. Which was then turned over to the Global Advisory Boad - who rank each category.
Judges praised the restaurant, saying it had become a “beacon for wine enthisiasts worldwide” who seek an “unparalleled dining experience.”
“What sets Amisfield apart is not just its stunning location or award-winning sips but also its otherworldly, refined tasting menu that showcases the region's seasonal, hyperlocal ingredients,” praised the judges in the announcement.
Amisfield uses a select group of farmers, fishermen, hunters and gatherers to produce their award winning dishes.
“We bring their offerings together to capture the essence of Central Otago, transforming raw ingredients into culinary fine art,” Amisfield’s website said.
Even Prince William and Kate are fans of the restaurant, visiting it in 2014, while more than 1000 people crowded around the vineyard to get close to the royals.
“Dining at Amisfield is an exploration of place and flavour, embarking on the full Amisfield degustation experience,” said Amisfield’s website.
“Each dish is crafted to evoke the unique character of Central Otago, weaving together the stories of our land and its produce,” the website said.
The restaurant’s head chef is Vaughan Mabee - one of the judges on MasterChef New Zealand in 2022.
Dinner at the restaurant is a 3.5 hour experience that can set you back up to $695 NZD per person if you order from the Chefs Menu 2025, according to their website.
The restaurant was among heavy hitters like A Casa do Porco in São Paulo, Brazil who came second, and Asador Etxebarri in Axpe, Spain who took the top spot.
Amisfield is no stranger to culinary awards, being awarded three knives at the Worlds Best Chef awards in 2024, and winning the Innovation award from Cuisine Good Food