Amisfield restaurant named third best in the world

An influential US magazine has named a Queenstown fine dining restaurant as third best in the world.

Food & Wine magazine said Amisfield, located between Queenstown and Arrowtown, had become "a beacon for wine enthusiasts worldwide who seek an unparalleled dining experience".

Judges for the magazine's third annual Global Tastemaker Awards said the restaurant's 'Trust the Chef menu', priced at $695 per person, was "a must".

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"The multi-course feast unfolds like a show with dishes crafted to look like the animals they came from."

Executive chef Vaughan Mabee, who has been at Amisfield since 2011, said the restaurant's goal was to "tell a beautiful, original, exciting story of Aotearoa".

"We really focus on finding products that are outside of the box, things that you can only gather in New Zealand. You know, our ethos and values in the restaurant are saying are the same as our vineyard. I mean, minimal intervention, let the ingredients shine in a kind of original, creative way.

"I think this, done by our passionate team, has led a lot of people looking at us around the world, and coming from all around the world to try this experience and this story of New Zealand.

Mabee said Amisfield's inclusion in the Food & Wine list recognised "the whole package".

"It's our place, the beauty of the views, the atmosphere, the food, the amazing team, it's our wine, it's the whole package."

While the restaurant focused on fine dining with prices to match, Mabee said they had many repeat customers.

"Many people frequent it more than once in a year. It just depends what you are into. Our lunch menu is designed for less time and less money. Dinner is where we showcase the true story of Central Otago."

"The team's very happy with this award, it just shows how passionate and hard-working the team is."

In 2023, Mabee was the only New Zealand chef named as one of the World’s Top 100 Chefs.