Review The Bunker Restaurant - Queenstown

We happened to stumble across this little cocktail bar after dinner somewhere else. Awesome cocktail menu, there is definitely something for everyone tastes and the barmen/ women are more than happy to make the classics too. They are beautiful presented with garish. It seemed to be quite a trendy spot for the tourists who were entertaining.

The only 6/5 I've ever wanted to give on a google review. We had an amazing dining experience doing the 8 course tasting menu. Everything was perfect from the atmosphere to the food & paired wines, and Grant's service was impeccable and incredibly knowledgeable (along with the others). It's definitely the place to be if you want an unforgettable culinary experience in Queenstown.

What an experience! We had an awesome night enjoying the 8 course tasting menu. Everything was perfect from the vibe to the food and wines I’d rate the experience 20/10. If you are looking for a nice meal perfectly paired with wines this is the place to go. The last dessert was the best with the late harvest Pinot gris wine.

Really wonderful food and service. Our party had the eight course tasting menu. Staff explained each course and wine pairing wonderfully. The wines were paired really well. Portions were large for tastings. We were worried about dress codes, but the restaurant was lenient and we saw many parties with pretty casual clothes even though the atmosphere would indicate more formal attire. There was no issue accommodating the nut allergy my friend had. The only point of improvement would be the quality of cherries used in my aviation and other cocktails. It would have been preferable to get a luxardo or equivalent rather than a red maraschino.

I have had the pleasure of coming to The Bunker over the last ten years - it was exciting to come back after the renovations and see they’ve made more space to ensure more people can get bookings! Still feels like a wonderful almost speak east style atmosphere with great appointments a now larger restaurant bar but still kept the low heat fireplaces, leather, black table clothes and green “bookie” lights with the historical Queenstown photos to dine amongst. The food is always spectacularly prepared and is of portion sizes which mean you can do three courses or a tasting menu without feeling like you have to roll yourself back to your accomodation. The staff are incredibly inviting and knowledgeable about the local area, produce, flavours and dishes. Love a good chat with staff that are engaging and attentive. Cocktails are great to enjoy - the Casino Royale Vesper is still a favourite - smooth and delicious with all courses but the wine list is wonderful without being confusingly large featuring many of those that make this province shine for their wine making talents. For me it’s one not to be missed every visit on the near annual trips. Book early to get a preferred time with perhaps only 30-34 people able to fit in each half of the new renovations.

Honestly could not fault a single thing, hands down the best dining experience ever! The staff were all charming, accommodating and down to earth, while still being really professional and efficient! The ambience inside was very cool, chilled speakeasy vibes, nice decor and very clean! Food wise, we both had the 8 courses and shared the meat and fish options, when we had the first bite of the first course we literally looked at each other and smiled in excitement as we knew we were in for a unique and special experience, and we were so right! My favourites were the Wagyu risotto and blueberry tart, my friend LOVED the snapper and we both loved the hare and bone marrow starter! If you’re in town and want actual quality of produce and service, I fully recommend making a booking! Thank you so much Bunker team, love your work! 😊

Went for the venison, it was very tender. Oysters were big and delicious. Service was great and very friendly.

Enjoyed the food. Restaurant is a bit small and cramped. But overall it was a good experience. Love the drinks as well.

Atmosphere was lovely and staff were super inviting, interested and friendly. Food was pretty good, but a little lacking oomph, although the presentation was beautiful. It felt like a place that was very focused on being a fine dining establishment with very little portion sizing, but food that lacked substance. Audibly very quiet inside. Tables also seemed a bit close to each other and I could easily hear other couple’s conversations.

Faultless. Absolutely blown away. Penelope in particular was on pointe, lovely, perfect knowledge and witty. I grew quite fond of spotting how quickly the teams would spot empty water glasses or fold stray napkins table to table.They were beyond quick, consistent and on brand. The food is to die for. Literally would have been happy for that to have been my last meal, the chef(s) are genius'. I don't think I'll ever taste anything like it ever again, all seafood and red meat was devine. Can not praise the staff highly enough, nor the food, nor the ambiance. 100% worth the money. Thank you!

If you wish to be immersed in a cosy romantic atmosphere, the Bunker is the right place for it. Food is very nice presented and the portions are in a normal size. The service is quite fast. Truly a great place! <br/>P.s mulled wine there is the best we tried so far in Queenstown

Well what can I say , this place has amazing ambience friendly staff and first-class food <br/>Well recommended for people who like fine dining<br/>The use of local produce Amazing

This is a hard to find place that is hidden away. Quiet and understated, the dining room is small and intimate. The food shows off the best of local produce and the wines are great.

On first appearance The Bunker is warm and inviting coming in from a fresh winters evening. The maitre d was prompt and quickly took our coats. Once seated in the intimate dining room we ordered two mains the snapper with ravioli and the beef served two ways with mustard greens and potatoes. We were informed this was a new menu so to sing out if any questions. Matched with wine and beer the meal was pleasant yet not outstanding. The snapper dish was small for the $40 price tag. Would expect at least 3 ravioli rather than the minimal 2 served. The beef short rib was slightly dry but the fillet cooked well.

I had been here many years before it was a 5.0 meal. The venison was just incredible. This time, because of the size of our group, we had to order from the banquet menu which limited our options slightly. Overall, the food was exquisite; an amazing venison entrée followed by a lamb main that was a little bit tasteless and a chocolate cake type dessert that was rich and delicious (I was told the creme brulee was also magnificent). However the service, while being adequate for the venue, left a bitter taste in the mouth. The single waitress served $10 a bottle water to the table, and when asked to just serve tap water as we didn't want any special mineral water, she became snappy and rude for the remainder of the evening. We knew it was an expensive dinner, but we didn't expect to or want to pay for the water.

One of my favourite restaurants in Queenstown.  Not only is the food delicious, has a cosy, yet intimate atmosphere as well as being very affordable for a good fine dining restaurant.<br/><br/>We have visited this place twice and both times we were impressed with the food.<br/><br/>Check out my website for an indepth review

So I am back at my favourite restaurant / bar in Queenstown, The Bunker. I always make it a point of dining here when I am in Queenstown. The restaurant is focused on sourcing fresh and wonderful New Zealand produce along with simple culinary application to ensure the natural flavours of the food shine.

The most amazing food with the most amazing service in a perfectly cozy place.. The perfect ambience for fine dining.. A must try Taste of the South menu.. Worth every penny.. Loved it..!!

We came by after a day trip to Wanaka. It was quite hard to find on cow lane since it was hidden in the corner. The place was really nice and cosy, with only a few tables around. It was nice and quiet and so was quite relaxing.<br/><br/>Service was really good. Given enough time to look through the menu and gave assistance when required.<br/><br/>Food was quite nice. Started with the Scampi. It was really nice but I found the pancake tasted quite floury. Had the beef main and that was really nice.

Food was amazing! and well priced for the size meal. I had a Havana cocktail which was also top notch. Nice cosy venue with a open fire place which added to the ambience and the service from the staff was impeccable.<br/>Would recommend to anyone I knew. <br/>Definitely worth the extra $ compared to anywhere down the road.

Only ever been here after dinner to have few drinks. I read it from an arrival brochure and was excited to hear that it was known for their martinis (inspired by James Bond). <br/><br/>Ambience was warm and dim, very intimate with fireplace and comfy couches. However there are only few available. I was happy sitting by the bar watching the bartenders attentively make our cocktails. <br/><br/>I got the vesper, gin martini with a lemon twist to start off - delicious!!!! Perfectly done! Also hot bartender helped too. <br/><br/>Others we Had were a Black Forest martini, espresso martini and another one which I forgot it's name, but it is served with half a passionfruit lit on fire!!! Ask for that, it was a sweet delight. <br/><br/>The menu goes on, and I would have loved to stay on if we could handle it. Definitely worth a visit if you didn't want a crazy rowdy night out, but a more intimate drink setting :)

The husband was recommended this restaurant. The food was amazing & the wine divine. The upstairs bar was cozy also and the restaurant really romantic.

Had a fantastic evening here! <br/>We could not decide what to choose from the menu so opted for the "Taste of the South Menu" and it was great.<br/>I had the Paua which was perfect but the Lamb was probably the highlight. We complemented the meal with some great wine and the service was excellent too.<br/>I would recommend The Bunker for a special evening.

Loved this place! We had dinner here one night and I ordered the Angus grass fed eye fillet medium to well - I know...don't scream at me. I have a lot of respect and admiration for chefs who not only cook it the way I've asked for but also cook it amazingly well because from experience, it is not often that this happens. Cooking a steak medium to well and having it juicy and tender is not an easy feat!<br/>I was extremely happy with my meal as was my travel partner. Everything on the plate was delicious including the potato gratin, mushrooms and jus. The food was faultless. We had a very pleasant and friendly waitress, Nikki, who ensured the fireplace upstairs was keeping us warm and had a nice chat to us about our stay in Queenstown.  Even through we were the only ones seated upstairs, she must have come up on at least 10 occasions to make sure we were ok. Great management! Will definitely go back for dinner again the next time I'm in Queenstown. Well done!

When you first walk into this place, it's hard to see how this is going to be good. It's hard to see, because it takes a few minutes for your eyes to adjust to the ambient light. It's dark in here. There's no windows, and it's called The Bunker. But, once your night vision kicks in, wow! This place has great ambiance and would be especially great on a cold winters night with the fire going. We were in the back right corner and it was perfect.

Cool as they come. The Bunker is a seriously cool bar. The scene is set with quality tunes and comfy couches on the rooftop balcony. The inside fitout of the upstairs bar is top notch and the drink menu is also worth a look. We chilled out there before dinner and enjoyed a cider on the couches up top. Then we returned later that night for a cocktail. The espresso martini missed the mark a little and was a touch watery and lacked a certain something - but was still drinkable. Only having one bartender working also meant that it took a while to get our drinks when cocktails were being made. However it is still a great spot to sit for a few drinks.

Fantastic food, beautifully done. A must visit! Also, great cocktail bar above the restaurant.

We rolled into The Bunker late-ish on a Thursday night having just arrived in Queenstown. The place is small so I could see why you'd normally have to book. We got a small table at the rear and there were about 4 other groups already seated.<br/>The place was quite a bit fancier than what we are used to. We were tempted to order the degusation menu but decided on a main and my partner had 2 starters. We had the venison, tempura crab and paua "parcels".<br/>Everything was lovely. Wonderful flavours and we shared from our plates. The service was friendly but not over the top and the prices weren't too outlandish.<br/>A lovely evening in a really special restaurant

Had a fantastic night here with my workplace with a group in the upstairs room with some very top notch local winemakers. We had a set menu with a couple of choices for each course. The service exceeded our expectations &amp; everyone was blown away with the guy serving us &amp; the lovely meals - everyone was happy which with a group of 10+ is quite an achievement. <br/>Would highly recommend this place for a function if you are looking to thoroughly impress. A+, flawless service. Well done.

The degusation menu and wine paring is divine, and reflects a level of innovation, attention to detail and expertise that defines culinary excellence. Have eaten here a few times and never been disappointed The staff is knowledgeable, friendly and doesn't rush you through your meal. It's a special place for a memorable occasion. Do make a booking, they fill up most nights.

I was lucky enough to be taken to this restaurant by my husband for an intimate dinner out and were not disappointed. It delivered everything we expected and so much more.<br/>I had the Venison which was melt in the mouth and accompanying vegetables were just amazing and quite enough without ordering an extra side.<br/>My husband had the pork belly and he loved that too..he could virtually cut the pork with the side of the fork..<br/><br/>The service was exceptional and the waiter was professional and friendly all rolled into one. Waiter also recommended the type of wine we were after so he knew his stuff.<br/><br/>The brulee and 'pudding' desserts were a perfect finishing touch to the meal.

With only seven tables this is a very intimate restaurant.. You would think a roaring open fire in the middle of summer would not work but it does here..!<br/><br/>You need to book, especially on a weekend or Friday night due to the limited tables..<br/><br/>Food is to die for, service is almost as good.. <br/>Everything on the menu looks divine and it is as good as it reads. Had the Pork and my wife had the Venison for mains, beautifully cooked and presented and you don't need additional sides as after three courses you walk out full but not stuffed..<br/>Service is very attentive and super friendly which makes a nice change.<br/><br/>If there is a down side it would be the restrooms, they are an after thought..

This restaurant is a must do in Queenstown. The food here is amazing, superb selection of NZ wines and the staff here are very friendly and experienced. Fantastic location as well!

Fantastic service and the quality of food was exceptional. Wine list was second to none also. All round a leading restaurant in this beautiful 4 season resort.

I asked the cab driver to recommend a great place to take my wife. He stopped in a little alley way and I thought he was joking... He wasn't! what a place, great food, good relaxed service and a cute little cocktails bar upstairs.<br/>Loved it! Too hard to find though!

This cab driver can report that EVERY fare picked up from here has had a ravingly good dining experience.