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Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Nest Kitchen + Bar
Review
About
Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best
2024
We invite you to savour modern takes on classic dishes at the highest alfresco dining in Queenstown. Our seductively-lit, art deco style restaurant and bar features floor to ceiling windows for awe-inspiring views down Lake Whakatipu. Nest cocktail lounge also features a unique selection of New Zealand Gin & tonics and an extensive list of Central Otago cellar wines exclusively curated for you. Our inviting ambience welcomes you to share laughter, love, and life.
Features
CUISINES
Contemporary, New Zealand
Meal types
Breakfast, Dinner, Drinks
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options
FEATURES
Accepts Credit Cards
American Express
Discover
Free off-street parking
Free Wifi
Full Bar
Gift Cards Available
Highchairs Available
Mastercard
Non-smoking restaurants
Parking Available
Reservations
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Table Service
Visa
Wine and Beer
Location
Free off-street parking, Parking Available
Does this restaurant offer highchairs for toddlers?
Save this restaurant
Hours
Closed now
• Opens at 7:00 AM
Sunday
7:00 am - 11:00 am4:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Monday
7:00 am - 11:00 am4:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Tuesday
7:00 am - 11:00 am4:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Wednesday
7:00 am - 11:00 am4:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Thursday
7:00 am - 11:00 am4:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Friday
7:00 am - 11:00 am4:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Saturday
7:00 am - 11:00 am4:00 pm - 9:00 pm
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4.8
(799)
Excellent
696
Good
63
Average
25
Poor
10
Terrible
5
Kaitlyn
Sydney2 contributions
Dec 2024 • family
Wow. We had breakfast here as part of our Kamana experience and that was exemplary each of our seven days in Queenstown. Amy and her colleagues were a delight to share our mornings with.
We were also lucky to have a degustation on our final night at Kamana before we left Queenstown (we’ll be back!) and it was next level. The food was delicious, perfectly paired for the palate, and gorgeously plated. The waiters knew each of the courses well and made sure that any allergies were well catered to. The highlight for me was the lamb and the dessert, but it’s really impossible to choose.
While it’s an expensive option it’s an opportunity to sample some of the best food that QT has to offer and there’s even a wine pairing if that’s your thing, you will not leave Nest hungry or unsatisfied. It is brilliant and its team deserve all the praise.
PS - if you’re in the lounge, get the bread!
Written 3 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
F and B Supervisor
Kia Ora Compass04454270352, and WOW! What an incredible review! We are so so pleased that our team we able to make your stay so special, and that your degustation was such a highlight! Our team work very hard to make each guest feel looked after and special, and they will be so happy they managed this for you! We hope to welcome you back on your next visit to QT!
Written 5 February 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
RyanHardy
Wellington4 contributions
Favourite Review
Oct 2024 • couples
Thank you to the Nest for the incredible food, my wife and I stayed at the Kamana Lakehouse and had booked into the Nest for dinner, we opted for the degustation menu as a chef myself I couldn't resist, the food we had was incredible! Followed by amazing service it's hard to get a restaurant nowadays that has good food and service it's usually one or the other but the Nest have delivered! We will be returning to the hotel and to the restaurant!
Also the breakfasts are superb too, the mushroom ragu is beautiful !
Thank you so much to the team for everything!
Written 13 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
F and B Supervisor
Kia Ora ryanhardy1, and thank you for your wonderful review! We are so happy to hear that our degustation menu exceeded expectations, especially from someone in the industry! We will be sure to pass alon your feedback to our team, and we look forward to welcoming you back in future!
Written 16 October 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jennifer D
4 contributions
Jan 2025 • couples
We booked a dinner at Nest during our Kamana Lakehouse stay, and it was worth it! We are both vegetarian and I am dairy-free. Oliver was familiar with the menu and made great suggestions, and the kitchen made wonderful accommodations for our dietary needs, including the best nut cheeses I've ever had! The whole experience was wonderful, and we have regaled our friends and family with just how great this meal was. The chef is a true artist with aesthetics and flavor!
Written 26 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
F and B Supervisor
Kia Ora jenniferdL5962GG, and thank you for the wonderful review! We are very proud of our staffs knowledge and warmth, and we are so pleased to hear Oliver was able to offer you such wonderful service. It is great to hear that you enjoyed your meal despite your restrictions, and our chef will be thrilled to hear you enjoyed our dairy free cheeses!
Written 3 March 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cphmowe
Vedbaek53 contributions
Jan 2025 • family
We visited The Nest in Queenstown with high expectations, but unfortunately, the experience did not meet the standard we hoped for.
While the food was well-prepared and beautifully presented, the service detracted from the overall experience. Our interaction with the sommelier was especially notable, though not in a positive way. Although he was knowledgeable and competent, his demeanor sometimes felt overly self-important, creating a sense of distance rather than genuine hospitality.
Another issue was the strict time limit for our table; we were asked to prepare to leave after 1 hour and 50 minutes. While we understand that many restaurants in Queenstown operate within allocated time slots, the way this was communicated felt abrupt and left us feeling unwelcome rather than part of a special dining experience.
Although the food itself was good, the warmth and friendliness we have come to expect throughout New Zealand were noticeably absent here. Given the restaurant's price range, we anticipated that the service would match the quality of the food and provide a more relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
Written 19 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul A
New York City1 contribution
Feb 2025 • friends
We ate here twice and both were disappointing. First was the three course dinner which was quite underwhelming especially for the price. Overly complicated and didn't get the basics like seasoning right. Second was breakfast which was $40 for avocado toast and a cup of coffee, and my friend was told he couldn't get a side of potato (even when he offered to pay extra for it) despite it being on the menu for another dish. Wow. Not to mention our abrupt Canadian server interrupted us trying to give her our food order because she wanted to write down our drinks first. Not that she put them in first, she just wanted to write those first, then the food. Apparently it was not about what the guest wanted.
Written 20 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kate H
3 contributions
Jan 2025 • couples
Honestly… we were disappointed. The food was largely ok. But ok is as far as we would go. We did the full 6 course menu and some of it was good but most of it was far below par. The lamb main was excellent and the beef donut was rich and delicious. The vegetarian main was awful. A combination of a mush with totally unbalanced flavours. The desserts were unacceptable. Chocolate moose should never feel like sand in your mouth nor should it not taste like chocolate. Apricot sorbet was full of large ice crystals and the crayfish appetiser and the salmon starter had both been over powered by other flavours. We had a 8.30pm booking and by the time it got to our mains we were made to feel like we should leave as they set up for breakfast around us. We weren’t the only ones to feel like this too, nor were we the only ones who had to wear our coats whilst dining because of how cold it was. The wine pairing was great and the sommelier was fantastic. The staff are all wonderful too, if a little chaotic as they ran through the dining room trying to keep on top of everything. The whole experience was extremely instagramable and looked beautiful but not the best dining experience and not worth the $600 we paid.
Written 26 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tina F
1 contribution
Feb 2025 • family
After writing three harsh emails for the manager to contact me about the pooor customer service I have taken to write this review. I had the 3 course meal and was deeply disappointed. The entree salmon salad was uncooked. The snapper was fine and the potatoes served were uncooked and cold. The potatoes and snapper were returned and another plate of cold and uncooked potatoes were brought to me again. The chocolate mouse was hard and bland. The manager compensated only the potato and snapper course. After asking for more compensation in several emails my request was never acknowledged. For our two week vacation in the South Island this was our WORST meal and customer service! Don’t dine here!
Written 11 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laura Deane
Thank you for sharing your feedback, Tina. We regret that your dining experience did not meet your expectations.
After seeing your review, we have located your previous emails. Unfortunately, it appears they were sent to an old email address that is only monitored intermittently. This email address has not been listed as our official contact information for several years. Regarding your concerns, we would like to clarify that the salmon entrée you received is clearly described on our menu as "cured." This method of preparation is intentional and is served raw, therefore it is not possible that the salmon you received was undercooked. We also apologise for the issues you encountered with the potatoes and appreciate you bringing it to our attention. Your waitress noted that you thanked her for her service and expressed satisfaction with how quickly the issue with the main dish was addressed.
However, as the salmon was prepared according to the menu description, the main fish dish was replaced and removed from your bill, and we have not received any prior mention of dissatisfaction with the dessert, either during the visit or in your emails, we are unable to provide any further compensation, as asserted in your email.
Written 12 February 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
宛瑜 陳
1 contribution
Feb 2025 • family
We had reserved dinner for 7:30 PM, but the final dessert wasn’t served until after 10 PM—we ended up dining for a full three hours! Some guests who arrived later than us had already finished and left before we even got our last course. It was honestly frustrating; what started as a leisurely meal turned into an endless wait, leaving us restless and bored.
Fortunately, the food was delicious and well-prepared, or we would have chosen to leave early. However, my family felt that some dishes were too salty.
我們預訂了晚上7:30的晚餐，但最後一道甜點直到10點之後才送上來——整整吃了三個小時！甚至有些比我們晚到的客人早已用餐完畢並離開(甚至已經翻桌連第二組客人都吃完了)，而我們還在等我們的食物。這真的讓人感到沮喪，原本悠閒的用餐變成了無止盡的等待，讓我們感到無聊又煩躁。
幸好料理精緻又美味，不然我們可能會選擇提前離開。不過，我的家人認為有些食物太鹹了。
Written 28 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TopShop9999
London53 contributions
Mar 2024 • couples
Nest is part of a newish hotel complex about a 15 minute ride out of town. The views over the lake towards the mountains are spectacular, and there’s a deck to wander around between courses.
The food, to be honest, while beautifully presented, isn’t especially good. Pretty much everything has been pre-cooked sous vide, so you don’t get any choice in how, for example, you want your lamb rack or venison medallions cooked (it’s well done for the former, and pink for the latter), so if you’re fussy about these things, Nest probably isn’t for you.
I’d describe the style, quality and presentation of the food as being at the level you’d expect be served on a good business class airline, or perhaps slightly above.
You have to order either three courses from the à la carte menu (including dessert - no cheese option), at about $95, or for an extra $30, there’s a sort of semi-degustation menu, which we didn’t go for.
The service was attentive and professional, although they’re looking to turn the tables pretty quickly, and we were done and dusted in not much more than an hour, so not really a place where you’re encouraged to linger over your after dinner cognac while you enjoy the views.
Considering the beautiful views, the value was reasonable, but it’s not somewhere you’d go more than once, unless you were staying in the hotel.
Written 23 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AndrewMm9
Greater Melbourne148 contributions
Jul 2024 • friends
Great food and highly recommend the degustation option the views were outstanding, and 4 fireplaces are great to have a pre dinner cocktail. The staff were rude and missed orders and requests. They were so rude that wanted to leave, however I did not want to embarrass the friends I was with. One of the issues that the degustation items were not on the menu and required an explanation before consumption. The restaurant was very noisy and only half the table of 10 heard the description. The waiter did not want to repeat himself to the rest of the table (although asked) and walked away each time. There may have been a language barrier/ personality clash but I consider this totally unacceptable especially given our $2k plus bill. Despite the great food we cancelled our booking later in the week and will not return.
Written 10 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Caroline O
Atlanta56 contributions
Jan 2024 • couples
Beautiful view and some delicious dishes but service left a lot to be desired. We did the degustation menu and it got progressively better as the meal went on with the asparagus porridge, pork terrine, venison and strawberry desserts being the highlights. Biggest disappointment was how at 11pm with 4 tables still completing their meals, they turned on the lights and asked everyone to settle their bills. After spending nearly $1000NZ for 4 people, I was shocked at this. And while the manager who greeted us and sat us seemed very knowledgeable about the menu, interactions with our server were very transactional which is different than what I expect from an upscale restaurant.
Written 6 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Justine Teglas
Kia Ora CarolineO639,
We appreciate your thorough feedback and the positive aspects you highlighted about your dining experience at our restaurant. Your insights are invaluable to us, and we want to address the concerns you raised.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by the timing of settling bills and the turning on of lights at 11pm. To provide additional context, the lights are on an automatic timer. As our last seating time is at 8:30 pm with a standard 2-hour allocation on each table this would not usually cause any issues. However, we acknowledge that this may have been an abrupt experience for those still completing their meals, and we are actively reviewing our procedures to enhance this aspect of our service.
Additionally, according to New Zealand licensing law, there is a 30-minute grace period after the kitchen is closed during which patrons are kindly requested to conclude their dining experience and vacate the premises. We regret any abruptness in the transition and will take steps to ensure that this is communicated more effectively to our guests.
We understand that the transactional nature of interactions with your server did not align with the upscale dining experience we aim to provide. Rest assured, we are always actively working on enhancing our service standards to create a more engaging and personalized atmosphere for our valued guests.
Your feedback is essential to our continuous improvement, and we hope you will consider returning to experience the positive changes we are consistently implementing. Thank you once again for your input, and we look forward to the opportunity to serve you better in the future.
Best regards,
Written 7 January 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Julie L
Chapel Hill10 contributions
Feb 2025 • couples
We enjoyed our stay at the Kamana Lake House and especially enjoyed the delicious breakfast at the Nest, as well as the beautiful view of the lake and mountains. Kelly, our main waitstaff, was so friendly and made our stay special. Our barista made the best extra hot flat white coffees for us as well. 😊
Written 4 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
F and B Supervisor
Kia Ora Julie Nielsen L, and thank you for your lovely review! Our breakfast team love brightening peoples mornings, and they'll be so pleased they made your stay so special!
Written 5 February 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Adele U
Sandy Hook66 contributions
Feb 2025 • couples
Simply perfect evening. Stunning view, impeccable service, incredible food, and amazing wine. We had the full degustation menu with wine pairing. Truly an experience of culinary genius. Each dish was beautifully presented and well thought out with blending flavor profiles and textures. The chef is a master and the service was attentive and friendly but also not overwhelming. I can't wait for our next trip to New Zealand to go back!
Written 14 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
F and B Supervisor
Kia Ora Adeleu2222, and thank you for sharing your kind words with us! We are so pleased that each facet of your experience was at such a high standard, and hope we have the pleasure to welcome you back soon!
Written 15 February 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
hawaiiangal
11 contributions
Sept 2023 • family
The food was outstanding and the chef is a brilliant master at the marriage of flavors. (The basil palette cleanser blew our minds.) Service was efficient and timely, but for such a high end food menu, not nearly knowledgeable enough about the actual dishes. This is partly the responsibility of the chef, and partly of the restaurant manager. Nevertheless, we were knocked out by the food and the stunning views.
Written 23 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tour689130
2 contributions
May 2024 • couples
We did the degustation menu for our honeymoon. As inexperienced fine diners we weren’t sure what exactly we were eating but it was all very nice and the service of the food was timed impeccably. Definitely a must do for a special occasion. The view was beautiful however hard to get a nice photo with the construction going on. Otherwise, it would have been good to have an a la carte menu as if we were staying more days we would have had to find somewhere else to eat.
Written 8 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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