Having an event in Queenstown? At NZ’s heart of adventure, you already have the gorgeous views and the awesome venues – but a good range of food? The pressure is real, right? 

One bland canapé can turn your dream into a nightmare, where guests remember the colour of the napkins better than the food. But now you don’t have to worry about becoming a local legend, as we already did the hard work curating this list.

Through client interviews, assessing portfolios, and a little bit of gatecrashing (jk – don’t tell our boss!), here’s the only caterers you can trust in Queenstown! 

1. Queenstown Catering

Flexibility wins for Queenstown Catering. They’re able to cater pretty much every type of event, from weddings to corporate functions. They can also scale up offerings based on gathering size and client requests. 

However, we think they work best when catering to weddings. According to past clients, their approval and consultation process is smooth, professional, and patient – even with overseas coordination.

Plus, their wedding catering package is comprehensive. It already includes canoes, plated mains, and drinks. Even dessert and late-night supper options are included. Food options are beautifully presented, closely following the client’s vision for design.

We also appreciate that they can cater to dietary needs with no fuss: vegetarians, gluten-free guests, and even dogs are thoughtfully accommodated. Just take note to relay these requests during the consultation.

We’re lucky to get a peek at them in action, and we totally agree with clients when they say they’re fast and attentive. It was a high-pressure moment, and they were able to refill food and make last-minute adjustments like pros.

Availability is just a bit tight, so peak months in the summer may not be their most flexible timeline. Booking months in advance is a must.

Amazing food and exceptional service

“Silke and her team catered our wedding in Wanaka. The food was amazing and the service was exceptional. They were very flexible in how things could be done, we essentially worked out a blueprint together and they made it happen, without any stress. There’s honestly nothing more we wanted from a catering company.”

Nick Instone | Google Reviews

Impressive level of service

“In2Food did the catering for our wedding and we were very impressed with their professionalism, level of service, and, of course, their delicious food. We had a few guests, including myself, who had dietary requirements, and the staff took care to ensure they were provided with meals throughout the event. Even our dogs were looked after by the staff. Thanks Silke for being so easy to communicate with and for the smooth running of the day. Highly recommend!”

Chantal Whitby | Google Reviews

2. Arctic Kitchen @Taste & Savour

Arctic Kitchen’s track record is impressive – some of their most flexible projects included a remote wedding during a snowstorm and a 5-day corporate conference. Needless to say, we find them a solid option, even for the most challenging events.

All the clients we interviewed agreed that the process with them is seamless and smooth. The communication is hassle-free and always on time – something we find valuable, as they also accommodate overseas clients.

Their wedding catering package is among their most popular, offering everything from wedding day breakfasts to birthday party dinners for over 100 guests. Like most caterers, menus are customisable as well for dietary needs.

As for the service, their staff are courteous and professional, interacting with guests politely and at top speed. On top of that, their platter-style presentations make the food feel more elevated than what the client paid for.

However, since they cater more for platter-style catering, your plated main options are quite limited. Nonetheless, if that’s the vision you’re going for, then they’re a cost-effective choice.

Great quality and quantity of food

“Awesome catering for our wedding, delivered mid snow storm to Moke Lake. Great quality and quantity of food. Highly recommend”

Olie Hargreaves | Google Reviews

Amazing to deal with

“The Artic Kitchen staff were amazing to deal with! We had catering from them for our wedding in Moke Lake! They were happy to deliver (even on a snowy day) – this type of service is exceptional and very appreciated! The communication between Chris and my mum who is located in Australia was hassle free. Everyone at our wedding complimented the food and was enjoyed by all! Thank you team for an amazing experience. Definitely recommend 👌”

Nikia Upson | Google Reviews

3. Chef Brendan Catering

For more premier services, we find Chef Brendan Catering to be a solid choice. They have a total of 28 years of international culinary experience, so the quality and taste of the dishes are truly the best selling point.

We love the high attention to detail they provide during the planning phase. According to a few clients from Australia, the team was very responsive via email, whether answering queries or making changes to the initial agreements.

Additionally, we especially liked that they offer end-to-end services. Their catering packages are comprehensive. They offer food preparation, on-site staff, bar service, setup, and clean-up.

They make a solid choice for intimate, personalised events and clients with limited vendor networks.

The pricing is also fair considering the quality of local and imported ingredients. The portions of food are generous, and there’s a variety of platters that can be customized based on guest preferences and dietary needs.

However, being a relatively small team means their availability and ability to scale up are limited. They may be best for smaller gatherings that are booked months in advance. 

Great attention to detail

“Chef Brendan catered our wedding of 100 people and we couldn’t be happier. Right from the first time we contacted them, Jo and Brendan showed a level of detail and expertise that we hadn’t encountered in the rest of our enquiries to caterers. On the day, Jo made everything so easy for us by making sure everything ran smoothly and the food Brendan cooked was amazing – all our guests told us the same thing. Would give more than 5 stars if I could!”

Mark Hampton | Google Reviews

Accommodating catering service

“Chef Brendan catered our wedding in April 2022. They were extremely easy to deal with, flexible and accommodating. Jo was very helpful and quick to respond to emails, which made planning our wedding much easier. The food was amazing and we felt that it was extremely good value for money! There were so many compliments on the food from our guests. We are so happy that we chose Chef Brendan for our wedding day! We would highly recommend Chef Brendan to anyone looking for caterers in the Central Otago area. Thank you so much!!”

Isabelle Carrick | Google Reviews

4. The Fox & Badger NZ 

As a boutique catering service, The Fox & Badger is among the most approachable and accommodating companies we’ve encountered. They have a thoughtful, hands-on approach, which we find most valuable for intimate events.

All the clients we’ve spoken to said that they’re easy to work with, especially when it comes to adjusting the menu for dietary needs. We also liked that they’re open to collaborative menu ideas, even non-conventional options. 

Despite their relatively small size, we find it commendable that they can service all types of events. They can do weddings, corporate events, and even more complex gatherings like festivals.

We also like thoughtful touches like containers for leftovers, which isn’t something we always see with other services.

Their range of food offerings also deserves a special mention, with options like beef brisket sliders, duck fat potatoes, and plant-based dishes. We appreciate that the flavours and presentation are of high quality.

Just take note that their rates are based on a custom basis – naturally, bigger and more complex events cost more. The lack of any fixed starting point leaves room for undisclosed rates, so we recommend requesting a detailed breakdown.

Nailed the catering

“Lindsay and Maz catered our wedding this past February and they absolutely nailed it.  They were so open to all my input as we designed the menu and how the day was going to flow.  We got so many compliments on the food that evening and for days after.  It was pleasure having the girls on site, I can recommend Fox & Badger for any event you’re thinking of!”

E Vallillee | Google Reviews

Awesome crew to work with

“The Fox & Badger catered our wedding and they were the most awesome crew to work with! Lindsay and Maria ensured the entire process was stress free and worked with us to design a menu that really reflected who we are as a couple. The food was absolutely amazing – I think every single guest raved (some still are months later) about how incredible the food was with many saying it was the best food they’d had in their life! I would 100% recommend, not only are they extremely talented chefs, they are also very genuine, kind people that will bend over backwards to work WITH you. Thank you again for making our day extraordinary.”

Ashleigh Wells | Google Reviews

5. Francesca’s Mobile Pizza

Realising most events prefer comfort food, Francesca’s Mobile Pizza got on our radar. They’re mobile caterers, run by a team that caters to weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations.

While their name seems to only suggest pizzas, they actually also offer thoughtful sides. They can prepare sharing platters and seasonal salads for guests who want a full spread. Dishes like pollo and zuchina pizzas are often mentioned as the best.

What’s even better is that they can accommodate dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan options upon request. They do this through custom-made versions of their signature selections.

The level of service is top-notch too – from setup to cleanup, they handle pretty much everything. At events, we noticed that they were very warm with guests, going beyond by maintaining an upbeat energy throughout the entire thing.

They go all out on their pizza toppings and their fresh dough. However, we noted a few inconsistencies when it comes to preparation and food quality. Compared with their past track record, though, this seems to be an outlier.

Delicious pizza 

“Jessica and Pete catered our wedding last August and were absolutely fabulous! So easy to deal with beforehand and on the day – they handled everything, were energetic and engaging with our guests, and the pizza was bloody delicious!! We’ve also had their pizza a few times when they’re out and about and it’s perfect 👌 …”

Meredith Gee | Google Reviews

Fair food prices 

“Best pizza we’ve had in new Zealand and we’ve had a few! Fair prices too! Just yum. We ate their pizza when they were running out the back of Cargo Pub and Bar at Nugget point. Highly recommend.”

Jem Law | Google Reviews