Atlas Beer Cafe

Tucked away behind Steamer Wharf on the edge of Lake Whakatipu, Queenstown’s Atlas Beer Cafe prides itself on maintaining a small footprint while going big on the atmosphere. Here you’ll find hordes of locals and out-of-towners coming together all week long for a refreshing pint, well-executed pub grub and 10/10 vibes. 

The place is forever humming, with crowds spilling into the outdoor area, dogs happily roaming around (with a steak from the dog menu if they’ve been especially good), outdoor fires casting a warm glow in winter, views stealing the show, hand-painted illustrations doodled over the walls, and quirky bathrooms sparking conversation (we’ll leave you to discover that last one for yourself). 

Built in 2010, Atlas has grown from pouring a modest three taps to a staggering 24 – with much of the liquid gold coming directly from nearby breweries such as Altitude Brewing and Crimson Badger Brewing. There’s also local kombuchas, wine and excellent coffee to keep you buzzed. After a day on the ski slopes or mountain bike trails, there’s no better place to recharge with punchy tacos, loaded fries, hearty bar snacks, burgers, steaks and heaps of vegan options – and you’d never know it was all coming out of one of the town’s smallest kitchens.

As well as looking after our taste buds, Atlas is also a huge supporter of the local mountain bike community and has put on various events to help QMTBC build and maintain the bike trails we all love – raising more than $100,000 over the years. Now that’s worth toasting to.