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 2008, 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. Keen on keeping things local, there’s also a range of Kiwi kombuchas, spirits and wines on offer to keep you topped up. After a day on the ski slopes or mountain bike trails, there’s no better place to recharge with punchy tacos, poutine, 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.