Skip to rankings
    BestQueenstownNZ City Guides
    Adventure capital · Editorial Top 10s

    Best Breweries & Craft Beer in Queenstown

    Last updated: September 2026

    Bungy, ski fields, fine dining, lake cruises and après — the adventure capital ranked Top 10 across every category by people on the ground.

    • 39+ categories
    • Top 10 lists
    • Tāhuna · Live
    Browse categoriesExplore the network
    Queenstown — Best-of city guide hero
    39categories39ranked lists24/7live updates
    Tāhuna · Live

    // Featured partners

    Sponsored
    Featured - Indo Kiwi Travel
    Bali & beyond, made effortless.

    Auckland's Indonesia & Asia travel specialists — tailor-made escapes.

    Plan your trip

    // Browse 39 categories

    Pick a category to explore Queenstown

    Best Breweries & Craft Beer in Queenstown

    Lakeside taprooms, riverside breweries and Shotover Street beer bars.

    ~/guide/breweries Live · 20266 listed

    Lakeside taprooms, riverside breweries and Shotover Street beer bars.

    Altitude Brewing at the Queenstown marina is the brewery to visit if you only visit one — it pours its own beer with a lake and mountain outlook. Searchlight Brewery at 12 Industrial Place is the locals' choice with a constantly rotating tap list, and Canyon Brewing at Arthurs Point pairs a big indoor-outdoor site with the Shotover River below.

    Queenstown's craft beer scene punches well above its weight, with lakeside taprooms, riverside breweries and Shotover Street beer bars pouring fresh local brews. Here are the best breweries and craft beer spots in and around town.

    Rankings are editorial; read how we choose and update places.

    • breweries Queenstown
    • craft beer Queenstown
    • taproom Queenstown
    • Queenstown brewery tour
    Top Pick
    #1

    Altitude Brewing

    Lakeside brewery and taproom by the Frankton marina with award-winning beers, rotating food trucks and stunning lake and mountain views.

    Frankton Marina
    $$Beer with a viewGroupsAn easy afternoon
    Booking
    Walk-in taproom at the Queenstown marina.
    Season
    Year-round. Frankton Track works mean a signposted detour along the Frankton Road footpath through 2026 if walking from town.
    Visit Maps
    #2

    Searchlight Brewery

    Independent Queenstown taproom with rotating taps, handpull cask ales, a sunny beer garden, fire pit and regular live music nights.

    Industrial Place, Queenstown
    $$Beer rangeLocalsTrying something new
    Booking
    Walk-in. 12 Industrial Place — a deliberate trip, not a walk-past.
    Season
    Year-round, with 19 constantly rotating taps.
    Visit Maps
    #3

    Canyon Brewing

    Microbrewery, taproom and restaurant at Arthurs Point pouring beers brewed onsite, with wood-fired pizza overlooking the Shotover River.

    Arthurs Point
    $$After the Shotover JetGroupsIndoor-outdoor space
    Booking
    Walk-in. Arthurs Point, above the Shotover River.
    Season
    Year-round; the outdoor terrace is the summer draw.
    Visit Maps
    #4

    Smiths Craft Beer House

    Shotover Street institution with 21 rotating taps of NZ's finest brews and an impressive reserve bottle selection.

    Shotover Street
    Visit Maps
    #5

    Atlas Beer Cafe

    Queenstown's home of craft beer at Steamer Wharf — a friendly, unpretentious favourite for taps, tapas and famous steaks.

    Steamer Wharf
    Visit Maps
    #6

    Cargo Brewery

    Small-batch, award-winning brewery operating from shipping containers in the Gibbston Valley, with an open-air tasting space.

    Gibbston
    Visit Maps

    Breweries in Queenstown — common questions

    Altitude Brewing, on the water at the Queenstown marina — its taproom looks straight out at the lake and mountains. Note that Frankton Track infrastructure works mean a signposted detour via the Frankton Road footpath is in place through 2026 if you are walking there.

    Searchlight Brewery at 12 Industrial Place runs 19 taps that rotate constantly, spanning West Coast IPAs, sours, lagers and hazies. It is the only brewery in that pocket of town and is a deliberate detour rather than a walk-past.

    Altitude Brewing at the marina is the closest to town on foot via the Frankton Track, currently detoured onto the Frankton Road footpath. Searchlight and Canyon Brewing both need a short drive, taxi or rideshare.

    Yes — Canyon Brewing is at Arthurs Point, above the Shotover River and close to the Shotover Jet base, with generous indoor and outdoor seating. The Cargo taproom is also at Arthurs Point, at Gantley’s.

    // You might also like

    Keep exploring Queenstown

    Bars & Nightlife

    Cocktails & lake bars

    Wineries

    Cellar doors instead

    Restaurants

    Sit-down dining

    Things to Do

    Build a full day out

    // Same list, other cities

    Best breweries in Auckland & Wellington

    Ranked to the same editorial standard as this page, by the same team.

    // Browse by suburb

    Popular Queenstown suburbs

    Best of Queenstown Central (127)Best of Frankton (87)Best of Arrowtown (16)Best of Gibbston (8)Best of Arthurs Point (4)