While Queenstown is well known for its many great eateries, the small town of Arrowtown, just 15 minutes away has an enviable, if not better selection of restaurants.

Saffron Restaurant

Arrowtown was originally a mining town and has successfully retained its charm with many of the early miners cottages intact along the main drag, Buckingham Street.

Our all time favourite restaurant is Saffron, where the food is consistently first-class. In our short stay we managed to have not one, but two delicious meals and this is a sample of what we ate.

Mel and Pete, owners of Saffron, dominate a little eating precinct at the beginning of Buckingham Street, with Saffron on the street frontage. The adjacent lane leads up to The Blue Door – ‘the best small bar in the world’. With its unassuming blue door, the paint work is chipped and there is no signage, but once inside you’ll never forget it.

It’s like a  bunker and was dug out by Pete and Mel, creating an intimate and cosy setting around a large fire. The rustic furniture, wine barrels, low ceiling and dim lighting produce an amazing ambiance.

The Blue Door is a great way to start or finish an evening, or you can stay all night and eat from Saffron’s menu in front of the fire or Pete and Mel’s other restaurant at the top of the lane, Agave.

Agave serves Mexican food and pizzas, for diners wanting more casual food.

Whether you are staying in Queenstown, Millbrook Resort or Arrowtown, a night at at The Blue Door and Saffron will be a highlight of your holiday.