Restaurants

The Cow

Cow Lane, Queenstown 9300

Rating: 4.3 ★ (1658 ratings)

Details

The Cow is a true Queenstown institution, nestled within a historic stone stable on Cow Lane, offering a distinctively rustic and warm atmosphere. The softly lit interior, complete with an inviting open fireplace, creates a cosy and enduring character that feels like a welcoming mountain hideaway. This unique setting, largely unchanged for decades, provides a charming escape that stands out amongst the town's dining options.

Famed for its bona fide Italian country-style cuisine, The Cow has maintained its iconic pizza and spaghetti menu since opening its doors in 1977. Diners can savour hearty dishes such as the much-loved chicken liver pasta or classic pizzas like Her Majesty's Pleasure and Portofino, alongside fresh homemade bread and nourishing soups. Portions are generous, with many pizzas easily feeding two, ensuring a satisfying and delicious culinary experience.

This beloved eatery is particularly well-suited for both locals and visitors seeking a relaxed and informal meal in a distinctive environment. Its comfortable ambiance and substantial comfort food make it an excellent choice for families, friends, or anyone looking to unwind after a day's adventures, especially with its walk-in only policy and a cosy bar area for those awaiting a table.

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Location

Opening Hours

Monday: 12:00 – 10:30 PM | Tuesday: 12:00 – 10:30 PM | Wednesday: 12:00 – 10:30 PM | Thursday: 12:00 – 10:30 PM | Friday: 12:00 – 10:30 PM | Saturday: 12:00 – 10:30 PM | Sunday: 12:00 – 10:30 PM

Contact

+64 3 442 8588 | http://www.thecowpizza.co.nz/

Comments

Carolyn Wei
3 Sep 2026
5.0 ★
The best garlic bread you can ever find is here! It comes as a big loaf, and you can spread as much garlic butter as you please.

The pizza and mushroom soup also pretty good. The garden salad was very raw with raw mushrooms, so maybe order based on personal preference.

Atmosphere is great, very antique decorations and cozy fireplace inside, so you will smell like smoke when you finish eating 😅
Nate Lai
10 Aug 2026
5.0 ★
We came here for a late lunch after a few nights of unsuccessful walk ins for dinner. Love the vibe of this restaurant it felt like a tavern and was very dark and warm but also cozy with the fireplace. The wait staff were all super friendly too. Garlic bread was absolutely amazing and we couldn’t stop eating it. Ordered a large half-half pizza (Margherita/ bolognese) and this may be one of the best pizzas I’ve had in a long while. The crust was the right thickness and the bottom was perfectly crispy. I will say that the bolognese pizza was something I’ve never tried before and we all thought it was delicious. I was expecting it to be runny but actually the consistency was perfect without being too heavy or getting the bread wet. I think ordering this as one half was a good choice as one slice was actually very filling. Also ordered some spaghetti which was delicious but nothing overly special. Soup of the day was a mushroom soup which was also really good, not too goopy like some mushroom soups and had so much flavour. Really glad we got a chance to try this place but will definitely say coming here at night will be pretty challenging if you’re hungry and can’t wait.
Louisa Pretorius
16 Jul 2026
5.0 ★
Absolutely fantastic! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The garlic bread was incredible, and the pasta was simply the best. The atmosphere was perfect—warm, lively, and welcoming. We had to wait a little while for a table, but it was definitely worth it. An amazing dining experience—we’ll definitely be back!
Corinne ALLAN
5 Jul 2026
5.0 ★
Absolutely loved the warm vibes of The Cow. It is such a beautiful break from the wintery streets. The garlic bread loaf is THE BEST ever, make sure to order this with your meal. Our girls ordered the pasta which was delicious and quite big for only half portions. The Prosecco was nice and light too. Thanks for the great service.
Sarah
28 Jun 2026
5.0 ★
We’ve been to the cow a few times over the years and everytime we visit Queenstown we go to the cow. It’s consistent in terms of the service, atmosphere and food.

The food was great - one of our best meals in Queenstown. Good portion sizes and quick (important with 3 kids!). We had the garlic loaf and spaghetti - delicious!

Would recommend getting there early if you don’t want to wait - as they don’t take bookings.

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