Sunfire Queenstown

About Sunfire Queenstown

Sunfire is a casual dining restaurant on Queenstown's lake edge at Steamer Wharf, open all day every day from breakfast mimosas through to relaxed dinners with friends. It's the brother restaurant of the critically-acclaimed Flame Bar & Grill, created by Flame's owners Jonathan Bisley and Lou McDowell as an outlet to explore new culinary styles.

Jonathan found his inspiration for Sunfire on a culinary scouting trip to Barcelona, drawn to the primal alchemy of charcoal grilling. He imported state-of-the-art charcoal Josper ovens capable of delivering consistent smoky, searing heat, and alongside Executive Chef Shane Avant has coaxed distinctive flavours from some of New Zealand's best food producers, including Lumina Lamb, 55-day aged beef, Bostock's organic free-range chicken, Ruakaka Kingfish, Royalburn Eggs, Remarkable Mushrooms and Redbridge Strawberries.

The kitchen sears over charcoal in the Josper oven, smokes bacon, salmon and tomatoes over applewood, and makes fresh ricotta, labneh, harissa, dressings, sauces and jus in-house, with its own butchery guaranteeing the finest cuts.

Sunfire: Charcoal-Fired Flavour on Queenstown's Lake Edge

On the ground floor of Steamer Wharf at 88 Beach Street, Sunfire has become Queenstown's all-day home for mimosas at breakfast, lazy long lunches and relaxed dinners with friends. It's the brother restaurant of the critically-acclaimed Flame Bar & Grill, born out of owners Jonathan Bisley and Lou McDowell's search for a new outlet for their creativity.

From Barcelona to Beach Street

Jonathan found his inspiration for Sunfire on a culinary scouting trip to Barcelona, captivated by the primal alchemy of charcoal grilling and the flavours that come from cooking over hot embers. He imported state-of-the-art charcoal Josper ovens capable of delivering consistent smoky, searing heat, and alongside Executive Chef Shane Avant has spent time refining how to draw the best out of some of New Zealand's finest food producers - Lumina Lamb, 55-day aged beef, Bostock's organic free-range chicken, Ruakaka Kingfish, Royalburn Eggs, Remarkable Mushrooms and Redbridge Strawberries among them.

Crafted With Care

Everything at Sunfire is built around the Josper oven, which sears, smokes and grills simultaneously. Bacon, salmon and tomatoes are smoked over applewood, while the kitchen prepares fresh ricotta, labneh, harissa, dressings, sauces and jus in-house, backed by an in-house butchery for the finest cuts.

From Breakfast Mimosas to Josper-Fired Steaks

Breakfast runs from 8:30am to 11:30am with dishes like the Sunfire Big Brekkie and a Fire Roasted Shakshuka, alongside breakfast cocktails such as the Mandarin Mimosa and Sunfire Bloody Mary. Lunch and dinner bring small plates built for sharing - oysters, taquitos, burrata, Mozambique prawns - through to Josper-fired steaks like the 300g Rib Eye and 200g Eye Fillet, all cut from 55-day aged, hand-picked beef. Seafood runs deep too, from a Sunfire Seafood Chowder to a Chatham Island Crayfish Roll and a full Seafood Tower for the table, loaded with oysters, king prawns, crayfish tails and green lipped mussels.

Visiting Sunfire

Sunfire is open seven days a week from 8:30am until late, with breakfast served 8:30-11:30, lunch 12:00-16:45, and dinner from 5:00pm with last orders at 10:00pm. Walk-ins are always welcome, though reservations are encouraged to secure a preferred time. Sunfire is located on the Ground Floor of Steamer Wharf, 88 Beach Street, Queenstown.

Signature items

• Sunfire Seafood Tower
• 300g Rib Eye
• Sunfire Big Brekkie
• Mozambique Prawns
• Chatham Island Crayfish Roll
• Duck

Menu

Sides

• Sunfire Fries — Parmesan, truffle mayo
• Leafy Greens — Parmesan, chardonnay vinaigrette or green goddess dressing
• Courgette — Ricotta, pinenuts, mint
• Roasted Beetroot — Maple, hazelnut gremolata, lemon
• Charred Cabbage — Tahini, walnuts, raisins
• Sunfire Potato Puree — With jus

Dinner Mains

• Chicken Kiev — Green peas, confit garlic, smoked bacon, edamame, cauliflower puree
• Free Range Pork Belly — Fennel, apple, chorizo, shallots, jus
• Gourmet Beef and Cheese Burger — House ground beef, red onion, pickle, tomato, cos, roasted tomato ketchup, Sunfire fries
• Market Seafood — Clams, prawns, market fish, bacon, smoked potato, veloute
• Marlborough King Salmon — Roasted tomato sauce, citrus fennel, charred lemon
• Duck — Braised leg, roasted breast, smoked kumara, mandarin, broccolini, jus

Seafood Tower

• Fresh Seasonal Oysters — Natural, with mignonette and lemon
• Taquitos — Fresh salmon, avocado, lime creme fraiche, chilli crunch, spring onion
• Skull Island King Prawns — Chilled, with Marie Rose sauce
• Chatham Island Crayfish Tails — Garlic butter
• Arrow Squid — Polenta spiced squid, roasted tomato sauce, crispy chilli
• Mozambique Prawns — Peri peri cream
• Green Lipped Mussels — Creamy dill sauce
• Beer Battered Snapper — House tartare

Lunch (12noon-5pm)

• Sunfire Seafood Chowder — Served with garlic bread
• Caesar Salad — Cos, bacon, parmesan, poached egg, croutons, white anchovies, Sunfire caesar dressing; add basted chicken breast
• Grilled Halloumi Salad — Roasted vegetables, smoked tomato, soft egg, croutons, green goddess dressing
• Gnocchi — Remarkable wild mushrooms, shallots, spinach, hazelnuts, truffle
• Grilled Snapper Fillet — White bean salad, salsa verde
• Pork Ribs and Chips — Basted, charred, Sunfire fries
• Beef and Cheese Burger — House ground beef, red onion, pickle, tomato, cos, roasted tomato ketchup, Sunfire fries
• Mozambique Burger — Peri peri chicken breast, red onion, pickle, cos, tomato, roasted tomato ketchup, Sunfire fries
• Steak Frites — 200g ribeye, cafe de paris sauce, Sunfire fries; upgrade to 300g
• Eye Fillet — 150g fillet, confit garlic, red wine jus, Sunfire fries

Breakfast Cocktails

• Mandarin Mimosa — Cloudy Bay Pelorus, yuzu sake, mandarin puree, orange, whites
• Sunfire Bloody Mary — Belvedere, tomato, Sunfire spices, fresh lemon, horseradish, celery

Dinner Small Plates

• St Louis Pork Ribs — Basted, charred
• Lamb Skewer — Harissa, smoked eggplant, roasted tomato sauce, yoghurt, shallot, mint

Freshly Made Juices

• The Simple Green — Celery, apple, cucumber, spinach, lemon, fresh ginger
• ABC Miracle Juice — Apple, beetroot, carrot, orange, fresh ginger
• The Sunny C — Orange, kiwifruit, pineapple, lemon, mint

Josper Fired Steaks

• 200g Eye Fillet Steak — 55-day aged, confit garlic, smoked tomato, spinach, wild mushrooms, jus
• 300g Rib Eye — 55-day aged, shallots, smoked tomato, spinach, chimichurri, jus
• 250g Sirloin — 55-day aged, served with jus

Breakfast (8:30am-11:30am)

• Sunfire Big Brekkie — Applewood smoked bacon, housemade pork sausage, potato rosti, chakalaka beans, spinach, mushroom, two eggs anyway, charred flat bread
• Fire Roasted Shakshuka — Spiced tomato sauce, baked eggs, avocado, labneh, baby spinach, charred flat bread
• Buttermilk Pancakes — Vanilla strawberry compote, hazelnuts, creme fraiche
• Sweetcorn Cakes — Spinach, two poached eggs, smoked tomato, avocado, chilli oil, labneh
• Breakfast Burger — Milk bun, chorizo pattie, house smoked bacon, spinach, caramelised onions, fried egg, HP sauce, Sunfire fries
• Sunfire Eggs Bene — Muffin, spinach, two poached eggs, peri peri hollandaise; add smoked bacon, halloumi or hot smoked salmon
• Fitness Toast — Smashed edamame, avocado, mint, smoked feta, crispy chilli, poached eggs
• Lemon Curd French Toast — Brulee banana, blueberries, vanilla mascarpone, toasted coconut
• Maple Toasted Granola — Seasonal fruits, greek yoghurt

Lunch Small Plates (Great To Share)

• Cheese Balls — House baked deliciousness, 4 pieces
• Seasonal Oysters — Natural with lemon and mignonette
• Taquitos — Fresh salmon, avocado, lime creme fraiche, chilli crunch, spring onion
• Arrow Squid — Polenta spiced squid, roasted tomato sauce, crispy chilli
• Mushroom Parfait — Remarkable mushrooms, sourdough
• Mozambique Prawns — Prawns, peri peri cream, puffed rosemary rice
• Burrata — Blistered cherry tomatoes, basil, sherry vinegar, sourdough
• Kingfish Crudo — Yuzu, mandarin, chilli, grapes, pickled shallots
• Crayfish Roll — Chatham Island crayfish, toasted brioche bun, lemon

Frequently asked questions

Where is Sunfire located?

Ground Floor, Steamer Wharf, 88 Beach Street, Queenstown.

What are Sunfire's opening hours?

Open 7 days from 8:30am until late - breakfast 8:30-11:30, lunch 12:00-16:45, dinner 5:00pm with last orders at 10:00pm.

Do I need a reservation?

Walk-ins are always welcome, but reservations are encouraged to secure your preferred dining time.

Is Sunfire related to Flame Bar & Grill?

Yes, Sunfire is the brother restaurant of Flame Bar & Grill, from the same owners.

What makes the food at Sunfire distinctive?

Much of the menu is cooked in a charcoal Josper oven, which sears, smokes and grills at once, alongside in-house butchery and house-made sauces.

Does Sunfire have a seafood tower?

Yes, a Seafood Tower featuring oysters, crayfish, king prawns and mussels is available to share.

Are gift cards available?

Yes, gift vouchers can be purchased through the website.

Tips

• {"body":"Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations help secure your preferred slot.","title":"Book ahead for prime times"}
• {"body":"A full tower of oysters, crayfish, prawns and mussels is available to share.","title":"Share the Seafood Tower"}
• {"body":"All steaks are 55-day aged and cooked in the charcoal Josper oven.","title":"Try a Josper-fired steak"}
• {"body":"The Mandarin Mimosa and Sunfire Bloody Mary are on the breakfast menu.","title":"Start the day with a breakfast cocktail"}