Vudu Cafe

A long line in the morning with minimal seating available, but by the time we were ordering food a table opened up. The staff were quick and friendly, and the food was tasty! Recommend and would go back. We got the avocado toast and seared veg bowl. I enjoyed a berry smoothie too but the chai latte wasn’t the greatest.

I visited this cafe every morning when I was in Queenstown. The excellent bakery, coffee and friendly staff made me believe this is the best cafe in the town. The cheese scone is the best I had. It’s amazing and the price was reasonable. After that, I went to Wanaka and ordered the same at another cafe, only to find Vudu’s was even super excellent. The view was another thing I enjoyed most. The outside place was super cozy with great sunshine (if sunny) and lake views.

Awesome! Great staff, great food, good coffee, no-fuss free wifi. Pricey but worth it. They say their carrot cake is famous and I can testify it's really good; probably the best I've ever had. Large portion and not too sweet. Recommended.

5 stars on all accounts! Staff are friendly, helpful and timely. The atmosphere is wonderful, with a huge colourised poster of early Queenstown, beautiful lighting fixtures and comfortably sized seating and tables. Of course, the most important aspect is the food. While pricey, it's not substantially higher than other cafes in the region but it delivers exceptional quality, both in terms of presentation and flavour. The food is richly flavoured, with a good textural variety exceeding expectations. The obviously intentional choice of components is also excellent - usage of a crispy base layer (e.g. Toast or panko crumbs) to mop up sauces without becoming a soggy mess, sauces themselves seem to be home made (the hollandaise has that iconic 'layered' texture from not being overmixed) and good usage of supporting flavours/textures to improve edibility and cut through the richness (I note chives and basil are used for this). Aside from the actual consumption, the presentation is also fantastic, with dishes plated beautifully and generously. The effort really shows and there's an incredible attention to detail - your staff should be extremely proud of themselves. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

The Green Goddess sandwich is soooo good. What a wonderful mixture of texture & flavors. Never had a vegetarian sandwich so tasty. Every bite was a different flavor. The blueberry French toast was exquisite. Lots of blueberry flavor. We’ll be back here on our next Queenstown visit

The food is excellent, servings are large and services are excellent. Tried the mushroom egg benedict and french toast for the first day, absolutely brilliant. Came back on the other day and tried the lamb stew. Meat is soft without muttony and the sauce is perfectly fit.

Great food. Service slow due to the busyness and lack of space inside when you line up to be served. A better system needs to be out in place. Perhaps a takeaway only line outside to takeaway the pressure inside. Food is good.

We sat outside, we didn’t wait for a table at ten. The staff are soooo nice! The coffee is amazing. I had an almond cap and it was not too strong not too weak. We got the apple crumble pancakes and chai spiced porridge and they were amazingly delicious and warming. The French waitresses are the best and deserve a pay rise.

Got the flat white here plus the ginger crunch bar - it was too good! It's a cute place with a really nice outdoor area overlooking the water. I need to come back every day I'm here to try all the yummy pasteries

A friend recommended this place to me so on one of the mornings I got up to try it out. I came in around 7:30am and there were only a few other tables occupied. I ordered my go-to breakfast item, which is their Vudu Benedict ($30NZD), along with a cup of their Housemade Lemon Honey Ginger ($6). You order at their counter in the middle of the shop, and then they give you a number to take to your table. The tea came out pretty quickly, and the benedict followed maybe about 10 minutes after. The benedict was good, and while there was only 1 egg, the whole thing stuffed me for hours afterwards. The bread at the bottom was definitely the most filling part, and I was struggling to finish it all. They had a glass display with various bakery items, and they looked so good I was so tempted to get something even though I was stuffed from the benedict. If I ever come back to Queenstown I would definitely be coming back here to try some of those bakery items.

What a darling little spot! I stopped in here for a little midday break as I waited for my partner to arrive, and gladly treated myself to some goodies here. This is a small, unassuming and narrow cafe that is easy to walk by - their signage for the front door is easy to miss. But inside, it's a stunning space with greenery, two floors, and a surprising amount of seating. They had a pastry and dessert case that I simply could not resist, and I got this delicious millionare bar-esque treat that was sinful. I got a matcha as well that paired well with the chocolate deliciousness. You can find a sparkling and still water station here as well, plus wifi.

Cute little cafe with plenty of seating both inside and outside where you can enjoy your meal overlooking the water. They have a full menu as well as a well stocked cabinet, with plenty of vegan options. Most of the vegan cabinet items were desserts and sweet pastries, except for a daily salad and a veggie fritter. I had the fritter, which was delicious. It is pretty busy and a little crowded in the ordering area, but there is lots of space outside.

Vudu Café and Larder in Queenstown is a spot on the water. We ate breakfast here and they all types of juices and smoothies. I built my own breakfast which included eggs, season veggies and the hashbrowns. Don't skip the hashbrowns--they're golden, crispy, and almost like fried bread. The café's waterfront location keeps you close to the action, making it the perfect spot to start your day.

Love love loved it! It's a counter order kind of place where you place your order and then take a seat with a card with you number. The wait isn't too long and the cafe offers free half hour of WiFi while you wait so it's nice for tourists. We ordered the Piña colada French toast and vudu Benedict and both were greatly enjoyed. My pina colada French toast was phenomenally executed with interesting and unexpected flavor combinations of spiced rum pouring cream, orange and pineapple chunks and fluffy and moist brioche French toast. I thoroughly enjoyed every single bite! They have indoor and outdoor seating and everything moves fairly fast . Highly recommend for Queenstown brunch!!

One of the best breakfasts we had during our time in Queenstown! We highly recommend.

Researching early morning, pre-9am, breakfast spots in the area, I found myself drooling over photos of Vudu's breakfast platters and stopped by to try them for ourselves. Inside the place is quite small & narrow, with limited seating, and an order at the counter-take a number to your seat-table service process. While ordering, though we were the only ones in line, we felt super rushed- I attempted to inquire about some menu items and ingredients, but the responses weren't friendly nor welcoming from staff. For example, I wanted to know the difference between a salmon frittata and the salmon fritter, I was just told, 'they're two different things.'...'I know, but do the ingredients differ or just shapes?'...'they're different options, are you ready to order?' I felt stressed out and just picked quickly, feeling limited on time to fully look over the pre-made bakery items. We settled on a pork belly benedict, winter carrot cake granola yogurt bowl, salmon frittata, and a side of haloumi. After ordering, the crowd picked up, and it seemed food preparation took a back seat to immediate coffee orders, so we waited awhile before we were served. The food presentation was absolutely gorgeous, all the woes initially immediately melted away, as I was ready to dive in and enjoy. However everything sort of missed the mark because of one issue or another. The pork belly benedict was super salty, the winter granola bowl lacked yogurt to balance out the granola, and the frittata was overwhelmed with capers- to the point I had to pick out capers, smother in sauce, and try to cut the flavor profile. Prices were ok, not as reasonable as some other eateries in the area, and for the quality I would say meh. Overall, they were beautifully plated meals, I'm glad to have the opportunity to try on my own, but wouldn't try again. Demeanor and dishes need some improvement.

Wanted to get some breakfast & coffee, and although there is a Starbucks around the corner, I wanted to give a local place a go. The layout of the cafe is a bit cramped and there is a lot of coming and going, but once you place your order, you can sit back and appreciate the ambience. I had a lot of time to sit back and appreciate, so much that my husband got and ate his breakfast as I sadly watched my food being delivered to another customer. Eventually I got my food, the eggs Benedict, and it was great. The dude that got my food didn't even touch it and he has no idea what he missed.

Came year three years ago and fell in love. Avocado toast with chia pudding and a green shot were amazing. They don't serve it altogether anymore, so ordered individual items separately and did not disappoint! All yum. Love their coffee, quality food, creamy avocado, and best chia pudding I've had. Bespoke is a sister place of it, which I shall try next. Friendly service, fast, ambiance is nice, outdoor patio seating available, quality food. My fave brekkie place thus far in Queenstown until I discover another. Happy to report, three years post pandemic, and quality food still stands :). Kia Ora, Queenstown!

TLDR: Better places available. Came here this morning just after opening and got a latte and the burger. The coffee came out fast and was ok (but not amazing). The burger took nearly 25 minutes to arrive (it comes with wedges, not fries). It was tasty and juicy (and it should be for the cost), but nothing special. There were several deliveries in and out of the main entrance which wasn't particularly pleasant, but it is a nice space.

Nice place. Very busy when we were here but pretty well run. Bean burrito was very good. Altitude Brewing makes excellent beer. Would return for sure.

Funky stylish cafe. If entering off waterfront it looks a bit grim squashed in but worthwhile once inside. Great selection of fresh delicious counter food. Good coffee and had a very tasty spinach, olive and cheese scone - fresh baked. Friendly staff.

My dad and I decided to try this place as it was only one of the few places that open before noon. It was packed so we had to wait. Their process was a little unique in that there's a person that gives you a number, you go and wait in line to order at the counter, and then you go to another line and wait for the first person to call your number to be seated. Once you are seated, they let people behind the counter know so they can prepare the food and drinks. We got the super bowl and the fritter and a macha latte. The super bowl, which contains two different types of rice, tofu, beetroot kraut, sweet potato and a peanut/ginger sauce. For extra, you can add either chicken or salmon. We got the salmon. The fritter is a cauliflower and tumeric fritter with kale and onions as well as tomato. The bowl was pretty good and hearty. A unique healthy way to get all your nutritients. The fritter was borderline ok for me. The first few bites were good, especially with the berry compote that it came with. However, the berry compote was not enough and I really needed it. Without the compote, I was only able to eat a few bites because it was heavy and rich and I needed something to cut the richness out, so I couldn't finish it. The matcha latte was ok, nothing special. Price was decent, not cheap, but not expensive either. Service could be a little better but it was crowded so that is some what understandable. Overall, it was just ok, nothing extraordinary.

DATE OF VISIT: end of February 2020 A great stop for breakfast! We stopped here on the morning before one of our tours and enjoyed our coffees and pastry by the beautiful view of Lake Wakatipu. We did not order off of the menu, as you can see by the many photos they have a entire case of pastries that vary. We had a savory pastry that was absolutely delicious! So even though their posted menu may not sound all that enticing, I highly recommend trying this place to see what's in their case! Seating is very limited indoors and outdoors but on par with a lot of the other restaurants in the area. There is also a front and back entrance that people can come in/out of which made it a little confusing for us at first, but everyone's friendly and will help out. They are known for their Vegan food and I think those are most of their high ratings - so if you're vegan, I think this would be a great stop for you. Would I return here when we come back to Queenstown? No. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here. The food is decent, but I always rate based on have I thought about them nonstop since we left and would I return.

They do not clean the silverware/cutlery. I watched the staff collect the forks and spoons and soak them in a bucket. Normal if they they went through a dishwasher but NO! I watched a server pull each piece out and wipe them with the same wet cloth and return them to the bin for reuse. Gross. Not to mention the service was slow, the seating was limited and the process to order take out lacking organization. People were lined up all which ways.

After seeing the copious amount of reviews on google (700+!), we were easily convinced to come check Vudu out. We came on a Monday afternoon and ordered an almond latte. The coffee flavor was strong and enjoyable. The price was similar to all other coffee shops around the area. We did not order any food but all the tables around us did and everything looked fresh and delicious! I definitely would come back to try their food!

Great spot for healthy juices (I like the green one and turmeric one) and desserts (lemon tart was yum). Nice, calm atmosphere, good outdoor seating, 30 min of free WiFi

The food I got here was much better than I had expected going in! My partner and I got a slow roasted pork belly burger and the vegan oat and quinoa porridge and we loved them both! The burger was juicy and flavourful and the porridge was delicious with maple roast banana and fruits. It can get pretty busy inside and the wait can get quite long, but I think it's worth the wait. You can sip on some amazing coffee while you wait for your meal. The service here is pretty good - they have specials that you can ask the waiters about. If you have the time, definitely come and try this cafe!

Good stuff - didn't get phased by the line and waited for a seating inside. Tornado weather outdoors at the time, bagels will be rolling down the street if one's not careful. The avocado with smash was yummy as expected. Eggs were poached masterfully. Also had the pleasure to order a few things to go: the fruit tart cake was simply amazing and not overly sweetened so you can actually taste the fruit instead of mouthful of sugar. The carrot cake was moist and delicious. And the japalpenos scone was [fire emoji]

Created by the same trio as Bespoke, this establishment somehow has way better food and service than Bespoke. Location is nestled in the heart of downtown near the waterfront area and we didn't have to wait long for a table. We tried the Pie, Grain Bowl, and Pancakes. All of which were very good and arrived timely and accurately. The plating is also nicely done but not overdone. There's ample indoor and outdoor seating both separated and communal. The drinks taste the same as Bespoke so there is consistency. They offer tap and sparkling water, big plus for us sparkling water lovers. You only get 30 minutes of wifi here though compared to the 45 at Bespoke - important piece for the international travelers!

Fantastic breakfast! Service was great and fast. Line was a little long but moved pretty quickly. Food: Buttermilk and buckwheat pancakes - light and fluffy. the raspberry sauce that came with it is absolutely amazing! And it went so well with the sweetness of the syrup. Chocolate croissant - warm and gooey with good dark chocolate. so hard to resist Latte - Very tasty. good and strong This was one of the best meals we had on our trip. Absolutely delicious!

Fantastic food and atmosphere. It gets super busy but the staff is on their game and kindly moving people in and out. Highly recommend!

This was our fav breakfast we had in Queenstown. Everything was incredible! The french toast with the pear (I think seasonal) was so good! I got the board with the avo toast, egg, and chia cup. The coffees were great too! We didn't get anything from their dessert fridge but everything looks amazing!!

This place is great. I wandered around looking for somewhere to get lunch and this was my stand out option. Menu has lots of variety and although it's popular the wait time is not long at all. They have a great system. I enjoyed poached eggs, mushrooms, avocado and tomato. Very good. The coffee is great too, with sparkling water free on tap. I'd definitely come here again.

Everything I had here was excellent from the quality of the food to the presentation. I am not a vegetarian but I really enjoy exploring the different flavors when I have an opportunity. I was only in Queenstown for 3 days but I ended up coming here twice!

Another popular place for breakfast here in Queenstown. Keep in mind if the seating outside aren't available due to weather you might wait a while. It's a counter service so you need to order first then grab a table. I gave it 4 stars because they have a lot of variety in their menu and the pastry looks yummy even though what we ordered was average. We came here with to satisfy our sweet tooth so we ordered the French toast and the crepe to share. Unfortunately they didn't satisfy our sweet tooth because they were using "healthy" ingredients which I'm guessing constrains less sugar. If someone is ordering French toast or crepe it shouldn't be healthy that's the whole point of ordering them or at least that's the way I think about it.

So many delicious treats and delicious coffees. Unfortunately this place is more than discovered. The place was jam packed and quite disorganized in the process of ordering and food takeout. I normally wouldn't mind as I was on vacation but when my coffee came out five minutes before my carrot loaf (it just required them to cut and put in the bag) I did get a bit annoyed. I did love the incredible selection for us gluten free folks. So definitely a visit but maybe on the off times.

Sister property of Bespoke, this place has a great casual vibe and has tons of options for vegans, vegetarians and gluten free folk. We went around lunch time which was jam packed and the line was long but moved quite fast. The trouble was trying to find a table to sit because of the confined space. The baked goods case has so many amazing choices that it's impossible to chose as you love through the line to make your way to the counter. We ordered the burger with fries which came on a black bun and made a fun burger to look at and tasted great. The fries were thick cut fries and can't really have bad fries - even soggy fries are good fries. The chicken pie was flakey and resembled a pot pie with curried chicken inside and steaming and bubbly which my husband enjoyed thoroughly. I Ordered the black rice pudding which was awful and rice is hard, has no sweetness and tastes like a mish mosh of random things thrown into a jar. I would say skip it. For my main meal, I got the pumpkin hash which was perfectly warm and filling and the dish is something I def recommend ordering! This dish can also be made vegan minus the egg!

Great little place to grab a bite to eat and relax. Vudu cafe has a great urban-style feel and has a lovely aesthetic. We stoped here last minute with a group of 4 people to try some of the popular local spots to eat - Vudu and recommended to us by some friends who had been through before and I was not disappointed. I ordered the meat pie (see the photo) which came with a chutney style sauce as well. Even though it was the end of the day when ingredients are normally not the best - this was delicious and I thoroughly enjoyed the pot pie. The crust was light and flaky, the inside rich and flavorful - a real popular item for sure! The prices here were fair and I think I spent less than $10 USD on the pot pie item, and was quite pleased at what I got for the value. This is a great place to stop and would definitely recommend the many delicious items here!

We stoped here for a late breakfast/early lunch and boy did we make the right call! The place was really busy but the staff was super friendly and professional and told us that there was a 15-20 min waiting for the tables but we could order food in the registrar and wait in the mean time. When they had a table for us they forwarded the food and it went really quickly from the moment we sat down. We ordered a juice, a chia-pudding, the vegan pancakes and the vegan mushroom-dish and it was AMAZING! Can not stress enough how good the food and drinks were. Would and will highly recommend this place!

I am fortunate enough to be in NZ for a second time (as an European). But being here, a definite must is VUDU! No stay in kiwiland without being in Vudu. This restaurant is the absolute best i've ever been in downunder! The food is so delicious, you just want to bite in everything you see, the staff is passionate and friendly about their work. Your meals are represented very nice with love to details. There is a bit of powder sugar, a dried orange on top of your pancakes, things like that make your stay here to a superspecial experience. Also at my current stay in queenstown, every breakfast i have enjoyed in Vudu, today i am going to add the third to my count. MUST-do when you are around!!!!!!

Still working her magic like your favourite ex, Vudu offers one of the best breakfast/brunch selections in Queenstown. Her cabinets are stocked with giant flower -laden cakes (even vegan options for the body conscious), breakfast burritos, and salads. Daily specials combine classic comfort food with locally sourced produce. The coffee and service are reliable. And the only problem you are likely to have is finding room to sit down and to stuff yourself with just one more treat. She sure knows how to make you miss her when you're gone.

They have a great selection of vegan, df, gf desserts here. I don't like chocolate but my coworker got a chocolate fudge from here and it wasn't very sweet. I usually cringe at sweet desserts but their chocolate was so delicious.

Beautiful lake views from the patio with blankets for cool days. Flat white was delicious. I had the daily special open faced quesadilla with bacon and eggs. Really tasty. Overall ambience and taste would bring me back again.

Fun, casual place where food doesn't just taste sooooo good but made to look really pretty! They have a different take on their food that makes healthy eating more fun. Coffee & fresh juices are really good as well. It's by the lake & there's communal seating outside. Love coming back here again & again every time we're in town.

Quaint feel with very good food and coffee/tea options. The house made honey, ginger tea was perfect on a cold and rainy day. The pumpkin and pine nut roll pie was an interesting flavor pairing and had a flaky, buttery crust. The pumpkin and potato hash with chipotle aioli was a wonderful combination of flavors, this is a great spot for breakfast or lunch.

Tasty, creative, beautifully presented dishes served right beside the waterfront in downtown Queenstown. The roasted banana served in its peel on the French toast dish and the delectable vegan cheesecake were the highlights. Though bustling for brunch on a Friday morning, we were seated quickly and our food came out fast.

Very cool cafe in the middle of Q Town. Like everything else in this beautiful town its cool and the people who work there care about what they are doing. I'm guessing they are pretty good at it too because we had a delicious brekky with a great coffee, and I think I saw a couple of spin off places like Bespoke Kitchen. Great spot!

This is a good spot for a tasty, casual, seated breakfast with lake views. My husband and I shared the mushroom and steak pie (very flavorful, but a tad overcooked), pork and sage sausage roll (tasty, but a bit dry and not as good as Fergbaker!), and a slice of banana bread (delicious and not too sweet, which we appreciated). Our long blacks were also quite good. We sat outside on the patio overlooking the lake, and the setting was beautiful and relaxing! (The street musician playing his guitar and singing nearby was awesome, and helped complete the pleasant setting!). The food came out fairly quickly, and was beautifully plated, which was a nice touch. The wait staff was attentive. Overall, a lovely breakfast spot!

Probably the best cafe in queenstown hands down. Large portions, free wifi, very fast service. I believe they even had free carbonated water! Not the largest cafe but outside of rush hours it didn't feel over crowded and i never had to wait for a seat. Great healthy options including vegan if you're looking. Oh, and the coffee is pretty darn good too.

Cute breakfast spot in Queenstown. Great ambiance! You order and pay at the register, and the food is served pretty fast. I ordered the eggs and bacon which was good. We got here around 9:30am on Monday morning. Pretty packed but it wasn't too difficult to find a table for 5. It's been a month since I took a break from drinking coffee, but this place makes me want to grab a cup. The drinks look very delicious!

I had the chorizo & olive frittata, the raw ginger slice & an americano with cream on the side. Great food, friendly service and a lake view as I ate at an outside table. If you go at 12.00 expect a queue, I came back at 1.00 and there were only 4 people in front of me.

Small cafe with some great vegetarian choices. Healthy vibe. Servers and staff are from Europe largely which, combined with the soundtrack, made the experience something slightly better than our breakfast at a place I will call Angry Brit Barrista place. Queenstown is full of outoftowners but I like the attitude of the Scandinavian girls at the Voodoo.

This place had a refreshingly good amount of variety and choice - so after many stops at small towns that offered very little, it was great to get to Queenstown and find more options to stomach. Amongst them Vudu Cafe was worth while - they had nice pastries and great smoothies. Thumbs up!

The avocado smash was super delicious! Lime guacamole, perfectly poached (very orange) eggs, grilled sourdough, and haloumi. They're all good separately and were even better together. It was so tasty that I'd be more than happy to plan another trip to NZ to have some more.

Excellent cappuccino and carrot cake. Service was also really friendly! We were drooling at all the other goodies people were ordering and in the display case. Our guide who is also a Queenstown resident recommended the place and we were really happy we stopped by. Definitely worth a visit or two.

Vudu Cafe and Larder is a great little breakfast place in Queenstown that I would recommend to anyone passing through. The cafe itself doesn't have all that much seating - it is scrunched into a long space - but does go back pretty deep. The decor is modern but does not lack in homeliness. It's really a very inviting place with friendly and attentive staff. The breakfast menu has essentially everything you'd want - from gluten-free/vegan muesli and oatmeal to eggs Benedict. I myself had the muesli, which was really elevated by the raspberry purée, dates, and coconut cream. My God, that coconut cream. I also had a long black - the coffee is quite good at this cafe, like most NZ cafes. My friends had the bacon and eggs - very good, I made sure of it. Overall, Vudu is great and if you are in Queenstown, I recommend that you give it a try.

A very chic cafe to say the least. It definitely stands out for his modern appearance. We got a basic breakfast with eggs and muesli with fruit, nondairy which was nice. I think they are best known for their coffee which was excellent