Jessica H.
Yelp
This place is great for drinking, but not so much for eating.
Smith's is located in an upstairs space in central Queenstown, with a nice view out over the main drag (Shotover) and a peekaboo view of the mountains in the background. Smith's has a nice sheltered outdoor seating area as well. (Still too cold in the winter months, but it would be amazing once it gets warmer out.) Decor is kind of lumberjack-meets-university-bar, which I love.
Their craft beer list is extensive, obviously, with lots of awesome options for all types of beer lovers. The service is friendly and knowledgeable, and the vibe is laid back and pleasant. It's one of the few places in Queenstown that doesn't feel touristy, even though it *is* touristy. But when you're here, you feel more like a local and less like a tourist -- probably because the atmosphere is way more rough-and-tumble than sleek and trendy. Really a great place to enjoy a relaxed beer or cider while gazing out the wide windows at the view.
But let's talk about the food. The food here is quite heavy and greasy, and not really in an enjoyable way. We came for dinner (and drinks) and we all left feeling kind of gross, like our red blood cells were suspended in oil -- the oil that our meals seemed to be drenched in. And we are no health nuts -- we usually like our dose of grease. I for one was excited to try my meal, called "Jen's Vegan Burger" on the menu, made out of beetroot and sweet potato (called "kumera" in New Zealand). While it tasted nice, it was just too greasy. The fries that accompanied all our meals were also too greasy, and over-seasoned as heck. I don't think I've ever had so much pepper in my life.
So, 3/5 for food and 5/5 for drinks, averaging out to 4/5. I hate being critical of any place that puts a vegan burger on their menu, especially a mildly grungy place like this that no doubt attracts a lot of devoted meat-lovers, but the food was just too oily and heavy (even for pub food) to rate it any higher. Come for the drinking atmosphere, not the food -- unless super-greasy is your thing.