Within the hustle and bustle of Queenstown, there's a hidden gem of a place that we're going to talk about today. Wild Thyme Bar & Kitchen is the restaurant located in the SkyCity Queenstown Casino, which is one of the five New Zealand's land-based casinos operated by the SkyCity Casino brand.
SkyCity Casino New Zealand knows not only good games, but also good food. Wild Thyme Bar & Kitchen offers a curated menu that could satisfy even the pickiest of eaters, and we can't wait to tell you more about this great restaurant.
Location and Opening Hours
Let's start with the location, because you can't enjoy a good meal if you can't find the restaurant. Wild Thyme Bar & Kitchen is situated in the same building as SkyCity Casino Queenstown. The address is Stratton House, 16-24 Beach Street, Queenstown 9300 (Level 2 for the restaurant).
The opening hours depend on the day. From Wednesday to Sunday, the restaurant is open between 12 pm and 10 pm, serving lunch and dinner. On Tuesday, the restaurant is open from 11 am till late, serving their Snack menu. Wild Thyme Bar & Kitchen is closed on Monday.
By contrast, SkyCity Casino in New Zealand is open every day between 12 pm and 12 am, with different opening hours on big holidays. If you're planning on going to the casino and grabbing a bite at Wild Thyme Bar & Kitchen, make sure you check the timetable and book a table accordingly, because it gets busy.
Another thing to keep in mind is the Sky City casino age limit. You have to be 20 years old or older to enter and this applies to Wild Thyme Bar & Kitchen as well.
Food at Wild Thyme Bar & Kitchen
It's now time to get to the good part – the carefully curated menu of Wild Thyme Bar & Kitchen. There are three separate menus for the three different meals served during the day. Between Wednesday and Sunday, you can enjoy a nice lunch or dinner at the restaurant, while on Tuesday, you can try the Snack menu.
Lunch is served between 12 pm and 4 pm. You can get a lunch loyalty card if you're a local! Some of the meals on the lunch menu overlap with those on the dinner menu, such as desserts and a few entrees, but there are others you can only order then.
These include, but are not limited to, a mouthwatering SBLT Sandwich with juicy rump steak and a fresh Tandoori Chicken Wrap. We also recommend being a little bit adventurous and trying the Soup of the Day, which is only available at lunch and is different every day, made with fresh produce.
Dinner is served between 6 pm and 10 pm, and the dinner menu offers just as delicious options. Some items that you can only order then are the Lamb Shank with creamy garlic mash and the Ginger Chicken Salad. You can also try their signature meals the Lamb Gambler dish or the Beef and Guinness (served at lunch and dinner).
In terms of desserts, Wild Thyme Bar & Kitchen is famous for its Banoffee Pie and its fresh ice cream. You can also indulge in coffee and the Cake of the Day.
If you visit on Tuesday, make sure you're there around 11 am to try the Snack menu. The highlight of the menu is the flatbread pizzas that you can combine with appetizers such as Poutine and their famous Kumari Fries.
Drinks at Wild Thyme Bar & Kitchen
Wild Thyme Bar & Kitchen has a drinks menu to make your day or evening unforgettable. You can find all types of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks there.
Wild Thyme Bar & Kitchen offers a wide variety of hot drinks like tea and every coffee drink. There are also more than a few brands available for every type of alcohol (e.g., rum, vodka, bourbon).
The wine list is extensive, which is to be expected since New Zealand is among the largest producers of wine. We recommend wines from Marlborough and Central Otago (whether whites or reds) if you want to experience the richness of local New Zealand wine.
If you're more of a beer person, Wild Thyme Bar & Kitchen has a rich selection of bottled and canned beer such as the popular Corona and Stella Artois and some craft beers like Emersons Orange Roughy and Panhead Quickchange. For some authentic New Zealand experience, try the Steinlager draft beer.
Naturally, the bar also serves cocktails. You can discover the most popular mixes, along with some signature cocktails there. We recommend trying the Lucky Lychee if you're feeling like having something new; the cocktail is marketed as "an alcoholic sorbet" mixing two types of alcohol and fresh fruits.
Thoughts
Overall, we recommend Wild Thyme Bar & Kitchen. It has a lovely rustic, yet modern interior, fantastic atmosphere, and it prides itself on using fresh local produce. All these things explain why it's such a hot spot in Queensland, favoured by locals and tourists alike.
What do you think of Wild Thyme Bar & Kitchen? Have you visited it before or are you planning to? Let us know!
