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Where can you eat the best burger in Queenstown? Well, it is at one of two places – Fergburger which is internationally famous, or Devil Burger which is the local favorite. I recently tried both places and this blog is my unbiased opinion about where I think you can get the best burger in Queenstown.
As New Zealand’s tourist hotspot, Queenstown offers some awesome food! There are literally dozens of restaurants and bars in Queenstown all within walking distance.
You can find basically any kind of food you could ever want – and a huge gourmet burger is no exception!
Many locals in Queenstown often debate about what is Queenstown’s best burger? This is largely due to Fergburger’s international fame which has created plenty of skeptics calling the burger joint overrated and suggesting that in fact, Devil Burger (a New Zealand burger chain) is actually much better!
So we decided to put both burger joints under the microscope and find out for ourselves where you can get Queenstown’s best burger!
Fergburger Vs. Devil Burger
While there are several places you could eat a good burger in Queenstown, two places, in particular, have claimed their name to fame, Fergburger and Devil Burger. These two burger joints are very similar but also very different.
It is the ultimate question among those who live in Queenstown “do you prefer Devil Burger or Fergbruger” and everyone has their favorite.
Last week I ate at both burger joints. I have carefully compared them and have decided who I think makes the best burger in Queenstown.
Note, neither Fergburger nor Devil Burger has endorsed this post and my opinion is entirely non-biased.
The Wait Time and Line-Up
The first thing that I must address when comparing Fergburger and Devil Burger is the wait time.
Fergburger has become internationally famous. Many blogs have written about how you must have a Fergubuger while in Queenstown and people actually take selfies with the burgers and post them on Instagram.
Fergburger has even earned itself a spot on TripAdvisor in terms of things to do in Queenstown!
For this reason, Fergburger is always busy! It isn’t just one of the most popular Queenstown restaurants, but a tourist attraction! If you are a tourist in Queenstown then waiting in line for a Fergburger is something you should do – you can’t come to Queenstown and not try Fergburger, right?
Fergburger during peak lunch hours and dinner hours is crazy, the line goes out the door and down the block just to order, let alone wait for the food. I have never walked by Fergburger and there wasn’t a line, even at 10 am in the morning.
It isn’t a question as to if there is a line-up, but rather how long is the line? To be fair, they do staff the place very well and generally, the wait isn’t too bad (but can be well over an hour at peak times.)
Hot tip: You can phone your order in at Fergburger ahead of time to skip the line. While this sounds great in theory, sometimes it can be very hard to get through on the phone.
Devil Burger is definitely less busy, it’s located on a less popular street and not as well known by tourists. In fact, Devil Burger is commonly referred to as “the local’s Ferg” as it is often visited by locals instead of just tourists like Fergburger.
The main reason why locals don’t go to Fergburger is due to the wait. So if you are out about already and looking for a place to eat and don’t want to brave the hectic crowds of selfie-taking tourists, Devil Burger it is!
If you want a quick feed, skip Ferg. Devil Burger takes the win on wait time.
The Atmosphere
Devil Burger has a bigger building with lots of seating and even a fireplace whereas Fergburger has a couple of wooden chairs that are almost always full.
The atmosphere at Fergburger is always crazy, there is nowhere to sit and people are everywhere. Many are waiting in line, and others are eating burgers standing in the middle of the sidewalk.
Fergburger and its craziness have become somewhat of a novelty, and as a tourist, it is something you should experience at least once!
While Devil Burger sometimes does get so busy that there aren’t enough seats for everyone, this is rare, and the location makes it a lot less chaotic. Both places serve beer and other drinks, but without a place to sit, I’m not sure having a beer is worth it.
To me, the best burger in Queenstown is best accompanied by a beer. So again, Devil Burger takes the cake (or should I say “burger) on this one!
Fergburger serves all their burgers in packaging for takeaway whereas Devil Burger asks if it is to stay or go, and if you stay, you get your burger served on a proper plate.
Devil Burger is definitely set up to be a place to sit down and enjoy more than Fergburger where they are just pumping out as many burgers as humanly possible.
I don’t overly enjoy having to eat standing up while being pushed around by tourists. Listening to music beside a fireplace is more my style, and for that reason, Devil Burger definitely has a better atmosphere.
A Closer Look At Both Burgers
This is the ultimate question, who actually makes the best burger in Queenstown? Both places have amazing burgers, large patties, and tons of options to choose from – so, let’s break it down!
Burger Patty
When it comes to beef burgers I have to say it’s a very hard choice. Both meat patties are seasoned really well and both came sized to the bun. However, I would slightly lean more towards Fergburgers patty as it was slightly juicier.
As for the chicken, Devil Burger wins! The best chicken burger I have ever had in my life was at Devil Burger. It was much juicier and tasty than the one I had at Ferg’s which was very dry!
Burger Bun
Fergburger easily wins when it comes to the bun. To be honest, I’m not sure why Devil Burger uses the bun they do! It’s far too floury and doesn’t have that freshly baked bread taste as Fergs does. This is likely due to Fergburger buns being baked at the Ferg Bakery next door!
Cheese
I love Blue Cheese so when I went to Fergburger and found out I could have it on my burger I was so excited! At Fergburger you can choose from 4 kinds of cheese to have on your burger. They are Swiss, Blue, Cheddar, or Brie Cheese.
To me, this makes Fergburgers cheese much better than Devil Burgers! If you too like to be able to choose from a selection of cheeses to have on your burger, then Fergburger wins.
Sauce
Both sauces at each place were tasty and had a large selection (most are already paired with a burger). However, I don’t like a large amount of sauce and I found Fergburgers was a bit excessive. Too much sauce takes away from the flavor of the burger so, in my opinion, Devil Burger wins here!
Menu Selection
Both places have 20 different burgers on offer and they hit all the meat groups and even have vegetarian options. So on selection, it is a draw!
Related Read: Walk off your burger and fries with one of these day hikes in Queenstown!
The Verdict
After close examination, I have to say the Fergburger has the best burger in Queenstown. The combination of bun, meat patty, and cheese selection means the overall flavor and texture is perfect and worthy of the hype!
It’s just something I believe everyone should try and is one of the top things to do in Queenstown!
If Devil Burger is reading this please change your bun, it’s often the biggest complaint from people when I bring up this very touchy Queenstown subject!
Who wins the battle for you, Fergburger or Devil Burger? I’d love to know your opinion in the comments.
Other Activities to do While You’re in Queenstown
Aside from eating delicious burgers, there are lots of other inexpensive things to do in and around Queenstown. I’ve included a few of them below along with some Queenstown activities that do cost a bit more, but are completely worth it!
- Visit Milford Sound – One of the most scenic places in New Zealand is Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park. To see it, book this Full-Day Milford Sound Experience which includes a scenic drive stopping at many of the best lakes, valleys, and tunnels before embarking on a 2-hour cruise through the fiords and waterfalls in Milford Sound. It will be a full day, but it’s an unforgettable experience!
- Visit a sheep farm – New Zealand has more sheep than people, so you must visit a sheep farm while here! But hey, why not do it in style? This Walter Peak Farm Tour includes a cruise in a vintage steamship to this picturesque seaside farm. Once there, you’ll enjoy a tasty meal of high-end barbequed meats or seafood- buffet style. Cap things off with the choice of desserts and cheeses. Afterward, you’ll watch a sheep shearing demonstration or a sheepdog show.
- Go bar hopping – There are some awesome bars in Queenstown’s small town center, from the humble tradies bar to more extravagant and luxurious ones. Smiths Craft Beer House is one of my favorite places to go when I want to try some new beers. 1876 has a lovely patio on a nice day and Cowboys is a fun place to party!
- Take a scenic food and wine tour – The Queenstown area is a foodie heaven, with incredible wine and cuisine that you just have to try. And on this day tour, you’ll sip wine from New Zealand’s largest wine cave, be served a gourmet lunch, and indulge in local cheeses – all with an epic view to boot!
- Go ziplining – If you love a good adrenaline rush like me, you’ll enjoy this zipline over Lake Wakatipu and the snow-capped Southern Alps. You can pick from 3 height options depending on how daring you’d like to be. Regardless of which you choose, you’ll be flying high over incredible scenery!
Where to Stay in Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown is filled with amazing things to do but also awesome places to stay! One thing about Queenstown, though, is that if you don’t book in advance, you’ll miss out on the best places (and the best prices!). So to help you out, we’ve compiled this list of our top hotels in Queenstown for all budget types.
Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa – $$$
Bailey and I spent our anniversary at the Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa and really loved our stay. It’s located a little out of town but they run a free shuttle every 30 minutes. The place has an indoor pool, full spa, and an onsite bar/restaurant where we watched the sunset over the lake. The rooms are beautiful in classic Hilton-style with comfy king-sized beds and bathtubs. Suites even come with fireplaces.
To me, it’s great value starting at $225 NZD per night. You’ll find the best deals when you book in advance on Booking.com.
Melbourne Lodge – $$
The Melbourne Lodge is a gorgeous hotel just a 5-minute walk to downtown. But what I love about this place is it sits on the end of Queenstown near the airport meaning that you never have to drive through town to visit the ski fields or many major attractions, saving you time. It has everything from budget rooms to self-contained apartments. From their guest lounge and deck, you also get a view of the bay and gondola.
Rooms here can be as little as $130 NZD per night! Check out prices and book your stay online here.
The Flaming Kiwi Backpackers – $
The Flaming Kiwi Backpackers was the first place I ever stayed in Queenstown. It’s a great budget backpacker hostel with a very social vibe. The beds are comfy and come with a privacy curtain, and there’s also a shared lounge, kitchen, barbecue, laundry facilities, and free onsite parking. The building is kind of old but is kept quite clean. Dorm beds here start at $55 NZD per night.
You can book The Flaming Kiwi Backpackers on Booking.com or through Hostelworld.
For even more options, check out our guide on where to stay in Queenstown. We break down the best areas and provide hotel recommendations for each.
Note: When booking hotels we always use Booking.com. The reason? They are almost always cheaper (we have booked over 250 hotels with them) and if you find a better price they’ll match it guaranteed – even if it’s a special on their own website!
Renting a Car or Campervan in New Zealand
The first step to planning your New Zealand road trip is choosing your set of wheels! Most people rent a campervan or motorhome to get around, but you can also just rent a normal car and stay in hotels (as opposed to camping.)
You can search for rental cars online with Discover Cars in advance to compare car models and prices. We’ve used this website all over the world and if you want more details, read our honest review of Discover Cars for more details!
You can also do this with motorhomes and campervans on a website called Motorhome Republic. It shows all of the available campervans and motorhomes for your specific New Zealand road trip dates. You can compare prices and company reviews here too!
JUCY is our personal favorite campervan rental company in NZ. We love JUCY because they have such a range of both cars and campervans available, so you’re pretty much guaranteed to find something to suit your budget and travel style.
We’ve actually secured an exclusive discount code for our readers with JUCY. Just click here to browse their availability and use the code DTRAVEL25 at checkout to get 5% off! What a good deal!
You can check prices, availability and book with JUCY online here.
Star RV is another company we personally recommend but specifically for motorhomes! They offer larger motorhomes (as opposed to budget campervans) at really reasonable rates.
Star RV has actually given us a discount code for our readers too! Use the code DTRAVEL25 at checkout to get 5% off your motorhome rental! Click here to browse availability, prices, and book with our discount code!
Note: For both Star RV and JUCY, no discounts or promotions will be applied for pickups from December 16, 2024 to January 19, 2025 for New Zealand and Australia. But for the entire rest of the year, the discount is yours!
Thanks for reading!
Thanks so much for reading! I hope you found this blog somewhat helpful in your quest for the best burger in Queenstown. If not, you’ll just have to try both!
If you found this blog helpful then jump over to our Queenstown blogs page. It has so many great articles to give you a locals insight into Queenstown.
Alternatively, jump over to our New Zealand page or check out these related articles below:
5 Best Gibbston Valley Wineries
Queenstown to Milford Sound – Road Trip Guide
Tash
Saturday 9th of July 2022
We were in Queenstown last week and found out from locals that both of these burger places share the same owner 😛 Devil burger is just as good and has a much shorter line.