Bella Cucina has served Queenstown from its Brecon Street character building since 2008. A large wood-fired oven brings immediate warmth and aroma to the room, but the kitchen's identity extends beyond pizza. Food is made from scratch, and the menu is rewritten daily to follow the freshest available produce. That rhythm gives the restaurant an appealing balance: it feels like an established neighbourhood Italian while retaining the freedom to change. The setting is casual enough for an easy dinner, yet the cooking offers enough range for a longer meal built across several courses.
Antipasti cover both rustic comfort and cleaner, sharper flavours. Wood-fired dough balls come with garlic oil, olive oil and balsamic, while warm Sicilian olives are scented with confit garlic, orange zest and fennel. Garlic pizza bread offers the simplest oven-led start. From there, bruschetta pairs smoked provolone with roasted onion and pancetta, beef carpaccio brings capers, lemon and parmesan, and tuna crudo uses citrus and white balsamic. Ordering two or three of these plates makes the opening of the meal as varied as the larger courses.
Pasta and pizza provide the menu's familiar Italian core. Aglio e olio is sharpened with chilli and capers, carbonara is rich with bacon and egg yolk, and bolognese combines beef rump with pork shoulder. Nduja rigatoni and clam spaghetti add spicier and seafood-led alternatives. From the oven, Margherita sits beside Diavola with salami and chilli, prosciutto with caramelised onion and rocket, a seafood pizza with prawns and squid, and a vegetable version built on basil pesto with olives and soft cheeses.
The main courses show why Bella Cucina describes itself as more than pizza and pasta. Pumpkin gnocchi with blue cheese and almonds is one substantial vegetarian route, while pork-and-fennel meatballs appear with risotto, romesco and peas. Chargrilled lamb rump and pan-fried salmon extend the choice into meat and fish, each accompanied by seasonal vegetables and bright sauces. Diners can hand the sequence to the kitchen through the Trust the Chef option. Dietary markings identify vegetarian, vegan and no-gluten-added dishes, with a clear warning that the fresh pasta and pizza themselves are not gluten free.
Address: 6 Brecon Street, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand
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Bella Cucina Menu
Antipasti
Vegetarian (V) Vegan (VG) No Gluten Added (NGA). Please speak with your server about dietaries & allergies. Our freshly made pasta and pizza is not gluten free. All pasta contains egg.
Dough Balls
wood fired topped with sesame seeds, garlic oil, balsamic vinegar & olive oil (v)(vg)
Warm Sicilian Olives
marinated with confit garlic, orange zest, fresh fennel (v)(vg)(nga)
Garlic Pizza Bread
topped with mozzarella and herbs (v)
Bruschetta
pancetta, sundried tomato pesto, ricotta cream
Woodfired Burrata
pomodoro sauce, herbs, sourdough (v)
Beef Carpaccio
aioli, capers, lemon, parmesan, olive oil, rocket (nga)
Tuna Crudo
sliced raw tuna, white balsamic & citrus dressing, herbs, olive oil (nga)
Pasta
Vegetarian (V) Vegan (VG) No Gluten Added (NGA). Please speak with your server about dietaries & allergies. Our freshly made pasta and pizza is not gluten free. All pasta contains egg.
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
chili, garlic, olive oil, parsley, capers, pecorino (v)
Fettuccine Carbonara
bacon, onion, cream, egg yolk, black pepper
Spaghetti Bolognese
minced beef rump & minced pork shoulder, tomato sauce, parmesan
Pappardelle Braised Wagyu Beef Ragu
tomato sauce, parmesan, green olives, herbs
Rigatoni Pesto
basil pesto, kalamata olives, stracciatella, pistachio (v)
Spaghetti Vongole
NZ clams, white wine, olive oil, lemon, garlic, soffritto, parsley, anchovy crumb
Pizza
Vegetarian (V) Vegan (VG) No Gluten Added (NGA). Please speak with your server about dietaries & allergies. Our freshly made pasta and pizza is not gluten free. All pasta contains egg.
Margherita
tomato base, buffalo mozzarella, basil (v)
Calzone
a folded pizza with tomato base, mozzarella, salami di milano, red onion, spinach
Prosciutto
tomato base, mozzarella, prosciutto, caramelized onions, rocket, parmesan
Diavola
tomato base, mozzarella, salami di milano, kalamata olives, chilli
Frutti di mare
cream base, mozzarella, garlic, prawns, anchovies, capers, squid
Quattro Formaggi
cream base, mozzarella, blue cheese, buffalo mozzarella, parmesan (v)
Mains
Vegetarian (V) Vegan (VG) No Gluten Added (NGA). Please speak with your server about dietaries & allergies. Our freshly made pasta and pizza is not gluten free. All pasta contains egg.
Gnocchi Pumpkin
creamy pumpkin sauce, blue cheese, almonds, basil (v)
Risotto Polpette di Carne
pork and fennel meatballs, romesco, peas, parmesan (nga)
Chargrilled Lamb Rump
parsnip puree, green beans, salsa verde (nga)
Pan fried Salmon Fillet
cannellini bean puree, confit cherry tomato, grilled eggplant, capers (nga)
Contorni
Vegetarian (V) Vegan (VG) No Gluten Added (NGA). Please speak with your server about dietaries & allergies. Our freshly made pasta and pizza is not gluten free. All pasta contains egg.
Insalata Della Casa
mesclun, pickled beetroot, feta cheese, toasted walnuts (v) (nga)
Vegetables
broccolini, almonds, brown butter (v) (nga)
Trust The Chef
Put your dining experience in the hands of our wonderful chefs, ask your server for more details. 75pp
Trust The Chef
Put your dining experience in the hands of our wonderful chefs, ask your server for more details
Cocktails
24 each
The Hugo
Created in South Tyrol, this refreshing cocktail will instantly transport you to a summery evening in Northern Italy. Made up of elderflower cordial, mint, prosecco and a splash of soda water.
Negroni
Need we say anymore, said to be created in Florence by a fearless Count looking to shake up his Americano! It’s a refreshing classic, we hope we can make the Count proud. Beefeater gin, vermouth rosso, campari, topped with a slice of orange peel.
Americano Bolognese
A twist on a classic first served in the 1860’s in Milan and ordered by James Bond himself this is a perfect aperitif. Campari, sweet vermouth, tonic water and a slice of orange peel.
Rossini
Picture yourself being shown the beautiful streets of Venice in a gondola , sipping the famous Rossini cocktail. Made up of prosecco and strawberry purée. Try our twist with a mango purée called Mangolini.
White Wine
150ml | 250ml
Brancott Letter Series “B”
Marlborough, NZ | A complex wine with intense pink grapefruit, white nectarine, passion fruit, guava and underlying grassy characters, all bound by a crisp acidity.
Amisfield
Central Otago, NZ | With tropical notes of pineapple and mango. The palate is filled with fresh passionfruit and have vibrancy and texture that lead to a dry finish.
Dog Point
Marlborough, NZ | The citrus core of flavours are juicy and intense with deliciously refreshing saline acidity.
Cantina La Palma ‘Aragosta’ Vermentino di Sardegna DOC
Sardinia, Italy | Well-balanced aroma, delicate though distinct, Fresh fragrance reminiscent of ripe apples. Dry but not harsh, crisp rather lively, with a pleasantly lingering aftertaste of almonds.
Red Wine
150ml | 250ml
Tollo
Abruzzo, Italy | Served in a 1 litre Jug | Wine is characterised by its ruby red colour, is well-suited to ageing,has a fruity aroma and dry and warm flavours, with balanced tannins.
Terra Alta
Central Otago, NZ | Fragrant with ripe red fruits, plum, and a hint of spice. The palate is fresh and well-balanced, showing layers of luscious dark fruit.
Saddleback
Central Otago, NZ | Red cherry and wild berry aromas combine beautifully with enticing red and dark fruit flavours, lovely brown spice and supple tannins.
Mondillo
Central Otago, NZ | Full-bodied with ripe dark cherry aromas and a concentrated core of berry fruits. The seductively smooth palate packed with fragrant spices, blackberries, chocolate, violets and soft oak.
Beer & Cider
Peroni
Italy | Lager
Vacation Hazy IPA
Queenstown, NZ | Hazy IPA
Tussock Basher Tiny Pale Ale
Queenstown, NZ | Low alcohol 2.5%
0% Peroni
Italy | Lager
Spirits
Absolut Vodka
Havana 3yr Rum
Bumbu Original Rum
Beefeater Gin
Digestivo
Luigi Francōli Riserva Grappa 5yr
Luigi Francōli Riserva Grappa 3yr
Luigi Francōli Nebbiolo
St. Rémy Brandy
Non-Alcoholic
Coca Cola
Diet Coke
Sprite
Caffè e Tè
Octane Coffee | Queenstown, NZ
Espresso
Long Black
Americano
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+ Log your visitHow prices compare
Against typical prices in Queenstown
- Margherita pizza Typical in Queenstown: $30.00 $34.00
- Long black Typical in Queenstown: $5.50 $5.00
- Carbonara Typical in Queenstown: $36.00 $38.00
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