The Boat Shed Cafe

Don’t skip breakfast here if you’re in the area! 🍳 The Boat Shed’s buffet was a real treat — fresh options all around, with the fried eggs cooked just right and plenty of other tasty picks to start the day. The place has a relaxed, sunny vibe, and the staff were quick and friendly, which made the morning even better. Overall, a great spot to fuel up and enjoy the view — definitely worth a stop.

Honestly fantastic, I got myself a Truffle pasta, which tasted really good. Maybe a bit too oily but it had good flavor. The latte wasn’t too special in my opinion price wise, but it was alright. The restaurant itself is very cute on the inside. The outside view will give you a scenery of the lake. The staff is nice, and will check up on you frequently. Overall experience was great 5/5

I've visited the Cafe multiple times over the past few weeks, and each visit has been truly delightful. The standout aspect is the exceptional service, especially from Minke and Chloe. They always remember our orders, which makes us feel valued and welcomed. Their warm smiles and friendly interactions create a wonderful atmosphere that keeps us coming back. While the wait time to get a table can be a bit long, it's absolutely worth it for the delicious food and the charming outdoor ambiance. Highly recommend it to anyone looking for good food, great service, and a lovely environment.

I came here because of the great reviews, and it truly lived up to the hype—definitely a brunch spot worth recommending! The service was excellent: the staff were attentive, there were enough people working, and the food came out quickly. Most importantly, the food was absolutely delicious, especially the burger—it was so juicy and flavorful. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to come back again. Highly recommend everyone to try it out!

Nestled on the serene shores of Lake Wakatipu, The Boat Shed Cafe & Bistro in Queenstown offers a dining experience that seamlessly combines picturesque views with culinary excellence. Whether you arrive by strolling along the Frankton Track or docking at the Frankton Marina, this charming establishment promises a warm welcome and a memorable meal.  The cafe’s seasonal menu showcases the finest locally sourced produce, catering to a variety of palates. Breakfast enthusiasts can indulge in dishes like the decadent blueberry French toast, adorned with honey mascarpone, crème anglaise, seasonal fruit, and candied nuts. For a savory option, the chorizo scramble offers a delightful mix of scrambled eggs, pork chorizo, crispy potatoes, greens, tomato salsa, and feta. Lunch options are equally enticing, with offerings such as the sesame-crusted seared tuna tataki, complemented by wakame, edamame, broccolini, radish, mung beans, and miso mayo.   Patrons consistently praise the cafe’s inviting atmosphere and attentive service. The outdoor seating area, in particular, provides breathtaking views of the lake and the Remarkables mountain range, creating an idyllic setting for a leisurely meal. One reviewer noted, “The food was excellent! Great atmosphere and view of the lake, friendly staff!”  To fully enjoy the experience, it’s advisable to make reservations in advance, especially if you prefer outdoor seating with lake views. Arriving early can also help secure a prime spot and ensure prompt service during peak hours.  In summary, The Boat Shed Cafe & Bistro stands out as a must-visit destination in Queenstown, offering delectable cuisine, stunning vistas, and a welcoming ambiance that together create an unforgettable dining experience.

Great spot on the lake, with good heating both inside and outside. The food was amazing and service was great. Had a wonderful chat with the staff who all seem to be very proud of their lovely cafe. Would highly recommend the Turkish Eggs and the Chorizo scramble eggs with potatoes. Will definitely be back the next time we’re in QT.

From the moment we walked into the café, Naomi King welcomed us warmly and was incredibly accommodating. We asked her about the menu, specifically the vegetarian options, and whether they were cooked separately from all meat. She assured us that they were, and that all precautions were taken to avoid any cross-contamination. Naomi was thorough in her explanations, ensured our dietary needs were fully met, and went above and beyond to assist us. She was not only helpful, but also charming, confident, and composed — with a strong, friendly presence that made our experience even more enjoyable.

Lovely little breakfast/brunch spot by the water. Warm and cosy. Am not sure if you can reserve a table but do so if you can as it gets really packed. Be prepared to wait about 30min for a table of 2 if you walk in on a Sunday morning. Worth it though. Food comes fast. Delicious criollo fried eggs and breakfast butty. Decent coffee!

Can't say it was good. Can't say it was bad. Acceptable is probably the right word to describe The Boat Shed Cafe in located at the Frankton Marina in Queenstown. It's a small place, and it was a rainy day, so there was only indoor seating, which was too bad as the outdoor seating had amazing views of the lake. There was about a 25-30-minute wait, which was fine since we're here. Not sure what's going on over here but seems like all the staff had frowns and not being friendly or courteous was part of their job responsibilities. But no big deal. No one was rude, or disrespectful. There are not too many choices here, but does cover different type of meats, and different style of dishes, such as fish tacos, steak sandwiches, mushroom pasta, chorizo scramble, benedict, spring greens, and etc. Everything is overall on the pricey side, and the portions are on the smaller side too. But you're here for the view and experience, right? Started with a coffee. It was good. Super clean taste. No free refills (I asked). Wish it reached the top, or in a bigger cup! Flat White was also good. Creamy, milky, foamy, solid coffee taste. The Boat Shed Benedict was all right. It was the basic. Nice, runny egg, and toasty English muffin. It ate overall really bland. The muffin didn't seem like there was any oil or butter and ate dry. The Herb Hollandaise was bland and not herbaceous either. I would've preferred more on the plate to make the benedict less dry. I added on Smoked Salmon for $9. It was good and definitely added the salty and savory I needed, but the portion seemed quite small. The Mushroom Pasta was decent. Soft pappardelle pasta and tender portobello mushrooms. A nice amount of porcini butter and truffle oil. A touch bland for me, and portion seemed small. We added a Smashed Avocado, and this was the most rich and tasty dish of the meal. Overall, this was a decent experience. The food was acceptable--basic and straight-forward. You really need add on a side to make it more filling and flavorful. It's a little pricey based on the portion size and type of dish. Coffee drinks were good. I wouldn't mind coming back and ordering something different while sitting in the outdoor area. I don't mind the frowns all around.

Great breakfast, hubby had the chorizo eggs, and I had the huge savory scone and scrambled egg. Food was delicious, price was reasonable for how large the portions are. It was rainy, so outside seating wasn't an option, but still great view from inside. Go early for breakfast, they open at 8...or expect to wait if yu go after 8:30. Well worth it!

This place was delightful! The food was great and the views were so nice! Our waiter was super sweet and we wanted to sit outside so she helped us clear out a table right away! Every single item was so so good and I especially loved the aioli sauce! Definitely recommend!

Five stars for the blueberry French toast and coffee. I visited this place 9 years ago and it was just as good but it is much more popular now. I had to make a reservation. For 0830. You should too, if you plan to visit.

A nice little restaurant right on the water. The inside is decorated beautifully and the water view is phenomenal. The food is okay. I had a smoked salmon with a croissant. The croissant was honestly the best part of the meal. Unbelievably flakey and buttery. It was to die for. The salmon was okay and the flavor was a bit mute. With the veggies, it was just okay. Come for the view.

This place is a prefect brunch /midday get away! We went in for a late breakfast. The service was great everyone was incredible cheerful. I had he banana bread, warm and full of flavor, the ricotta cheese was a perfect touch. My husband had the scramble. Amazing he had to fight me off of it / green chili turmeric/coriander YUM ! The honey lemon ginger hit the spot on a cold day. Great patio / watch the planes land have a beverage !

Came for breakfast while staying in Queenstown, and this cute but quaint cafe in the marina did not disappoint. Outdoor seating right on the lake allows for unbeatable views of the Remarkables. We had the blueberry French toast and eggs your way - scrambled on ciabatta toast with sausage. The French toast was truly a work of art, as recommended by the waitress, and the mascarpone with candied pistachios were the cherry on top. Great customer service, great food, amazing views on the water. Would definitely come back again.

Mum and I ventured here with the dogs on a particularly crisp Q.T morning for a spot of lunch on their deck out the back, which has the most spectacular views of the lake! Then menu here has a lot of variety and the food is pretty good. Mum and I both opted for the seafood chowder, which was creamy without being too rich. They also have my favourite juices of all time, the Benger Gold range (they are all delish, but nectarine is definitely my favourite). When it came to our coffee though it was pretty burnt and almost undrinkable! We also found the service to be lacking. When we first arrived no one came to see us for a good 15mins. We then went inside to get menu's and confirm it was table service. The waitress told us it was and that she would be out shortly but unfortunately we were left waiting for another 20minutes. Hopefully, they were just short staffed that day and it isn't a reoccuring issue!

Cute spot by the lake that is behind an actual boat shed. Service is friendly. The spot has a great outdoor balcony for you to enjoy the river on. The food itself was good. Ordered a squid and egg noodle appetizer, which was delicious. My main was OK. It was meant to be a sesame covered salmon paired with veggies and "sushi" rice. However, the rice was rather bland and the sesame had the promise of amazing flavors but fell a bit short for me. For dessert, got a delicious earl grey panna cotta with fresh fruit, which was amazing. While a bit hit or miss, I generally enjoyed the experience and would try it again.

My husband and I stopped by for lunch on our way into town from the airport. What a lovely little spot o the water, good food for a good price, and friendly staff. It was sort of hard to find because our GPS didn't tell us to turn down the road it's on, but we quickly figured out where it was. The main eating area was a little hot and stuffy in the full light of the afternoon, but we asked to be reseated outside and it was fine (that's where we wanted to be anyway). The steak sandwich and fries were delish, and my husband had scrambled eggs with smoked salmon which he loved. I also had a nice rich iced coffee which helped me perk up after 24 hours of travel. Thanks for the welcome to NZ!

As the saying goes "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me". After the third visit to this cafe I swore it would be my last implementing the three strikes and you're out rule. However, as we couldn't be bothered biking all the way to the Hilton, against our better judgement, we stopped here knowing what lay ahead. It's a real shame. The food is beautiful and the location is unmatched in Queenstown, there is a fantastic opportunity for this cafe if they can only sort out their diabolically awful service and their awful coffee. At least now they are doing table service, albeit appallingly. Having to ask the waitstaff to have an order taken is nothing new in Queenstown. Having what I can only assume was a dish hand, drop off what is clearly a latte and tell you it's a flat white (when you ordered a latte) after admitting he had no idea what he was dropping off, was a definite first for me. Sadly the coffee was bitter, tasting like the machine had not been cleaned properly or the beans are stale? Coffee and service, has unfortunately been a problem for this cafe since it opened. On the plus side, the chocolate croissant was epic and my partner opted for a delicious pastry with caramel which was Devine! I highly recommend the cabinet food. All in all I would suggest if you really are dying to visit here, have a look around and get take away to avoid disappointment.

LOVE. My husband and I dined here twice on our recent holiday to NZ. We stumbled upon it on our bike ride along the Queenstown trail. It's about a 20-30 min ride from the city center. The views here are spectacular, like most other places in Queenstown, but the food is a close second. Great wine offerings and solid pours. Casual, comfortable and just a great atmosphere. We tried several different things on the menu and what I learned is that you just can't go wrong. Patio is dog friendly, which in my book is always a huge plus. Worth a visit. Or two.

Very welcoming staff and owner? on a very busy morning, they managed to accommodate my wife and I. Located well away from the hectic Queenstown, the Boatshed had a genuinely comfortable ambiance. We relaxed and enjoyed stunning views across Lake Wakatipu of The Remarkables to enjoy one of the best breakfast we have experienced for a long time (mixed grill & corn fritters). The boss's only criticism was that the haloumi with the fritters could have been cut thicker. Overall the food was well cooked, presented, and delicious. Coffee was also great.... I was surprised to read other posts, after we had visited, about the coffee, maybe they have a new barista?

Food was great, service was above par and views were spectacular. Little pricey, but it's Queenstown what can you except. Great experience HOWEVER the music was absolutely atrocious. Don't typically enjoy screamo music for breakfast. Small detail that can easily be fixed.

You're on your way into Queenstown from the airport. Maybe you want to stop for a bite on the way, or have some time to kill before checking in to your hotel. The Boat Shed is just off the road, tucked away behind yes, a real boat shed. It won't look like much when you pull over and you may feel lost. It's there, you just have to walk a little further than you totally expect. Once you find the place, you'll definitely notice the views, and realize that it's alright to hang out there for a bit and recover from the shock of a spectacular lake with soaring mountains without possibly having an accident on the highway (you only need to contend with so much if it's your first time driving on the left). And hang out you will; the service takes forever. After being seated we waited 15 minutes or so just to glimpse menus, another 15 to have our order taken and then close to 20 or 30 for food to arrive. We happened to be killing time before we could check in to our hotel so it wasn't a big deal but was definitely off-putting in regards to future visits. The food was pretty great. Pricey, but that's the norm around Queenstown. The scrambled eggs were some of the best I've had, simple, and especially delicious after being boxed in a plane for a couple hours. Don't wait for a check to be presented, head to the front and request to pay otherwise you'll be waiting indefinitely. If you have some time to kill, bring a book, relax, snack, and enjoy!