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✔️Breakfast ✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out
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The Boat Shed Cafe & Bistro, a hidden gem on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, offers stunning views, rich history, and a seasonal menu featuring locally sourced produce. Set in a restored 1800s Railways Shipping Office, it’s a serene escape accessible by boat, bike, or the Frankton Track. Enjoy breakfast favourites, flavourful lunch dishes, regional wines, craft beers, and locally roasted coffee — all with panoramic Remarkables views. A must-do on your Queenstown bucket list.
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM–4 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM–4 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–4 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–4 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–4 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM–4 PM |
| Sunday | 8 AM–4 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 9300/847 Frankton Road, Frankton, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand
Phone: +64 3 441 4146
Website: https://www.boatshedqueenstown.co.nz/
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Home | The Boat Shed Cafe & Bistro | Queenstown
The Boat Shed Cafe & Bistro is a historic cafe located on Lake Wakatipu. Open for breakfast and lunch, our seasonal menu features the very best, …
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13K Followers, 1219 Following, 741 Posts – The Boat Shed Cafe & Bistro (@theboatshedcafeqt) on Instagram: “Open 8am – 4pm daily.
The Boat Shed Cafe and Bistro – Queenstown
Nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, The Boat Shed Cafe & Bistro offers a refined yet relaxed dining experience in one of Queenstown’s most scenic locations.
Reviews
Sarah L
Reservations are a must! The service was amazing despite the constant flow of guests. My friends and I booked a same-day brunch and got a table for 5. The food was absolutely delicious — my venison burger was cooked to perfection and the chips were perfectly seasoned. The coffees and matcha are photo-worthy, especially with the beautiful scenery. Truly money well spent. ☕
… moreIsabella Clague
I’m not quite sure why this place is so hyped up, we were initially both very excited to visit but left feeling quite flat.
I think the main reason for this is that for our booking we seated in a small room around the front, so instead of the beautiful lake views this place is known for we had a great view of the gravel driveway.
The food was pretty average for the price $32 for a burger 5 chips and no sauce. The venison patty was dry.
Those 5 chips were however the best part of our entire brunch (we had 2.5 each). Lovely and crispy with the skin on with a beautiful hot waxy centre and heavily dusted with salt and paprika.
The famous french toast was pretty underwhelming too. Overly sweet & quite small. We walked through town after brunch and happened to pass by five other cafes that served fruity brioche french toast so really nothing unique.
Sadly I think this is one of those places thats better on social media than it is in real life. Go somewhere else with a view thats nicer than gravel
… moreI think the main reason for this is that for our booking we seated in a small room around the front, so instead of the beautiful lake views this place is known for we had a great view of the gravel driveway.
The food was pretty average for the price $32 for a burger 5 chips and no sauce. The venison patty was dry.
Those 5 chips were however the best part of our entire brunch (we had 2.5 each). Lovely and crispy with the skin on with a beautiful hot waxy centre and heavily dusted with salt and paprika.
The famous french toast was pretty underwhelming too. Overly sweet & quite small. We walked through town after brunch and happened to pass by five other cafes that served fruity brioche french toast so really nothing unique.
Sadly I think this is one of those places thats better on social media than it is in real life. Go somewhere else with a view thats nicer than gravel
Sanna E.
The tiramisu iced coffee was amaaaaazing
But the Clam spagetti was a real disappointment. I would not recommend that! It had some weird tasting pickles in it, and the spagetti was actually fettucini, and mu food had a hard small baby crab in it
Absolutely stunning views though
… moreBut the Clam spagetti was a real disappointment. I would not recommend that! It had some weird tasting pickles in it, and the spagetti was actually fettucini, and mu food had a hard small baby crab in it
Absolutely stunning views though
Andrew Vandekerckhove
We really loved this place! Our crew had both brunch and lunch orders and everything was very good. The setting felt old school and the lakefront is beautiful and very idyllic.
That said, the parking lot was very crowded and the crowd out front was crazy! Definitely make reservations.
… moreThat said, the parking lot was very crowded and the crowd out front was crazy! Definitely make reservations.
Shereen Brogan
Wanted to love this place, but it’s realistically just for the photos. The food looks better than it tastes, and the management is extremely poor.
Bakery: Chaotic and dirty with overflowing bins and flies. Major red flag on allergy awareness: I flagged a nut allergy, yet they served my cinnamon bun with nuts from another dish stuck to the bottom of it after warming it up. The latte was also tiny—mostly espresso with barely any milk.
Cafe: Even with a booking, we were made to wait outside while walk-ins were seated. When it rained, staff told us to put the umbrellas down or we’d be “at our own risk” if they flew away. Truly bizarre to make your equipment issues the customer’s problem. We couldn’t move inside because it was too cramped. They also did not have certain items stated on the menu like avocado toast as they had run out of avocado.
Pros: Nice presentation of food and a lovely view. Our waitress was sweet but clearly lacked training or menu knowledge.
Verdict: Overrated and underwhelming. If you value food safety (especially allergies) and professional service, give this a miss.
… moreBakery: Chaotic and dirty with overflowing bins and flies. Major red flag on allergy awareness: I flagged a nut allergy, yet they served my cinnamon bun with nuts from another dish stuck to the bottom of it after warming it up. The latte was also tiny—mostly espresso with barely any milk.
Cafe: Even with a booking, we were made to wait outside while walk-ins were seated. When it rained, staff told us to put the umbrellas down or we’d be “at our own risk” if they flew away. Truly bizarre to make your equipment issues the customer’s problem. We couldn’t move inside because it was too cramped. They also did not have certain items stated on the menu like avocado toast as they had run out of avocado.
Pros: Nice presentation of food and a lovely view. Our waitress was sweet but clearly lacked training or menu knowledge.
Verdict: Overrated and underwhelming. If you value food safety (especially allergies) and professional service, give this a miss.
Le Anh Tung
I absolutely loved the decor here! The coffee is fantastic, and I found so many cozy spots to relax. Watching planes take off and land over the lake was a unique and delightful experience. ☕✈️ ️
… moreRoisin Oates
A gorgeous spot right on the lake in Queenstown! Loved the vibe here, and the outdoor seating and view was impressive. They were busy when we arrived and said it would be 20-30 mins for a table. We ordered coffees and a mince pie while we waited outside. Nice that we could chill with our coffees while waiting for a table.
My reason for 4 stars is due to a pretty limited lunch menu, mainly brunch / breakfast items so I went with the green goddess salad with tofu. $32 is steep for a vegetarian salad… without the tofu it would have been very plain and I did find the tofu quite bland. The brekkie sandwich my partner had was good!
Would recommend for a coffee and brekkie with a views but felt they could improve the lunch options. Thanks
… moreMy reason for 4 stars is due to a pretty limited lunch menu, mainly brunch / breakfast items so I went with the green goddess salad with tofu. $32 is steep for a vegetarian salad… without the tofu it would have been very plain and I did find the tofu quite bland. The brekkie sandwich my partner had was good!
Would recommend for a coffee and brekkie with a views but felt they could improve the lunch options. Thanks
Ananda Sutjijoso
The Boatshed is an absolute must-visit in Queenstown. It gets busy, so it is best to book ahead and the online booking system is really easy to use. We were seated outside, which was lovely, and the view is unreal, exactly what you expect in Queenstown. A bonus for me was spotting planes overhead, which was a real treat as an aviation fan.
The coffee and food hit the spot and the crispy fried potatoes are something else, highly recommend.
… moreThe coffee and food hit the spot and the crispy fried potatoes are something else, highly recommend.
Beto Sant’Ana
This was our second or third visit for breakfast, and today, we went using First Table, which is great because you get 50% off the food. However, even with the discount, we’ve decided not to go back.
We really like the location, the view of the lake is absolutely stunning, but unfortunately, the service could be much better, and the food just doesn’t live up to the rating. I’ve tried the Breakfast Chorizo before, which was okay, but this time, we had the Salmon Benedict and Turkish Eggs — nothing special at all. The French Toast was good and with a nice presentation, but it will cost you $28 if you have no discount. So definitely, there are better breakfast options around Queenstown.
It feels like the kind of place that’s more for tourists — great for an Instagram photo and the lake view — but not really for the food or service. The waitress who served us was fine, but the manager on duty (I think her name was Minke) didn’t even say good morning or smile. I understand busy mornings can be stressful, but a simple greeting makes a big difference when people come hoping for a nice experience.
The queue situation at the entrance is also poorly organised. Within a couple of minutes, we saw several people confused about whether the line was for paying or waiting for a table — it really needs better management.
Overall, it’s a beautiful spot, but that’s about it. If you just want coffee and something quick, I’d recommend The Boat Shed Bakery nearby — same great view and much friendlier service. But if you’re after a really good breakfast in Queenstown, try Odd Saint and Sunfire in town or Gantley’s Tavern in Arthur’s Point — all with much better experiences.
… moreWe really like the location, the view of the lake is absolutely stunning, but unfortunately, the service could be much better, and the food just doesn’t live up to the rating. I’ve tried the Breakfast Chorizo before, which was okay, but this time, we had the Salmon Benedict and Turkish Eggs — nothing special at all. The French Toast was good and with a nice presentation, but it will cost you $28 if you have no discount. So definitely, there are better breakfast options around Queenstown.
It feels like the kind of place that’s more for tourists — great for an Instagram photo and the lake view — but not really for the food or service. The waitress who served us was fine, but the manager on duty (I think her name was Minke) didn’t even say good morning or smile. I understand busy mornings can be stressful, but a simple greeting makes a big difference when people come hoping for a nice experience.
The queue situation at the entrance is also poorly organised. Within a couple of minutes, we saw several people confused about whether the line was for paying or waiting for a table — it really needs better management.
Overall, it’s a beautiful spot, but that’s about it. If you just want coffee and something quick, I’d recommend The Boat Shed Bakery nearby — same great view and much friendlier service. But if you’re after a really good breakfast in Queenstown, try Odd Saint and Sunfire in town or Gantley’s Tavern in Arthur’s Point — all with much better experiences.
Libby (Libby)
Lovely sitting by water and enjoying scenery. Excellent food and service. We went as soon as opened. Daughter loved the tiramisu latte and made us go back the next day for one before we left Queenstown. French toast was divine. Definitely a lace to go and a good idea to book as gets busy.
… more