The Boat Shed

If you had to choose just one café to showcase the best of the Nelson Tasman region, Boat Shed Café would be hard to beat. It’s simply not possible to get any closer to the sea.  Boat Shed Café literally sits on the high-water mark on Wakefield Quay and was originally built a hundred years ago for the purpose of exactly what the name suggests:  a boat shed with a ramp down to the water.

The Boat Shed Café offers various seating options, including the Seaside Room and The Loft, perfect for small groups, a balcony that is fully covered and heated in winter, and the main dining room complete with exposed rafters and a glimpse into the kitchen and the sea, of course.

With unobstructed views of the Nelson harbour and beyond, there is no better place to take in the seaside location of this special little city. The offerings at Boat Shed Café fittingly celebrate seafood, but also include a variety of meat and vegetarian dishes. Supporting local fishermen and growers is at the heart of menu planning, and you can expect to find an ever-changing variety of seafood gathered according to availability, such as locally spearfished butterfish or whole flounder, together with a seasonally evolving menu.

The café is famous for its ‘Trust the Chef’ dining experience, which allows you to sit back and enjoy the best of what Boat Shed is about. Accompany your dinner with a delicious wine from the restaurant’s extensive list of local wines, and watch the boats go by, and the sun slipping behind the mountain range in the distance. Or perhaps make it a Sunday morning brunch and start the last day of the weekend the right way.