Editor Pick
Doughboy's Cafe
- October 4, 2008
- Rated 3 of 5 by
Red Mezz from Inverness, Scotland
With the beautiful shining turquoise lake sitting so perfectly against the little town, everything in Lake Tekapo is well placed. There are a selection of places to eat more than there is anything else in this little village, and unfortunately it seems that most of them think they are in a bigger and more expensive place than they actually are. (The average meal price in Lake Tekapo is the same or more than it would be in Christchurch, minus the atmosphere and quality you would get in the bigger city.)
So if you are passing through this little town and money is an issue (and to be honest, it will be for most travellers in New Zealand) then a good option is the little spot called Doughboy’s Café.
It’s not the flashiest place you will stop to eat in New Zealand, or the cheapest, but they do have a really nice selection of good which comes in pretty good sizes for not too unreasonable prices.
If the weather is nice I highly recommend that you get something from the bakery part of the café (they have a bakery section which is all viewable behind the glass as you walk to the counter. I’m not sure where the difference comes in here, but the bakery food is wonderful, and worth paying a little for, where as the actual food which is cooked in the café is not very good at all. The pies on display are the only things in Doughboys you can see which are not from the bakery section.) Down to the shores of the lake just a minute or two behind the café and sit on one of the many available benches or picnic tables to enjoy your lunch.
Doughboy’s is an especially good stop for a morning refuel, which is very good if you are on the road headed to Mt Cook or other destinations. They have wonderful huge scones for about $2.50 and their muffins are outstanding. Ask for a warmed cheese and bacon scone for a delightful breakfast.
They also do wonderful keeshes of all kinds each for about $4.50 or $5. A little bit pricier, but wonderful to the last bite. I highly, highly recommend the bacon and egg slice, a breakfast keesh which is very filling and delicious, and much cheaper than an all day breakfast which run about $13 at any café in town.
They also do really surprisingly nice coffees from $3 - $4 for a small depending on what type you want. They do a very nice flat white coffee which goes beautifully with their scones or muffins.
The service here is far from great, though, it must be said. They aren’t the friendliest group of women you will meet in New Zealand and if you get the coffee before you finish your meal you will be doing very good indeed. But that being said, it is still one of the best places for a quick meal or light breakfast in town – and one I’ve spent many mornings at on my way to the lake.
From journal The Visual Perfection of Secluded Lake Tekapo