The Deck Cafe Lovedale

The Deck Café in Lovedale is a relaxed, welcoming spot with beautiful vineyard views and a laid-back Hunter Valley vibe. Great coffee, fresh food, and friendly service make it an easy choice for a casual breakfast or lunch. A perfect place to slow down, soak up the scenery, and enjoy good food in good company.

We visited The Deck Café at the Hunter Valley and the atmosphere really is its standout. The setting is beautiful. The landscaping, seating, and overall layout feel very much in tune with the vineyard and wine-region vibe. It was a hot day when we visited, but the fans and water coolers were running, which made a noticeable difference and kept things comfortable. The ambience is relaxed and inviting, and while we were there on a Friday and it was relatively quiet, you can easily imagine the place buzzing on a weekend. The food, however, was a bit mixed. We enjoyed two of the four dishes we ordered. The standout was the potato scallops with ham, a soft-poached egg, and Parmesan. They were beautifully done and full of flavour. The hand-cut chips with aioli were also very good and hard to fault. Unfortunately, the other two dishes didn’t quite land. The flank steak had a bitter note to it, which was explained as coming from the salsa verde, but overall it felt underwhelming for the dish. The croquettes were quite soggy and oily, as if they hadn’t been cooked properly, which was disappointing given how highly recommended the café is. That said, the service was excellent. The staff were friendly, warm, and genuinely welcoming, which made the experience pleasant overall. A stunning venue with great hospitality, but the food didn’t quite live up to the setting on this visit.

Great spot in Hunter Valley! Loved the relaxed atmosphere and beautiful views from the deck. The food was fresh and tasty, and the coffee was excellent. Staff were friendly and welcoming, and it was such a nice place to take a break during our trip. Definitely worth a visit!

Stopped there for lunch. Tapas only with a limited menu. Staff I found weren't the most helpful or friendly. Brought water to the table on a hot day but no glasses. Eventually got up and left without ordering. Very pretty location though on a picturesque lake but I won't be back.

Stopped for coffee and lunch snack.. great surprise they serve tapas! Ordered 3 share plates they served me singles that were FANTASTIC! Loved them all, generous, so well presented, flavoursome, and with a pond and ducks what a surprising meal. I'll return on a Sunday with my wife and really trial the extensive list