You can tell a city must be full of productive people by the amount of caffeine outlets on hand, and this Otago city must be buzzing with doers because Dunedin cafes are a dime a dozen.
Find the central city bustling throughout the week as students, professionals, travellers, young families and retirees come to make the most of the bright, modern and top-quality café scene. There’s no doubting the European twist on a place like Dunedin, as the architecture and town layout point straight to the English folk who visited and decided it was a place worth settling in. But don’t go thinking Dunedin cafes are dated places to settle in with a coffee - instead the influx of youth and energy to the city ensure that any new hospitality joints are fresh, modern and edgy. A place of great fashion and art, don’t be surprised to find Dunedin cafes are home to some enviously cool baristas and huge murals or artworks.
With no real sense of rush to be anywhere quickly, cafes in Dunedin make for the perfect place to perch up for an hour or two, catch up on emails, read your lecture notes or write a postcard to family back home - but bear in mind the lunch menu starts to look more and more appealing the longer you’re there. While the South Island may be famous for their love of pies and cheese rolls, Dunedin cafes are not ones to be boxed in by expectations (although whatever you do, make sure you try some cheese rolls with soup while you’re there). Instead, they offer plenty of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free varieties of meals, so no one at the table feels left out. The kind of cafes that you can visit once and immediately have as your favourite, we’d encourage you to not settle too soon - there’s always more to look out, drink and eat at Dunedin cafes, and just when you think you’ve seen it all, you’ll spot a sandwich board down a nondescript alleyway and suddenly it’s back to the drawing board.
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Common Ground Espresso
Pop in for a coffee and a look and leave with a bag of your favourite beans for home brewing.
ADJØ
Visit ADJØ for comforting Scandinavian dishes, barista coffee, housemade schnapps and NZ wines.
Catalyst
Catalyst is all about mindful eating and conscious consuming. Even the name speaks to this mission.
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Grid Coffee + Good Food Co.
Visit Grid Coffee Roasters and Good Food Co. for single origin coffee and artisanal grocery items.
Taste Nature
Well known for its commitment to organic food and sustainable living, Taste Nature is considered “the” organic shop in Dunedin by locals.
The Good Earth
A popular haunt with university students, this café makes everything from scratch every day.
Mazagran Espresso Bar
This hard-working little café is a hive of activity all day long and a great spot for grabbing a coffee-to-go before work.
Vanguard Specialty Coffee Co.
A fresh look and take on the independent coffee scene in Dunedin.
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Rhubarb
A bright and sunny spot to eat eggs benedict and read the newspaper, or squeeze your pram in for a date with other parents.
Vogel St Kitchen
Vogel St Kitchen wins people over with its impeccable service, awesome interior and delicious food.
Potpourri Vegetarian Café
Potpourri serves vegetarian cuisine in a warm and friendly atmosphere.