We're spoilt for choice with great cafés and coffee bars in New Zealand. Neat Places has visited them all, and this is our pick of the best.
No stranger to a good cup of coffee, New Zealand plays host to a huge variety of coffee houses, tearooms, slick cafés and roasteries, all joint in their effort to bring you the finest cup of caffeine you’ll have that day.
Whether you’re city hopping from North to South, or driving through some of New Zealand’s smaller towns, you’re sure to find coffee at every stop. That’s because our small population has never been an excuse for a non-quality brew, and as more and more spots pop up around the country, Kiwis are simply spoilt for choice when it comes to soaking up a bit of café culture.
Leading the charge in the North is the super city Auckland, where most of New Zealand’s coffee drinkers reside. Slick, modern and confident in their ability to bring you the best, Auckland’s café scene is something not to be missed.
Further down the country Wellington is also known for its love of caffeine, and true to its hip and arty scene, coffee shops here are eclectic, quirky and full of colourful characters behind the counter.
Christchurch is no stranger to the party either, and a growing reputation as a city well worth its weight in coffee bean gold means visitors here will be impressed with both the number and quality of fun and creative coffee stops.
The further South you go, the more pleased you will be to hear a good hot cup of coffee is not hard to come by, and for people of Dunedin who face some of the coolest temperatures in the country, something to warm your hands on that also tastes bloody good is something worth celebrating. Proud of their city, fashion and food scene, Dunedin locals have let their passion for coffee infiltrate the streets, meaning within a stone’s throw of the Octagon are any number of cafés and eateries that are serving up quality cups of the good stuff.
Not to be missed too are the smaller towns dotted around the country, who may be less in population but certainly aren’t less in their love of hospitality. Cosy up at an old school tearoom with a lamington or custard square, or pop into an easy-going café that knows its locals by name – a New Zealand experience in itself, small town and rural sections of the country will perhaps make you feel more welcome than anywhere else.
Dine off the Beaten Path in Hastings & Havelock North
The Figgery Cafe & Shop
With a Mediterranean climate at your fingertips, it would be a crime not to cultivate one of the world’s most treasured fruits.
Rosina Eatery
After your first visit to Rosina, you’ll be digging up every excuse in the book to return on the daily. That was our experience anyway.
Ya Bon Table
Apart from those living under a giant rock, every soul in Hawke’s Bay is familiar (and likely obsessed) with the irresistible baked goods from modern French bakery, Ya...
Red Bridge Coffee
A special kind of magic takes over when you exit the main town and enter the Hawke’s Bay countryside, with tree-lined roads winding through rolling hills and vineyards.
The Artisan Cafe
Follow the enticing aroma of freshly roasted coffee down Queen Street East and through the doors of The Artisan Cafe, a boutique micro roastery adding a great buzz to the...
St Martha
The Havelock North dining scene continues to trend positively, fuelled by its latest addition, St Martha.
Lot 2
Havelock North’s Lot 2 is a laid back, unpretentious eatery that starts each day as a café, before transforming into an intimate evening destination.
13th Stag
‘Power to perform’ is the mantra that motivates everything at 13th Stag cafe.
Cupple & Ya Bon
A good cup of coffee and the perfect flaky pastry is worth travelling for.
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Hawthorne Coffee Roastery & Espresso Bar
Morning coffee places don’t get any better than Hawthorne Coffee Roastery & Espresso Bar in Havelock North.
Long Island Delicatessen
Need a bite to eat when you’re on the go? Looking to pack a picnic for lunch? Or, searching for somewhere that provides knockout catering? Hastings’ Long Island...
Oh My Goodness Speciality Breads
Oh My Goodness is one of those places where you walk through the front doors and instantly sense the care and attention that has gone into creating the business.
Kindred Road
Exciting developments are happening in Hastings’ inner city, including Tribune, a heritage revival of what was once office buildings and is now a precinct home to...
Birdwoods Gallery & Café
Birdwoods Gallery & Café is a special place in the heart of rural Havelock North.
Pixie Bowls
Entering Pixie Bowls in Havelock North feels like being transported to the streets of Bondi Beach or Canggu in Bali.
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Workroom
Hidden down a laneway off Joll Road in Havelock North, you will come across caffeine superstars Workroom.