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.

Hawke’s Bay local Jesse Neilson opened the cafe in April 2024, after spending several years in Melbourne and Auckland’s hospo scene. Locals may walk by this location and remember it as the former home of Opera Kitchen, but Jesse is making quick work at creating a space as dearly loved. The brown butter crumpets are definitely helping.

If you’re in for a leisurely brunch or lunch, take a seat and relax. While it’s a bit of a rarity in the Hastings cafe scene, table service is the way they roll. The menu is thoughtful and concise with breakfast staples sitting alongside more creative dish concepts, all presented with finesse and flair. Almost everything is made in-house using local produce wherever possible, with slices of sourdough from neighbourhood bakery Ya Bon propping up your spreads and eggs.

Rosina makes a big deal of coffee, purposefully positioning the machine away from the main counter and into the middle of the cafe floor – an effective move that creates a buzz across the spacious room. Ozone Coffee is the bean of choice here, but if you’re after something a little stronger, there’s Brave Brewing Co craft beers, wine on tap from Everyday Wines in Auckland, and espresso martinis on tap (yes, we’re screaming too).

We love an aesthetic as delicious as its culinary offering, and Rosina is definitely doing it for us. Modern and minimalist design choices contrast with the cafe’s location in the historic Hastings Power Station building, built in 1911. High ceilings and grand arched windows flood the space with light and character, with an elegant palette of sky blue and forest green features mirroring the calming hues of Hawke’s Bay.

Open 7 days a week with standout coffee, a well-crafted brunch and lunch menu, and a cabinet filled with freshly baked goods to grab and go, we can’t think of a single reason Rosina shouldn’t become part of your everyday routine.