Feliz & Sage Cafe & Gifts

A daily destination for locals and an inviting stopover for cyclists, Feliz & Sage is a cafe and gift shop adding plenty of life to Kurow’s Bledisloe Street.

Founded by sisters-in-law Fiona and Lisa, the business started as a retail offering under the name Feliz, focusing exclusively on a retail offering. However, when the town’s local cafe, Wild Sage, went on the market, the duo saw it as an opportunity to combine the two businesses and begin a new chapter as Feliz & Sage. Anywhere we can shop local goods, sip coffee and devour cheese scones under one roof is a winner in our books.

Inside, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, with a rustic aesthetic that complements the simple but delicious food offering. The cabinet is full of fresh sandwiches to take on the go, cheese rolls (of course), hot pies, classic Kiwi slices, seasonal cakes and baked goods. A large blackboard reads a hearty menu of beloved breakfast and lunch staples, including the Farmers Breakfast, bacon butties, mac n cheese, nachos and more. Slide into a comfy dining booth or, if the weather allows, head into the garden to enjoy a feed at one of the sunny picnic tables.

After placing your order, it’s a good moment to take a look around the gift shop. You’ll find a little bit of everything, with a selection of unique products made by talented folk in the region. There’s children’s books by a local writer, cookbooks written by Ōtemātātā’s Philippa Cameron, walls covered in an eclectic display of local art, some of which are the work of Fiona’s teenage daughter, locally made yarn, and much more. The store also operates as the local NZ Post agency, so you can send a postcard while you wait for your coffee.

Outside of their usual business hours, Feliz & Sage collaborates with local accommodation providers to arrange home-cooked dinners for weary Alps to Ocean cyclists, and hosts pizza nights on Thursdays and Fridays.