Barista

Barista on Palmerston North's George Street is a longtime favourite in the city centre, working a neat double shift as a cafe by day and bistro by night.

They start the day off with quality coffee and a lively brunch rhythm. The menu is fresh and broad enough to please a crowd, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options always built in, rather than added as an afterthought. The cabinet range is all made in-house each day, with favourites like cheesecake, carrot cake and slices regularly in the mix, plus the full menu is available to take away if you’re on the move. Come evening, the dining room shifts into a relaxed European-style bistro pace with seasonal mains and shareable plates. They are fully licensed and BYO wine friendly with plenty of nightcap options, so you can keep things casual or make a night of it.

The space itself is brimming with character. Regulars often comment on the iconic hand-painted mural covering the walls, added piece by piece over the years, giving the room a lived-in warmth. Plus, being just a stone’s throw away from many of the local entertainment venues, it’s a handy meet-up spot for a quick bite before curtain up, or a dessert and drinks afterwards.

Welcoming and unpretentious, they do the simple things well. They even offer up special ‘theatre menus’ for nights when you’re heading to a show. Open seven days and reliably late most nights, it’s one of the local go-to city centre spots that you can always count on when you feel like kicking off or winding down the day properly.