We scoured the region to find Southland's best cafés.

Discover them with our Neat Places guide.

5 Sweet Treats to Try in Invercargill

Cabinet of cakes at Black Shag Espresso.
From doughnuts to slices, we’ve rounded up five of the best places to satisfy your sweet tooth in Invercargill.

Meccaspresso

Barista standing by steaming coffee machine.
Place Southland
Cafes key icon.

Ago-to café whether you’re stopping by to see the classic motorcycle collection at Mecca, or just looking for a satisfying meal in the heart of the city.

Black Shag Boutique Café

People sitting behind the coffee machine.
Place Southland Editor's Pick
Cafes key icon.

Head to Black Shag in Invercargill for the perfect trifecta of coffee, food and service.

Toasted

Toasted sign.
Place Southland
Cafes key icon.

Serving up New York Style bagels that are made with hand-picked ingredients, this casual breakfast and lunch stop is a tried-and-true favourite amongst students and local office workers.

Industry

Close up of sweet treats in the cabinet at Industry..
Place Southland
Cafes key icon.

At the only café in Invercargill’s northwest corner, expect to nd delicious baked goods all made in house, hearty breakfast and lunch dishes and plenty of options for dietary restrictions.

Tuatara Café & Bar

Close up of a flat white and newspaper on a table.
Place Southland
Cafes key icon. Restaurants key icon.

A brewery, craft beer bar and pizzeria rolled into one, visit Tuatara Café to enjoy all of the above in one of Dee Street’s historic buildings.

The Auction House

The Auction House outdoor seating area with lots of people.
Place Southland
Bars key icon. Cafes key icon.

Open for breakfast through to dinner, expect tasty tapas, a wide range of mains, funky cocktails, an expansive NZ wine list and frequent live music events in the spacious, modern courtyard that often play into the night.

The Grille Café

A retro living area inside The Grille Cafe.
Place Southland
Cafes key icon.

The Grille has been lovingly curated and decked out with relics of days gone by.

Seriously Good Chocolate Company

Close up of chocolate production at Seriously Good Chocolate Company.
Place Southland Editor's Pick
Cafes key icon. Goods key icon.

A tiny store using chocolate as a medium with which to promote Southland to the world.

The First Timer’s Guide To Dining In Invercargill

We’ve rounded up the seven best places to eat in Invercargill, no matter the occasion.

Fat Bastard Pies

Close up of a Fat Bastard pie.
Place Southland
Cafes key icon.

Honest and extremely moreish pies likely to bring out your inner Fat Bastard in the best kind of way.

The Batch

A flatlay of meals on a table.
Place Southland Editor's Pick
Cafes key icon.

Enjoy epic brunch items like avocado toast with beetroot and mint hummus, sourdough, dukkah and free range egg while relaxing in one of Southland’s most well designed cafés.

The Green Room

Customers dining around tables inside The Green Room Cafe.
Place Southland
Cafes key icon.

A hub for barista coffee and homemade Kiwi café favourites.

The Crib Café

The retro interior of The Crib Cafe.
Place Southland
Cafes key icon.

The Crib has something for everyone and is reminiscent of the 90’s most laid back beach cafés.

Small Prophet & Co

The inside of the store with tables and chairs on display.
Place Southland
Cafes key icon. Services key icon.

Pop into this studio to check out their art, upholstering and refurbishment work alongside other local wares.

Niagara Falls Café

Graffiti wall inside a covered courtyard.
Place Southland
Cafes key icon.

A magical café run by a local family in a one room school house constructed in 1893.

Order up Your Brunch Fave at 4 of the Finest Cafés in Southland

A flatlay of brunch meals on a table at The Batch in Invercargill.
Brunch is that in between time where it’s crucial to fill the hunger gap and tempting to quell your appetite with whatever seems most convenient.

Tumu Toka CurioScape

A woman listening to an exhibit.
Place Southland
Cafes key icon. Galleries and museum key icon.

One of the Catlins most intriguing aspects is the petrified forest at Curio Bay. But how does a forest become perfectly preserved in stone?