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Vote & Win!
Vote for your MOST Favourite Café and be in to win one of 10 x cases of Most Organic Juice and a 12-month subscription to Taste magazine. Just visit facebook.com/tastemagazine and click on the vote tab.
Four finalists (one from each region) will be revealed in the November/December issue.
Blax Espresso Bar
Region One – Upper North Island
1. Paper Moon
437 Beach Road, Mairangi Bay, Auckland
Take a walk up on Mairangi Beach then try their fabulous gelato, or dine in and sample the house-made oats, salt and pepper squid, or Paper Moon bacon and beans. It’s a bustling café during the day and a vibrant restaurant at night.
2. The Artisan
99 Wiri Station Road, Wiri, Auckland
With their motto ‘happiness is homemade’, fresh seasonal food comes to the fore with their popular big grill, or deli salads which have gluten-free, dairy-free or vegan options. The chic interior features polished concrete floors, reclaimed table tops and industrial lights.
3. Chef’s Kitchen
442 North Road, RD2, Clevedon, Auckland
Chic kiwiana in a rural setting. The likes of beef burgers, venison burgers or pork belly can be enjoyed around the large fireplace inside or al fresco in their delightful beer garden.
4. Little Sister
91 Central Park Drive, Henderson, Auckland
They come from far and wide for their cream donuts, filled with rich custard, or cream and jam. There’s a Southeast Asian influence on the menu too, with their Vietnamese pancakes, or Balinese sticky black rice.
Espresso Garden Café
5. Bird on a Wire
40 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna, Auckland
Free-range rotisserie Rangitikei chook flies out the door at this re-imagined neighbourhood chicken takeaway. Local and organic salads, sandwiches made with artisan breads and premium ingredients make for some seriously tasty, wholesome and nutritious ‘fast food’.
6. La Cigale Café
69 St Georges Bay Road, Parnell, Auckland
Kiwi hospitality and rustic French fare. Classics like the croque monsieur and almond croissant are always popular and they host a French market every Saturday, which is just another reason to stop by.
Kush
7. The Block Café
568 Blockhouse Bay Road, Blockhouse Bay, Auckland
A classy fit-out with exposed brick, Oregon timber beams and an outdoor garden area. Throw in their popular plate-size hash browns for lunch or confit duck and a cocktail or two in the evening and you’ve got some eating pleasure out west.
8. Welcome Eatery
181 Grafton Road, Grafton, Auckland
A relaxed and welcoming environment with contemporary cuisine. They whip up a different soup each day for a great lunch option and serve hot sandwiches like their American-style Philly cheese steak.
9. Oneroa Beach Club
118 Ocean View Road, Oneroa, Waiheke Island, Auckland
Seafood platters and smoked fish cakes star at this destination island café with a 1960s beach vibe. You can also enjoy great steaks and gourmet burgers from their terrace overlooking the picturesque Oneroa Bay.
10. Craft Kitchen
2 Ponsonby Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland
Everything is made from scratch, they even mill their own flour for bread. They feature amazing paleo-friendly treats like carrot cake or doughnuts with chocolate ganache and raspberry. For breakfast, you can’t go past the haloumi and mushrooms on toast with tomato.
Somerset Grocer
Region 2 – Central North Island
1. The Falls Café
140 Mclaren Falls Road, McLaren Falls Park, Lower Kaimai, Tauranga
A tastefully renovated cottage space in a gorgeous rural setting. Lime chiffon cakes with pineapple mousse fly out of the cabinet, and Spanish-style baked eggs with fresh herbs and crispy pancetta are a brunch winner.
2. Saluté Delicatessen
47 Horomatangi Street, Taupo
A touch of the Mediterranean in the heart of Taupo, with dishes like Tuscan beans, or prawn caesar salad. There’s a walk-in cheese room, walls of imported speciality foods and French-inspired cabinets filled with innovative treats.
3. Fat Pigeon Café
41 Moa St, Waitomo
The pride of Pio Pio, they serve freshly made, wholesome food and have a cabinet crammed with paninis, pastries and cakes. Order the likes of their Fat Pigeon breakfast or ham omelette then take a stroll through Kara Park next door.
4. Replete Café & Store
45 HeuHeu Street, Taupo
After 22 years of business their ruru slice and Thai chicken curry are as popular as ever. The Taupo institution sells a wide range of deli products, anything from homemade stilton pâté to bacon and egg pie from their cabinet.
5. PBC Café
38 Childers Road, Gisborne
Located in a grand old historic building, the iconic Gisborne café has an eclectic interior and expansive lawns. Their seafood chowder is always popular and Friday is pasta night featuring freshly made pasta with gluten-free options.
6. The District
19 Home Straight, Te Rapa, Hamilton
An oasis from the shopping bustle of Te Rapa Rd. For breakfast, the mushrooms in balsamic cream, and the crêpes are a standout. They do dinner on Thursday and Friday where they feature the likes of Hawke’s Bay lamb rump, and walnut and spinach ravioli.
PBC Café
Region 3 – Lower North Island
1. Scorch-o-Rama
497 Karaka Bay Road, Karaka Bays, Wellington
Adjacent to picturesque Scorching Bay, it’s a top location with a menu to match. Their Scorch-o-Rama-lama-ding-dong is their popular big breakfast and they have ‘build-your-own’ milkshakes where you can include your favourite chocolate bar.
2. Neo Café and Eatery
132 Willis Street, Te Aro, Wellington
A traditional Kiwi café for the modern foodie. Menu items like house-cured salmon or grilled haloumi and watercress salad celebrate local artisan producers. Their refined homestyle baking includes their star offering – their Whittaker’s chocolate cake with salted caramel frosting.
3. Sweet Vanilla Kitchen
49 Pretoria Street, Wellington
An intimate and super-busy café with an outstanding cabinet selection. High-quality local ingredients are crafted into the likes of gluten-free corn fritter stack, smoked chicken salad, or haloumi salad with portobello mushrooms.
4. Franco’s Trattoria
24 Dundas Street, Seatoun, Wellington
A family restaurant featuring authentic Italian fare. Pasta and risotto rules and the pizza recipe has been handed down from generation to generation. They have great outdoor dining, a fantastic dessert menu and one of the best hot chocolates in town.
5. Midnight Espresso
178 Cuba St, Te Aro, Wellington
A Wellington institution that’s been going for 28 years. Open past midnight, it’s a great stop-off for their legendary nachos, or play on the pin ball machine or retro Pac-Man table in the alternative café space.
Springs Deli Café
6. Espressoholic
136 Cuba St, Te Aro, Wellington
Another Wellington veteran, the café has an interior hand-painted by local artists. It’s a meeting place to relax and unwind with a huge menu of tried-and-tested favourites like salads, pastas and house-baked cakes.
7. Thunderbird Café
154 Featherston Street, Wellington
Fried chicken and gumbo are served amid an oasis of colour in the heart of the city. Southern American classics with a Kiwi twist feature on the menu and they have live music four days a week.
08. Enigma
128 Courtenay Place, Te Aro, Wellington
The biggest, baddest hip hop-loving café in the city. Graffiti art punctuates the space and there’s a classic old-school vibe where customers enjoy the big breakfast, pastas, burgers or choose from their cabinet full of paninis and sweet treats.
9. Beannie Café
198 Jackson St, Petone, Wellington
A mother and daughter-run operation in the heart of Petone, the café has an op-shop mix ‘n’ match aesthetic. Their gluten-free salmon hash cakes are a hit, along with their Kiwi burger and Big Beannie breakfast.
10. Le Maquis
11 Sefton Street, Wadestown, Wellington
1A 1940s French resistance-themed café with Gallic foods, baked goods, deli meats and cheeses, coffee and everyday grocery needs. With 78 records on their gramophone, live music, or Pecha Kucha events there’s plenty of entertainment on offer.
Region 4 – South Island
1. Blax Espresso Bar
100 Victoria Street, Christchurch Central, Christchurch
A vibrant café set in the corporate CBD. They have comfortable seating for a long lunch, high bench leaner tables for a quick bite or a large boardroom table for meetings. They have a great selection of wraps, bagels, toasted sandwiches and counter food.
2. Luciano Espresso Bar
76 Moorhouse Ave, Christchurch
A Brazilian-themed café delivering latte-art coffees from award-winning baristas. The likes of warm lamb backstrap salad, open beef souvlaki or grandma’s banana bread is served in a vibrant CBD environment.
3. Seven Café
2Corner Riccarton Road and Hansons Lane, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch
Fresh, healthy food with no preservatives and many dairy- and gluten-free options. Large picnic tables outside or stylish indoor booth seating are great places to enjoy their very popular High Tea.
Replete Café & Store
4. Somerset Grocer
161 Burnett Street, Ashburton.
Feast on seasonal salads, quality sandwiches or freshly baked muffins then browse their gourmet grocery products for culinary inspiration. The café menu changes regularly, to reflect the availability of fresh seasonal produce.
5. Springs Deli Café
47 Amuri Ave, Hanmer Springs
3A touch of the city in the middle of the country. Their popular pulled lamb sandwiches, or warm Moroccan roasted vegetable salads are served in rustic surrounds with great views of the picturesque village and countryside.
Saluté Delicatessen
6. The Store @ Tai Tapu
687 Main Akaroa Highway, Tai Tapu, Christchurch
A unique blend of great food, coffee and giftware. Classics like eggs benedict with Anna’s famous hollandaise, or roasted mushrooms on toasted grain bread with parmesan cream sit alongside decadent desserts like their deconstructed cheesecake with a chocolate and coconut crumb.
Scorch-o-Rama
7. Kush
5 Church Street, Nelson
4A gourmet specialty roaster of organic, fair-trade and shade-grown beans. They serve quality coffee in an eclectic space with sofas and assorted quirky details. They have a range of yummy snacks, great for morning tea or lunch, and they have a brunch menu on weekends.
8. Espresso Garden Café
350 Andersons Bay Road, Dunedin
With local produce and artisan bread they add a touch of elegance to traditional café fare. From their slow-cooked beef open sandwich, to their cinnamon pancakes topped with butterscotch caramelised apples, they serve consistently good food in a relaxed environment.
9. Dragonfly Café
Rolleston Shopping Centre 9/92 Rolleston Dr, Rolleston, Christchurch
It’s not your regular café, with an ever-changing giftware shop attached. A modern interior with lots of booths and couches entice shoppers in for their brunch panini, or the pumpkin and sundried tomato ravioli for something more substantial.
10. Kaikoura Food Company
594 Beach Road, Kaikoura
A family-owned and operated café, they smoke their own fish for their popular salmon filo parcels and their famous fish pie. Nice touches like complimentary fudge with your coffee just add to the friendly atmosphere.
©2015 Pacific Refreshments Pte Ltd. ‘MOST’ is a registered trade mark of Pacific Refreshments Pte Ltd.
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