We're spoilt for choice with great cafés and coffee bars in New Zealand. Neat Places has visited them all, and this is our pick of the best.

No stranger to a good cup of coffee, New Zealand plays host to a huge variety of coffee houses, tearooms, slick cafés and roasteries, all joint in their effort to bring you the finest cup of caffeine you’ll have that day.

Whether you’re city hopping from North to South, or driving through some of New Zealand’s smaller towns, you’re sure to find coffee at every stop. That’s because our small population has never been an excuse for a non-quality brew, and as more and more spots pop up around the country, Kiwis are simply spoilt for choice when it comes to soaking up a bit of café culture.

Leading the charge in the North is the super city Auckland, where most of New Zealand’s coffee drinkers reside. Slick, modern and confident in their ability to bring you the best, Auckland’s café scene is something not to be missed.

Further down the country Wellington is also known for its love of caffeine, and true to its hip and arty scene, coffee shops here are eclectic, quirky and full of colourful characters behind the counter.

Christchurch is no stranger to the party either, and a growing reputation as a city well worth its weight in coffee bean gold means visitors here will be impressed with both the number and quality of fun and creative coffee stops.

The further South you go, the more pleased you will be to hear a good hot cup of coffee is not hard to come by, and for people of Dunedin who face some of the coolest temperatures in the country, something to warm your hands on that also tastes bloody good is something worth celebrating. Proud of their city, fashion and food scene, Dunedin locals have let their passion for coffee infiltrate the streets, meaning within a stone’s throw of the Octagon are any number of cafés and eateries that are serving up quality cups of the good stuff.

Not to be missed too are the smaller towns dotted around the country, who may be less in population but certainly aren’t less in their love of hospitality. Cosy up at an old school tearoom with a lamington or custard square, or pop into an easy-going café that knows its locals by name – a New Zealand experience in itself, small town and rural sections of the country will perhaps make you feel more welcome than anywhere else.

The Best Places to Wine & Dine in Queenstown

Two women dining at a high table inside a green painted room.
In the heart of Queenstown Lakes where gardens, farms and lakes thrive with first-class produce, Queenstown was destined to be a haven of culinary delights. From hatted restaurants to under-the-radar eateries, scenic beer gardens to renowned wineries, exploring this town’s hospitality scene is just as thrilling as any bungy jump. With so much on the menu, we recommend extending your stay by a few more days to get a taste of it all.

odd saint

A bright yellow coffee machine in Odd Saint Queenstown.
Place Queenstown
Bars key icon. Cafes key icon.

Residing in a wistful schist stone building on the corner of Camp Street, odd saint is a neighbourhood eatery for those who worship great food and great service.

The Boatshed Cafe

Inside the Boat Shed looking out towards the ocean.
Place Queenstown
Cafes key icon.

Set in a dream location on the shores of Lake Whakatipu in Frankton, The Boat Shed Cafe is a loved spot for locals and visitors to stop in for coffee, a memorable breakfast...

Yonder

Customers dining inside a brightly decorated Queenstown cafe.
Place Queenstown
Bars key icon. Cafes key icon. Restaurants key icon.

Come as you are. The neon-lit invitation above Yonder’s entranceway is more than just an aesthetic.

SUNDAYS

Customers dining at a large table at Sundays in Queenstown.
Place Queenstown
Cafes key icon.

One of the beloved residents of Country Lane in Frankton, SUNDAYS is set inside a beautifully refurbished church.

Country Lane

A view of country cottages on a sunny day.
Place Queenstown
Cafes key icon. Fashion key icon.

Disclaimer: you won’t find anything else like this in Queenstown.

Bespoke Kitchen

A flatlay of colourful plates of food and coffee.
Place Queenstown
Cafes key icon.

When the hustle and bustle of central Queenstown gets too much, there’s a nearby oasis offering a moment of tranquillity.