Reviews of Karaka Cafe. (Coffee Shop) in Wellington (Wellington).

Karaka Cafe

734 Reviews

344 Comments

Coffee shop

Cafe

2 Taranaki Street Odlins Square Taranaki Wharf, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

Description

Information of Karaka Cafe, Coffee shop in Wellington (Wellington)

Here you can see the location, open hours, popular times, contact, photos and real reviews done by the users.

This place has good reviews, this means that they treat their customers well and you’ll feel great with their services, recommended 100%!

Map

Open hours of Karaka Cafe

Popular times

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Reviews of Karaka Cafe

J.

Wonderful spot by the water but sheltered from the wind. The outdoor seating is amazing! QR codes allow you to order and pay from your table without having to wait for a server which was very cool. The food menu is very cool with some great traditional fare. The drinks menu is limited but sufficient. Will definitely be back.

J.

Loved this place! Very authentic and love their culture focusing on sustainability, they also have my favourit fair trade and organic drinks from Karma Drinks so that was a bonus! The Hangi was delicious and the creamy paua was so rich! Keep the great work guys!

V.

Lovely staff, great location! Outdoor seating has been great!!!! They provide you a mat and a blanket just in case. And the best part is our dogs were allowed to join us outside 😃

L.

Visited from Auckland for the weekend and a friend took us to Karaka cafe on a Saturday afternoon. They had live music from Māori artists that was simply amazing. The food was delicious and cocktails were devine. We were hosted by Jess who was a BAWSE! Very efficient and friendly. Would definitely recommend this local spot.

A.

Karaka is a really nice place for brunch and drinks. In a sunny day the view from the lake is beautiful or you can stay inside instead. Service is great and food is tasty. Highly recommended.

j.

Lovely vibe, great food. Have been there twice in the past few weeks and have been very pleased with the quality of food. Plenty of GF options but you can’t order these from the online app, the staff however are on it and didn’t have to wait long for someone to come over and assist. Would recommend.

O.

This is where my local friends introduced me to Maori food and I loved it right away. Really good beer, nice atmosphere and the beanbags outside are the best. In the picture Parāoa parehe hāngi, with some nice beer. 👌🏻

R.

We had the vegan bolognaise on flat bread and vegan sweetcorn fritter meals - they were absolutely delicious! Food came out quick, staff were so friendly and helpful and it was lovely sitting outdoors . Definitely recommend and will be back :)

C.

Fabulous cafe! Lovely atmosphere and layout. Absolutely beautiful food with warm and friendly staff. I would highly recommend the cream paua. Thank you very much for the wonderful experience.

J.

Fantastic spot, very covid friendly, sat outside in the sun and ordered drinks by a qr code provided. Great idea. Cold beer in the sun, out of the wind. Perfect 🍻

D.

Big smiles for this place. The coconut fried chicken excellent, big serving of olives in tasting plate. Would have loved more fried chicken though.kumara and karva chips great too.would go again next visit.

F.

With its superb location overlooking the tranquil Whairepo Lagoon, with the skyline of downtown Wellington beyond, the Karaka Café is a perfect place to while away one of Wellington’s lovely afternoons. Your outdoor table (lots of indoor seating as well) is a simple wooden platform with a couple of bean bags to sit on beneath a shady umbrella. You order via an app (of course...this is 2021!) and your food and drinks are delivered to you by one of the café’s friendly staff. There is an extensive menu to peruse but we chose a bowl of warm olives and some thin, tasty kumara chips to accompany our glasses of delicious Sauvignon Blanc. Don’t believe everything you hear about Wellington’s dodgy weather. On a good day, and the Windy City has plenty of them, Wellington is beautiful. And the Karaka Café is a great place to spend a lazy afternoon in the sunshine.

P.

Really friendly staff, quick service and tasty food with wicked portions! I had pan fried fish with chips, got three big bits of fish and chips (hot) were good. The pulled pork and chicken burger is also really nice and smoky.

I.

Amazing food, loved it all. Must go back again.

J.

Lovely restaurant situated in a fantastic spot. The food was amazing had morning tea, lunch and supper there. Lunch lying on the grass watching dragon boat practice, and supper in doors out of the wind.

L.

This place has the most accommodating staff, brilliant views, and a tika representation of Maori, and New Zealand culture. A true testament to what it is to be a kiwi. I would like to send my personal appreciation to a staff member called Grace, they took their time to not only make sure our table was satisfied and looked after, but went beyond that to accommodate us in a capacity that isn't required from a hospitality worker. I only have good things to say about Karaka Cafe and what it has to offer.

R.

Was there on Monday 20th (with my partner and my Dad) for breakfast while waiting for Te Papa to open. Was wonderful! great staff! very prompt service and the best French Toast I have ever had! the whipped Butterscotch, Amazing! I told our server that, so I hope he passed it on :D Will happily return! Thank you for the great start to our day in Wellington!

B.

Located next to the waters of Wellington, close proximity to the art gallery. Lots of spots to take good photos. With outside bean bags seats, bubbly + friendly staff who are really proactive. And good use of local produce. Everyone enjoyed our meals at Karaka cafe.

M.

We finished our waterfront bike ride at Karaka. The staff were so kind, friendly and welcoming, we got such a positive feeling from it, just wonderful. Food was great, appreciated the little touches like kawakawa pesto.

B.

I went to this cafe for the first time for a meeting and I was very impressed. First of all, the location is awesome, near the lagoon, the sea, beautiful view. I was welcome by one of the staff and the manager and they were all very friendly and easy to deal with. The decorations and set up are amazing, a mixture of NZ culture and modern style. Great live music and great food. My guests and I had a wonderful time and I'm definitely going to book future meetings here. Thanks a lot for helping me with my little event.

A.

I would rate this 5 stars but we had problems finding the door. We came in from the lagoon side and it is not overly obvious how we should enter the cafe. Once we found the door we were warmly greeted and coffees were perfect and prompt. It got quite busy while we were there so obviously a popular place for breakfast/brunch. We complimented the barista on the coffee and we were told it was his first day. Good job!

J.

Great atmosphere, nice music, very chilled, friendly service. Mediocre food - vege nachos topping was cold and looked and tasted like refried beans from a can

M.

What an awesome idea. Bean bags on the lawn, ordering from your table, and have to say the hot chips and garlic aioli were lip smacking good. Attentive service and all in all a great way to spend time looking out at the waterfront in Wellington.

T.

Great prompt, friendly service with delicious food! I highly recommend it.

P.

Absolutely loved this place, great outside area to sit on a sunny day, friendly staff and incredible Maori food, 10 out of 10, would highly recommend

J.

Great outdoor bar area. Loved sitting outside on the grass. Friendly staff!! Great vibe I have been to the Cafe too, also good.

S.

Beautiful food, top-notch service. Staff were so efficient, before we even sat down they had taken our coffee order. Food was delivered fast and was just perfect in portion and flavour. The view and atmosphere of the cafe is lovely as well. Ka pai!

E.

Very lively cafe and restaurant close to the waterfront. Frequented by students and office workers after work. Located in s lively area of the harbour with music and other popular outlets. We had here a drink and a relaxing time to recover from the time we spend in the te papa museum

D.

Great location, very central and nice view. Friendly staff. Had a burger. Was really good. Nice presentation and great flavours.

O.

The food was delicious and the portion was big. Worth the money and the view was awesome too. Decided to drop by for lunch when I was visiting the museum before it was closed to flatten the curve. Great place! Would definitely visit again the next time I’m in Wellington.

M.

Ataahua Cafe with tino reka kai 😍 The eggs bene was delicious especially accompanied with the Hangi hashbrown, the kids waffles got the big tick from my daughter, the Hangi was really yummy too. Perfect location, very close to Te Papa and on the waterfront 👍

P.

Tino kakama. It is a fantastic cafe that had a wide array of food, drink, and good views of the city and harbour. Absolutely a magical place in the sun. The food caters for all tastes and include good vegetarian options. The portions are generous and freshly prepared. Do try the buttermilk battered chicken wraps, they are particularly amazing. Drinks include alcohol and great non-alcoholic including kombucha and tonic sodas. The Kawakawa ginger tonic is great on a hot day. Staff are very friendly and helpful and can tell you everything you need to know about each menu item.

s.

Great food, great menu, great service. Very child friendly. The most family friendly eating spot on the waterfront.

F.

On a sunny day in Wellington, there aren't many places better than this. Table service on the grass, great food and plenty of local wines.

S.

Great new ap allows for ordering from the table. First time I've seen that! Great use of the QR scanning tool!

E.

The fried squid and fried chips are absolutely great. Amazing service and atmosphere. Must visit when coming to Wellington.

W.

We found this by accident due to the torrential rain. And wow what a great place for breakfast. The French toast was so light and yummy. And the mince/ pulled beef on toast was awesome too. So friendly .

B.

Everything was impressive. Though i had to wait quite long to get my food but it was worthwhile as it was so good.

A.

This place has a fantastic location and when the weather is good it is amazing. However we found that the staff were a bit cold when we arrived. Felt like they didn't really want anything to do with us. Got a beer that wasnt even full and when I questioned it, was shrugged at. Was very over priced considering how their are bars nearby that sell better beer at a reasonable price.

J.

Clean and welcoming cafe with a Māori cultural decor theme. Comfortable booth like seating around tables. A good range of light meals - fish, chicken, veges etc (including some served for two to share) and counter food too (corn and zucchini fritters, giant sausage rolls, muffins, scones, slices). Friendly helpful staff. Ginger and kawakawa tea was perfect for me.

T.

Great menu,and environment to eat inside,outside. Very expensive and so slow service but the food is soooo good.

R.

Spent a long time in Auckland trying to find a restaurant that would make traditional Maori Hangi. Couldn't find a place. Found it here. Not 100% sure how traditional the recipe was as this is the only time I tried it, but it was delicious and the service was excellent. Walkable from the te papa museum. Definitely worth a visit.

M.

A great little spot overlooking the water to grab a light meal and have a drink or two. The meals were delicious, I can highly recommend the baked Brie, and inexpensive. The cafe also provides bean bags and mats which you can take to sit out on the grass by the water if you’d rather that than sit at a table.

A.

Definitely a must when visiting Wellington. True Kiwi manaakitanga (hospitality). The hangi meal was a highlight!

J.

Karaka 'Wai and Kai' is the best way to spend a Saturday arvo. Amazing music and atmosphere. NOT TO BE MISSED when Karaka have this event on. If you ever come across Jess, she is service personified. Always down for a laugh with you. Ngā mihi and meitaki ma'ata Karaka.

J.

Excellent food. Slight issue with service as one meal was misplaced & only arrived as the rest of us finished.

T.

Absolutely love the vibe of this place and coffee and food beautiful. The staff are awesome, polite helpful and everything done with a smile. As retirees and healthy foodies (the salad choice is fantastic) who spend time travelling NZ this would be at the top of our list and we will definitely make it a destination in the future. Keep up the good work guys...you rock !

J.

Place was really nice. Love that you can order in Te reo and the menu is in Māori as well. Only downside is i ordered the mince on rewana and the mince was really, really salty. I couldn't even eat it all. Other than that the staff was very friendly.

S.

Only had coffee but was really well made both days I went (at a conference upstairs) staff all really good.

e.

A great location and popular venue especially on the weekends, but we managed to get a table straight away though which was great. We had breakfast and coffee. Both were delicious. Next time I will be brave and try one of their specials. Will definitely come beck next time I'm in Wellington

S.

They are the best cafe in Wellington, I must say! I would love to appreciate the attentive and friendly behavior of their crew members. Thanks a lot guys, keep up the good work!

J.

I've been to Wellington for the first time and I'm glad that I have felt the hospitality of this cafe and its staff. Thank you for the good atmosphere and delicious coffee and eggs with the bacon;)

R.

Food was good. Service staff were excellent.

R.

Meal and a half, fantastic setting on the inner harbour and live entertainment, thank you was a great evening

C.

Great location and very good service. Really good place for drinks in a fine day. Breakfast was pretty average and portions quite small so the food let it down. The avocado and mushrooms dish was good but tiny. Toast was very dry she hard.

R.

Food is delicious and beautifully presented. Staff are excellent.

B.

Great atmosphere and service. Food very tasty.

L.

Excellent service. The staff are friendly, welcoming and respectful. The cafe offers customers a taste of traditional Maori cuisine. 'Absolutely, delicious'. The coffees is superb. If you are looking for an eating establishment where you can experience Maori values as a part of their service, Karaka Cafe is the place to visit. Ka mau te wehi!

S.

Menu isn't very extensive but they are done well with very generous proportions.

M.

My first time at Karaka, so this was a different experience. Stunning meal, but please don't bring out all the courses at once! Also, didn't realise that there would be live music right beside our table, so maybe the indoors should be left for diners, especially if the entertainment is meant to be mainly for those dining outside. However, love the indigenous menu - a great change from the usual cafe fare.

도.

Unique menu reflective of NZ culture. Good food, moderate service, okay coffee.

R.

Beautiful food. A+++ service. Friendly and helpful staff

n.

Seriously it was so wonderful. The food was bombastic. The staff was so lovely and friendly who cater you your needs, I have gone prior to lockdown will happily recommend to anyone who wants AMAZING SERVICE. Such an awesome amazing wellington place to go. Eat inside or outside just amazing

L.

Friendly owner and staffs, beautiful setting with maori inspired decor and delicious array of food. Loved it and will definitely bring my family there if we ever come back to Wellington. Thank you 😊❤

S.

I saw these guys were struggling with business due to covid so thought I’d take the family there to try support them. Unfortunately seems to have gone downhill for some reason since last time. Me and my girlfriend got the hangi burger. At $19 for that I’d expect it to come with chips or a side salad, and unfortunately just seemed like pulled meat in a bun with bit of salad. Where’s the chicken burger gone?? I use suggest your place purely for the chicken burger. Coffee was okay. Service was real average. Our main server said about 3 words our entire visit and just kinda dropped the plates on our table. I understand the current world climate makes it hard but if you’re trying to cut cost make sure it’s not affecting the food or the service. Unlikely I’ll be back.

M.

Visiting Wellington from Kaitaia and the first place recommended to me was Karaka Café on the Waterfront. Walking through the doors, receiving a warm, friendly welcome, I knew I would have an enjoyable experience. Excellent customer service, loved the decor and the ambiance. Then my breakfast arrived - eggs bene on smoked hangi hash - tino reka...a generous helping. Compliments to the chef. Highly recommend. Don't hesitate - just go! Ngā mihi ki a koutou katoa

D.

Karaka Cafe was such an amazing place that we dined at. The scenery was so beautiful outside and amazing history behind the place. We met the lovely owners of the business and because we were a group that booked in one thing I loved the most was that all the food was already prepared for all of us. The workers were so nice, the drinks as well were really nice. But the food!!!!! SOOOO GOOOD. the kumara chips were my favourite. But all the rest were soo amazing and soo good. I loved it !!! Would definitely be back there when I’m in Wellington again.

A.

Such a beautiful location to take out of towners. A beautiful waitress was so helpful with my new dietary requirement🤪 almond milk available and coffee perfection. Not so busy today at 9am yah!

J.

My favorite place to hang out on a sunny day in Wellington. The outdoor seating (bean bags) by the lagoon is fantastic, with a bottle of bubbles and your sunglasses

g.

We were blown away with the service and food here, so welcoming and warm. Food was amazing. So good for kids to. Dude behind bar was a pleasure.

D.

Yum as food. Reasonable prices. Excellent service. Beautiful location. Very unique lovely place. They got our drink order wrong and floor was a bit dirty. Everything else outstanding.

J.

Beautiful food, staff & service. Kia ora koutou!

C.

Beautiful cafe with wonderful friendly staff and the food is delicious

D.

Amazing experience. Last night, I was looking for a place to enjoy a good food and have a nice beer, when I find Karaka Cafe. The staff was amazing, Japneet and To made my experience remarkable and amazing. I order two Crayfish and I they were absolutely fantastic. Thank you for the amazing service and attention.

D.

We had a lovely tasting lunch here today. 2 vegan dishes. I would definitely recommend checking out the restaurant

J.

Not too bad. Maori food with a twist. The prawns weren't amazing, though. In response to the question added by owner: Prawns were in the chowder, yes. Chowder was delicious. Can't blame anyone for the prawns. They were cooked fine, I believe. Just not good prawns.

D.

Awesome cafe. Really interesting Māori Kai inspired menu. Good coffee and very tasty meals. Highly recommend.

P.

Awesome spot, best chips ever...also an amazing singer, guitarist - a perfect way to end a day of hanging out with friends ..... G&T in the sun listening to an amazing voice .... So talented. Thx amazeballs Karaka Cafe team.

w.

Was a great setting to relax on a bean bag in front of the water, unfortunately our order was late so we had to cancel as had limited time. They apologized for this and gave us a quick meal to eat before we left for free. That was very nice and have given a 5 star because they done this without asking. Very satisfied, and would go back again

M.

Spent the new year dinner here. Good atmosphere and view.

K.

The quality wasn't as good as it has been in the past. My meal was cold and my friend's was quite greasy. Fingers crossed they're back to their usual top quality when I go back, because I'll definitely be giving them another chance.

J.

Went here this morning. Great location, food was fast and delicious (Hangi pork burger with fried bread buns, I mean come on!!) and the girls were all welcoming and great fun to talk to. Check it out, or else you're missing out.

N.

Lovely spot and really busy on a sunny Sunday which have it a great vibe. All sorts of people including young families. I had a beer and my wife a glass of wine but the food we saw going out looked good although mostly deep fried. Servers just a little cool, not warm and friendly otherwise I would have awarded a 4.

K.

Great food, and fantastic service. Made eating out with young children very easy. Bringing a highchair over without us even having to ask was very thoughtful. Treating the kids so kindly was a lovely touch. A really nice location too. I'll be recommending this place regularly.

R.

Yummy food .. you must try their slow-cooked sweet soy sticky pork ribs... divine!!

B.

Quality and value of food has dropped unfortunately - $20-odd for 3 chicken skewers with little else on the plate. Better spot in summer when you can enjoy the outdoor area which is their strong point.

H.

Meal was delicious service was excellent would have no hesitation in recommending this as the place to eat in Wellington

O.

Really good place with people who really care about customers and the place image. Had a small incident that was immediately resolved by the management. Will definitely come again. Thanks

L.

The icecream milkshakes are like 3 regular servings and are icy cold, perfect for a sunny day! The food servings are huge so you are definitely getting your money's worth! The staff are so friendly and always happy to help with a smile, they make you feel so welcome! Perfect place if you sit indoors, outdoors in the sitting area or on the bean bags next to the lagoon, watching the water gives a great atmosphere. My new favorite cafe, I'll be here often :)

P.

Pleasant service. Comfy bean bags. Great views and wine.

A.

Great service and top notch food. Will definitely be back to try a few of the other delicious looking things on the menu. Kids loved it to, being so close to the water. TU MEKE!

J.

I like the attempts made to highlight Maori culture, food, and especially language here. The food was pretty good, with our cafe hangi dishes having perfectly cooked meats and potatoes. I was a little disappointed by the overpowering European spices in it, especially sage. Perhaps I'd just gotten my expectations up a bit for something somewhat more traditional. Beer list was average, but I was glad to see contributions from kawakawa in both one of the beers and a tea. Nice outdoor seating and attentive staff willing to make some accommodations for a picky eater in our party.

C.

Excellent food based on Maori Kai. Great staff

M.

Friendly staff. Great atmosphere. Interesting menu, with a mix of delicious Maori styled dishes.

C.

Good range of salads (including a few gluten-free and dairy-free options). They somehow managed to mess up most of our order, but they were prompt in correcting it which was great, and the food was reasonably priced and tasted good. We'd go back again.

B.

Some of the best lunch we have had out in a long time, DELICIOUS. And they catered well to a Gluten Free person with plenty of options. The outlook is great over the lagoon too!

H.

Great location for summer. They have plenty of outdoor seating, including beanbags. Sometimes they have live music on the weekend. One litre jugs of beer (Golden Lager) and cider are available for $20. The fries with aioli were yummy. The pizza bread was just OK. Service seemed quite attentive.

A.

Absolutely love this place. Food was unique and super tasty! Staff were very friendly, atmosphere and decore supurb. Highly recommend! A+++

S.

Perfect place on a beautiful afternoon. Service was good. Beer selection is okay. We had one minor issue with our order but it was quickly rectified. Live music was on and the vibe was very chill.

V.

Beautiful tasty food, served hot and with positive hospitality. Good coffee, very clean well laid out bathrooms. Staff very friendly and helpful. Awesome surroundings. A must visit when you in Welly.

T.

We as a whānau have been coming to Karaka Cafe every week for almost 2years because of the service being second to none. They provide us with the perfect example of Bi-Cultural practices and can provide great advice for anyone else in the industry for how they can do the same throughout Aotearoa NZ. TWP and Kai Kōrero are happy to have an association with Karaka Cafe and are proud supporters of how they do business. Thank you TINO much!

T.

Was so nice to sit on the beanbags outside on the steps. Great coffee and food. Service was lovely.

S.

One of the best spots to enjoy drinks and nibbles on a sunny day in Wellington. Always enjoy sitting on those huge bean bags.

M.

Great spot on a nice day. Can sit outside and people watch. Food was nice.

L.

AHMAZING SERVICE! There was a fire in our flat building so we had to evacuate for several hours and we happen to come here for an impromptu dinner. When they heard our story, they brought us several free dishes and drinks, saying “we take care of our own here”! It was so so kind and we felt so blessed!

M.

We were there for the first time on New Year's Eve. The staff were very busy that night. They were helpful friendly and patient and we were lucky enough to find a table. We had a mixed Kete Kaimoana/Seafood Basket.. For $24 that was great value. I was very impressed with the tasty quality and the amount of food we were given. It is now my favorite place to sit there on a sunny day. I love the atmosphere of the cafe.

J.

What more, great beer and cocktails! Just grab a bag and chill with friends

J.

Delicious food, awesome and friendly staff. Will definitely be back next time I'm in town.

P.

Nice location on a sunny day. The two guys behind the bar were apparently too busy to serve paying customers but when someone else eventually came along service was fast and friendly. The food was enjoyable. My hangi had everything you'd expect to see on your plate of hangi food...pork and chicken, potato kumara and pumpkin, stuffing and fried bread. I wasn't expecting authentic Kai but it was very flavousome. On the other hand my wife's whitebait fritter was more egg than whitebait so that was disappointing. Overall whilst our experience was pleasant, it would seem the chances of good food and good service are quite random.

P.

The cafe ticks so many boxes. Outside seating that as well as traditional tables also has bean bags out on a grassed area. A view of the city over the small lake in the front.Some good background music, loud enough to enjoy and still allow friendly conversation. The savoury muffin was really tasty.

K.

Lovely spot on the waterfront. Great coffee.

E.

Amazing food, good coffee

a.

Awesome food and all with a bit of Maori flair to them as well, which is rare around Wellington. Decently priced and reasonable wait times for food. Would definitely recommend to all and plan on coming back again soon. Ka Pai!

K.

I only had a cake and hot chocolate made with Almond milk. The service was good. There is indoor seating and beanbags on the grass near the water. The waka are housed in the building

I.

Excellent service, and a cafe with a positive cultural kiwiana theme. Beer selection fell a little bit short and the wings we ordered had average cuts of meat (could be just bad luck), and were dressed in a sweet yet bland sort of sauce (felt like it was a honey-soy sauce without the soy; it needed spices, or something). Great wine selection, and enjoyed a wonderful and generous glass of Sav. The wings (being the only meal had) were a bit of a let down, but the Sav, atmosphere, music, and friendly service redeemed that and made for a good experience.

N.

Service a bit tardy but it was Saturday evening and the placed was packed with people enjoying the evening sun. Compensation was when the fish and chips arrived they were superb, and we had enjoyed people watching in this busy corner close to the waterfront. All in all a pleasant experience

G.

This cafe has a great inside outdoor vibe with umbrella tables and bean bags. They supply sunhat and sunscreen for those sun lovers too. The music vibe is Pacifica and a perfect relaxed groove to enjoy eating beside the waterfront and to people watch.The food was most enjoyable with good portion sizes and variety.Only gripe is that i thought the beer battered fries (Ordered as extra) were rather expensive for what you got served in really small wire basket.We brought our UK guests here for lunch and they were really impressed

L.

Was there for a late lunch today with family. Great food, great service and superb location. We had a great time and will visit again!

j.

Sometimes the service seems offhand but really they do a great job of casual, friendly service. Menu has gems and they will try hard to help you out. Winter or summer, this is a cool place to go. Love the opening hours. Good work team.

L.

Awesome location to drink. Duck hunter Sav is the best 💖

H.

Awesome lunch outside in the sun (with umbrella options). Perfect fries!! Good hearty meals. Chilled and friendly staff. Most definitely will come here again.

M.

Great site right on the lagoon for some relaxing drinks and food. Wonderful indoor outdoor flow A band plays on Saturday night, Great chef

M.

Got shown to this place by a local friend and were greeted by open space with sun and shade, good vibes, music and coffee. The friendly staff even invited us to stay for the houseband's jam session in the afternoon. Great way to start a relaxed stay in Wellington, thanks!

I.

Brilliant and friendly staff. I really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere.

A.

I am happy to finally found an authentic Maori cuisine cafe in Wellington. I just loved their style of serving really tasty food. Best place to make your dining experience special.

V.

Setting is beautifully located on a the Wellington waterfront (with beanbags out front for relaxing with beer when the weather is good). We ordered the Hangi Pizza, Steak Sandwich & a Chicken Caesar Burger with a side of Kumara fries. The pizza was lovely, with the special Hangi topping (which I'm told is meat cooked on hot rocks underground), the burger was great too and the steak sandwich was perfect served on 1 slice of bread with caramelised onions & mushrooms. Service was excellent also.

S.

Decent food, not disappointing but nothing to get excited about. Although beer battered chips were awesome. Had smashed avo on rewarewa bread and breakfast roll.

S.

Honestly best hangi you can get outside of a marae. I'll be back for sure! It's nice to have a cafe around te ao maori. Nga mihi nui! We will be back!

M.

Good food, excellent location for sitting outside and enjoying a drink, but the service is consistently terrible. Servers will wander around among the tables, but will blatantly ignore customers waving to get their attention. Have been here many times, and keep going back due to the location (especially on a sunny day!), just go up and order from the bar if you want things done in a reasonable amount of time!

P.

First time at Karaka Cafe and wow...great food, great service, warm and friendly staff and a great venue. We had the hangi, flat bread and ribs...all cooked to perfection and delicious . Expect to see us again.

T.

On a sunny evening in Wellington this is the place to be. Good live music and good drinks.

R.

Had a meke as team all the aunties and uncles looked after us mean as. Jess was amaaaaazing loved her service and her manaaakitanga please give her a pay rise We will be back ❤️❤️

C.

Mussels tasty. Omeletes divine. Try the ginger and kawakawa tea if you are not in the mood for their lovely coffee. We were in Wellington for 3 days and ate and drank there 3 times

C.

This was a pleasant surprise. Tried the Keto Avocado. Delicious with wilted puha. My drink is lemon, honey, and ginger.

W.

Was great kai at karaka cafe very impressed, hangi was treat thanks guys Nice place nice people and not once did they moan about me eating with hands, churr Mihii nu nui nga kai whakahaere,

M.

Enjoyed it very much, things on the menu you wouldn't usually find in a big city.

P.

Love the ambience. We sat outside on a Beautiful, Sunny day. Enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere enhanced by good service and Caribbean music. We will be back.

A.

Great location, closed a bit earlier than we hoped (8pm) on a Monday night. The hangi is edible but not really my cup of tea, a little bit soggy and fatty

C.

Geeat food, great service... we had a fabulous day at Wharewaka, designing, refining and creating! Thanks for the hospitality!!

J.

It got way too complicated trying to order salads - felt like I was asked lots of questions and my answers ignored. Food was ok, wash rooms not that clean.

R.

Awesome food. Great cabinet selection. Drinks were tasty and excellent service. Fantastic Maori ambassadors :) thank you.

C.

Had an amazing pre work breakfast with my team. Great service, tasty food, good portion sizes. Will be back again soon.

D.

Great staff and coffee. And location. Able to sit outside incl on bean bags if you choose. Food is mostly standard fare but good portions and reasonably priced.

G.

Great location & atmosphere. Love the bean bags on the waterfront. Unfortunately our "hot" drinks were luke warm, food was average, service a bit slow.

K.

Good food. Great place for weekend morning

M.

Camped in Wellington for the day. Came here for breakfast and lunch. Their eggs benedict, Māori fry bread, and hāngi were amazing. The restaurant is absolutely stunning and the staff are great.

J.

Amazing service, nice location plus its really cheap but I think the hangi needs to have some sort of gravy with it because its really dry without and as for the kawakawa aioli it didn't taste like kawakawa at all but otherwise really nice would highly recommend

M.

Great breakfasts, friendly staff and lovely place to sit in the sun and enjoy lunch or a glass of wine. Kept coming back. Really recommend it.

N.

Love the setting! The seafood chowder and the hangi was great. Only downside was the little fried bread balls - microwaved and quite hard.

B.

Partner and i had breakfast here. Was absolutely amazing food. One of the best breakfast we have had in a while. Next time we are in Wellington we will be going here again

M.

One of the best summer sun café in Wellington. And lovely view of the lagoon and cityscape. Service is good, food is fine and drinks are worthy. But man, that sun :)

P.

Good service, nice atmosphere and friendly staff.

A.

Yummy food at such good prices (coming from an aucklander) service was exceptional- the man that looked after us was charismatic and friendly and let his culture show through. Amazing experience.

J.

Excellent staff, New Zealand culture on display in a unique way with Māori traditional themed food. Highly recommend and will be coming again for sure 👍🏼

G.

It's always a delight to sit outside at Karaka and enjoy the sun and view while sharing a platter or two with friends. Lovely wine selection and professional service.

J.

These guys are the best among the best restaurants and cafes in Wellington. I must say. The decoration of this cafe is just outstanding. I really had a great time here with good food.

T.

Very friendly staff. A pleasant atmosphere and nice food.

M.

Must visit cafe cuisine in Wellington. Give a try to their delicious platter served with drinks. I am very happy with the attentiveness of their staffs. Will visit again, thanks!

T.

Friendly and quick service despite being a busy Saturday night. Food was tasty but not much on offer was healthy food.

T.

Nice location, friendly staff, good avo toast

M.

Food is fair . The coffee is quite sad.

D.

Really tasty breakfast! Ordered the smoked eel Benny and it was amazing. Great location and perfect outdoor seating

J.

Really good innovative food, but service a bit disorganised. Very hard to catch a waiter's eye, even when you're standing at the front counter

T.

Lovely food, great service, good range of GF food. Place is clean and tidy. Only down was my omelet was burnt

S.

Amazing outside area and good vibes, wide selection of good cabinet food. Coffee and service a bit inconsistent. Worth going on a sunny day

K.

Really excellent selection of food from the cabinet and menu. Awesome environment - especially on a sunny afternoon. Can't beat a drink and burger on the beanbags out front.

C.

Very good food. Jackfruit Taco maybe a bit too spicy actually. Extra point for championing Te Reo Māori.

S.

Get the best menu for cafe in Wellington with them. The food is really good. I just loved the decoration and the ambience of the restaurant. Great service, wonderful ambience!

G.

Staff were great and nothing was a problem, food was yummy and generous portions. The place was busy with groups - Christmas!

S.

The coffee is always good and I'm rather fond of the salad selection but this is all surpassed by the amazing staff, they are always friendly, helpful and patient. I can not recommend this place enough

J.

Great venue, awesome customer service, good indoor and outdoor flow. Great for events or just a catch up with friends.

A.

KARAKA CAFE is a MUST DO whilst at Wellington waterfront!!! Outstanding venue with so much to do besides eating their AWESOME FOOD and Staff are so Amazing!!! Ever wanted to ride in a Maori Waka on Wellington waterfront??? Check it out, Great for "Professional Development" for any Group or Organisation. Kia Kaha KARAKA CAFE!!! 😆

M.

Cracking wee restaurant and lawn drinking spot in the centre of the waterfront. Grab your book (or a mate) and chill on a beanbag overlooking the water. Great vibe and really nice staff.

W.

Loved this place. Also loved having Māori staff and bilingual.

L.

Been twice now it has become our local in Wellington great staff amazing food with i difference

S.

A unique experience. Lovely service. I just wish there was more snacks thats caught my attentions.

M.

Great food, good price, good atmosphere. Will be going back....

R.

KETO Options, it is always nice to see the word KETO in the menu, and it is an amazing cafe...

J.

Comfy, coffee and food good. Staff was friendly and they were having fun...couple of cute ones too. Be back for sure

M.

Really nice setup. Food was fantastic and came out quick. Nice friendly staff. Definitely recommended

S.

Great spot, good service.

S.

The hangi is fantastic. More than I could eat and that is saying something. Great views, quick service. Brilliant location.

H.

Great staff, amazing service, just a general good vibe. Loved the beanbags. Ace.

P.

Very good Cheesy Eggs.

H.

Another gem of a cafe. It's become my spiritual home with having a hangi meal option.

s.

Great food with good views. Friendly staff is always a plus. Would recommend

D.

Loved it. The meal was great, the staff are amazing, missed an umbrella from the sun but it was tops.

K.

Good ambience, great staff!

R.

Really liked the vegetarian pizza - it was a bit pricey/too small though.

j.

although i found that the layout was a little confusing, the food was good and the staff are genuine and friendly

b.

Best breakie we've had in a long time!!! The hangi hash is absolutely amazing. And the staff is even better!!!!! I havnt had customer service this wonderful and attentive in years. Thank you so much!!! Well be back tomorrow.

J.

Relaxed atmosphere, friendly and efficient staff, delicious food - especially the raw fish! Thanks Karaka Cafe for the lunch.

r.

Karaka Cafe was amazing wonderful performances and the Kai was beautiful we will be back more regularly. Nga Mihi

S.

My first visit. Very impressed. Great service, excellent menu, food delicious!

S.

Awesome place for brunch. A bit of a breeze inside if the doors are open, but a great food selection, friendly staff, and nice coffee.

S.

Love chillin on the beanbags by the lagoon on a sunny day. Do great bowls of fries, plenty for 2 people to share!

R.

Nice Al fresco areas

N.

Great location and beautiful cafe. Service a little slow though so don't be in a rush if you go there.

J.

The music does tend to be a bit loud but the hangi menu is to die for!!! Usually sells out daily lol

A.

Nice enough place, accommodating service, good breakfast food (although they brought my bacon and eggs that I ordered without bread with two slices instead of none - shrug).

M.

Nice food reasonably priced and friendly staff. Sit inside or out or on the grass on bean bags with a standing tray.

N.

The fried chicken 🍗🐔 is amazing and the fish and chips are great too.

K.

Great Vibe of the place, Food was amazing, had no complaints

M.

My wife and I had so much fun hanging on the bean bags here! We got great weather too which made it even better! 🥂

S.

Something a little different! Lovely people delicious coffee and beautifully presented.

C.

Live music, white wine, see food sharing plate (be careful, it's deep fried). I saw few mussels pot around...look amazing!!!

G.

Really lovely caring hard working staff quick and delicious food at a good price too

p.

This place is amazing. The first breakfast I couldn't finish ever. Should be a 10 star.

j.

Loved it a good family catch up with yummy food

D.

Service can sometimes be a challenge, but great location for afternoon sun until sunset, beanbags and wine. Always busy on sunny days.

T.

I had the mussels and they were fantastic! A good selection of local craft beer as well!

I.

Beautifully cooked breakfast. Delicious coffee. Friendly helpful staff. Ka pai.

J.

Wonderful meal!!! In a great place!!! Wellington NZ.

L.

We had a couple of issues with food however Jess the lady who was looking after us remedied them all and was fantastic.

D.

Lovely food, location and service. Will keep going back.

N.

Excellent food service and atmosphere, highly recommend💖

E.

Great service. We had our annual end of year catch up here ..it's an awesome place highly recommend it

O.

Really location and vibe. Good coffee, although my waffles were pretty pretty tiny for the price and a bit undercooked.

H.

Really enjoyed our Time there .nice view. But they were really busy!

A.

Really good food. Great spot in the sunshine by the lagoon. Try the chicken caesar burger. Insane.

M.

Maori European Fusion, great food good service. Recommended

b.

Great food and ambience. Wonderful service and friendly staff. Definitely recommend

L.

Loved the place, the food but most of all the friendly service!!!! Couldn't recommend enough!!!!

E.

Awesome place, close to the water, very well designed, nice atmosphere, good nibles and drinks.

E.

Lovely setting. Prices a touch high, great live music but too loud.

C.

Good place to eat. Great coffee. The Maori theme works well.

M.

Menu and food bloody great..service fantastic..

E.

Awesome kai (food) staff very helpful.

E.

Great food awesome service highly recommend

L.

Cozy place to enjoy the sun, cocktails and snacks on the bean bags on their grass terrace.

M.

Staff so friendly and food exceptionally fresh and tasty

V.

Disappointing. Wouldn't return there.

B.

awesome place to go too for breakfast, egg Benedict, smoked salmon, on hangi hash brown kumera

h.

Amazing meals. Great service. I recommend this restaurant.

T.

Great cafe, nice coffee and a good range of vegan food.

B.

Great food and beautiful service, highly recommended

P.

Excellent service! Place really well manage! Best spot for an after work drinks!

L.

some of the best chips in wellington!!!

V.

Great place for a happy hour with friends. Good food, Nice views, friendly people

L.

Nice location. Nice for drink but very average food

M.

It's right opposite the lagoon. It's great in summer. We just had tea. Great location.

P.

This is one of my favorite restaurants to dine. My favourite dish is the mussels...

M.

Friendly service, great ambience and vibe. Best spot at the waterfront on a fine day!

V.

After my first bad experience, i came back, and the experience was very good.

R.

Nice people, nice Kai!!

A.

Very friendly staff, great food and coffee.

A.

Good menu selection. Pleasant staff. Nice outlook.

S.

Amazing u gota try the Hanawiti scrumptious

M.

A very nice cafe, good food and coffee and friendly staff

N.

Nice spot. The food was pretty tasty. Very busy when sunny.

H.

Beautiful food, great service.

N.

Beautiful old style milkshakes in a stainless cup.just don't see that anywhere these days.orsum🤘😀

D.

Yummy food and excellent private function seating and service.

A.

Deeeeelish food, great coffee, nice environment

J.

Great atmosphere and good food !!

J.

Good coffee great atmosphere and views

G.

Love going here, the date scones are AMAZING!

L.

Great food and service

S.

Great location. Awesome food and really good coffee

S.

Fab service, great food and happy helpful staff !!!!!!

R.

Great service, delicious Kai! Great value using a Groupon voucher!

S.

Wonderful selection, food, service. Highly recommend.

s.

Cool spot and friendly staff

d.

Great food and friendly staff!

K.

Awesome service and food one of my favorite spots in Wellington

J.

Great staff and atmosphere. Delicious food

S.

The sirloin steak here is really good. Service is good and friendly as well.

R.

Still great and the new menu is yum.

O.

Must visit cafe in wellington. I really had a great time here with good food.

J.

Amazing chicken burger! Fries were outstanding!

A.

Good menu, friendly staff, offer sunscreen as well.

A.

Love sitting by the lagoon and watching the Stingrays. Great views of Wellington city.

L.

Good atmosphere, coffee and range of food

K.

Amazing place, staff really nice it's a good place to go and visit

J.

Decent food but not really worth the price.

H.

Friday afternoon cocktails and snacks in the sun...delicious

D.

Breakfast burger was amazing! Will definately be returning 😊

R.

Delicious and friendly

A.

Very cool place with great atmosphere, love the beanbags

S.

Great food selection. Yummy salads!

J.

Excellent food and location for NZ summer eats.

E.

Nice salad. Coffee ok, but room for improvement

P.

Always awesome food and service in a great location

J.

Their buttermilk chicken burger is highly recommended.

D.

Excellent experience great coffee

D.

Great fries, beautiful location and tip top amenities

D.

Always have a great time here. Nice staff and setting.

M.

Lovely food and I love the tikanga. Kia ora tatou

R.

Great food and service with a uniquely kiwi experience

L.

Good service, great coffee, spectacular views!

E.

A must when visiting Wellington Highly recommend

D.

Great service!

H.

Great food.. Lovely service.

L.

Yummy food! Great view.

S.

Loved it

Q.

Real fast froendly good service and good food

J.

Fabulous food,coffee n staff

J.

The place to go on your way to the mussel inn brewery

G.

Lovely place for a drink on a sunny afternoon/evening

D.

Lovely variety of Maori infused food.

C.

Very indigenous

F.

Great service Great food Great company

S.

Beautiful Kai, lovely staff highly recommend 👍

C.

Awesome feed 👌 & something for everyone

J.

Mince on toast with poached egg.. The very best

A.

Long wait for food and then it was a bit cold and dry.

D.

I love how they have Maori wording for everything.

S.

Good coffee and a peaceful vibe, mostly.

T.

Excellent place awesome food and service

k.

Discrete friendly service and wonderful kai

A.

Great location and friendly staff

D.

Good food and a delightful setting

G.

Enjoyed the mince on toast

R.

Great kai and coffee.... very kapai

A.

Awesome food awesome service

s.

Good food, terrible service.

J.

Good mood. Friendly service.

K.

Awesome food. Try something new

C.

Great food!

M.

Food 10/10 service 10/10 the people that work here 11/10

T.

Great place great food

A.

Best chill ever! Right in center

R.

Great wine and outdoor vibe

A.

Awesome view for sun and beer

R.

Delicious seafood chowder!

A.

Nice modern place. Pleasant service.

L.

Good place for drinks in the sun

L.

Great cocktails and service

G.

Great food and service

M.

Love this place. Get the Hāngi

A.

Great

T.

Loved the views and atmosphere

S.

Excellent brunch spot

c.

Beautiful setting; even in winter

H.

great food as always!

B.

Steve enjoyed his sleep

F.

Great food and location

R.

Wonderful place in sunny days

J.

Fantastic food!

T.

Relaxing view and great staff.

J.

Nice cafe with good food

A.

Loved it!

G.

Best cafe in Wellington.......

B.

good good good. worth it！

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