Chiwis Cafe — Restaurant in Kaikōura

Chiwis Café has a cozy vibe and a bit of personality, making it an intriguing stop. When we visited, the menu was limited, so we settled for a coffee. It was decent—not life-changing, but certainly enough to perk you up for a chat or a quiet moment.

The place really shines with its subtle humor, like the friendly reminders to conserve paper towels or turn off the lights after use. It's as if the café wants you to enjoy your coffee and feel environmentally responsible at the same time. While we didn’t sample the food, the atmosphere is welcoming, and the quirky touches give it a unique charm. If you're nearby, it's worth popping in for the experience and a decent...

We wanted to know where to get the best chowder in town and our motel owner recommended us this unassuming little cafe and boy did they live up to expectations!

The chowder was thick with generous chunks of fresh seafood and so flavoursome. The ciabatta that came with it was crispy and buttery without being overpowering.

We also ordered some good ol’ fish & chips (but instead of chips, I went for the mash), and a mussel pie to go. The fish was fresh and perfectly battered, the mash creamy and I loved that it came with a side of veggies. The mussel pie was gold the next morning too!

Would definitely drop in again on our next trip...

We stopped in early in the morning for breakfast on a road trip down Hw1. This beautiful little cafe serves the best sausage we've had in four years in New Zealand. The eggs and sausages plate fed two adults generously, and came with the best toast either of us has ever had. The ciabatta was crisp on top and soft on the bottom, buttery and not too thick. It's a strange experience discovering that toast can be awesome enough to leave a review for. The hostess said the secret was love - something I'm actually convinced of for once. The service was amazing and welcoming, and the coffee was a great start for our long day. I hope to...