Flight Coffee Hangar Cafe — Restaurant in North Island

Matcha: one of the worst I’ve had. Weak, over oxidized (yellow-ish in color), and the dust of cinnamon on top is just sacrilegious. strong cinnamon in your nose and weak matcha is not a good mix…

The flat white was more sour and bitter than what I had elsewhere yesterday and it’s not smt I enjoyed (“Bomber”bean). It’s the classic NZ coffee taste. I may try a different bean variety next time if I come back.

the bacon butty: The bacon is thick and my friend enjoyed it. The overall sandwich is average and meh.

The service: we waited for 5-10 mins before someone put the menu in front of us then proceeded to immediately ask for our order. We haven’t had a chance to look at the menu yet. The same person also took away my friend’s coffee before she finished it, and struggled to understand when I asked.

Edit: I don’t usually update reviews, but the owner’s response misrepresents what happened and misses key issues I raised. Matcha: The problem wasn’t just the cinnamon—your matcha powder was over-oxidized and weak, which can’t be fixed by remaking it. The team offered to redo it before I’d even tried it, and I declined because I only noticed the cinnamon then. No one checked in after I tasted it and realized the drink itself was poor. Service: A team member took my friend’s coffee before she finished it. When I asked about it as we were leaving, the server didn’t understand me. She was kind and positive, and I didn’t want to make things harder for her during a busy shift. But the language barrier clearly impacted service, especially in a customer-facing role, and your response glosses over that. Your response: It frames the situation like I didn’t speak up, but I engaged as much as I reasonably could. Not every guest complaint can—or should—be escalated in the moment. Feedback like mine deserves to be acknowledged, not deflected.

I stand by my original review and hope this context...

Let's get this out of the way first, The Hanger may be the roastery from whence some very fine coffee takes flight, but as a structure it is unavoidably shed like - concrete blocks and pleasingly pared back wooden fixtures - but let's not be pedantic, it's great, the coffee is the star turn here, there are even flights - pun intended - of coffees for initiates to explore different beans or preparations, the esoterica is presented in a manner that's both clear and fun. On my second trip in three days I took a friend and we tried a trinity of flat whites with a spritz of bubbly water in between to assist in the discrimination. I found myself waxing enthusiastic about a Rwandan bean grown at 2000 meters above sea level, washed and well you get the idea. If coffee's not your thing or the weather turns nasty there was a "slow roasted" Whittaker's 72% cocoa hot chocolate, oh my. The staff are attentive and affable without overplaying it, happy to talk coffee should you wish, my first trip I was offered the choice of "complementary" sparkling or still water, on the second visit a bottle of still water was provided with no discussion, a minor quibble. The food is a tight toothsome selection of cafe standards with a few more substantial offerings for the ravenous, classics you might say, executed with finesse, much to savour, the fries get a big mention on the menu, sadly I didn't try this time, so can't confirm but something else for make a third...

The best breakfast experience of my life. Service was perfect, informed us of a two minute wait that was actually 2 minutes, sat us at the bar to get us in, then moved us to a table before our order came for more comfort. Various servers checked in throughout the meal each with quality banter and information. Aside from the people, the place itself is beautiful with a no frills but no mess vibe.

But the most important part, the food and beverage. Literally world class eggs. Bacon so thick you need a knife but grilled perfectly with crisp and chew. Out of this world sourdough grilled with olive oil instead of being ruined with a lather of butter.

And I haven't even spoke about the coffee yet! This is a coffee person's sanctuary taking coffee to a whole new level for a newbie like me. We ordered a filter coffee, a flight of flat whites and a sparkling manuka honey and mandarin coffee that was my favorite cold beverage I've ordered in all of New Zealand so far.

Finished everything with a apple cake and a banana bread and spent under 75$ NZD total.

If you come to Wellington and pass on this place for anything other than the wait, you've seriously done yourself a disservice.

Lastly, a special shout-out to the redheaded male server who took great care of us (sorry I missed your name) and the wonderful man named Jon who runs an youth arts trust here in Wellington we sat next to and chatted with. If I could give this place more...