Aster is a neighbourhood cafe and eatery set inside the Dunedin Botanic Gardens, beside the duck pond and beneath the iconic umbrella pavilion — a familiar landmark for generations of visitors. Surrounded by trees, water and the changing seasons of the garden, it's designed as a place to pause, eat well and stay a while.
Founded in 2026 by Jonas Jessen Hansen and Caitlin Holloway, Aster describes itself as a place where local voices are amplified and everyone who walks through the door feels welcomed. The small team behind the cafe brings big ideas to the kitchen, with a menu that changes with the seasons rather than staying fixed year-round.
Tucked beside the duck pond and beneath the iconic umbrella pavilion in the Dunedin Botanic Gardens, Aster occupies one of the city's most recognisable settings — a landmark that generations of Dunedin locals will already know well. Surrounded by trees, water and the changing seasons of the garden, the cafe is built around a simple idea: a place to pause, eat well, and stay a while.
Aster was founded in 2026 by Jonas Jessen Hansen and Caitlin Holloway, who set out to create a genuine neighbourhood cafe rather than just another garden kiosk. The cafe describes itself as a place where local voices are amplified and everyone who walks through the door feels welcomed — a philosophy that extends into a small team with an outsized ambition for their food. Rather than locking in a fixed menu, Aster's offering changes with the seasons, with the current sample menu updated frequently to reflect what's fresh and in season.
The food itself leans into considered, garden-appropriate brunch fare: a Rice Porridge finished with burnt orange marmalade, roasted almonds and pine dust; a House Broth built around Aster's own master broth recipe, served with whipped bone marrow butter and herby focaccia; and a French Omelette with charred leek purée, herb crème fraîche and crispy leek. For something lighter, the Green Goddess salad combines cos, lardons, croutons, avocado and jammy eggs, while the Roast Pumpkin Toastie brings together spinach, feta and smoked almond dukkah. For a heartier plate, the Chicken Schnitzel arrives with beurre blanc, capers, anchovies, a fried egg, salad and fries.
Aster hasn't overlooked younger visitors either, with a dedicated kids' menu covering a simplified porridge with banana and honey, a ham and cheese toastie, a soft-boiled egg with soldiers and whipped bone marrow butter, and kids' fries served with a little salt and tomato sauce. It's a thoughtful touch for a cafe positioned right in the middle of one of Dunedin's most popular family destinations.
Open daily from 8am to 3pm, Aster offers a fitting stop whether you're wandering through the Botanic Gardens on a weekend, meeting friends for a considered breakfast, or simply looking for a seasonal, well-made meal in one of the city's most scenic settings.