Starfish Cafe & Bar

About Starfish Cafe & Bar

Starfish Cafe & Bar has been a Dunedin favourite for over 20 years, anchoring the St Clair beachside community as a welcoming destination for brunch, coffee, and connection. In January 2026, the café embarked on its next chapter under new ownership by Sarah and Riki Flutey, who have maintained the venue's core identity while refreshing its warmth and energy.

The café is built around all-day brunch, fresh salads, and in-house baking, with a menu that changes seasonally to showcase the best produce available at any given time. Starfish prioritizes fresh, local ingredients and actively showcases regional suppliers and producers. The kitchen caters to diverse diets—gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options are woven throughout the menu. Signature dishes include the Starfish Stack (ciabatta, tomato, poached egg, bacon, hash browns, hollandaise), Biscoff Waffles, and indulgent creations like Fried Chicken Waffles and the Big Break Baby (slow-cooked pork belly with chorizo and poached eggs).

The drinks program is equally thoughtful. Supreme coffee anchors the morning service, while the bar features local Emerson's beers, a curated wine list emphasizing New Zealand producers, fresh juices, smoothies, and a focused cocktail menu.

Starfish Cafe & Bar: Twenty Years of Seasonal Brunch and Local Community in St Clair

Starfish has been a St Clair institution for over two decades, serving as a warm gathering place for Dunedin residents seeking connection, community, and carefully prepared food. In January 2026, the café entered a new era under the ownership of Sarah and Riki Flutey, who have preserved the venue's welcoming spirit while bringing fresh energy to the kitchen and front of house.

What defines Starfish is not a single dish but a philosophy: wholesome, seasonal, and genuinely made food in a space designed to feel like home. The menu evolves with the seasons, ensuring that every plate reflects what's best and freshest right now. This approach means the granola changes, the fish on the menu shifts, the salads transform—but the care behind each dish remains constant.

Brunch Done Right

All-day brunch is the heart of Starfish's identity. The Starfish Stack—ciabatta, tomato, bacon, poached egg, hash browns and hollandaise—is the house classic, but it's far from the only reason to visit. The Biscoff Waffle (buttermilk waffles with Biscoff mascarpone, chocolate shards and vanilla ice cream) has become iconic. The Big Break Baby (slow-cooked pork belly with chorizo, poached eggs, spinach, mushrooms and tomato jam) appeals to those seeking something savoury and substantial.

For those leaning Asian-inspired, the Bang Bang Chicken—crispy chicken with mungbeans, cucumber, cashews and bang bang sauce—delivers bold, confident flavours. The Pulled Pork Roti and Crispy Chicken Bao Buns offer lighter yet satisfying alternatives. Every plate is completed with care: poached eggs are soft and runny, toast is properly crispy, hollandaise is made in-house, and the kitchen respects dietary requirements—gluten-free bread, vegan options, and vegetarian selections are integrated throughout, not segregated as afterthoughts.

Coffee, Wine, and the Full Picture

Breakfast leads into lunch, but Starfish also serves as a destination bar and wine venue. Supreme coffee anchors morning traffic. Local Emerson's beers on tap connect the venue to Dunedin's craft brewing community. The wine list emphasizes New Zealand producers—Central Otago pinots, Marlborough sauvignons, a house Starfish Pinot Noir. For those seeking something lighter, the cocktail menu (mojitos, espresso martinis, aperol spritzes, mimosas) reads as modern and approachable.

Fresh juices and smoothies—the Green Goddess, the Ginger Ninja, Berry Break—round out the beverage program, ensuring there's something for every mood and time of day.

Family and Community

The café is genuinely family-friendly. A dedicated kids menu offers simplified versions of house classics—kids eggs on toast, kids fish and chips, kids waffles—so children eat real food, not just nuggets and fries. The space itself is warm and welcoming, designed to absorb the noise and chaos of multi-generational groups without feeling precious or exclusive.

Starfish has built its reputation on this balance: ambitious enough to create refined dishes and thoughtful beverage pairings, but approachable enough that you don't need reservations or special occasion attire to feel welcome. You can settle in for a quiet coffee, catch up with friends over brunch, or linger over wine—and in each case, you'll feel the same attention to detail.

Signature items

• Starfish Stack
• Biscoff Waffle
• Fried Chicken Waffles
• Big Break Baby
• Bang Bang Chicken
• Fish & Chips

Menu

Tea

• Tea Selection — Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Peppy Breeze, Imperial Sencha
• Tea Pot — Pot of tea for one
• Tea for Two — Pot of tea for two people

Wine

• Jules Taylor Sauvignon Blanc — Marlborough sauvignon blanc
• Durvillea Chardonnay — Marlborough chardonnay
• Saddleback Riesling — Central Otago riesling
• Q Pinot Gris — Waitaki Valley pinot gris
• Rabbit Ranch Rosé — Central Otago rosé
• Starfish Pinot Noir — Central Otago pinot noir
• Grant Burge Miamba Shiraz — Barossa Valley Australian shiraz
• Freixenet Prosecco DOC — Italian prosecco

Sides

• Hash Browns — Crispy golden hash browns
• Grilled Tomato — Warm grilled tomato
• Mushrooms — Sauteed mushrooms
• Halloumi — Grilled halloumi
• House Smoked Salmon — Sliced house-smoked salmon
• Bacon — Crispy bacon strips

Coffee

• Black Coffee — Espresso, Americano or long black
• White Coffee — Flat white, cappuccino or latte
• Mocha — Espresso with chocolate and milk
• Hot Chocolate — Creamy hot chocolate

Burgers

• Chicken Burger — Southern fried chicken, Swiss cheese, bacon, red onion, tomato, pickles, lettuce and chipotle lime mayo
• Korean Fried Cauliflower Burger — Spicy gochujang glazed cauliflower with slaw, halloumi and vegan aioli
• Fish Burger — Beer battered fish with Asian-style slaw, house-made tartare and pickled red onion

Cocktails

• Gin Sour — Classic gin sour
• Mojito — Rum, mint, lime and soda
• Espresso Martini — Vodka and espresso
• Frozen Strawberry Margarita — Tequila margarita with strawberry
• Limoncello Spritz — Light and refreshing spritz
• Aperol Spritz — Classic Italian aperitif
• Blue Lagoon — Rum and blue curaçao
• Mimosa — Prosecco and orange juice

Kids Menu

• Kids Eggs on Toast — Poached, scrambled or fried on ciabatta
• Kids Granola — Served with fresh fruit and choice of milk
• Kids Fish & Chips — Fresh market fish with shoestring fries
• Kids Waffles — Half waffle with maple syrup and whipped cream
• Kids Taco — Soft shell taco with crispy chicken, slaw, mayo and shoestring fries

Smoothies

• Green Machine — Spirulina, greens, banana, coconut milk and honey
• Pic's Poles — Pic's peanut butter, banana and almond milk
• Berry Break — Apple juice, berries and frozen yoghurt
• White Island Delight — Banana, frozen yoghurt, milk and honey

Beer - Tap

• Emerson's Pilsner — NZ craft pilsner
• Emerson's Bookbinder — NZ craft ale
• Emerson's Pale Ale — NZ craft pale ale
• Emerson's Hazed & Confused — NZ craft hazy pale ale

Fresh Juices

• Your Mint — Orange, pineapple, mint and lemon
• The Beets — Beetroot, carrot and apple
• Ginger Ninja — Orange, carrot, ginger and lemon
• Green Goddess — Green apple, celery, cucumber and spinach

Beer - Bottled

• Heineken — European lager
• Steinlager Light — Light lager
• Steinlager Pure — Premium lager
• Corona — Mexican lager
• Speights Summit Ultra — Ultra low carb
• Emerson's London Porter — Dark porter
• Mac's Cloudy Apple Cider — Apple cider

Chips & Wedges

• Shoestring Fries — Crispy shoestring fries regular or large
• Wedges — Potato wedges with sour cream and sweet chilli

Brunch Essentials

• Starfish Stack — Ciabatta, tomato, BBQ sauce, poached egg, bacon, hash browns and hollandaise
• Smashed Avocado — Avocado, chilli, mint, lemon, feta and dukkah with poached eggs on grain toast
• Granola — Coconut pannacotta with mango puree, fresh fruit and coconut whip
• Biscoff Waffle — Buttermilk waffles with Biscoff mascarpone, chocolate shards, salted caramel and vanilla ice cream
• Fried Chicken Waffles — Served with beetroot jam, Sriracha hollandaise, maple syrup and mascarpone
• Harissa Roasted Mushrooms — Served on grain toast with pesto, halloumi, grilled tomato and hummus
• Twice Cooked Agria Potatoes — Bacon, onion and baby spinach topped with poached eggs and hollandaise
• Big Break Baby — Pork belly with hash, poached eggs, spinach, mushrooms, chorizo, ciabatta and tomato jam
• Turkish Eggs — Garlic labneh with poached eggs, hummus and Aleppo spiced butter on ciabatta
• Bang Bang Chicken — Crispy chicken, mungbeans, cucumber, shallots, carrot, mint, coriander, black sesame and cashews with bang bang sauce
• Pulled Pork Roti — Chinese style pulled pork, slaw, mint, coriander, pickles and crispy shallot with kewpie
• Crispy Chicken Bao Buns — Popcorn chicken, slaw, pickles, plum and hoisin, mint, coriander and chilli mayo with peanut crumb
• Korean Cauliflower Tacos — Soft shell tacos with spicy gochujang glazed cauliflower, charred corn, slaw and edamame
• Fish & Chips — Fresh market fish (beer battered or pan-fried) with shoestring fries, green salad and house-made tartare
• Eggs Benedict — Served on ciabatta with hollandaise; choice of crispy fried chicken, pork belly, house smoked salmon, bacon or mushrooms and spinach
• Eggs Any Style — Poached, scrambled or fried on ciabatta

Frequently asked questions

What time does Starfish open and close?

Starfish is open daily from 6:30am to 3:00pm. The kitchen closes at 2pm daily, so arrive with time to order before the kitchen stops taking orders.

Does Starfish have a kids menu?

Yes. There is a dedicated kids menu (ages 12 and under) featuring simplified versions of house classics like eggs on toast, fish and chips, waffles, and chicken and chips.

What dietary options does Starfish offer?

Gluten-free bread is available, and vegan and vegetarian options are integrated throughout the menu. Many dishes are marked with dietary indicators on the menu.

Does the menu change?

Yes. The menu changes seasonally to reflect the best fresh produce available at any given time. This approach ensures seasonal ingredients and quality consistency.

Can I make a reservation?

Yes. Reservations are available. You can book via the website at starfishcafe.co.nz/visit or call 03 455 5940.

Do you have vegetarian or vegan options?

Yes, extensively. Dishes like Harissa Roasted Mushrooms, Korean Cauliflower Tacos, Smashed Avocado, and the Biscoff Waffle are available, with many marked as vegetarian or vegan on the menu.

Where are you located and what's parking like?

Starfish is located at 240 Forbury Road, St Clair, Dunedin, on the beachside. Street parking and nearby parking are available in the St Clair area.

Tips

• {"body":"The kitchen closes at 2pm daily, so plan your visit accordingly. Café stays open until 3pm for coffee and drinks after kitchen close.","title":"Arrive before 2pm to order from the kitchen"}
• {"body":"The menu changes seasonally. Ask staff about what's fresh and in season—you might discover a new favourite.","title":"Check seasonal menu items"}
• {"body":"Starfish stocks its own pinot noir and local Emerson's beers. Pair with brunch or linger for a casual glass.","title":"Try the house wine or local beers"}
• {"body":"Brunch is popular, especially weekends. Book ahead to secure seating for larger groups or busy times.","title":"Reserve for groups or weekend mornings"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Kids menu available; family-friendly atmosphere; kids can play and settle comfortably","dietary":"Gluten-free bread available; extensive vegetarian and vegan options; dietary markers on menu","payments":"Book via website or phone for reservations; vouchers available"}