Cafe Ambience sits on Main Street in Gore, Southland, and happily introduces itself as 'Gore's hidden gem'. The idea behind it is simple: great coffee, fresh flavours, and a welcome for everyone. It's a cosy, relaxed room where regulars text their coffee orders ahead and first-timers quickly become regulars themselves.
The coffee is Emporio, the house coffee of choice, made with fresh A2 milk that comes direct from Henderson's Farm — local, fresh and sustainable, and poured from reusable glass bottles. Early risers are looked after too; the team has been known to open from 6am for big local events like the Southern Field Days.
Everything on the food side is made fresh in-house every day, inspired by European flavours, with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free meals always available. Standouts include the cauliflower fritter stack with avocado, spinach, poached egg and truffle hollandaise, biscoff açai bowls that are both vegan and gluten free, and a rotating specials board that has featured dishes like creamy mushroom ravioli. Janice's biscoff latte — also available dairy free — has become a signature, and hot chocolates keep the non-coffee drinkers happy.
Sustainability is part of the everyday routine here: edible straws, biodegradable packaging and BYO cups are all embraced. You can dine in or grab takeaway, and if you're in a hurry you can text your coffee order through to 027 208 5888. Cafe Ambience is open Monday to Friday from 7am to 4pm, Saturday from 8am to 2pm, and closed Sundays.
Tucked along Main Street in Gore, Southland, Cafe Ambience is the kind of café locals like to keep slightly to themselves — even though they cheerfully call it "Gore's hidden gem" right out front. The pitch is simple: great coffee, fresh flavours, and a genuine welcome for everyone who walks in, whether that's an early starter grabbing a flat white before heading out of town or friends settling in for a long brunch.
Everything here is made fresh in-house every day, with European flavours running through the menu and vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free meals always on offer. Dine in or take it away — either way, the team treats the everyday details as seriously as the food.
Cafe Ambience pours Emporio Coffee, the roaster they've chosen as their house coffee, and they're happy to tell you why. The milk is just as considered: fresh A2 milk comes straight from Henderson's Farm — local, fresh and sustainable — and it's poured from reusable glass bottles rather than plastic. The result is a rich, aromatic cup that regulars order by text before they arrive, using the café's text-ahead number so their coffee is waiting when they are.
Early birds take note: when the Southern Field Days were on, the team opened at 6am just to make sure the crowds got their coffee before heading out the gate. That tells you a lot about the place.
The kitchen turns out generous, made-to-order plates. The cauliflower fritter stack is a favourite: fritters stacked with avocado, spinach and a poached egg, finished with truffle hollandaise — with a gluten-free option available. It's the kind of plate that pairs perfectly, they suggest, with a rich, aromatic Emporio coffee on the side.
Sweet tooths (and phone cameras) are well looked after. The biscoff açai bowl arrived to warm acclaim — refreshing, vegan and gluten free, finished with biscoff, and described by the team as genuinely Instagram-worthy. If you like your coffee with a twist, Janice's biscoff latte has become a signature and can also be made dairy free; hot chocolates are on hand for anyone skipping caffeine.
The specials board deserves a look every visit. Recent boards have featured a creamy mushroom ravioli the team rated "straight up delicious" — proof that the kitchen likes to keep things moving rather than resting on its favourites.
Sustainability is baked into the daily routine. The café loves edible straws and biodegradable packaging, and BYO cups are warmly encouraged — "tasty choices, greener habits," as they put it. Making every meal in-house keeps things fresh and keeps waste down.
Ambience is in the name, and the room delivers: a bench-and-window-seat kind of café with a relaxed, unhurried vibe. Holiday weekends get a warm welcome — the team has opened its doors for King's Birthday and Easter long weekends, and takes pride in being part of the community's big days, including running a stall at the annual Gore Winter Fete serving coffee and hot chocolates to shoppers braving the cold.
They also know when to rest. The café closes on Anzac Day out of respect, and has taken a break over Matariki to thank the team for their hard work through the year. Public holiday hours can differ from the usual, so it's worth a quick check of their Facebook or Instagram before a holiday visit.
Cafe Ambience sits at 51 Main Street, Gore. Hours are Monday to Friday from 7am to 4pm, Saturday from 8am to 2pm, and closed on Sundays. In a hurry? Text your coffee order to 027 208 5888 and it'll be ready when you are. Whether you're after a quick takeaway flat white made with farm-fresh A2 milk, a gluten-free brunch that doesn't feel like a compromise, or simply a friendly corner of Main Street to slow down in, this little Gore café makes a strong case for being found.