Lykke — pronounced 'leur-kah' — is a Danish word describing a state of absolute happiness, and it's the idea behind this Frankton cafe on Greenwood Street in Hamilton. Founded by Malcolm and Juliet, two hospitality people with a shared love of caffeine and a plant addiction, Lykke brings together Grey Roasting coffee, a Kiwi-Danish fusion menu and a relaxed space made for slowing down. Their daughters Eloise and Addison are part of the story too, making this a genuine family venture.
The food leans Danish-Kiwi: open-faced smørrebrød like the much-loved Poached Pear Smørrebrød, and sharing plates such as the Breakfast Graze, which lets you taste across the whole breakfast menu. In the cup it's Grey Roasting coffee, joined seasonally by Dan's Drinks — shaken espressos, cold brews and iced tropical mixes made for warm Hamilton days.
There's more than food here. Attached to the cafe is Little, a shop of homewares and indoor plants hand-grown by Juliet, built around the 'Little' things that bring joy to day-to-day life. The team also caters events with grazing platters, including Christmas spreads, and has run cosy Friday Late Night events featuring Danish hotdogs. For Lykke, happiness comes from community — the coming together of people and moments, and the small pleasures of a morning coffee or a mouthwatering bite.
On Greenwood Street in Frankton, Hamilton, there's a cafe named after happiness itself. Lykke — pronounced 'leur-kah' — is a Danish word describing a state of absolute happiness, and it shapes everything the team does, from the first morning coffee to the plants on the shelf.
Lykke was begun by Malcolm and Juliet — along with their girls, Eloise and Addison. Neither of them ever strayed far from the world of hospitality, and each brought their own loves to the project: caffeine, and a plant addiction. The dream was to create a space that reflected the Danish notion of Lykke, and as each team member joined the journey, they added their own skills and expertise to build what Lykke is today.
That philosophy is written plainly on their walls: happiness comes from community, in the coming together of people and moments, in the smell of a morning coffee, in tasting a mouthwatering bite of food, in watching a loved one smile. Happiness is Lykke, and they are happiness.
The food is a fusion of Kiwi and Danish flavours. The star is the Poached Pear Smørrebrød, an open-faced Danish-style creation that looks gorgeous every time it appears. For groups, the Breakfast Graze takes sharing breakfast to the next level — a spread that lets you taste a bit of everything delicious on the breakfast menu.
Coffee matters here too. Lykke is a love for Grey Roasting coffee, and alongside the classics the team has rolled out Dan's Drinks, a seasonal summer lineup featuring shaken espressos made with oat milk, cold brews, and iced tropical mixes. As their own posts put it, it's all delicious and absolutely worth each sip.
Lykke isn't only a cafe. Accompanied by *Little*, it's also a shop of homewares and indoor plants hand-grown by Juliet — a reflection of all the 'Little' things that bring joy in day-to-day life. It makes a coffee visit a browsing visit too, whether you leave with a plant or simply a good mood.
The team has also thrown cosy Friday Late Night events, famous for epic Danish hotdogs served from 6–8pm. Late Nights are currently paused for the rest of the year — with apologies for the late notice as the team shuffles commitments toward other exciting things — but all the Late Night treats can still be purchased during regular opening hours, and the events are set to return next year.
If you're feeding a crowd, Lykke's catering arm makes grazing platters to order, including festive Christmas grazing platters. Orders can be made by emailing hello@lykke.nz or through the website.
Lykke Cafe is at 1 Greenwood Street in Frankton, Hamilton. Doors open Monday to Friday from 7am–3pm and Saturday from 8am–3pm; the cafe is closed on Sundays. For reservations, call 0274049447. Come for the coffee, stay for the smørrebrød, and leave with a little Lykke of your own.