The Why Not Cafe has been an institution in Kaikoura for over 30 years, sitting right in the heart of the township on West End. It's a meeting place for travellers heading north or south along the coast, as well as a long-time favourite among local residents who keep coming back.
The cafe is known for delicious, cafe-prepared homemade food, with its seafood chowder considered to be one of the best, alongside kiwiana cheese and onion rolls, hot toasted sandwiches and classic fish 'n' chips. The menu is split across all-day breakfast, favourites, and snacks and burgers, including a well-loved whitebait sandwich.
Guests can dine inside or relax in the cafe's secluded, sun-basking rear courtyard - just don't feed the seagulls. Long-serving kitchen and counter staff are on hand to make every visit a happy and memorable one, and the cafe also offers catering and table reservations.
Right in the heart of Kaikoura township, the Why Not Cafe has been an institution for more than 30 years - a meeting place for travellers heading north or south along the coast, and a long-standing favourite among local residents. It's the kind of stopover people keep coming back to, trip after trip.
The cafe is known for delicious, cafe-prepared homemade food. Its seafood chowder is considered one of the best in the area, and the menu also runs to kiwiana cheese and onion rolls, hot toasted sandwiches, and classic fish 'n' chips. The favourites list includes The Big Breakfast, fish and chips, a BLT, and the seafood chowder, while the all-day breakfast menu covers everything from pancakes to eggs. The snacks and burgers section is worth exploring too, with a well-loved whitebait sandwich among the cafe's recommended dishes.
Guests can choose to dine inside or relax in the cafe's secluded rear courtyard, which basks in sunshine on warm Kaikoura days - though the cafe does ask visitors not to feed the seagulls. It's a relaxed setting that fits the cafe's role as both a quick stopover and a place to properly unwind.
Many of the Why Not Cafe's kitchen staff have worked there for years, and that experience shows through in the consistency of the food and service. From the kitchen through to the counter, the team is focused on making sure every visit is a happy and memorable one.
Why Not Cafe is open seven days a week, from 7am to 3pm, at 66 West End, Kaikōura. The cafe takes table reservations through its website and also offers catering. Whether it's a quick coffee and toasted sandwich on a road trip, or a relaxed breakfast in the courtyard, Why Not Cafe positions itself as a genuine Kaikoura fixture.