Little Nessie Cafe is a neighbourhood cafe at 316 Annesbrook Drive in Nelson, serving specialty coffee, brunch and lunch at the Black Cat Shops in Annesbrook. The cafe's story began as a food truck in Brisbane before becoming a neighbourhood cafe in Nelson, and the team describes itself as proud as punch to be part of the local community.
Little Nessie keeps things simple: a small menu perfect for brunch or lunch, plus a cabinet of goods made daily, including fresh sandwiches, toasties and a handful of sweet things. The cabinet always carries the favourites alongside any new items the team dreams up. Guests can dine in and soak up the cute atmosphere, bring the dog and sit out on the deck, or pick up their order to take away.
The cafe is also active in its community, proud to be a Gold Sponsor of the Nelson Suburbs Mini Football league and a sponsor of the NZ Young Piper of the Year competition each year.
Little Nessie Cafe's story starts a long way from Nelson — as a food truck in Brisbane, before the team relocated and settled into a permanent home at the Black Cat Shops in Annesbrook. The cafe describes itself as proud as punch to be part of the Nelson community it now calls home.
Little Nessie sums up its approach in a single line: keep it simple, and do it well. The cafe focuses on quality coffee and delicious food made with fresh ingredients, built around a small menu suited to brunch or lunch. Rather than overwhelming guests with choice, the team has kept the menu tight and considered, letting each dish do the talking.
The food menu leans into hearty brunch fare, with a Bacon & Egg Bun keeping things classic alongside more elaborate options like the Scottish Brekky Burger, built around crispy bacon, a fried egg and the cafe's own homemade Lorne Sausage, finished with HP and tomato sauce. The Benne Burger takes a similar bacon-and-egg base and adds cheddar and hollandaise, while the Honey Halloumi Burger offers a different direction entirely, with honey-fried halloumi, avocado, a fried egg and a honey spiced tomato relish.
For something on sourdough, the Avo & Feta Toast pairs avocado with crumbled feta, roasted seeds and a drizzle of honey, while the Avo & Bacon Stack adds crispy bacon and a fried egg, finished with a side of onion relish or hollandaise. For anyone after the full experience, The Full Nessie brings together bacon, hash brown, Lorne Sausage, fried egg and sourdough, topped with spiced tomato relish and a choice of house-made campfire beans or garlic and herb mushrooms.
Alongside the printed menu, Little Nessie keeps a cabinet of goods made daily — fresh sandwiches, toasties, and a handful of sweet things. The cabinet always carries the cafe's established favourites, alongside whatever new items the team has been dreaming up, giving regulars a reason to check in even if they already know the main menu by heart.
On the drinks side, Little Nessie's coffee range covers Flat White, Cappuccino, Latte, Mocha, Hot Chocolate and Chai Latte, all served as a double shot, alongside Short Black, Long Black and Americano for those who prefer it straight. Iced options include Iced Latte, Iced Americano, Iced Mocha, Iced Chocolate and Iced Chai, and tea drinkers can choose from Irish Breakfast, Earl Grey, Peppermint or Green Tea. For something cold and not coffee-based, the cafe also stocks the Karma range, including Lemmy Lemonade, Razza Raspberry, Cola, Gingerella and a Karma Juice range.
Little Nessie invites guests to dine in and soak up the cute atmosphere, bring the dog along, and settle in on the cafe's wee deck, or simply pick up an order to take away. It's a relaxed, unpretentious setup that suits a quick coffee run just as well as a lingering brunch.
Beyond the counter, Little Nessie plays an active role in its local community, proud to be a Gold Sponsor of the Nelson Suburbs Mini Football league and a sponsor of the NZ Young Piper of the Year competition each year — small but genuine ways the cafe gives back to the Nelson community it now calls home.