Cellini’s Ice Cream & Espresso is a beloved local parlour and espresso bar nestled in Paihia in the scenic Bay of Islands. Known locally as 'The Cool Place', Cellini’s crafts its very own range of homemade ice creams, gelatos, and specialty desserts using fresh, full cream milk sourced from Bella Vacca. Whether you are strolling back from the waterfront or kicking off a morning adventure in the bay, it serves as a central hub for sweet treats and quality refreshments.
Alongside their signature handcrafted scoops and frozen treats, Cellini’s runs a dedicated espresso bar that gets an early start every day. Coffee lovers can count on expertly pulled hot espresso drinks, chilled iced coffees, and rich iced chocolates. For those seeking classic treats, the kitchen blends thickshakes, fruit-forward smoothies, frappes, and towering sundaes or banana splits made fresh to order. With early morning hours seven days a week, it is just as popular for dawn coffee runs as it is for afternoon ice cream stops.
Paihia is renowned as the bustling gateway to New Zealand's Bay of Islands, where sea breezes, beach walks, and boat trips set the rhythm of daily life. For locals and holidaymakers passing through, Cellini’s Ice Cream & Espresso Bar has established itself as an essential stop. Known by many as 'The Cool Place', Cellini’s combines the charm of an Italian-style gelateria with the reliable kick of a dedicated Kiwi espresso bar.
What makes Cellini's distinct is its commitment to quality base ingredients. The parlour produces its own line of homemade ice creams and gelato right on site, relying on rich, fresh, full cream milk from local dairy producer Bella Vacca. That foundation gives their frozen treats a noticeable depth of flavour and a smooth, velvety texture across the entire range.
The ice cream counter features a diverse selection of house-made scoops, ranging from creamy gelatos to nostalgic classics. For visitors looking for something more elaborate than a single cone, Cellini’s turns out time-tested parlour desserts. Guests can build customized sundaes piled high with sweet sauces or dig into generous banana splits loaded with freshly churned ice cream.
Those looking for drinkable treats are equally well catered for. The counter blends up thickshakes and traditional milkshakes that make full use of the creamy Bella Vacca milk, yielding rich, full-bodied flavour in every sip. On hot Northland summer afternoons, their fruit smoothies and blended frappes offer a refreshing, icy respite after time on the water.
While ice cream takes center stage in the afternoon, Cellini's doubles as a bright and dependable destination for serious coffee drinkers. Opening its doors early at 6:00 AM every day of the week, the espresso bar serves early morning walkers, commuters, and tour groups heading out across the bay.
Every hot coffee is crafted with care, delivering aromatic, expertly brewed cups designed to start the morning right. When the temperatures rise, the menu transitions smoothly into cooling picks, including freshly made iced coffees and chilled iced chocolates. Whether you drop by at dawn for a hot flat white or linger after lunch over a freshly scooped gelato sundae, Cellini’s provides an authentic taste of Bay of Islands hospitality.