Barista is a cafe and bistro at 59 George Street in Palmerston North Central. It has a 4.5 rating from 912 Google reviews. Its website describes an iconic cafe that helped shape the city's café culture in the 1990s, a day menu of breakfasts, bowls, sandwiches and house-made slices, and an evening menu from 5 to 9pm Monday to Saturday with sharing platters, mains and desserts. It says it is fully licensed and BYO, offers vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices, sells anything on the menu to go, and is a short stroll from the city's theatres.
A cafe that works day and night usually does best when you pick the right time: mornings for coffee and brunch, and evenings for a slower meal. A pre-show dinner near a theatre calls for booking and a clear idea of curtain time, so the kitchen can plan around you. Cabinet items and house-made desserts are worth a look, since they are often what a place is known for. If you have dietary needs, ask what can be adapted.
For coffee, brunch or a pre-theatre dinner in central Palmerston North, Barista is a long-standing favourite.