Cafe Pink Sand is a family-owned cafe at 39 Great South Road in Pokeno, Franklin, selling Mövenpick ice cream, rated 4.0 from 245 Google reviews. The website lists hours of 8am to 1pm Tuesday to Thursday and 8am to 2pm Friday to Monday, but it appears dated, so check before you go.
The website describes barista coffee, a diverse kitchen menu with Japanese-style donburi, Mexican soft shell tacos and Kiwi beer-battered fish and chips, a cabinet and Mövenpick ice cream and desserts. Reviewers mention eggs benedict, a lava cake platter, dumplings and fish and chips, and praise friendly greetings, plenty of seating, a clean, air-conditioned room and good music.
A good cafe on a main road serves both locals and travellers, so check the cabinet if you are in a hurry and ask what is freshest. Hours can be short in country cafes, so confirm before you drive. On a hot day, ice cream makes a quick stop.
For coffee, a meal or ice cream in Pokeno, Cafe Pink Sand on Great South Road is a handy stop.