Raumati Social Club sits on Poplar Avenue in Raumati South, a small village on the Kāpiti Coast that, as the club puts it, has big taste. It calls itself the heart of Raumati South, and with good reason: under one roof it combines locally-sourced eats and drinks, Kāpiti's favourite live music venue, and an art exhibition space — open seven days a week.
The venue carries a story. Its founder, Hugo Drummond, was a musician himself, and it was always his dream to own a bar situated in the sun, near the beach, filled with live music and laughter. When the opportunity to take on the Social Club came, he didn't hesitate. Shortly after, Hugo fell ill and passed away, and his wife Manna Drummond, originally from China, carried the dream forward — operating the club in his memory, raising her son, and continuing to fulfil his vision of amazing music, artistic expression and quality cuisine, wrapped in the kiwi lifestyle and culture.
In the kitchen and behind the bar there's an array of food and beverage options catering to all the early risers from 8am, building through to an impeccable dinner service that champions the best local cuisine and all that Kāpiti has to offer. Beyond the menu, there's live music and art on the walls, and the team welcomes queries, feedback, event enquiries and musicians who want to join the club and play.
Book a table, come say hello — you won't be disappointed.
Set on Poplar Avenue in Raumati South, a small seaside village on the Kāpiti Coast, the Raumati Social Club describes itself simply as the heart of the village. It's an accurate tagline. Part café, part restaurant, part live music venue and part art gallery, the club is open seven days a week and has become the place where the community gathers — for breakfast in the morning sun, long dinners, and nights filled with the music its founder always imagined.
Every part of the Raumati Social Club traces back to one man's dream. Hugo Drummond was a musician himself, and he always wanted to own a bar situated in the sun, near the beach, filled with live music and laughter. When the opportunity to purchase the Social Club came along, he didn't hesitate.
Sadly, shortly after taking it on, Hugo fell ill and — as the club's about page puts it — 'left planet earth for some warmer shores.' The dream, however, didn't end with him. His wife Manna Drummond, originally from China, stepped up to continue his legacy, embodying the kiwi lifestyle and culture the club was built on. Raising her son while running the venue, Manna and her team continue to fulfil Hugo's vision with amazing music, artistic expression and quality cuisine. Knowing that story changes the feel of the place: this is a family's living tribute, not a formula venue.
The food and drink offering stretches across the whole day. Doors open at 8am every day of the week, catering to all the early risers, and the day builds towards what the club calls an impeccable dinner service. Throughout, the kitchen champions the best local cuisine — the goal, they say, is for diners to taste all that Kāpiti has to offer, with locally-sourced eats and drinks at the centre of it all.
Opening hours shift with the rhythm of the week. Monday is a morning-and-midday affair, closing at 12pm, while Tuesday and Sunday wrap up at 3pm — ideal for breakfast or a lazy lunch. Wednesday and Thursday run through to 9pm, and Friday and Saturday stretch to 10pm, making the weekend the natural slot for a dinner-and-music night out.
The live side of the club is what many come for. Raumati Social Club has built a following as Kāpiti's favourite live music venue, a fitting legacy for a founder who was a musician first. Musicians are part of the plan, too: anyone who wants to join the club and play is explicitly invited to get in touch.
Art has a home here as well. The club operates as an exhibition space, putting artistic expression on the walls alongside the dining tables, so there's usually something new to look at between courses. Gigs, exhibitions and news are shared on the club's Instagram and Facebook pages and its Music page.
The club sits at 32 Poplar Avenue, Raumati South, on the Kāpiti Coast. Tables can be booked through the Book a Table page on the website, and walk-in visitors are met with the same standing invitation: come say hello, you won't be disappointed.
It's also a venue that wants to hear from its community. The team welcomes queries, feedback and suggestions, including from anyone with an event they'd like to put on. You can reach them by phone on 04-299 1658 or by email at mannaraumatisocialclub@gmail.com.
'We may be a small village, but we have big taste,' the club says. It's a fair self-portrait: a seaside room where locally-sourced plates, rotating art and live music share the bill, kept going in memory of the man who dreamed it up. Whether you arrive at 8am for coffee or stay for an evening set, the idea is the same — join the club.