Capers Cafe + Store has been making and serving wholesome food, good coffee and an extensive tea menu to Rotorua locals and visitors for over 25 years, on Eruera Street in the city centre.
It's built for all sorts of visits - friends catching up, business breakfasts, weekend brunch, food on the go, or a dinner date. The chefs create a fresh seasonal menu and a hearty cabinet selection, with gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan, keto and refined sugar-free options available throughout.
Alongside the cafe, Capers runs as a store too, stocking a curated range of New Zealand artisan and organic producers with a focus on fair trade and sustainable practices. The cafe is also genuinely family-friendly, with a dedicated kids' playroom.
For more than 25 years, Capers Cafe + Store on Eruera Street has been a fixture of Rotorua's food scene, serving wholesome food, good coffee and an extensive tea menu to locals and visitors alike.
Capers is open from 7am until 7pm, seven days a week, with an all day breakfast menu running the full length of those hours. It's a spot that adapts to however you want to use it - a business breakfast, a slow weekend brunch, a quick bite on the go, or a proper dinner date. The cafe's Eggs Benedict has been voted Rotorua's best by the local community, and it remains a standout order any time of day.
From 10:30am, the lunch and dinner menu takes over, built around fresh seasonal produce. The head chef and team have recently added dishes like NZ lamb shank, mince on toast and scotch fillet, sitting alongside long-standing customer favourites such as Tuscan chicken fettuccine, loaded pork belly fries and grilled banana bread served with espresso butter.
For anyone short on time, Capers also runs a cabinet and hotpot selection - gourmet sandwiches, paninis and wraps, daily hotpots like stews, goulash, curry and stroganoff served with rice, and a changing daily salad selection that includes options like an Asian pork mushroom noodle salad, a Greek salad, pork belly and broccoli pesto pasta, and a harissa carrot and feta salad. All of it can be enjoyed in the cafe or taken away.
Across both the all day and lunch/dinner menus, Capers caters to a wide range of dietary needs, with gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan, keto and refined sugar-free options available.
Every day from 4pm to 6pm, Capers runs a happy hour featuring Rotorua Distillery gin, beer and wine at good prices - a relaxed way to wind down the afternoon.
Beyond the cafe, Capers operates as a store too, sourcing predominantly New Zealand artisan and organic producers with a commitment to fair trade and sustainable practices. The range includes names like Pepper & Me, Noble & Sunday Tea Merchants, Al Brown Infused Olive Oils, Volcanic Chocolate, Marsh's Honey and many more - products chosen for the story behind them as much as their quality.
Capers also welcomes children with a dedicated playroom, screening G-rated movies and stocked with wall activity toys, plus colouring and activity pages. Kids are welcome to bring their own toys too, giving parents a relaxed space to enjoy their meal while little ones are entertained.
Whether it's a fast coffee and cabinet meal, a full sit-down lunch, or browsing the store shelves for a gift, Capers Cafe + Store on Eruera Street offers a genuinely all-day, all-purpose spot in the heart of Rotorua.