Farm Street Larder is a bright, welcoming café sitting just outside the north entrance of Bayfair Shopping Centre in Mount Maunganui. Owned and operated by the Mexted family since August 2020, it pairs fresh, made-from-scratch Kiwi cuisine with excellent Atomic coffee and genuinely friendly service — the kind of place where several team members from opening day are still behind the counter.
The space itself is a big part of the appeal: expansive windows welcome in natural light all year round, the beachy, laid-back décor reflects the coastal lifestyle nearby, and seating ranges from intimate indoor tables to communal spots, plus shaded outdoor tables overlooking a peaceful green space. Regulars drop in for a coffee on the way to work, refuel after exercise, or settle in for a relaxed lunch with friends.
The kitchen's paddock-to-plate philosophy is taken literally — customers are welcome to trade homegrown produce for coffee or cake — and everything is made in-house except the bread, which comes from Volare. Mince on toast, Eggs Bene with house-made hollandaise and an early-morning breakfast special of eggs on toast with a coffee have become local favourites, and the menu shifts with the seasons: wholesome soups and hearty pastas in winter, lighter plates when the weather warms.
Sustainability matters here too, from local sourcing to minimising packaging and reducing waste — all grounded in a locals-first ethos that has earned the café its loyal community following.
Farm Street Larder doesn't try to be anything other than what it is: a bright, honest café doing fresh, made-from-scratch food and very good coffee, in one of Mount Maunganui's most convenient corners. You'll find it just outside the north entrance of Bayfair Shopping Centre, where expansive windows pull in natural light year-round and shaded outdoor tables look out over a peaceful patch of green.
The café opened in August 2020 — not the easiest moment to start a hospitality business — and has since grown into a genuine local favourite. That hasn't happened by accident.
Farm Street Larder is owned and operated by the Mexted family: Hilton, Mariska, Murray, Danni and Hanalei, who bring a wealth of hospitality and business experience to the venture. Regulars get used to spotting family members on the floor, and the family feel runs deeper than most. Several team members who started on day one are still there — a level of staff loyalty that's rare anywhere in hospitality, and a quiet signal of the culture the Mexteds have built.
That loyalty extends outward, too. While Bayfair shoppers and visitors from across the region are always welcome, the café's heart is with its locals and local suppliers. Many of those suppliers are, delightfully, customers as well: true to a paddock-to-plate philosophy, Farm Street Larder trades coffee or cake for homegrown produce brought in by regulars.
The menu is classic Kiwi cuisine done with care, running across an all-day breakfast, lunch and a fully stocked cabinet. Almost everything is made from scratch in-house — the one exception is the bread, which comes from Volare.
Two dishes carry the café's reputation. The first is mince on toast, a nostalgic Kiwi favourite given a modern twist — the kind of plate that wins over homesick locals and curious international visitors alike. The second is Eggs Bene, finished with house-made hollandaise, and a consistent top pick.
Early risers have their own ritual: the Breakfast Special, eggs on toast with a coffee, served from 7:30 to 9:30am. It has quietly become one of the café's best-loved offerings.
The menu moves with the seasons. Winter brings wholesome soups and hearty pastas; the warmer months lean lighter. In between, the cabinet keeps pulling its weight with from-scratch baking, and a mailing list keeps fans posted on tastings, seasonal changes and special events.
Coffee is Atomic, brewed to perfection by baristas who know their machines. The list runs the full classic range — flat whites, lattes, cappuccinos, mochas, short and long blacks, Americanos, short and long macchiatos, piccolos and Viennas — plus a chai latte and a Fluffy for the kids. Almond, coconut, soy and oat milks are on hand, and extras like syrups, decaf, extra shots and iced options mean everyone can have their cup exactly how they like it.
Sustainability at Farm Street Larder is less a slogan than a working habit: sourcing locally where possible, minimising packaging, and steadily working to reduce the café's carbon footprint and waste. Combined with the produce trade and the focus on local suppliers, it gives the place a grounded, community-minded feel.
The café suits every kind of café moment: a takeaway on the way to work, a post-exercise refuel, or a long, relaxed lunch with friends. Indoor seating ranges from intimate tables to communal spots, and the shaded outdoor tables are a lovely place to linger. Bookings are available through the website, and the team can be reached on 07 572 0045.
Come hungry at breakfast time, bring your surplus homegrown produce if you have it, and settle in — Farm Street Larder is where simplicity, freshness and friendly service come together, bathed in natural light all year round.