Special mention cafe sits on Oceanbeach Road in Mount Maunganui, Tauranga, and holds 4.8 stars from 402 Google reviews. Reviewers call it a hidden gem with a warm, vibrant feel, welcoming staff and a lovely outdoor space, and they mention scones, a kimchi omelette, a great cuppa and gluten-free and vegan options.
In a beach suburb, cafes are the morning's centre of gravity: swimmers, walkers and holiday households all converge early, so the best tables and the freshest cabinet baking go to whoever arrives first. Good ones bake on site, which is why scones and similar treats often sell out by late morning. Dietary needs are worth asking about too — gluten-free and vegan options are common at good cafes, even when they're not listed. And the surest sign you've found a keeper is how the staff treat the regulars.
Tucked away on Mount Maunganui's Oceanbeach Road, this is the kind of hidden find that rewards the search.