Elizabeth Cafe & Larder opened its doors on Cameron Road in 2012, born from a group of clever and slightly spur-of-the-moment friends' plan to open a really big cafe. More than a decade on, it remains one of Tauranga's go-to spots to Eat. Drink. Enjoy — whether that's a quick coffee on the run, breakfast or lunch with friends, or a wedding or special occasion in its architecturally designed, award-winning venue.
Coffee is a point of pride here. The cafe works with Kokako Organic Coffee Roasters, a small team of industry professionals who have been roasting for more than 17 years with a dedication to coffee, hospitality and sustainability. Elizabeth's passionate baristas pour Kokako's Aotea blend — medium bodied and juicy, with floral, fruity and earthy undertones, sourced from Fairtrade Organic cooperatives in Papua New Guinea, Honduras and Sumatra.
The food is classic with a twist, built on suppliers who are local where possible and chosen to deliver the highest quality produce. Breakfast and lunch run seven days a week, alongside a dedicated kids menu and a full drinks list including a wine list, all delivered by an extremely experienced and eclectic team drawn from New Zealand and around the globe.
The venue has picked up its share of recognition, including the Westpac business customer service award for the Bay of Plenty region in 2014 and Beef and Lamb awards in 2014 and 2015, plus a feature in the New Zealand Cafe Cookbook 2015. An on-site Larder stocks goodies from Kokako and Pepper & Me to take home, and Elizabeth's catering and functions offering brings the same standard to weddings and special events.
Back in 2012, a bunch of clever and slightly spur-of-the-moment people got together with one idea: opening a really big cafe in Tauranga. Some reckoned it was a super idea; others thought it wouldn't work at all. The spur-of-the-moment crowd pressed on anyway, and six months later Elizabeth Cafe put on her crown and opened her doors at 247 Cameron Road.
That playful royal streak still runs through the place, but the fundamentals the founders set out — coffee that needed to be very, very good, food that was classic with a twist, and a slick, interesting venue — are exactly what regulars come back for. Every day the doors open, the aim is simple: the best food, the best coffee and the most dedicated staff on the planet, seven days a week. Whether you're grabbing a quick coffee on the run, sitting down to breakfast or lunch with friends, or celebrating a wedding or another special occasion, this architecturally designed and award-winning venue was built for you to Eat. Drink. Enjoy.
Coffee makes Elizabeth happy, and it shows. The team works with Kokako Organic Coffee Roasters, a small crew of industry professionals who have been roasting for more than 17 years with a dedication to coffee, hospitality and sustainability. Their knowledge runs from the coffee farm right through to the cup — the reason the cafe's passionate baristas can pour a consistent, quality cup every single time.
Elizabeth pours Kokako's Aotea blend: a medium-bodied, juicy coffee with floral, fruity and earthy undertones, sourced from Fairtrade Organic cooperatives in Papua New Guinea, Honduras and Sumatra. If you like what you taste, take a bag home — the on-site Larder stocks Kokako alongside goods from fellow New Zealand maker Pepper & Me.
The kitchen keeps things classic with a twist. Suppliers are local where possible, chosen for the highest quality produce, and the menu stretches across breakfast and lunch seven days a week. There's a dedicated kids menu for younger guests and a full drinks menu that includes a wine list. It's food made for lingering over, whether it's a weekend catch-up or a quick midweek lunch.
Behind the counter and in the kitchen sits what the team calls an extremely experienced and eclectic bunch, drawn from New Zealand and around the globe. That mix of backgrounds shows in the service and on the plates alike.
The building itself is part of the draw: a big, architecturally designed space the team describes as their art and stage — slick, interesting and a little elusive. As they put it, they love their space, and they hope you will too. It has collected a couple of accolades along the way, including the Westpac business customer service award for the Bay of Plenty region in 2014 and Beef and Lamb awards in 2014 and 2015. Elizabeth has also shown off in print, featuring in a publication by Ben from The Block and in the New Zealand Cafe Cookbook 2015.
Beyond daily cafe service, Elizabeth takes the same approach to weddings and special events through its catering and functions offering, and past events are shared on the site for inspiration if you're planning your own occasion.
Elizabeth Cafe & Larder sits at 247 Cameron Road in Tauranga Central, open Monday to Friday from 7am to 2:30pm and 8am to 2pm on Saturday and Sunday. The big-room layout makes it an easy meet-up spot for groups of friends and families alike. Parking is easy too: 120 extra public car parks sit at the rear of the ANZ building, completely free on weekends and public holidays. Questions, functions or catering enquiries go to eat@elizabethcafe.co.nz or 07 5790950.
Come for the coffee, stay for the food, and leave with something from the Larder — the Elizabeth way to Eat. Drink. Enjoy.