There’s nothing like Longbeach cafe on a summer or winter's day. 40 Tutere stree, Waikanae Beach.
Long Beach Cafe & Tavern sits on Tutere Street in Waikanae Beach, and if you ask the regulars there is simply nothing like it on a summer's day. The team describes the scene themselves: the click clack of happy jandals, the smell of sun on salty skin, sunblock and beach towels scattered about, family chatter rolling across long outdoor tables as pizza is shared. Nearby, the coffee and pastry crowd nestles into a quiet corner while the garden fills with picture takers, nibbling things at the gardener's request.
That garden is far more than decoration. Long Beach synchronises with the seasons thanks to a lovingly tended, entirely organic onsite garden, and in the middle of it you will often find the chef and gardener nibbling away and dreaming up menus together. The plot produces 100% organic seasonal fruit, vegetables and flowers, keeping the chefs on their toes and the offerings big, bold and flavourful. It is a genuine working garden, too — its produce plays a massive part in what lands on your plate here and in what is being dreamed up across the wider Foodfolk family of businesses on the Kāpiti Coast.
The kitchen's philosophy is simple: fresh is always best, and homemade counts for a lot. The team works passionately to respect the gifts nature bestows, bringing fine dining care and technique to the preparation of local favourites. That ethos runs from the sourdoughs, baked in-house, all the way to the marshmallows, which get the same from-scratch treatment. It suits the setting: honest, generous food made to be shared, whether you are settling in for a long lunch or grabbing a coffee and pastry after the beach.
The building and grounds are set up as a spacious, warm and welcoming meeting place with a range of areas, each comfy in its own way. Everybody has a favourite: the sunny atrium, a seat outside by the fire, a perch near the bustle of the bar, or a table within tickling reach of the sweet pea tendrils verging the garden. Families spread out along the long outdoor tables, couples tuck themselves into corners, and when the bar is buzzing it becomes the centre of the action.
There is usually something happening. Happy hour and live music feature among the regular goings-on under the What's On banner, alongside new Long Beach merch for anyone who wants to take a piece of the place home. Planning ahead is easy: tables can be booked online and there is an online ordering option. Gift vouchers are available too, pitched by the team as unlocking everything from a romantic sunset dinner to a casual brunch or a weekend treat.
Long Beach is one of the Foodfolk group's Kāpiti Coast venues, alongside North End Brewery and Salt & Wood in Waikanae, Olde Beach Bakery in Waikanae and Paekākāriki, and Salty's Roastery & Tavern in Paraparaumu Beach. The group's tagline — eat and drink with Kāpiti's finest — captures the pride involved. The Long Beach team talks about fizzing with pride at preparing exceptional produce each day, surrounded by talented people, and about taking seriously its responsibility to be a dynamic part of daily life in the community and represent mighty Waikanae to the fullest.
People are a genuine part of the draw. The team's energy is described as famously infectious, promising visitors the warm welcoming spirit of the coast along with a real passion for hospitality. Ricky leads the kitchen as head chef, part of a wider Foodfolk crew of owners, brewers, roasters and chefs who share ideas and produce across the venues.
Whether you come for pizza at a long outdoor table on a summer afternoon, a quiet coffee and pastry in the atrium, or a night of live music near the fire, plan a little extra time. They will tell you themselves: go for a stroll through the garden next time you are visiting. It is the heart of the place, and the best preview of what will soon be on your plate.