Zephyr Café and Bar is an all-day dining destination inside Tākina, Wellington's convention and exhibition centre. Founded by Sarah Searancke, Nigel Searancke and Anthony John, who spent over 26 years running one of Wellington's largest catering companies before opening Zephyr, the café brings a hospitality-first approach to brunch, lunch, and drinks in a bright, welcoming space designed for refuelling, meeting friends, or simply enjoying some quiet time.
The café's name comes from the Tākina building's wind lobby, designed to shelter visitors from Wellington's notoriously wild wind — the founders felt that once inside, all you'd experience is a gentle breeze, or 'zephyr.' That same attention to detail carries through into the food and drink: a refined, seasonal menu of breakfast, lunch and sharing dishes, gourmet sandwiches, savouries and sweet treats for those on the go, specialty coffee made from L'affare beans, homemade smoothies, signature cocktails, and a cellar of local and imported wine and beer.
Zephyr also runs a rotating monthly drink special, a seasonal High Tea offering, and hosts events, with gift vouchers available for anyone wanting to share the experience. The café is open seven days a week and welcomes walk-ins, though bookings are recommended for larger groups.
Zephyr Café and Bar sits inside Tākina, Wellington's new home for world-class exhibitions and conferences, offering an all-day dining experience built by three people who know Wellington hospitality inside out. Founders Sarah Searancke, Nigel Searancke, and Anthony John spent more than 26 years as the backbone of one of Wellington's largest catering companies before deciding it was time for a new adventure — and when the chance to create a café inside Tākina came up, they jumped at it.
The café's name has a genuinely thoughtful origin story. While looking over the Tākina building's floor plans, the founders noticed the wind lobby — a design feature meant to keep out Wellington's famously wild wind. That attention to detail struck a chord: once inside the building and settled at the café, all you'd ever feel is a gentle breeze. That idea became Zephyr, which literally means a soft, gentle breeze.
As self-described foodies, the Zephyr team built the café around a simple vision: to be a vibrant, fresh space serving food and drink that's high quality, homemade, healthy, nutritious, and good value, all within a setting where diverse people can gather comfortably. Culinary Director Sarah Searancke sums up the approach with a line she often returns to — that a recipe has no soul until the cook brings it. That philosophy runs through Zephyr's refined, seasonal menu of breakfast, lunch, and sharing dishes, alongside a to-go range of gourmet sandwiches, savouries, and sweet treats for anyone short on time.
On the drinks side, Zephyr leans into its L'affare specialty coffee beans, sourced directly from producers, alongside homemade smoothies and a wide range of chilled beverages. For something more indulgent, the café offers signature cocktails — the Aperol Spritz and French Martini both feature — plus a cellar of local and imported wine and beer, including Parrotdog on tap. The team also rolls out a new drink special every month, available for a limited time, with the latest announced through Zephyr's Instagram and Facebook pages.
Beyond the everyday menu, Zephyr runs seasonal offerings like its Autumn High Tea, and ties into wider Tākina events such as Wellycon. Gift vouchers are also available for anyone wanting to share the experience with someone else. The café marks occasions like Matariki with special opening arrangements, reflecting its place within a broader convention and exhibition centre that hosts events throughout the year.
Zephyr is set up to be relaxed about walk-ins — the team say there's always a table available for those popping in on their own or in a small group. For bigger gatherings, though, booking ahead is recommended, either by phone, email, or through the café's online booking page. Alcohol is served across the menu, and as with any licensed venue in New Zealand, guests must be 18 or over to purchase it, with ID sometimes required.
Zephyr Café and Bar is open every day of the week: Monday to Friday from 7:30am to 3:30pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 8:30am to 3:30pm. On public holidays, the café opens a little later, from 9:30am to 3:30pm, with a surcharge applying. Located within Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, the café is positioned as a go-to spot for locals and conference visitors alike — whether that's a quick coffee and pastry, a proper sit-down brunch, or an evening cocktail in a space designed to feel calm no matter what's happening outside.