Café Kaizen

The kind of place where the cabinet food just never seems to run out, the barista knows the regulars by name and even when the queue is long, things move quickly and efficiently, Café Kaizen is the kind of well-oiled machine that you can tell has been a locals' favourite hangout for a long time. Named after the Japanese word for always trying to improve, it sure is easy to see this café is always moving towards better taste, quality and experience.

Sharing a space with Pātaka Art + Museum means there’s always plenty of comings and goings here, and anyone from grandparents to teenagers to business people in suits come to Café Kaizen to grab a Havana coffee and lunch to get them through the day. Everything is made onsite by the clever bakers and chefs, so if you’re struggling to decide what to eat, we don’t blame you. The infamous rhubarb shortcake is an easy choice for a morning tea treat, while the Reuben sandwich on the lunch menu is a perfect mix of tangy sauerkraut, hot cheese and corned beef between crisp, toasted bread.

Owned by Suse and Evelyn, Café Kaizen is very much a whānau-oriented business, with some of the employees not only related to one another but also having worked here for nearly the whole 20+ years that the eatery has been open. Treating their staff well and ensuring they get a solid holiday break every year is an easy exchange for the smiley and genuine welcome each customer receives at the counter.