Coffee. Pretty much the only thing that keeps me going during the day… luckily for me, I tend to be attracted to cities where good coffee goes hand in hand with creativity, good beer, and good wine. Cities like Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; Wellington, New Zealand; Glasgow, Scotland; Melbourne, Australia; Boston, Massachusetts. No surprise, then, that I ended up in Dunedin, a city with the oldest brewery in New Zealand, access to some of Central Otago’s best wineries, a thriving art scene, and some fantastic coffee shops.
Read on for my picks on five cups of coffee in Dunedin.
Morning Magpie
46 Stuart Street
Magpie was one of the first coffee shops I wandered into, mainly looking for a job, but I had read about it somewhere and was intrigued. The walls are covered in art, the tables range from tiny two-tops to a long community table, and the staff is friendly. Mike was the first person I met – he led me to my current job when I asked him if they were hiring – and I kept going back for the delicious coffee and the stellar staff. They have a small kitchen to do small meals and also offer cabinet food – yummy scones, muffins, and baked treats. They also have wifi, and you all know I enjoy a good coffee while doing some writing. If you’re heading to the market on a sunny Saturday morning, definitely stop in here to pick up a warm drink.
Governor’s Cafe
438 George Street
Maybe the second cafe I wandered into in Dunedin, this one is over by the Uni and looks the part. Thick wooden tables are typically filled with Uni students or professors having a quick coffee over study notes or meetings. My favourite part of this place is the napkin art. I have to say this is probably because of my former co-worker’s napkin art, there’s just something about a quick sketch on a thin cafe napkin. They also have wifi, but it can sometimes be a bit slow because of the students that congregate there. Definitely stop in if you’re passing by – great service and really good brew.
Dog with Two Tails
25 Moray Place
This cozy spot makes this list and my future drinks list – its the perfect spot to meet friends for an afternoon cuppa or an evening wine. Relax to chilled out music during the day or enjoy live jazz in the evenings. They also sometimes have swing dance nights… I haven’t been yet but I do plan to swing by (pun totally intended). Bonus points for yummy gluten-free goodies (and wifi.)
Kitchen Table
111 Moray Place
This one has quickly become my local because of where I live. Its on the northeast side of Moray Place, and that means I walk past it daily. Gwendolyn chatted me up from day one and now I can walk in and say “the usual, please.” < Life goals, amirite?! She also called the bar one day to let me know that she messed my order up and it wasn’t actually soy milk. Who else can say their barista has done that?! Small-town life, she’s related to two of my coworkers and her parents live next door to me. People aside, the bakery goods are baked fresh each morning and are yummy – they do a fantastic pear, walnut, and ginger scone. The kitchen food is just as good. I love the fact that they have an open kitchen, so you can see and talk to the chefs preparing your food. No wifi; talk to your friends.
RdC
346 George Street
Step into a blue door on busy George Street – avoid the weird looks you get as you duck into a dark alleyway in the middle of the day, never mind that that dark alleyway is filled with blue fairy lights – and emerge in a hidden garden space at the edge of a carpark. A tiny cafe greets you, filled with for-sale artwork, a mismatched selection of cozy chairs, and fresh roasted coffee. Wendy, the owner, bakes all goodies each morning as well. RdC stands for Rez de Chaussee, French for ground floor, and its so apt. Another thing I love about RdC? They pop up at the Otago Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. Don’t miss it!
Are you Dunedin local? What are your coffee recommendations?
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