10 best cafés in Hamilton, New Zealand

Hamilton, New Zealand, is filled with cafés serving up fantastic coffee in aesthetic settings. Here are the city’s 10 best cafés and coffee shops.

Hamilton is a city that perfectly depicts the kind of coffee culture and café scene that New Zealand is so well known for. If you're a coffee enthusiast, you're in luck, as Hamilton has some of the best cafes in the country. Along Hamilton’s mural-covered streets and narrow alleyways, you’ll discover café after café, coffee shop after coffee shop buzzing with hungry patrons, remote workers, and friends in for a quick catch-up. That’s why I’ve rounded up the 10 best cafés in Hamilton for those looking for flawlessly roasted coffee.

Looking for a city that boasts excellent coffee and cafes? Look no further than Hamilton, New Zealand. Whether you're a local or a visitor, you're sure to be spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a cafe to enjoy a delicious brew or a tasty brunch. In this article, we'll be taking a closer look at the 10 best cafes in Hamilton, with something to suit every taste and budget. From cosy and rustic to modern and chic, we've got you covered. So, sit back, relax, and get ready to discover your new favourite cafe in Hamilton.

10 best cafés + coffee shops in Hamilton ↴

Café Cinnamon

On a rainy Saturday in Hamilton, Tash and I visited Cafe Cinnamon for some late brunch and banter. The café’s indoor seating was chalked full of people trying to escape the cold weather and rainfall as coffee was being served up left, right, and center. After ordering and finding a seat, we warmed ourselves up with food and caught up on anything we might have missed over Skype.

Cinnamon seems to always make it on Hamilton’s list of best cafés, and for the most part, I understand why. I found the food a bit overpriced in comparison to other cafés in the area. New Zealand café food is notoriously expensive, but one look at Cinnamon’s menu and your wallet will cringe at the thought of spending NZD $19 on a Breakfast Burrito. Prices aside, the avo and poached eggs combo I snagged was delicious and it’s the kind of yum food I miss being based in Laos.

INSTAGRAM | @cinnamonhamilton

Sugar Bowl

Sugar Bowl was one of the few cafes I found in Hamilton that had charging ports, internet, and a food menu that offered choices for vegans at reasonable prices. It ticked every invisible box. The food and the coffee I had at Sugar Bowl were delicious; among the best I had anywhere in Hamilton.

INSTAGRAM | @thesugarbowlcafe

Rocket Coffee + Supplies

The smell of the coffee roasting in the back room of the renovated car garage with industrial interior details had me seriously jonesing for a cup of cold brew, but I’ve made an effort for my health to cut back on the coffee, sadly and with many a caffeine tantrum.

With no charging outlets and very limited seating, I was truly surprised at how much I liked Rocket. Maybe it was the vintage New Zealand posters hung on the wall in mismatched frames, or the fact that despite all the makings of a very hipster cafe, it was filled with old men in tweed caps reading the newspaper and business colleagues going over meeting notes.

INSTAGRAM | @rocketcoffee

Grey St. Kitchen

Grey St. Kitchen was the best cafe workspace I found in Hamilton. Why? Outlets, WiFi, and a wide variety of seating options. Also, the soundtrack here is phenomenal. That being said…the WiFi was slow as molasses in the winter time, the flat white was average, and the staff was singing along with the music so loudly that it took some getting used to {though I’m all about a happy sing-along, guys}.

Grey St. Kitchen is, as its name suggests, located on Grey St. in the up-and-coming East Hamilton area. The outdoor seating makes it an ideal location for a sunny afternoon coffee, while seating inside is perfect for those who want to be in the midst of all the cafe action. White walls, minimal design elements, and plants on every table make Grey St. Kitchen a light and airy place to grab brunch. I only had a flat white while visiting Grey St. Kitchen, but all the food on the menu sounded good and everything patrons around me ordered looked like I could’ve gotten down to it.

INSTAGRAM | @greystkitchen

Mavis + Co.

The family story behind Mavis and Co really tugs at my heart strings. I love the idea of one woman baking bread that created such a demand in the town that she then had to open her own cafe and kitchen.

The interior of Mavis + Co. was gorgeous. The cafe was filled with giant palm plants, antique chandeliers, and vintage mirrors. “MAVIS” was painted on the backs of wooden chairs and the sugar bowls were like 925 silver— lacking shine due to their age in the best way.

INSTAGRAM | @mavisandco

GG’s Café

Tucked away down Lovegrove Lane sits GG’s Café, a cozy café that serves perfected barista-style coffee from Rocket Coffee Roasters. Complimenting the coffee is a food menu inclusive of scrumptious classics like avocado toast and delicious iced lemon cake. The café is filled with old trinkets that give it a nostalgic feeling— think vintage posters and school desks instead of traditional tables.

INSTAGRAM | @ggs__cafe

Frank Food

Not far from Seddon Park sits Frank Food, a beautiful little café that serves innovative menu items including their “Fiesta Bowl” complete with roasted kumara, black bean salsa, and avocado. The green subway-tiled counter is typically covered in glass cake stands filled with muffins, scones, and cakes. Don’t leave without trying their jalapeno and cheese scone! Frank Food is a great option for those seeking healthy smoothies and creative café food.

INSTAGRAM | @frankfoodnz

Volare

Hot crossed buns, blueberry cheesecake cronuts, and the best sourdough bread in New Zealand— welcome to Volare, a standing room only café frequented by locals. The espresso machine can be heard humming in the early morning hours, as busy patrons scurry in for their morning caffeine fix. If you have a hankering for a decadent chocolate brownie or a loaf of ciabatta, Volare is the spot for all things bread and baked goods!

INSTAGRAM | @volarebread

The Lost Boys Café

Hidden away in an industrial area of Hamilton, The Lost Boys Café isn’t really a café you stumble upon— it’s one you go out of your way to try! Once you spot the converted petrol station, a faded green building with signature red trim, you can know you’ve arrived at one of the best-kept secrets in the city. The Lost Boys works with local vendors, meaning everything on their menu is super fresh. Indulge in baked bread from Volare or grab coffee made with beans from Essenza roasters. This café has options for vegan, vegetarians, and gluten-free folks.

Sentinel Café

While the location of Sentinel Café isn’t my favourite, its coffee won me over, persuading me to add it to this list. The menu isn’t as extensive as I tend to like, but the “Sentinel Granola” and the “Berry and Chocolate Waffles” are both excellent options.

INSTAGRAM | @sentinelcafe.nz