Traveller Overview

4.5 394 reviews

Excellent74%
Very good23%
Average2%
Poor1%
Terrible0%

Travellers talk about

“sweet shop”(108 reviews)

“lolly shop”(42 reviews)

“sculpture garden”(33 reviews)

About

Birdwoods Gallery is a very special place in the heart of Hawke's Bay. Set in the countryside just 3km from Havelock North Village, Birdwoods Gallery and its small companion, the Birdwoods Sweet Shop, are a 'must see' for young and old. Two historic...more

Open Now

Hours Today: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

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Contact

298 Middle Road | Havelock North, Havelock North 4172, New Zealand

Website

+64 6-877 1395

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Reviews (394)

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1 - 10 of 391 reviews

AnnM434

Napier, New Zealand

75

Reviewed 3 weeks ago via mobile

Always Fabulous

Went for lunch today & this place never disappoints. Had a great Chicken Caesar Salad & the open Steak sandwich. Both were delicious. Sitting outside a lovely day being entertainined by nice live music. Some new & lovely statues & the wonderful friendly hostess Louise....More

Date of experience: November 2018

Thank AnnM434

Alison D

Flackwell Heath, United Kingdom

11456

Reviewed 9 November 2018

Lunch

Booked in here for lunch, very very nice food, they were busy be prepared to wait and let the wine flow, loved the traditional sweet shop in the ground. Staff helpful and friendly it was very hot in the restaurant and they turned on the...More

Date of experience: October 2018

Thank Alison D

Thank you for your review - you did indeed come on a scorcher of a day amidst the crowds of lovely Holly Hospice Trailers, so am glad you enjoyed it despite us being a bit out of control with the numbers of people pouring in...More

Dirk568

Auckland, New Zealand

355

Reviewed 8 November 2018

More than a cafe!

We stopped at Birdwoods for coffee after it had been recommended. It was slightly out of Havelock North town away from the main street coffee/eatery sites. It is MUCH more than a cafe. There is ample off street parking in this semi-rural (I am guessing)...More

Date of experience: October 2018

Thank Dirk568

Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed review - I am sure others will enjoy reading more about us. Kind regards, Louise Stobart - Owner

MegG386

208

Reviewed 7 November 2018

Lovely lunch everytime

We live quite close so this is a favourite for lunches. The food is fabulous, large portions, and they will alter dishes to suit you. The ambiance is wonderful...my favourite staff member would have to be one illustrious terrier who does the rounds to make...More

Date of experience: October 2018

Thank MegG386

You are kind. We do love having our locals visit us regularly and bring their visitors from out of town. Your review is appreciated. Kindest regards, Louise Stobart - Owner

FionaB468

Auckland, New Zealand

10517

Reviewed 7 November 2018 via mobile

Interesting gallery and cafe in garden setting

Our group of 6 women enjoyed a very civilized morning tea in the marquee on the sculpture lawn after browsing the gallery....many African items and some NZ items... wonderful men's underwear...never seen the like!

Date of experience: November 2018

Thank FionaB468

Thank you for taking the time to review us. Kind regards, Louise Stobart - Owner

TG201808

Hastings, New Zealand

7

Reviewed 7 November 2018

Fairytale cafe

Very fairytale cafe with a huge immaculate gardens, beautiful ornaments and garden figures, fabulous for the kids. Dandy china and summary flower table settings.Candy shop next door is a big bonus if you want to spoil kids ot yourself with some crafty long strips candies...More

Date of experience: May 2018

Thank TG201808

We love the title you gave your review! I have passed your kind comments on to our team. Your review is much appreciated. Thank you - Louise Stobart - Owner

djb3280

Perth, Australia

6975

Reviewed 25 October 2018

Great Setting and Food

Great art pieces inside the shop and in the gardens are some amazing scultures. All this pieced together makes for a lovely setting to enjoy some of the food and drinks. Very unique and great place to rest and stop for awhile.

Date of experience: July 2018

Thank djb3280

Thank you for taking the time to review us. Best wishes, Louise Stobart - Owner

pmescape

Puhoi, New Zealand

252

Reviewed 23 October 2018 via mobile

Lovely!

Quaint old church hall leads to a fantastic outdoor area for Al fresco eating. Lots of seating options, many with shade to get away from the hot HB sun. Sculpture trail is icing on the cake!

Date of experience: October 2018

Thank pmescape

Thanks for the five star review - always appreciated! Kind regards, Louise Stobart - Owner

Lena91nz

Auckland

1911

Reviewed 20 October 2018 via mobile

Slowest cafe service I’ve ever experienced

I really wanted to like this place. The setting was lovely, in an old church that had been decorated nicely. The menu was good, and I loved having plunger coffee with cream as a change. However, the time it took for our food was unbelievable....More

Date of experience: October 2018

2 Thank Lena91nz

Dear Lena, Oh the brutality of Trip Advisor! You are right - an hour is a very long time to wait for food. However, readers need to know that it was a very gorgeous warm spring Labour Weekend public holiday and we had hundreds of...More

MrsMoore1976

Hastings, New Zealand

42

Reviewed 12 October 2018 via mobile

Stunning Venue....and that Mushroom Soup!

Absolutely loved my visit here! Truly a beautiful place and the super cute sweet shop! I do want to highly commend the mushroom soup! I love mushrooms and your soup is possibly the best I’ve ever had! I want to ask a huge favour? Is...More

Date of experience: June 2018

Thank MrsMoore1976

Thank you for your review and so glad you enjoyed our slightly controversial mushroom soup. I will email you the recipe. If Hawke's Bay is home - you should return - it is a lovey spot. Kindest regards, Louise Stobart - Owner

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Questions & Answers

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mia s

I think that you and the owner misunderstand my review. To the owner, yes, detailed because I was reviewing the soup ONLY, not the ambience or decorations or garden or any other feature. Specific because I've not sampled the entire menu. The 'M' stood for Maggi. I'm sorry that the bizarre mix of condiments and spices each fighting for notice gave all three of us the sensation of ersatz, but it did, and I understand why. Also beef jus in mushroom soup - and not telling customers at the counter? Not cool. What has 'cafe not fine dining' got to do with taste? I'm not dissing customers who liked and like the soup, so you have no need to diss my review. My view is that good fresh mushrooms have no need of flavours which overpower their delicacy. There were plenty of mushrooms, as I said, but they were simply swamped by too many other ingredients. My view. Not yours. But I'm entitled to my view. As for Birdwoods, we went there on my recommendation because my previous visit was in the summer, in the garden. The garden is very pleasant. The interior on the second visit was warm etc., but I repeat, I reviewed the soup, not the place.

2 July 2018|

AnswerShow all 7 answers

Indeed, you are entitled too your view. However, your view included assertions regarding ingredients which you gave factual basis to without asking. No cafe or restaurant is going to please every diner with every dish. It... More

ibaas2016

In reply to why you didn't get the fifth star, the first time we came here it was amazing, treated like valued customers, this time we arrived in a family group, wishing them to enjoy the service we SO enjoyed...However there wasn't any great customer service, the beautiful tray with the special touches forgotten and everything for all of us lumped on one tray. No one came to ask if we were happy, the jam and cream weren't enough for the number of scones. It wasn't special and we regretted taking everyone...

27 April 2017|

Answer

Fair enough and on this occasion we did not deserve the extra star. Your comments are appreciated and ones we will take on board and help us strive to give everyone the special experience we are known for, however, busy we... More

Wendy20081958

Can we bring our will behaved little dog on lead of course? Thanks Wendy

4 June 2016|

Answer

Of course you can as we love dogs at Birdwoods! However Council does not permit them in the Conservatory dining area, but there is plenty of table space in the garden weather permitting. Kind regards, Louise Stobart

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