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Hours
Mon
8:00 am - 3:00 pm
Tue
8:00 am - 3:00 pm
Wed
8:00 am - 3:00 pm
Thu
8:00 am - 3:00 pm
Fri
8:00 am - 3:00 pm
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
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PRICE RANGE
$5.00 – $15.00
CUISINES
Mexican, Latin, Cafe, South American, Central American
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
meals, features
Menu
Meals
el Cafe Burrito
12in flour tortilla, rice, black beans, caramelised onions, lettuce, sour cream, cheese, mild pico de gallo, el cafe chipotle sauce. Beef/Chicken/Pork/Vegetable
$19.0
Nachos
Corn chips, cheese, sour cream, jalapenos, el cafe chipotle sauce. Beef/Chicken/Pork/Vegetable
$19.5
Burrito
12in flour tortilla, rice, black beans, caramelised onions, lettuce, sour cream, cheese, mild pico de gallo, el cafe chipotle sauce. Beef/Chicken/Pork/Vegetable
$19.5
Tacos
2x 6in corn tortilla, pico de gallo, cheese, el cafe chipotle sauce. Swap out corn tortilla for flour tortilla 1.00
$13.5
Fish Tacos
2x 6in corn tortilla, pico de gallo, cheese, el cafe chipotle sauce. Swap out corn tortilla for flour tortilla 1.00 Lime dressing, grilled fish, el cafe chipotle sauce.
$14.0
BBQ Pork Tacos
2x 6in corn tortilla, pico de gallo, cheese, el cafe chipotle sauce. Swap out corn tortilla for flour tortilla 1.00 BBQ pulled pork, el cafe chipotle sauce.
$14.0
Is this restaurant good for brunch?
Details
About
Casual relaxed small Cafe with allpress coffee; authentic Latin American style food, refreshing drinks, high speed WiFi and music less than 10 minute walk along the beach from Paihia town center.
PRICE RANGE
$5.00 – $15.00
CUISINES
Mexican, Latin, Cafe, South American, Central American
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch, After-hours
FEATURES
Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Street Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Mastercard, Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Gift Cards Available
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4.5
490 reviews
Excellent
356
Very good
103
Average
19
Poor
6
Terrible
6
John B
London5 contributions
Jan 2020 • family
If you are in the Bay of Islands do yourself a favour and seek out El Cafe for breakfast or lunch. This is a small cafe located at the foot of King’s Rd in Paihia. I have had several menu items over the past week and each meal has been delicious, and the service by the friendly accommodating staff has been exceptional. But back to the food. In my trips throughout NZ over the past 20 years or so I can’t remember eating anything as delicious as the meals that I have consumed in this Cafe. Bravo to the serving staff and chef!
Written 15 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anna A
Wellington26 contributions
Jul 2021 • none
Popped in for a takeout coffee - was so good so went back for another and stayed for lunch. So yummy! I had the vegetarian burrito and my husband the breakfast burrito - full of flavors and big portions. Kids had chocolate milkshakes which they loved. Great service, great coffee, great food - we will be back.
Written 13 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nikki D
Whangarei1 contribution
Jun 2020 • couples
Whenever in Paihia we always make sure to stop by for coffee or a meal. Subject line says it all. The team never miss a beat and the flavours are sensational. Meals are hot. And a really relaxing atmosphere. See you next time!
Written 27 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KC-NZ1
Auckland124 contributions
Jan 2022 • family
We just felt like a sandwich for lunch and did a search coming across El Cafe. We all had the BLT (bacon lettuce and tomato) sandwich with iced coffees (blended or not, we love blended) and they were yum and a tropical smoothie, also very delicious. The BLT’s were perfect and fit the bill, just what we wanted! Everything is takeaway although there are tables you can sit down at outside. It was great to see the recycling being done on site with customers being asked to put their rubbish in the right bin - more places should do this. Hot coffee is also good (as it became our go to while there on holiday) so definitely fans!
Written 8 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DzejDzej
21 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
First and foremost, the coffee is excellent, the best in Paihia.
The food is great as well, both the healthy (Musli de la casa) option and the flexitarian one (“Spanish” eggs with lots of chorizo). There is plenty more to pick from, and the staff are friendly.
Finally, I don’t know if I was just lucky, but every time I was there they were playing brilliant classic rock (Stones, Zeppelin) - made my day!
Written 16 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RameshNZ
Auckland79 contributions
Dec 2019 • none
Thoroughly enjoyed our breakfast and went again for the lunch to try different meal ,enjoyed our lunch too. Mexican food was delicious and had healthy ingredients also. Generous food size. Numerous choices of mexican food. Complimented the chef after our breakfast.
Written 8 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jomackiwi
Auckland6 contributions
Jan 2024 • family
The food is brilliant, have eaten here every year since it opened on our trips to the Bay of Islands. The breakfast burrito is luxurious, the pork one is yummy. The guacamole is generous, everything is just tasty yet humble and unpretentious. The owner has a food technology background, is no slouch with ingredients, the kitchen is clean, small and mighty. Go there, support local.
Written 22 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janeynz
3 contributions
Nov 2024 • couples
Best Spanish Eggs in Northland! Wouldnt go anywhere else in Paihia for breakfast, I just love the chef's Spanish Eggs. We only get there twice a year, but half the pleasure of going is for El Cafe's food
Written 29 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Benjamin L
Kastrup669 contributions
Jan 2020 • family
Breakfast here was a fun and allround good experience.
Burritos, tacos, eggs and a bunch of good stuff.
Good atposphere and friendly service around the corner from the beach makes it a winner,
Written 19 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nick B
Whangarei57 contributions
Jan 2021 • family
We were so glad we found this place early on. We visited at least once a day and found service and food consistently amazing. It is a place that shows how good fresh produce makes the meals beautiful. Simple food done at its best. We were sad to leave our holiday and have to go home and cook. We will be back
Written 15 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vanessa
23 contributions
Mar 2023 • couples
Fantastic quick breakfast and coffee. Lovely small Cafe with friendly vibe. Homemade muesli was yum! These small businesses have suffered during COVID so it matters that we all support them. Highly recommend El Cafe!
Written 28 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
melinalesvos
Mytilene7 contributions
Dec 2024 • family
The lady owner is sssssoooooi unfriendly with everyone, kind of angry I would say. She needs immediate seminars in hospitality. The food was average with small portions for the cost you pay. Overrated in TripAdvisor, very disappointing.
Written 28 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dane K
19 contributions
Oct 2024 • family
Awesome cafe! Breakfast burritos were delicious as well as the berry smoothies. Highly recommend. My kids really enjoyed everything as well.
Written 29 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aussieitchyfeet
273 contributions
Jul 2024 • couples
Great little cafe. Had the best latte since we arrived 2 weeks ago.
We had their Cuban Sandwich and two different sweet muffins.
All of which was delicious and super fresh. Excellent place to eat.
Written 16 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ignaciofvega
9 contributions
May 2023 • friends
I couldn't resist to my Favorite smoothie in Nz, the Cool Bananas and this time I tried the amazing Cuba Sandwich... omg super good!!
Beautiful staff FOH and in the kitchen!!
I will definitely come back!!
Written 18 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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