One of the nicest things about visiting Mount Maunganui in the Bay of Plenty is the combination of two of the greatest holiday pleasures: relaxing at the beach and indulging in great food and coffee. There’s no shortage of cafés in Mount Maunganui, from a selection in the main street to beachfront cafés along Marine Parade. I started the morning checking out the local farmers market (held every Sunday morning at the Phoenix car-park in Maunganui Road) – a great place to stock up on organic, locally grown fruit, vegetables and other goodies, such as cheeses and smoked fish. Afterwards, I headed around the corner to the beach and wandered up the boardwalk, under Pohutukawa trees just coming into flower, to the handful of hugely popular cafés that nestle at the northern end of Marine Parade. They all look good, and at least a couple are prize-winning cafés, but I settle on Deckchair, where the cabinet is bursting with gorgeous lunchtime offerings. After choosing my salad, I’m lucky enough to find an al fresco table (all the others are taken!) and people-watch while I wait for lunch to arrive. When the lovely waitress delivers it, with a big smile and a friendly greeting, she asks whether I’d like some magazines and soon returns with a handful of fashion and gossip mags, joking that I might like to have lunch with Brad and Angelina! It’s always a nice touch when the waitress offers this extra little attention if you’re dining solo. The soy flat white was perfect and the dressing on the roast vege salad delicious – no wonder Deckchair was so busy! I’d definitely recommend you stop by for a bite to eat next time you’re in Mount Maunganui.
destination-nz.com
Café Culture in Mount Maunganui
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