Carmel Israeli Street Food

Owner: Carmel & Tom 

Visit us for

Our home-made pita bread, which is the fluffiest pita pocket New Zealand has ever seen. We fill it up with our own falafel mix that we brought from Israel, as well as other amazing fillings such as eggplant, cauliflower and, of course, chicken shawarma.

We make sweet stuff too, like rugelach croissants and babka cakes, which are filled with cinnamon, chocolate and halva. We also make challah breads, which are traditional Jewish plaited bread to take home.

We've worked so hard in the last six months to fit out our shop from scratch and keep it within a reasonable budget. We've built, painted and sanded most of it with our own hands, starting from the floor, through to the walls, cabinetry and tables. We even got some paintings and prints delivered to us specially from Israel. We've poured all of our dreams and souls into every piece in the shop. 

On our playlist

We play a mix from a Spotify playlist, with some Israeli pop hits just to give the space a more homely and funky feeling.

Beans

Coffee Supreme.

On the Christmas menu this year

We love having family feasts for Christmas. Usually, the agenda is to bring your own plate, but we always prefer to be in charge of the Yemenite kubaneh brioche, labneh cheese and quinoa tabouli.

Modicum Cafe and Catering

Owner: Jenny Rindermann 

Your playlist?

Jazz

Your special ingredient?

Modicum is all about great food, great coffee, and great people.

What's cooking this Christmas?

Whatever looks good at the market that week. We buy everything from growers at the weekend markets; fresh and flavoursome is what it’s all about.

Your coffee?

We use Karajoz Coffee. 

Eden Espresso Bar

Owner: Zafer Isiklar

Visit us for

Personalised service and friendly banter. We not only know our regulars' coffee and drinks, we also know their names. We serve great coffee and mouth-watering food.

On our playlist

That’s time-dependent, we open at 5am with baroque, classical, jazz or French Cafe music. Later on, it’s upbeat music to lift everyone's mood: reggae, retro pop, R&B, Motown, funky jazz or house. 

Beans

Segafredo brand's Extra Strong blend, which has a medium acidity level and an earthy flavour. We would describe it as a full-bodied coffee with a nutty finish. It’s perfect for an Italian-style espresso or a flat white, as it offers a smooth yet strong taste that will definitely wake you up in the morning.

On my Christmas menu

I prefer to eat and drink like every day is Christmas, with moderation of course. 

Fluff Cafe

Owner: Kayla Nong and Michael Nguyen

Visit us for

We are known for the signature fluffy bread that we bake in-house. The name Fluff represents what we offer in the cafe; it's indulgent, warm and cosy. The food menu also reflects that feeling of good food made with fresh quality ingredients and passion.

On our playlist

We play a Spotify playlist through Soundtrack Your Brand. It’s usually chill pop vibes.. 

Beans

We roast our own coffee and have our own home brand, Sorted Coffee. We usually serve several kinds of coffee beans: a signature blend called 9 to 5, which consists of Brazil, Colombia and Ethiopia for milk coffee beverages; a single-origin coffee bean, which is currently Colombia Monica, for black coffee like long blacks; and finally,

a daily filter coffee, which is also single-origin, that changes seasonally.

On the Christmas menu this year

Our favourite, crispy roasted pork belly. 

Fount Coffee Co

Owner: Nathan De Jong

Visit us for

We are a modern, open-faced container cafe in a car park, say no more. But also we have incredible cinnamon buns and donut Fridays that you don't want to miss. And I guess our own coffee, which people seem to love.

On our playlist

All sorts! A mix of Logan's easy listening tunes to the old classics. Come request your favourites.

Beans

Fount Coffee Co. A delish light-to-medium roast that leaves you with flavours of honeycomb, grape and milk chocolate. We are proud to serve our own freshly roasted coffee.

What I am cooking for Christmas this year

Most likely a roast lamb or scotch fillet with seasonal veggies. We’ll also have a strawberry and mascarpone tart for dessert with home-made ice cream.

Meebz Coffee Roasters

Owner: Michael Tan

Visit us for

We specialise in new and premium-grade coffee from all over the world and share this story through each coffee we sell. We have different coffee offerings including some extremely rare and exotic coffees.

On our playlist

A combination of chilled beats including jazz, melodic, deep house, DIY and high fidelity music.

Beans

We have up to 20x different coffee offerings including a range of blends, organic, decaf, single origins and high-end exotic coffee roasted for drip and filter.

On the Christmas menu this year

Yorkshire puddings, turkey, Asian fusion noodles, mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables.

The Hideout Espresso Bar

Owner: Anderson Mar

Visit us for

Character and charm, with local art on the walls, an avid collection of anime figurines, and a personalised painting that displays our passion for coffee and food. Many of our talented friends helped create this space, which includes a variety of lush plants that I (a self-proclaimed botanist) and my friend propagate, and commissioned furniture built by talented locals. Lastly, our sweets and savouries are made in-house by our amazing Brazilian mama, who infuses her own culture.

On our playlist

It really depends on the vibe. It could include Fela Kuti, Gorillaz, Luke Temple, Andy Shauf, Khruangbin, Mac Miller, Faye Webster, Spence, Steve Lacy, The Beatles, and lots from the golden era of hip-hop. I like to support local artists too: Goodspace, Rewind Fields, Lloyd Kennedy, Lucky Boy, Being, Marlon Williams, Aldous Harding and Gareth Thomas.

Beans

We use Fairtrade organic beans from Kōkako, the main blend is Mahana. This coffee is full-bodied with chocolate blends, which is a combined source from Ethiopia, Sumatra and the Democratic Republic of Congo. We use a Mexican single-origin for our decaf. For filter coffee, we rotate the options; right now we are using Guji and Limu on batch brew and Aeropress. We also have cold brew on tap.

On the Christmas menu this year

I’ve started preparing for it already. Every year we grow our own Christmas tree and my wife designs and makes me a new Santa outfit. My daughter decorates my car and the final product looks like a slay drawn by 6–11 reindeers. Sparkly, glittery touches are an absolute must. Food-wise, we often do a potluck with close friends and family in the cafe, play a few board games and have a few drinks. 

Welcome Eatery

FOH Leader : Leticia Neto

Visit us for

Our exceptional customer service, great coffee and a variety of sandwiches and fresh salads. We also have an all-day breakfast menu that we change every season, with a selection of fresh ingredients in a fusion of French/Asian cuisine.

On our playlist

We have quite a large range of music chosen in accordance with the mood we want to set for the day. It’ll vary from pop and rock to late 60s, 70s, 80s, 2000s and R&B.

Beans

Supreme Coffee.

Coffee Pen

Owner: Yasuji Hisai

Visit us for

Our coffee beans, food and location. We use Pen coffee (original blend) roasted by Be Specialty and also have sweets and fresh daily counter/cabinet food, which we change seasonally. We love our Pen spot under the trees; it’s lovely and quiet.

On our playlist

We make playlists just for Pen and play anything from ambient, breakbeat, post- rock, electro, dub, contemporary and jazz. We also love playing world music like Ethiopian, Cuban and much more. Any music is good for Pen I think.



Beans

Pen Bean, which is our own blend roasted by our friend Be Specialty.

On the Christmas menu this year

BBQ with lots of beer! 

Delissimo

Owner: Zan Stoev

Visit us for

Daily soups, filled toasted sandwiches, and pulled pork.

On our playlist

Our special Delissimo playlist.

Beans

Atomic Veloce.

On our Christmas menu

Champagne ham, fruit cake, mince pies.