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Serenity Cafe
Review
About
We have indoor booth seating as well as tables for couples and tables for four. If you are a big family don't be shy to ask our friendly staff to join tables, we are more than happy to do that for you. Outside are more tables and seating with umbrellas for shade. A view of our Clock museum with flowers surrounding a huge sundial gives plenty to entertain visually while enjoying your meal. Tour buses regularly arrive not far from our doorstep with lots of parking and a big play area for children just around the corner. Feedback is essential for constant improvement which we welcome gladly. We hope you enjoy your meal, From all the staff at Serenity Cafe :)
Features
CUISINES
Cafe, European, Contemporary, New Zealand
Meal types
Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
FEATURES
Accepts Credit Cards
Highchairs Available
Outdoor Seating
Parking Available
Seating
Takeout
Wheelchair Accessible
Location
Parking Available
Does this restaurant offer free wifi?
Save this restaurant
Hours
Closed now
• Opens at 8:00 AM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Contribute
4.2
285 reviews
Excellent
139
Very good
103
Average
24
Poor
8
Terrible
11
Nita K
Wellington277 contributions
Dec 2022 • couples
Serenity Cafe opens early which is great for town workers, and stays open long enough for punters to enjoy a leisurely late lunch.
Everything on the menu is simple tasty fare. From the very best pies on the planet and other delectable savouries, to the classic eggs bene, wholesome omelettes, & other breakfast meals, & then Serenity's more heartier lunch meals; the best being the cafe's battered fish, chips, & salad meal.... always fresh, crisp, & generous in size. And, Serenity's baristas are efficient & always deliver good coffee by the cupful. Can't forget to mention the wait staff who are super friendly but know not to hover, & the back-of-house team who run like a well oiled machine... what a great all round operation & it shows. Love this place, love their food, & highly recommend a visit if you're holidaying in the north or just assing through... the locals already know they've got a good thing going on here.
Written December 30, 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.
0000000Adele
Auckland233 contributions
Jul 2020 • none
Basic kiwi cafe. No views of water but the food ....Wow.
Good hot coffees. Seafood pie was incredible. Lovely crusty homemade pastry. Also loved the walnut and caramel slice. Decadent without being too sweet. And the cheeses scone was delish warmed with butter.
Pie pictured below. One to remember.
Written July 9, 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.
Awa T
Whangarei43 contributions
Dec 2021 • couples
Went for lunch, ordered an omelette with salmon, cheese and avocado as my 3 fillings. Very, very tasty. Had the right amount of seasoning and came with a fresh salad and vinegar dressing. Generous portion, couldn’t eat it all so took the leftover away for dinner. I’ve been here a few times and the coffee is consistently good. My favourite place to eat at the town basin. Is usually full so we were lucky to get a table. Excellent service and our meals arrived in reasonable time. I’m going back.
Written December 22, 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.
FamilyK
Whangarei68 contributions
Jan 2021 • couples
After waiting over 35 minutes, while several tables around us who had arrived much later received their food, we were finally served lukewarm bacon with barely reheated supermarket pancakes and a couple of eggs on gf toast. Hardly difficult dishes to prepare, no apologies for the wait and totally forgettable food. Won't be back.
Written January 4, 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.
SKB2023
Whangarei67 contributions
Jun 2024 • family
This cafe has been a favourite in whangarei for many years, I was disappointed recently but the items we bought from the cabinet that used to be staple options here.
A huge pie that had very soggy pastry and overflowed with meat, and the chicken and pineapple wrap that used to be really tasty. The pies used to be really good here. This one needed to be eaten with a spoon. More like a casserole with a side of soggy pastry.
Seems like the better option is to order off the board now…
Coffees were nice and came out fast
Written June 28, 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.
KevinNewtonNZ
Whangarei29 contributions
Mar 2021 • none
Once my favourite place to eat in Whangarei my most recent visit reminded why this is no longer so. We had a medium size group of people and the food was a little slow in arriving at our table, but that was understandable because they were busy. The food was ok but it wasn't earth-shattering.
For some weird reason they had live musicians playing outside by the Clock Museum and it was so loud we couldn't hear each other talking inside the restaurant. That destroyed any pretense at ambience and diners were basically eating in silence due to the volume of the 'music'.
The clincher, however, was the flies. I know Summer has just finished and I know flies are attracted to such places, but we had a least a dozen flies hovering all around our table, and we weren't the only ones. Most of our time was spent shooing them away instead of enjoying the company and the food. A small automatic sprayer on the wall achieves nothing - do yourself a favour and call Northpest.
Written March 6, 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.
Bernard R
Whangarei1034 contributions
Nov 2020 • friends
This cafe offers a well balanced choice of menu and the food is good and well presented. The location is very good on the edge of the town basin with the water very close by. One particular staff member seemed very terse however all the others were very friendly and efficient.
Written November 6, 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.
Binbin87
Auckland9 contributions
Mar 2020 • family
Pretty basic cafe with a stock standard menu. As a vegetarian it's pretty hard to order much apart from a cheese toastie and chips. Which the kids loved. And then the playground was next door so they loved that too. I would come here with kids again but not if you want a nice brunch or lunch date. Wouldn't come here if you are vegetarian.
Written August 15, 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.
PACMAC
Whangarei5 contributions
Jan 2021 • none
after nearly 20 years of 10/10 in two weeks it has gone down to about a 3.
horrible. i love wraps -todays was damn near inedible.
bland is a good word. no pineapple. no capsicums - no crumbed chicken
just chicken.
Written January 22, 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.
SaasiK
Whangarei2 contributions
Feb 2024 • solo
So... I don't know what the food's like because the staff were so awful I turned round and left after dealing with them. Honestly, if you don't like customers then you shouldn't be in hospitality. Go to another café at the town basin. Everyone else knows how to give exceptional customer service. Disappointed and angry. Thanks for ruining my day
Written January 31, 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.
shirley O
Chester40 contributions
Jan 2025 • couples
Waited 49 minutes for a tea and toastie disgraceful service. Nobody had a clue what they were doing had to ask 4 times where food was. Will not visit again!
Written January 25, 2025
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.
Chanthavee
Auckland5 contributions
Sep 2024 • business
I’ve travelled up and down the country quite a few times. (I am a tour guide) I also eat quite a few pies, why wouldn’t you? It’s a kiwi staple. Anyway, there are a lot of really bad expensive pies out there and not worth the pastry they are baked in!
Not the case here. The pie was moreish and packed with what it was said, mince and cheese. Not gravy, not soggy undercooked pastry but just pure mince and cheese. I’ve never been disappointed with my pie choices here or worried about paying for the pie.
When it’s this good, I’ll be back for more! I might even try their cafe menu?!
Written September 24, 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.
jillfindlay
Auckland Central85 contributions
Jan 2024 • couples
Order at counter food was good
Option indoor and outdoor for seating
Ordered a bfast thought there would be 2 eggs but only got one egg with meal
Written January 7, 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.
ssadow79
Falls Church8 contributions
Jun 2023 • family
We had a great lunch at this little cafe! Our order came out promptly, was tasty and such a great location on the water. I had the salad with halloumi cheese and it hit the spot.
Written July 31, 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.
SteveMOxfordshire_UK
Henley-on-Thames129 contributions
Nov 2022 • couples
Lunch stop, right by the parking for our coach. Very good toasted sandwich and an excellent home-made steak pie. All washed down with a couple of traditional ginger beers.
Written November 12, 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.
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