BEACH HOUSE CAFÉ

It's always a good sign when locals show up for their morning coffee at the same time each day. “We pretty much start making a person's coffee as soon as we see them pull up. It's a real hub and everyone is on a firstname basis. That's what I love about it,” says owner Corrina Allen. The coffee is superb, as can be expected for a local go-to, but the real drawcard is the blackboard menu. Kaikōura locals know best, so if there's a dish being carried from kitchen to a table, have a peek and take mental notes. Eggs benedict and seafood chowder are among the popular options at breakfast and lunch. Choosing a spot within the 100-year-home is the next task; dare to walk beyond the front room and the café begins to resemble, well, a large house. Tuck into breakfast by the fireplace or on a cosy couch in one of the many rooms to be discovered during a little wander through the building. 39 Beach Road, Kaikōura.

(03) 319 6035, on Facebook.