Amazing coffee with a beautiful view! Unfortunately it was raining but I can imagine the views from here on a sunny day. Service was friendly and quick.
The mocha we ordered was delicious and well presented. Cabinet food looked yummy but we weren't hungry so didn't try anything.
Can't wait to be back during summer!
Love the brownies and other cabinet slices here, They also stock my favourite grapefruit flavoured San Pellegrino that I can't find anywhere else. We stopped in on a busy Saturday afternoon and staff seemed genuinely cheerful.
Has a wide variety of cafe food, good prices, a nice place to sit outside adjacent to the view of the gardens! But there's nothing that amazing about the food, that I can recommend.
Absolutely one of my favourite places to go! Very nice area so sit in with amazing views and quick, friendly service. Will continue to visit frequently :)
Service is good despite the busy weekend lunch. Overlooking the turtle lake which is a big plus. Food were tasty but nothing too exciting. My cappuccino on the other hand was really good. Cabinet food looked delicious so might try them next time we come back.
I have been here a couple times and the food is always pretty tasty! Love the iced chocolate! Service is usually fast, and the setting of it in the Hamilton gardens is wonderful by the lake! Saw some turtles the other day while we ate :)
I don't know why it only has 2.7 stars. The food was good and they served great coffee. But more importantly, it had the best customer service I've ever experienced in New Zealand. The staff were friendly and helpful, one even brought my dog a bowl of water! Would definitely recommend.
The surrounding of the cafe is nice, besides of the lake where you can enjoy the beautiful view. The food is above average but is better than what I expected. I tried bagels with cream cheese and jam, the jam is yummy. :)
great Visit , great All press coffee, great setting, opened the whole place up now so there are plenty of seating options with possibly the best view in the waikato across Turtle lake to the waterfall. Plenty of gluten free options and vegetarian and dairy free options. The prawn tacos of the blackboard are different and delicious.
Was over in Hamilton on Saturday and stopped in to the beautiful Hamilton Gardens. After our stroll around the gardens we stopped into the cafe for a coffee and a light lunch. Wow this place was busy! But service was prompt and with a smile. I had the chicken roulade from the cabinet, which was delicious. And they serve seriously good coffee.
We had a very pleasant experience and will definitely be back.
As from October 1st 2015 the Hamilton Gardens Cafe has new owners, Craig and Jenny Fraser, we would love to see you so come on in and enjoy the beautiful gardens, have a fabulous Allpress coffee and try our great range of food.
Great location and there was lots of options to choose from. Also nice to be able to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine now it is getting warmer. Our food was tasty and the service was good and friendly. I'll be back
Edited 31/5: Probably worth revising, as it seems we were really unlucky that first time. Been there a few more times subsequently, and the food and service was much improved.
Gorgeous surroundings, but the food and service was rather lacklustre. It’s a pity, really, because you would be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful place for a cafe setting in Hamilton City – the gardens themselves are lovely and well worth a visit in and of themselves. To start with, the dishes were cleared from tables very, very slowly. Everyone just ended up having to clear their own tables and dump the dishes onto a neighbouring empty table before seating themselves. To be fair, though, the staff were probably struggling as they appeared to be pretty short-handed, so I would probably fault the establishment for this, not the waiters themselves.
Had lunch here today, at frist glance there's a good selection of savory options, I chose the chicken roulard which arrived at the table quickly, served with salad and a beetroot relish. It wasn't warmed through enough but was tasty. I was served a small coffee when I requested a larged, which I queried and was told "no she put it through as a small" no suggestion of changing it.. oh well it was a good coffee anyway. Overall lunch was pleasant, service was lacking a little but wonderful surroundings.
Okay, this review isn't for the cafe itself. We ordered a picnic for which the cafe packed a great selection of food (that only those with the very biggest appetite might get through). All this in a lovely 'old school's picnic basket and blanket supplied. The atmosphere relates to the gardens - we were able to lay a blanket on the slopes by the lake under a tree... Hard to beat. The cafe itself is rather more ordinary.
Service was great on the day - the staff appear to include many casual staff, so this will always be a bit variable, but I was there twice in two weeks with different staff on both occasions and they were all very friendly.
The food itself isn't 'haute cuisine' but it was fresh and tasty and lots of variety... A bit like a home made picnic. The only thing I would highlight is that a lot of boxes were used to pack the food for two of us... Maybe an opportunity to improve sustainability a bit, but there is an argument that it may have been necessary for the variety.
My hubby had a delicious mince and cheese mini pie from a cabinet full of amazing selections to choose from. I appreciated that many of the foods had allergen notes on them and was able to enjoy a nut-free slice of carrot cake. The cafe had a lovely outlook over a large pond and staff were happy and friendly. We will come back!
Great food.. good selection. Nice friendly staff. Very busy at 2pm when we were there. Loved the little bird beggars. They're too cute.
What a lovely place to rest at after walking through the beautiful gardens. Service was excellent, staff are very friendly and welcoming. The food was great we ordered fish and chips and a steak sandwich. Drinks we had an ice Mocha and Iced americano very delicious! Ka pai !
Awesome gardens would be great place to go in the summer with the family 🥰
We stopped here before exploring the gardens for a quick breakfast. Lots of pastries and baked goods to choose from but we felt like quiche - they had about three kinds to try so we tried one of each! Coffee service is quick - I got an almond milk cappuccino with cinnamon and hubs tried a flat white. Lots of other drinks. The patio area is great and very picturesque overlooking the garden pond. Quick order at the counter service too!
Came by for a late lunch. The eggs Benny were alright, though the eggs were overcooked and the muffin at the bottom was burnt. The taste was decent.
Strawberry milkshake was also decent.. lacks the strawberry taste; more of a hint of flavour.
Service was good. The staff were friendly. Ducks were swimming about. All is good.
I wasn't hungry but enjoyed an English tea. The service was great, and views were lovely
Ms_Eternal _Traveller.
+5
Beautiful gardens - free entry. I would allow a minimum time 1 hr maximum of 4. Fun for kids and adults alike.
Always beautiful - best seen in spring and summer 🌺
Child friendly - a little tricky to navigate if you have knee or leg injuries
Friendly staff and good food. Sorry don't have any photos but the place is really worth a visit to have a nice meal with a lovely view.
Good selection of food and friendly staff. Super location.
Nice place to sit and eat something, although we got the wrong order twice. Staff was very kind fixing it quickly though.
Nice lunch at the gardens, great offerings and nice views. Good for a break and breakfast or lunch.
Love this Cafe at the most beautiful gardens I've ever been too.
Good selection of delicious food in the cabinet for Gluten-free people.
Keep up the awesome food & service 👌
Aucklanders here, we love coming to the Hamilton cafe, food is magnificent and cater to gluten free. Lovely wine and beer together makes it a great brunch. Thanks team!
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