Love Shack coffee stall at the Matakana Farmers Market (every Saturday) and Matakana Indie Markets…read morewhich is every third Sunday of the month is the only spot to enjoy a delicious brewed cup of coffee while enjoying time at the artisan markets. Superbly crafted cups of coffee based on international sourced top grade beans. Not only do they sell amazing coffee to go, but also packaged coffee to take home and keep enjoying. The food is also delicious, my partner let me have a sample of his BLT, the bread was divine, a type of wholesome Turkish flat bread, with lots of bacon, aioli and yummy fresh lettuce. If you are after something sweet, they have muffins, biscuits and slices to entice. The first time I tried Love shack coffee I was impressed by the flavour and aroma and this impression has stayed with me over the years. I know they are a super busy stand at the markets, and well respected in the community.

Love Shack Coffee is one of the busiest stalls at the Matakana Farmers Market, the line for coffee…read moreoften spills out the entrance. The reason; it's damn good. The Mochachino is my choice of poison, some may argue that's not a 'real' coffee, but they're wrong. Anyway Love Shack do a lovely Mocha. You don't just have to wait until Saturday for your Love Shack fix either, they have been open every day during the summer. A mid week visit is nearly the complete opposite of a Saturday. The markets are empty and it's dead quiet and peaceful. There are some lovely outdoor chairs to relax into, it's a good place to sit for a chat

Good food with good ambience. Nice size portions and good selection of beers. Outdoor or indoor…read moredining.

Only game in town on New Year's Day. 15% holiday surcharge. Jam packed for lunch. No wait…read morethough. Lots of seating inside and outdoors. Nice courtyard in back. Kids area next to courtyard -- swings and small boat that kids can climb on. Recommend keeping close eye on younger kids and toddlers due to driveway and random broken glass on ground. SERVICE: friendly, attentive FOOD: 3.5/5 French toast - generous portion. light, thick. good. Fried fish with salad - $30. generous portion. fresh. very good. Corn fritters - only disappointment. way too greasy. salad underneath fritters soggy from oil, making it unappetizing. Fluffy - not fluffy enough, so toddler ended up with warm milk down front of shirt.

Another favourite stand at the Matakana Village Farmers' Market is Ringawera. You may recognise the…read morename as co-owner, Patrick Griffiths, originally ran Ringawera Bakery on Waiheke Island, where he lived for the past 18 years. The shop closed two years ago as Patrick was looking for a new challenge, and thus, early 2018, he opened Ringawera Cafe in Matakana - next to Morris and James art gallery. In October last year, Patrick started selling his freshly baked breads at the Matakana Village Farmers' Market. Look out for the rows and rows of pastries, croissants, beautiful breads, and baskets of baguettes as you enter the market - they are the first stall on the left. It is definitely the most well-presented stand in my opinion! His ciabatta and sourdough are my favourite breads to purchase at the market. Side note: Patrick has also opened Ringawera Bakery on Matakana Valley Road, just above the Matakana Village Farmers' Market All of his breads are baked onsite, from scratch and use quality ingredients. The smell is heavenly when you walk into his shop. You will find all of their freshly baked breads - sourdough, ciabatta (try the mini rolls!), foccacia and mixed grain loaves, plus piping hot Ozone Coffee, pastries, croissants, brioche and generously filled sandwiches to go. They also make some of the best hot cross buns!

Good coffee. Nice range of counter food and big menu too. Date and orange scone delicious. Great to…read morefind a dog friendly cafe for our pampered pooch

A visit to Matakana Village would not be complete to me, without a stop at Black Dog Cafe for a…read moresilky smooth mocha and a slice. Neatly located on the main strip of town, and with a great sunny deck out the side of the cafe; you can soak up the atmosphere of the street as you watch the community and visitors swirl around you. I like the fact that the owners welcome friendly dogs in, to sit with their owners in the outdoor area while they enjoy a meal. Friendly staff, and clean cut cafe style, makes for a well enjoyed visit every time.

Absolutely great place to have breakfast. We hat the Omelette and the Plume Big breakfast, both was…read moregreat and tasted well with the Chai Latte and the Flat White. The staff is really helpful and attentively. They also bake themselves bread which is absolutely delicious. I would bet it is the best bread in New Zealand. This place is a must for everyone that drives by closely.

Can not rave about the cafe enough, spacious decor, comfortable inside and garden seating…read more take a trip to the Matakana markets, stock up on treats but brunch at this little gem

Another excellent family evening at MMK, great food and service, staff are friendly and…read moreaccommodating of our family's various needs. Highly recommend.

The Matakana market is new and quite spiffy looking with restaurants upstairs and downstairs, a…read moremovie theater and other amenities. I was hoping to do better for vegan options than a few sides and salads. They offer a "Vegan Power" salad - which seemed promising. It arrived at my table - nicely shaved carrot, fennel and arugula - drowned in a tasteless, overly oily dressing - the flavor of the carrot and arugula vanished. Only the Granny Smith apples that weren't dressed had any punch. I also had an order of vegetarian spring rolls which were over cooked and flavorless -- the French fries were ok but ... come on: you can do better than a tasteless salad or falafel plate and French fries for vegans, Manakato! There wasn't even a vegan entree.

Fresh off Omaha Beach, sand in your hair and boogie board in-tow...the Kick Back Café is the…read moreperfect place to refuel. The coffee is good; the ice-latte is GREAT. Provided you've not left it too late in the day, the cabinet has a good variety of sandwiches, cakes and salads. If you're after something a little heartier they do a damn good pizza. Or if you're an early riser the breakfast menu is worth a try too. The café is bright and airy; with plenty of seating indoor and out. And the best part? When you've had your fill, it's just a short meander back to the sand for your afternoon nap on the beach.

The Kick Back cafe is a hugely welcome part of the Omaha scene, with its great coffees, nice…read morebreakfasts, and even a liquor licence to endure you can have a quiet beer in the afternoons and watch all the people go by. My dad, a fussy eater, loves the light and fluffy omelettes served here. The eggs benedict aren't bad either, with the pizzas popular with the children. I haven't had any if the lunches here (apart from pizzas) so can't comment on pastas or other main dishes. The coffees are great though, it's terrific to start a nice summer or winter morning with a quality coffee and repeat clientele enjoy the free coffee with their loyalty punchcards. But the service deserves a mention too. The owners and staff are friendly, attentive, and keen to know your name once they establish you are local. That's great to see! They do their best to accommodate special needs and requests like making extra space for disabled guests and ensuring the sometimes fierce breeze can be blocked with their windscreens in the outdoor areas.

Sitting in the back corner of the Matakana Country Park, Bramble is a cute espresso shop and honest…read morecanteen with a focus on local, fresh and healthy foods. They do great cabinet food with appetising looking home baking, filling savouries alongside hot drinks made to order and a fridge of other treats. Got the winter panzanella which was a salad with beetroot, spinach, sundried tomato, croutons and feta in a winning combination. A nice communal wooden table with magazines to peruse and a neat little lounge space with a real fire and comfy couches on the opposite site of the barn. Also seats outside if the weather is nice, perfect for summer. Great to stop by after the Matakana Indie market or if you are already in the area what with the other stores, cool playground and animal farm behind.

A visit to the beaches near Leigh is not complete to me without a stop at the local Leigh Fish and…read moreChip Shop, I have super memories of travelling to Matakana, and making it a point to travel that little bit more to eat here. This is just a really down to earth chilled cafe run by locals, with kids whizzing past; on scooters and skateboards. I like the bohemian style furniture out front, and the funky vibe of Kiwi music that pumps out of the speakers to set the tone. I really do enjoy the freshness of the battered fish, the crisp crunch of every chip and the delicious deep fried onion rings and squid rings. If it's not a fish and chip day for you, they have a variety of yummy burgers to mull over- you pay for what you get, it's more than enough, and there is so many different flavours to choose from too. One thing they could work on would be maybe a restroom, as one must walk down the road to the public toilets if they need to, and possibly making the prices not so steep. They have outdoor seating, as well which is needed as they are a popular spot.

After a long wait, Leigh finally has a fish and chip shop again and it is fantastic. In addition to…read morethe usual fish and chips fare they also have great coffee and a tasty selection of pastries. So far I have tried the fish and chips and cheese burger. Both were great and the burger was surprisingly satisfying. I added a potato fritter (homemade) to my burger and it really hit the spot. I've heard good things about their roast rolls so they are next on my list to try. Even if you're not feeling fish and chips, Leigh Eats offers a great selection of alternatives.