With a flurry of activity currently underway at Karangahape Road’s Saint Kevins Arcade, we were relatively unsurprised to find out that the ashes of the 20-year-old establishment Alleluya Bar & Cafe have duly risen in the form of a new café called Bestie.

What was formerly a modest coffee cart occupying the aft of the lofty glass atrium, has now assumed its rightful place as the occupant of the glass-fronted space in the arcade’s far left-hand-side. Reminding us of what our arguably more edgy, coffee-loving cosmopolitan counterparts (yes, we’re talking about you Melbourne and Wellington) usually boast on their respective café scenes, Bestie is definitely of the ultra-cool ilk. This could be something to do with the fact that one half of the entrepreneurial team, Tane Williams, indeed hails from the capital while the other 50%, Emma Lyell, offers hearty ‘Good Mornings’ typical of someone from the provinces (Whangarei) as she furiously turns out Eighthirty coffees.

Yet to be open a week, each day has seen a steadily increasing patronage as word gets out about this promising newcomer. Those who firstly became acquainted with their stellar coffee are now falling for the delicious dishes steadily streaming out of the kitchen and onto the tables, the likes of which include to-die-for fresh ricotta doughnuts tossed in cinnamon sugar and served with a side of white chocolate whip, and a dairy-free vanilla and cinnamon muesli featuring fresh seasonal fruit and whipped coconut cream. We especially loved the crushed, spiced lentils with perfectly soft, chopped boiled eggs, labneh, a side of flat bread and a sprinkling of fresh herbs — a satisfying and wholesome start to the day.

The paired back menu is neither fussy nor overly long which will suit the melange of inner-city folk who have already made this their local workday haunt. And we can imagine this is an easy habit to start with Bestie serving up their unique style of delicious offerings in an easy manner that seasoned experience brings and an overall disposition that makes you want to go back again.

Opening hours: 
Monday to Friday – 7.30am till 3.30pm
Saturday & Sunday – 8.3oam till 3. 30pm