An all-day café in Wellington operating from morning until night
Always been the favourite coffee and epic cake spot on Cuba St since I was a little kid in the 90's! It's still going hard with a great array of Kai in the cabinet+ full menu. Vegan friendly. Unique place. Always plays good 🎶 🎵 🙏🏼
Great local café. Funky vibe inside with some cool artwork. Seating is fairly limited during peak times. Indoor seating only. Staff were friendly and helpful. Food was good, service times on the slower side of things. Coffee is great here, highly recommended. Enjoyed the big breakfast and the French toast. Would reccomend skipping the greens on the big breakfast though.
Great little cafe with food offerings way above its size! It's a very colourful place open early to midnight. There are treats like creamy mushrooms on hash browns and chicken pies, loads of plus size sweet treats and excellent coffee.
The original OG and still the best! Now that Fidel’s has gone, there still needs to be at least one stalwart and flag bearer, when it comes to ethos and cafe culture Those knocking the service are I think missing the point, yes it’s somewhat ramshackle at times, but then again, who isn’t? I love that the waiter strides out bold as brass and loudly proclaims, ‘eggs Benny, anyone?’ Only to return to the kitchen dish still in hand, slightly deflated, then re-emerges a few moments later to do it all again. It’s something that could be so easily fixed by having table numbers, but then again, why should they? Why conform when you can be an original and an entity into yourself? And in so doing subconsciously give others permission to do the same? To be who they are, and true to their authentic selves? I know that such inclusive spaces exist, but I don’t often get the chance to go to one, so to see a venue fumble occasionally is ok, as it reminds us that only human, after all. Besides, I get the feeling that the customers like it that way? Certainly, it’s like watching theatre in motion, and if hospitality isn’t performance art its finest, then I don’t know what is? My large flat white was delicious, but could have been stronger for a caffeine junky such as myself. But then again, it didn’t really matter, as I was over caffeinated already. And it paired perfectly with with my vegan chocolate cake, which was at once dense and moist, as well as soft and velvety. Along with the other Cuba Street luminaries, this cafe started a coffee and cultural revolution, dare I say long before Melbourne crowned itself the cafe capital? Everything feels just right here, like it’s in its rightful place, which is how it should be, for a venue which has stood the test of time, and stamped its indelible impression upon coffee culture. After all, what would Welly be without Midnight Espresso? A sorry place indeed!
Rude staff. Consistently rude. I feel like I’m an inconvenience every time I come in, which is unfortunate, as it is one of the only cafés open late enough for night shift workers to enjoy caffeine past 5pm. The drinks are typical of every other café in the area, and the food is genuinely good! But it feels like I’m in an uppity American café where people are inconvenienced by the very presence of a single customer. They don’t have free WiFi, which is understandable with such a small space and limited seating — they don’t want students taking up a seat or two for hours on end while they study — which is unfortunate, but I understand. But with the price of basic drinks, let alone the other food and dessert menu options? I think they can provide free WiFi. Though that’s not a priority or necessity. Aside from that, I just find it disappointing that every time I’ve come in, I feel as though I am annoying and/or bothering the staff. Regardless of who it is, and no matter how busy or slow the café is. I’ve come in once or twice a week for the last 10 months, and never feel welcome. 9/10 times the staff member(s) look like they’d rather do anything else than talk to you. The food, though?? SO good. Especially their breakfast options and all of the desserts/sweets. I also appreciate that they have a lot of vegetarian and some vegan options. (Pictures of the Bacon Hash Stack, and then Creamy Garlic Mushrooms with Toast.) Overall, the food is consistently delicious, but the drinks are nothing to write home about, and the service is mediocre at best.
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