the new favourite cafe & short-haul destination

We went to Waiheke Island for my best friends wedding - it is SUCH an incredible island. Only a 30 minute ferry-ride from Auckland and it reminds me of Italy (my favourite country) in more ways than one. The coastline, the vineyards, the incredible beaches, as well as the stunning views every which way you turn... it's safe to say this is my new favourite short-haul destination!

We stayed in Oneroa, and there's a strip of gorgeous little cafes and restaurants. One which stands out immediately is Wai Kitchen. With it's simplistic and neutral decor coupled with incredible water views, there's no wonder why it's in such high demand. Come on a weekend and you'll be waiting at least 30 minutes for a table, the weekdays are different - you can choose your table and order straight away. We obviously chose the latter!

The brunch menu sounds amazing, and offers the perfect fusion of traditional meals with a modern twist. We ordered the Vanilla pancakes with macadamia butter, cinnamon sugar and farm cove bacon and Pork Belly omelette with miso, ginger and black sesame.

The presentation of the pancakes was very basic, but the flavours more than made up for it. Without a doubt the best pancakes I've ever had. The inclusion of bacon to this dish is a must, however I was really disappointed to see two tiny strips for the additional $5.50 you pay. And they weren't crispy. Double disappointment... You get three layers of pancakes, which I thought was a little too filling. Two would have been perfect.

We weren't too sure what to expect with the omelette. Pork belly dishes are normally quite heavy, but this dish was actually the opposite. Flavoursome, fresh, and with the right balance and amount of ingredients. There was the perfect amount of pork belly chunks, and the flavours really tied the entire dish together. So good!

Properties Steve and Vanderput have done a fantastic job. The service was good, location incredible and food playful and delicious. As with anything on Waiheke Island, the price of dining is heavily inflated... but I guess that's just the norm here. Also it's worth nothing that there are no regular sizes for latte - just large (!?) - and they're 50c more than a cappucinno. Random.

This was my favourite cafe on the island, and will definitely be coming back here to try the rest of the brunch and lunch menus. The fresh fruit smoothies on offer also sound amazing!

Cafe: Wai Kitchen 
Total price: Food: NZ$44.50; Beverages: NZ$14.40
Hours: 9am - 4pm
Must order: Vanilla pancakes (request crisby bacon)
Coffee: Three Beans Organic Fair Trade Coffee