PHOTO: A Surprise Winner in the Far North: Peekaboo Puts Kaitāia on the Culinary Map. Pixabay
Move over Ponsonby and Cuba Street — the title of New Zealand’s best café in 2025 has gone to a hidden gem in Kaitāia, a small Northland town once known more for headlines than hospitality.
Peekaboo Backyard Eatery, nestled just off Bank Street, took home three top accolades at the prestigious 2025 Lion Hospitality New Zealand Awards:
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🏆 Best Café in New Zealand
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🌱 Sustainability Champion
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👑 Supreme Winner 2025
It’s a huge win not just for the café, but for the entire Kaitāia business community, which is undergoing a quiet resurgence despite being hit hard in recent years by border closures, infrastructure challenges, and economic uncertainty.
🍕Inside New Zealand’s Best Café: Cocktails, Cornhole, and Community Spirit
Peekaboo is the passion project of Swiss-born chef Daniel Fasnacht and partner Carolyn Dando, who transformed a former restaurant into a stylish, family-focused eatery with a unique twist.
What makes Peekaboo so special?
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Locally grown produce from Kaitāia and Pukenui
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House-made dishes like buttermilk chicken salad, slow-cooked pork ribs, and kumara rosti
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A massive outdoor play space for kids, complete with cornhole and giant Jenga
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Evening menu includes craft cocktails, woodfired pizza, and gourmet burgers
“It feels like you’re visiting a friend’s home for dinner,” says duty manager Kayla Parker. “We want people of all ages to feel like they belong here.”
💬Locals Speak Out: “It’s Our Hidden Treasure”
When RNZ visited at lunchtime, regulars were full of praise:
“I bring workmates and visitors here weekly,” said Kate Atkinson. “The food, the service, the atmosphere — it’s the pride of our town.”
Sarah Pivac from nearby Taipā loved the kids’ area and wine list, while Marshall Masters, unaware of the recent awards, said the win came as “no surprise” given the quality.
Even the café’s sandwich board is modest — a quiet marker for what is now being called New Zealand’s best café.
💼Resilience Built into the Brand: A Post-Covid Comeback Story
Peekaboo’s story isn’t just about great food — it’s about resilience, regional pride, and smart business.
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Fasnacht purchased the café during the Covid pandemic
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He rebuilt it amid supply shortages and skyrocketing material costs
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The Mangamuka Gorge closure on SH1 cut off traffic and slashed visitor numbers
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His other restaurant — the Beachcomber — closed due to $200,000+ in annual losses
Yet somehow, Peekaboo survived, grew, and eventually thrived.
📈What the Win Means for Kaitāia’s Local Economy (and Property Market)
With Peekaboo’s awards drawing national attention, local tourism and real estate experts believe this could trigger broader benefits:
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15,000 new visits to the café’s Facebook page overnight
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Two new staff hired to meet growing demand
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Fasnacht has expanded into the Awanui Hotel, 10km north
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Rising visitor interest may influence property values in Kaitāia, especially as remote workers look north
“After years of hardship, we feel the energy coming back,” Fasnacht said. “I want people to see the real Kaitāia — the kindness, the community, the creativity.”
https://www.propertynoise.co.nz/why-you-need-some-fergs-coffee-in-your-life/
🏘️Kaitāia: From Underrated to Unmissable?
Kaitāia is home to around 5000 people, yet it boasts 28 eateries — an impressive figure for a town of its size. Locals believe that diversity reflects its deep-rooted hospitality culture.
Kaitāia Business Association chair Josh Kirby says Peekaboo is a “fantastic little spot” that’s helping change perceptions.
“The town’s name literally translates to ‘abundance of food,’” Kirby said. “Danny and the team are putting us on the map. It’s about time people noticed.”
❤️Final Word: “Kaitāia Has a Good Heart — Come Feel It”
Fasnacht named Peekaboo after his daughter’s favourite game — a nod to family, fun, and the joy of discovering something unexpected.
“I live here. I love it here,” he said. “People think of Kaitāia in all the wrong ways. I want this café to help rewrite that story.”
With State Highway 1 now reopened and school holiday crowds returning, Peekaboo is ready to welcome the country.
Whether you’re a foodie, a traveller, a family looking for a great meal, or even a real estate investor eyeing the rising pulse of regional New Zealand — Peekaboo Backyard Eatery is calling your name.
SOURCE: RNZ