A Quiet Corner of Tairua
Tucked away opposite the new marina at the base of Mt Paku, Old Mill Café has become one of those Tairua spots that locals know and love, even if plenty of people passing through town are yet to discover it.
For the owners, turning the Old Mill into the café it is today has been a labour of love. Through Covid, natural disasters, road disruptions and all the other challenges of running a hospitality business, they have put plenty of blood, sweat and tears into creating a space with a relaxed beach, bach and coastal feel.
Since taking over, the owners have given the café a complete refurbishment, including a refitted kitchen designed to handle the bigger numbers that summer brings to the Coromandel.
But while summer visitors are an important part of life in Tairua, Old Mill has always wanted to remain a place for the local community too.
The café has previously catered for the Tairua Bowling Club and now caters at Tairua Golf Club membership draws on the first Friday of each month. With the town’s one-lane bridge currently being replaced and the town hall occupied by the work crew, local groups have had to get creative with their meeting spaces. The Salty Steppers have even started dropping in for a coffee and chat on Friday mornings after their class.
Old Mill also supports the Tairua Business Association with evening events from time to time, but perhaps its most important role is a simpler one: being a quiet place where locals can sit down, catch up and have a good yarn.
That relaxed atmosphere carries through to the café’s monthly themed dining evenings, which have become a real feature. Inspired by the owners’ love of travel, each dinner gives the chef a chance to step outside the everyday menu and create something different.
For customers, the evenings can be a chance to reminisce about places they have visited, while for others they might provide a little inspiration for a future adventure. The café deliberately steers away from the usual dining offerings in Tairua, giving people something a little different to look forward to.
Although the themed dinners are becoming increasingly popular, they retain a slower pace, making them as much about good conversation and catching up with local faces as they are about the food and drinks.
With summer on the horizon, there is plenty more to come. A fresh seasonal menu is planned for November, making the most of the new season’s produce, while the themed dining experiences will continue throughout summer, with a break in December as everyone turns their attention to family and Christmas.
There is also a small retail area inside the café, while local artists have their work displayed on the walls with no commission. Dogs are welcome outside, and the team has built a strong following for Sandbank Smoothies.
Old Mill will also trade on Tuesdays from 27 December through to 7 February, giving locals and summer visitors another reason to make the trip down to this little corner beneath Mt Paku.
With the roads looking good, summer on its way and a freshly refurbished café ready for the season, it seems like a pretty good time to discover what the locals have already known for a while: Old Mill is a special little part of Tairua.
Old Mill Waterfront Cafe Tairua
Facebook: Old Mill Waterfront Cafe Tairua
Instagram: oldmillwaterfrontcafetairua
For bookings: 07 864 9390 or bookings@oldmillcafetairua.com
Summer Hours (Dec 27 to Feb 15):
Wed to Sun – 8:30am to 2:30pm
From 27 December to 7 February: open Tuesdays also
Winter Hours (Feb 16 to Dec 26):
Wed to Sun – 8:30am to 2:30pm
1 The Esplanade, Tairua, Marina
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