What makes this Kaitāia café New Zealand's best?

The nation’s best café is tucked away in a courtyard on a back street in Kaitāia, according to the 2025 Lion Hospitality New Zealand Awards.

Peekaboo Backyard Eatery cleaned up at the awards night in Wellington last month, taking home not just the coveted title of best café, but also the sustainability champion award and the overall supreme winner 2025.

Rather than just accept the judges’ verdict, we decided to drop in at lunchtime and quiz customers for their views.

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Kate Atkinson, of Kaitāia, said she visited at least once a week, bringing workmates, visitors and family.

“I love the food. I love the ambience. You can choose to sit outside. Nothing’s too much trouble for the staff. It’s just an amazing place to bring out-of-town people too, I’m really proud of it. I can’t really fault it.

Sarah Pivac, from Taipā, said she was a fan of the children’s playground and games like cornhole and giant jenga.

“I really like the kids’ area outside. It helps keep them entertained. And I like the wine list,” she said.

Kaitāia’s Marshall Masters didn’t know about the award, but said it was entirely justified.

“I’m honestly not surprised. The food here’s amazing. Amazing bro,” he said.

Peekaboo opened on Bank Street, one block from Kaitāia’s main shopping street, three years ago.

Duty manager Kayla Parker said the aim was to make everyone feel welcome, while creating hearty, tasty food with local ingredients – including locally roasted coffee and vegetables grown in market gardens in Kaitāia and Pukenui.

It was deliberately kid-friendly with a large play area and ice cream sold by the scoop during the day, while in the evenings it morphed into a playground for grown-ups, serving cocktails, pizza and burgers.

“I like to have people come in and feel like they're coming to somebody's house, like they're coming just for dinner,” she said.

The menu was heavy on classics but all were given Peekaboo’s own twist.

She said Northlanders liked hearty meals, such as steaks, but there was an appetite for healthy options as well.

“I’d say one of the favourites is definitely our Peekaboo salad, which can come with buttermilk chicken or a bit of steak or fish as well. And another one is definitely the ribs. People often come back for our pork ribs.”

Parker said she was thrilled by Peekaboo’s win.

“I was really, really excited, but I was a bit sick that particular week, so I had a coughing fit because I was so excited, and I was so happy, especially for Danny and our entire team… I was really overwhelmed.”

The café is owned by Daniel Fasnacht, a Swiss-born chef who has made Kaitāia his home for the past 11 years.

Fasnacht said he bought the café – previously the Bushman’s Hut, another popular eatery – during the Covid pandemic, rebuilt it when building supplies were almost impossible to find, then endured a two-and-a-half-year shutdown of State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge, just south of town.

The closure led to a sharp downturn in visitors and income for most businesses in Kaitāia.

He was forced to close his other restaurant, the long-established Beachcomber on the town’s main street, due to losses of $200,000 a year during the highway closure.

Somehow, Peekaboo managed to hang on.

Fasnacht said he was proud of all businesses that survived that difficult time, which was far longer than the more publicised closure of State Highway 1 over the Brynderwyns further south.

“And I'm also really proud of having everybody from small to tall in here, feeling welcome and feeling looked after. And I think that’s thanks to Kayla and her team in the kitchen, making it a fun place for everyone.”

He said the name Peekaboo came from his daughter, who was a toddler when the café was being rebuilt, and the games she liked to play.

It also reflected his wish to create a family hub.

With the highway open again, and the café packed with families for the school holidays, Fasnacht was optimistic about the future.

“After two-and-a-half years being shut off from the world, I can feel the energy coming back to town, and I hope we are a part of that.”

Fasnacht said the award had already made a difference to business.

Visits to the café’s Facebook page jumped by 15,000 overnight, and he had hired two more workers to handle the extra demand.

Peekaboo now had a total of 18 staff, and was open 8am to 8pm every day except Christmas.

Fasnacht had also taken over as operator of the Awanui Hotel, about 10km north of Kaitāia, just this week.

Kaitāia Business Association chairman Josh Kirby said recognition for the café was well deserved.

“It's a fantastic little spot. Beautiful food, beautiful coffee, beautiful people. I know the owners are very proud of our little town, and they've invested some time and effort into their establishment. Danny and the team there love what they do, and it clearly shows.”

Kirby admitted Kaitāia did not have a reputation as culinary hotspot, but it did have a remarkable number of eateries - 28 at last count, mostly takeaways - for a town of about 5000 people.

Even the name of the town could be translated as “abundance of food”.

“Every little town across the country has a special place, and we have ours. We're very proud of it. It isn't a surprise that they did really well, but we're so proud of them. They’re absolutely putting us on the map.”

As for Kirby’s favourite dish?

“Ooh, I love their polenta fries. Also, I’ve just started drinking their matcha green tea. Beautiful. And very healthy.”

Meanwhile, Fasnacht said he hoped Peekaboo’s win was just the start of better times for Kaitāia.

It might also help change the way New Zealanders thought about their northernmost town.

“I love Kaitāia. I live in town. It's a beautiful place. It's in the media always for the wrong things. So I hope Peekaboo can turn that around a bit,” he said.

“Kaitāia has got a good heart. And if you visit, you will feel that. So come up, visit it yourself, and we will look after you.”