Last week I was in sunny Napier, idly strolling down Dalton Street, when I came across this curious cafe.

Wellington theme cafe

Yes, it’s a cafe themed after a ’00s-era Wellington-style cafe. Named after our central cafe district, Cuba St cafe serves Wellington brands Havana coffee and t leaf T tea, and I was tickled to hear barbecue dub being played inside.

It almost seemed like an elaborate pisstake, or perhaps an artist creating someone with an otherwise empty shop, but it does indeed to appear to be for realz.

So if you’re visiting the sunny Hawke’s Bay and are somehow hankering for a retro Wellington cafe experience, pay a visit to Cuba St cafe. Though, it must be said, there are much better local Napier cafes worth a visit.