On a random no-plan weekend, I decided to cook my own meals, just like the good old days in the little town known as Palmerston North. My Saturday breakfast consists of basil and black pepper salmon, egg with spring onion, sautéed mushrooms, and fresh raw vegetables.

Before I went to New Zealand, I don’t have the habit of eating breakfast. But after 3 years in New Zealand, now my favourite meal of the day is breakfast! After all, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper. ~ Adelle Davis (1904 – 1974)

Most cafes around New Zealand serve quality hot breakfast – ‘big’ breakfast that includes everything (from eggs to mushrooms to bacons to toasts), Egg Benedict (with smoked salmon) and pancakes (with bacon). I love all of them, to the extent that sometimes I eat the ‘breakfast’ meal for dinner.

One of the best things about New Zealand breakfast menu is that many cafes serve all-day breakfast! To someone who did not grow up there, I thought this was like super cool!

My 4 Favourite Places for Breakfast in New Zealand

Rebo Restaurant @ Auckland Sky City

I always eat my breakfast here whenever I am around downtown Auckland. The food is good, service is not bad, ambience is nice, location is strategic and also get discounted parking.

Breakfast time: 7am – 11am

Location: Ground floor, Federal Street

Cost: Big breakfast @ NZD$19.00 and Egg Benedict (with smoked salmon) @ NZD$17.00

Contact: +64 9 363 6000

Aqaba @ Palmerston North

I frequent this place for breakfast about once a month. The food is worth waking up early on a cold winter morning and drive for 10 minutes (then we will sit at the cosy couch beside the fireplace!). Even my friends agree that Aqaba serves one of the nicest breakfasts in Palmerston North.

Breakfast time: All day

Location: 186 Broadway Avenue

Cost: Big breakfast @ NZD 17.80 and Aqaba Benedict (with salmon) @ NZD 16.50

Contact: +64 06 3578922

The Coffee Club

The Coffee Club cafes are found all around in New Zealand. I frequent the one in Palmerston North the most, and probably went to a few others here and then when I travelled. The ‘big’ breakfast here is so huge that it is just nice for 2 girls!

Breakfast time: All day

Location: All around New Zealand

BB’s Café

This café is also found all around New Zealand. When I was staying in Whangaparaoa Peninsula for 1 summer, I came here for breakfast every weekend! If I had the ‘big breakfast’ in the morning, I will have pancakes (with bacon) for dinner.

Breakfast time: All day

Location: All around New Zealand

Where else?

There isn’t a need for a full list of where to get breakfast around New Zealand. Simply because, they are everywhere! You will find heaps of family cafes all over New Zealand, even in small towns like Cambridge and Napier.

Too much meat in New Zealand breakfast?

The full breakfast sometimes include a few slices of bacon, 2 sausages and a beefsteak. Yes, it is a little on the meat-heavy side. Sometimes, it is good to share the big breakfast with someone, and order a side salad and soup with it. In fact, this is what I do these days whenever I eat the western breakfast.

Last but not least, I just found this quote on Google by Elizabeth II, “I myself prefer my New Zealand eggs for breakfast.”