I signed up here specifically to leave this restaurant a review. We were in Opua to survey and purchase a boat and stopped in here for lunch. The cheeseburger I ordered was likely the best I’ve ever had, anywhere. (my wife agreed). We weren’t expecting much from a random Marina cafe that we’d never tried, but were extremely surprised and impressed! The previous owners of our boat (Americans) also agreed that the cheeseburgers were amazing, and one of if not _the_ best they’ve had.

To the previous reviewer, Jacquie W:
The concept of personal responsibility must be foreign to you. I can tell you’re one of those people who always finds someone else to blame. I’m sorry your child was burned, but the responsibility lies 100% with you for not paying attention to your child and what they were drinking. Guess what? A restaurant is not your babysitter.

This little cafe is a jewel, located in an otherwise odd building overlooking the Opua Marina parking lot and docks. Though it’s the “only act in town” (Opua) you wouldn’t know it: their consistently friendly service and deliciously fresh and original food belies that fact. The people working there, from the cooks and pastry chefs to the servers all seem to be having a good time, which reflects happy working conditions and job satisfaction. No grumps here! The decor is inviting and designed tastefully; facilities are spotless.

We regularly have morning coffee and breakfast at this cafe while reading one of the free newspapers provided, and then go back for dinner and sometimes even live music later. The owner even turns on the big-screen TV for special events (sports, news events) when requested, and the background music played is appropriate and pleasant.

The room’s acoustics, however, can be loud; we have often seen parents of young children take advantage of these amiable and accommodating hosts, and let their kids use this cafe as their own private nursery in which to run wild—oblivious of whether other diners might be bothered by the uncontrolled antics and additional noise (we usually are, but must endure!). We have marveled at the diplomacy with which the staff at this cafe have always handled these situations. It seems possible that the owner may have finally reached his already-high tolerance level when dealing with the other 1-star reviewer/parent of small children… it doesn’t sound like him, and knowing this, I’m betting there’s another side to the story.

We would highly recommend a stop at the Marina Cafe for a delightful break in the day’s journey, with excellent food, friendly people, and outstanding service.

Hoping to enjoy a pleasant Father’s Day with our four-year old and two-year old daughters my husband and I went to this cafe. We ordered two fluffies and two coffees and settled down in a lounge area of the cafe, where the children’s books and toys were located.

Our four-year old sat on the floor next to the coffee table to enjoy her fluffy. She took a taste and immediately dropped the cup in shock – scalding hot milk flooding into her lap and all over her legs. After ten minutes spent soaking her legs with cold water in the bathroom I emerged to have a word to the cafe owner.

He insisted that we had sat in the wrong part of the cafe (i.e. because we sat there our daughter spilled her drink) and that it’s impossible to please everyone, some people like fluffies hot and some cold. I pointed out that fluffies were for little children and were supposed to be froth (luke warm, tending to cold). He disagreed saying he’d recently had a party of 12 year olds in who wanted fluffies. He finally asked his barista (who unfortunately had not made our drinks) for her view and she agreed with us.

At no point did he say sorry for the burns our daughter suffered.

So we got to pay 12 dollars for drinks we never had and in fact caused our little girl harm and distress – no apology, not even an offer of a free coffee on another day.

He merely said no-one else had ever complained and begrudgingly said he would ‘keep an eye’ on the fluffy issue. Of course he intends to do nothing of the sort.

How many more children will get burnt before this particular cafe owner thinks it’s not on to serve piping hot drinks to little children when every other cafe serves fluffies lukewarm or cold?

A haven for locals and international yachtsmen and women, the cafe is well run by an approachable community minded local couple fuseing kiwiana hospitality with groundbreaking cusine.
A “10 minute pitstop” at the Marina cafe will become an enchanting afternoon.
Leave yourself plenty of time to chat,meet the owner/s and taste the BEST coffee and menu I came across in Northland.