The much celebrated River Kitchen Cafe in Hamilton was running out of room and approached us to design a new, larger space that challenged the notion of your typical kiwi “cafe”. With no food cabinet, the vision for fresh, local fare made just in time set the standard for table service and a space that could flex from breakfast through to fine dining in the evenings. A stripping back of the existing site exposed a rich heritage of brick, native flooring and preserved ceiling decoration - with these elements forming the foundation for the interior.

The strong arch of teal tiles and lighting elements draw patrons down to the showcase - the lovely Maria, who can be found crafting exquisite pastries and cakes for the sweet “jewelry boxes” that sit behind the shared table. The fit-out was lovingly made and detailed by talented craftsman from across the Waikato and NZ to bring Hamilton a cafe they deserve.