Easter means a long weekend – YAY! Hopefully you’ve got plans with extended family or friends – or both – and that it includes time in Rotorua.
If you need to grab a special treat to bring to Mum’s Easter dinner, or want to level up your Easter décor game, there are a number of cafés, bakeries and a couple gorgeous shops pulling out all the stops to bring you an amazing array of sweets and treats.
Go ahead, put all your (chocolate) eggs in one basket here
Dangerous Chocolate
If you haven’t been to this little shop in the suburb of Springfield, you’re seriously missing out. The fact that chocolatier Sabine’s customers from Auckland, where her shop first opened, travel down here to get their fix says a lot about the quality and divine flavours she creates.
Using only fresh ingredients and Callebaut Couverture from Belgium, Sabine hand makes her choccy truffles in small batches, so it pays to get in early. She also hand paints specialty items like rabbits, eggs, chooks and a few giant (read: fillable!) Easter bunnies. Custom orders can be placed, as well.
Because Sabine uses no artificial flavours or preservatives, she suggests her eggs-cellent treats be consumed within four weeks of purchase. Is that even a problem??
Leave the baking to the professionals
Guidough’s
While you’re in the neighbourhood, why not hop over to Guidough’s just down the street a bit and around the corner to stock up on freshly baked-from-scratch hot cross buns. Swiss baker Guido and his team create artisan goods the way they’ve been made in his family for generations. Sourdough breads, donuts, cinnamon rolls, pastries, and pies are all made each day in small batches.
It wasn’t long after Guido opened his first bakery, that demand required a second and bigger bakehouse which you’ll find on Ranolf Street. Same eggs-cellent goods, same friendly service.
Guidough’s will be open Monday through Friday leading up to the Easter weekend, and will have a stall at the Thursday Night Market in the city centre. `
Easter dining and shopping
Capers Café + Store
Not keen to do up a roast this year? Not a problem! Just head to Capers Café + Store for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner (or all four!). This award-winning eatery makes it easy for you and is open right through Easter from 7am till 7pm. Breakfast, brunch and lunch are available until 2pm; the afternoon and evening menu, with new additions including light meals and sharing plates, are available 1pm till closing.
Their sweet cabinets include Easter treats that are perfect to enjoy with your favourite cup of Organico Coffee or a cuppa tea from New Zealand Tea House, Noble & Sunday, or Libertine Blends. The team at Capers also offer happy hour daily from 4 to 6pm on beer, wine and Duo Distilleries’ artisan gin made in Rotorua.
While you’re there, check out the Store, especially if you need a gift or two for the kiddos’ Easter baskets, or for Mum and Dad. No Easter egg hunt here as you’ll find everything you could desire in plain sight from Bennetts of Mangawhai and Potter Brothers chocolates, delicious organic hot cross buns from Flaveur Breads and Pandoro, and an incredible range of New Zealand artisan products for foodies, including Apostle Hot Sauce, and Pepper & Me. And don’t forget the beautiful homewares, perfect for gifting friends or family, or simply for yourself.
Treats for your nest or special somebunny special
Besides Christmas, Easter is a wonderful holiday for decking out the house in themed adornments and embellishments. So, if you’ve suddenly realised your nest is looking a bit soulless, here are two shops that’ll ruffle your feathers in a good way.Grace & Glory
In the centre of town you’ll find Grace & Glory. It’s not a large shop, but boy does she pack a beautiful punch! An excellent go-to for all things gift, décor and holiday-related.
This season you’ll find florals motifs across nearly everything, plus dapper rabbit statues, gilded crosses, and more. Gift-wise, there’s gear for gardeners and plant lovers, handmade bespoke jewellery, things rustic and vintage inspired, and inspired supplies for the consummate DYI’er in your life such as chalk paints, stamps, moulds, transfers and hardware, and so much more.
Curiosity Blooms
We’ve sung their praises before, but they’re worth another verse. Curiosity Blooms (above and at top) in homey little Ngongotahā village is everything you want in a shop: gorgeous, tasteful interior design and décor items from cushions to wall art; holiday-themed tchotchkes; beautiful jewellery and accessories; and more. Plus, they should be your first stop for lush houseplants that are healthy and so reasonably priced.
To top that off, every holiday brings a huge and delightful selection of themed décor, with Easter being no eggs-ception. Cute bunnies, fluffy bunnies, statuesque bunnies and so much more. Whether you need gifts or a dining table centrepiece, this is your shop.
If you need to refuel after your shopping spree, just dart across the street to the delicious and ever-popular Café Dynasti.
