Talisman - Karangahake

I absolutely loved this place! The food, the gardens, and the people are all amazing. The displayed photos and historical artifacts are fascinating. Plus, they serve fantastic coffee. They also make incredible celebration cakes!

I absolutely adore your pizza; I think it’s the best in the world! Your milkshakes are also far superior to mine. The garden is beautiful and very charming—my grandma thought it was lovely too; she truly enjoyed your garden.

I will definitely return and have already begun recommending it to others. Thank you, Leanne, for enforcing the no-dog policy; I genuinely appreciate it. I'm not much of a dog person, and I'm often frustrated by the prevalence of dogs in public spaces—beaches, parks, people's homes, and streets are all filled with them, often leaving behind messes. While I know some dogs are well-behaved and some owners are responsible, many are not. I’m tired of being barked at, sniffed, and bothered by dogs, and it’s not pleasant to see some owners treating them like equals by allowing them on couches and dining tables. It seems that some dog lovers don't consider that others may not share their affection for dogs. So, I truly appreciate your willingness to think differently and make my visit to your café a delightful one. Cheers, Leanne! I look forward to coming back to Talisman Café.

Wow what a cafe, you could not ask for a better place to take your family, with a good range from kids menu -gluten free, everything was home made YUM YUM. Great outdoor setting in the garden. The food was excellent. It had a great atmosphere and wonderfull service. Definitely recommend this cafe to anyone heading to the historic karangahake gorge for a walk

Always enjoy time spent at the Talisman with friends. Lovely setting, good food, good coffee and friendly staff. Jude