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Good food. Great coffee.

Welcome to

Sweet Vanilla

Fresh, creative cuisine made with love

A cozy, award-winning café in a historic building on Pretoria Street, serving great food, outstanding coffee and a whole lot of good in the community.

The Sweet Vanilla Kitchen shopfront on Pretoria Street: a pale yellow corner building with navy and cream striped awnings and a chalkboard reading Good Food, Great Coffee.
  • 14yrs+ in the community
  • Award winning
  • 49 Pretoria Street

Our story

Good food, made from scratch

For more than 14 years, Sweet Vanilla Kitchen has been a cosy corner of Hutt Central. Our little heritage building on Pretoria Street is home to fine teas, espresso coffee and fabulous food, with a cabinet full of cakes and a really good flat white.

Everything is made from scratch, portions are generous, and there's something for everyone, whether you're gluten free, keto, vegan or just hungry.

  • Made from scratchHomemade food and baking, every day.
  • Generous portionsNobody leaves hungry, and it's good value too.
  • Inside or outCosy tables inside, or a seat in the sun.
  • Family friendlyA kids' menu, high chairs and pancakes.
Inside the café: wooden tables, a white tiled counter, red pendant lights and the cabinet full of food.
The blue heart-shaped Sweet Vanilla Kitchen sign on the café's red brick wall.
The counter with jars of cookies, cake domes and the coffee menu board on the wall.

Award winning

A café the Hutt is proud of

  • 2016NZ Classic Kiwi CaféWinner
  • 2017 & 2018Regional Winnerand People's Choice Winner
  • 2017 & 2018NZ Best Suburban CaféNational Winner

Something for everyone

Gluten free, keto
and so much goodness

  • GFGluten free
  • KKeto
  • VGVegan
  • VVegetarian

Got an allergy? Please let us know when you order. Our cabinet is shared, so if you're coeliac, just ask and we'll help you choose.

Fresh from our kitchen

Hungry yet?

Pancakes topped with grilled banana, bacon, berries and an edible flower, with maple syrup and cream.
Pancakes with banana, bacon & maple
A halloumi burger with a fried egg, aioli, rocket and two golden hash browns.
Halloumi burger
The cabinet full of slices, cakes, quiches, sausage rolls, salads and keto options, each with a chalk label.
The cabinet, packed fresh every day
Smoked salmon with capers, pickled red onion, rocket and microgreens in a stoneware bowl.
Salmon bagel stack
Glass jars and cake domes on the counter with Belgium cookies, cupcakes and gluten free orange almond cakes.
Belgium cookies & orange almond cakes

Feeding a crowd?

Catering to you & private functions

We'd love to look after your next get-together. We can bring our food to you, or you can book the café for a private function. Give us a call and we'll talk it through.

  • Catering
  • Takeaway
  • Private functions
Call 04 566 6147
The café's corner shopfront with blue striped awnings, red outdoor chairs and signs for fine teas, espresso coffee, catering and private functions.

Kind words

What our customers say

  • Best eggs bennie south of Taita Rock (if you know, you know). They do eggs bennie better than anyone else around. They don't scrimp on the ham which is the big difference.

    Terry R.Google review · Brunch

  • Wow. The team were awesome, food was incredible and I can say that the worst part of this experience was not having a way to justify buying one of every single item in the cabinet and on the counter. Portion sizes great, prices are fair (but you get outstanding food) and the people are super friendly.

    CellieGoogle review · Brunch

  • The food is excellent, and the staff are friendly, attentive and quick to get your order out. If you're after a lively atmosphere with great food and drinks, it's a great choice.

    Thalia M.Google review · Lunch

  • I was keen for good scrambled eggs and Sweet Vanilla Kitchen did not disappoint. Meal was delicious and a generous size. I wished I was hungrier as I would have loved to try a cake, a reason to go back I guess.

    Sara B.Google review · Brunch

Five-star reviews from our customers on Google.

Come say hi

Visit us

Bookings & catering04 566 6147We get busy, so booking ahead is a good idea, especially for groups.
Opening hours
Monday to Friday
7am to 3pm
Saturday & Sunday
8am to 3pm
Get directions Call us

49 Pretoria StreetFree parking nearby

Open in Google Maps