Frank's Coffee sits on The Terrace, the office-heavy street above Wellington's central waterfront and a few minutes uphill from Lambton Quay. The small cafe has a restrained fit-out, baked goods near the counter, and espresso and filter made with Frank's own roasts.
The Terrace is the central branch; the other cafe is at 5 Riddiford Street in Newtown, south of the centre. Both serve Frank's coffee, while roasting takes place separately in Upper Hutt. Choose The Terrace for a stop between the waterfront and the business district.
Coffee style
Frank's is a self-roasting specialty brand, serving espresso, single origins, filter, and cold brew. Frank's has roasted its own coffee since 2020. Honoka Kawashima used its coffee when winning the 2023 New Zealand Barista Championship and placing fourth at the 2024 world competition.
The best visit is straightforward: espresso or a filter coffee, then beans if the current roast list catches your eye. The house blend is used for milk drinks at both cafes; single origins offer another option for anyone choosing beans to take home.
What people go for
The café serves baked goods, toasties, sandwiches, pastries and doughnuts, with vegan options available.
That balance is useful on The Terrace. You can make it a quick coffee stop before meetings, a mid-morning pastry break, or a compact lunch with coffee roasted by the same team that runs the cafes.
The feel
The room is quieter and more controlled than the Te Aro crowd-pullers. It suits one or two people, office traffic, and visitors who want a calm central reset rather than a lively roastery cafe. Newtown is the alternative if you are spending the day south of the centre.
Plan Frank's as a weekday daytime stop, and avoid making it the only coffee option late in the day.
Why Frank's Coffee is shortlisted by Filter Notes
Frank’s serves its own roasted espresso and filter coffee with pastries above Lambton Quay. It is mainly a weekday daytime café.
The roasting equipment is a Rubasse near-infrared roaster, used to develop the coffees sold in both cafes. At the counter, try the house blend with milk before choosing a bag. For brewing at home, tell the staff which equipment you use so they can suggest a suitable coffee and grind.