Aro Cafe & Aro Coffee

Aro Café is noted as one of the best cafes Wellington has to offer. Just a few minutes drive from the city, we’re a bustling oasis of great food and our own house-roasted coffee, Aro Coffee. We are located in one of the city’s most colourful neighbourhoods, historical Aro Valley.

Nestled at 90 Aro St, Aro Café is open for business 7 days a week, and 4 nights for dinner, almost all year round. At Aro Café, we are renowned for both Aro Coffee as well as being a favourite brunch destination. Our menu has an interesting selection of seasonal brunch and lunch offerings, daily salads and takeaway pies and sandwiches. In the evenings from Wednesday to Saturday we are open for dinner with an Italian flair. Whilst we are not Italian, we love sharing our passion for Italian flavours both on the table and in the glass. We have a small, well-rounded wine menu including Italian wines and aperitifs along with craft beers that will tickle your taste buds.

At Aro Café, our philosophy is to serve seasonal, fresh, simple food sourced locally when possible. We use organic milk products and free range poultry. Almost everything is made from scratch and with care. This philosophy is also reflected in our coffee that is hand blended and roasted on site. The blend’s growing reputation draws coffee connoisseurs from far and wide so be quick as table space on the weekend fills up fast!

Menus

Weekend

Fresh, Simple & Light

Toast w homemade spreads	(v) 6
Saffron apricots, yoghurt, honey & pistachios	(gf,v) 14
Cranberry & brazil muesli w poached pears & Zany yoghurt	(v) 14
Bruschetta w avocado, smoked salmon & lemon	16
Bruschetta w 3 mixed mushrooms, chilli, garlic & parsley	(v) 16
Eggs;
Poached w Toast	(v) 12
(Scrambled w herbs, Sage fried eggs ) w Toast	(v) 13
Add:
Roasted field mushrooms w thyme, hot buttery spinach, braised lentils, Bacon, Island Bay black pudding, Island Bay Pork & fennel sausage	5 each
Smoked salmon, avocado	6 each

Chilli scrambled eggs, bacon & rocket	(gf) 18
Poached eggs, braised lentils, buttery spinach & grilled ciabatta	(v) 20
Green frittata w leek, rocket, fresh herbs & parmesan	(gf) 19
Buttermilk hotcakes w poached tamarillos, mascarpone & maple	(v) 21
House smoked fish hash w poached egg, fresh herbs & lemon	(gf) 22
Chickpea, kale & parmesan soup w baguette	17
Panfried halloumi w grilled asparagus & lemon	(v) 21
Spaghetti w mussels, tomato, chilli & italian parsley	21
Asparagus, ricotta & basil penne w black pepper	(v) 20
Pork & beef meatballs w mustard cream sauce & baguette	20
Pan-fried fish in saffron broth w clams, peas & baguette	(gf option) 22
Slow roasted pork tonnato w raw mushroom, celery, egg & cress	(gf) 22
Butterhead & mixed leaf salad	(v/gf) 6.5

Vegetarian (v) Gluten Free (gf) Paleo/Gluten Free Toast $1
We use Zany Zeus Organic Milk, Yoghurt, Feta & Halloumi.
Free Range Chickens & Eggs in Our Cooking

Drinks

Bar Snacks
Mixed olives	9
Spiced nuts	8
Pan fried scallops w sage, capers & lemon	18
Polenta Fries w aioli	11
Grilled prawns w chilli, fennel & grapefruit	17
To Start
Aperol Spritz	14
Cynar & Prosecco	14
Lillet	9
Punt é Mes & Soda	11
Americano	12
Aro Bellini	14
Beer
Peroni	8
Panhead APA Supercharger	9.5
Panhead Pale Ale Quickcharger XPA	9.5
Emersons Pilsner 500ml	14
Parrot Dog Dead Canary Pale Ale	9.5
Amstel Light	7
Selection of Garage Project	9
Moa Cider	8
Sparkling
Prosecco Ca Bolani DOC	9/36
Lanvin NV Champagne	80
Paltinieri Lambrusco Piria di Sorbara DOC	40
Vino Bianco
Girofle Negroamaro Rosé 2017	10/40
Erste + Neue Alto Adige Gewürztraminer DOC 2016	11.50/46
Whitehaven Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017	9.50/38
Babich Marlborough Gruner Veltliner 2016 – certified organic	9/36
Johner Gladstone Reisling 2016	10/40
Maude Central Otago Pinot Gris 2018	9/36
Gigante Pinot Grigio DOC Friuli Colli Orientali 2016	60
Cusora, Sicilia, Chardonnay 2017	10/40
Vino Rosso
Castelforte Valpolicella Superiore  DOC 2015	9/36
Velenosi Piceno Marche Montepulciano DOC 2017	10/40
Maude Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017	56
Julicher 99 Rows Pinot Noir 2015	11/44
Argiolas Iselis Monica di Sardegna  Superiore DOC 2015	55
Leone di Castris Salento Puglia Negroamaro IGT 2016	9.5/38
Terre di Giumara Nero d’Avola  2016	11/44
Yalumba Paradox Shiraz Northen Barossa Australia 2015	63
Agricola Punica Montessu Isola dei Nuraghi 2014	50
Dolce Vino
Moscato Dindarello	8
Urlar Noble Riesling Gladstone 2016	13
To Finish
Amaro Montenegro	9
Frangelico	9
Limoncello	9
Amaretto	9
Luigi Francoli Nebbiolo Grappa	9

A 15% Surcharge Applies on Public Holiday

Dinner

We close at 10 pm.

Small plates, to start, share, and sides
Grilled ciabatta, olive oil & balsamic	(v) 5
Mixed marinated olives	(V, VG, GF) 8
Bruschetta, chargrilled zucchini, ricotta, pine nuts, mint	(V, VG available) 16
Bruschetta, smoked fish, cream cheese, capers, fennel	(GF available) 17
Zucchini fritters, lemon, parsley, parmesan	(V) 12
Baked lamb ribs, tahini, pomegranate, pea shoots	(GF) 17
Char-grilled squid, creamed walnut and potato w rocket	16
Grilled tiger prawns, garlic butter, bread	17
Chucked corn, pecorino, mint	(GF, V, Ve available) 9
Rosemary roast potatoes w garlic	(GF, V, Ve) 9
Chargrilled broccolini with sea salt	(V VG, GF) 9
Leafy green salad	(V, VG, GF) 6
Main Dishes
Penne pasta alla norma	(VG) 23
Duck ragu, olives, rosemary, red wine, hand cut tagliatelle	28
Roast chicken, romesco, flaked almonds, chervil	27
Prawn spaghetti, w chilli, white wine, parsley, cherry tomatoes, lemon	27
Fish of the day, fennel puree, roast cherry tomato, prawn oil, basil	26
Spinach and ricotta tortellini, w leek, olives, tomato sauce	23
Mushroom risotto with wild rocket	(VG available) 25
Grilled sirloin steak, mustard butter, roast potato, rocket salad	32
Desserts
Aro affogato	7
Aro affogato with Amaretto	12
Panacotta with berries	9
Tiramisù	9
Chocolate Nemesis	9
Orange and Almond Cake	(GF, DF) 9

GF - Gluten free, V - Vegetarian, VG - Vegan, DF - Dairy free

Summer Brunch

Fresh, Simple & Light Brunch

Dishes
Bloody Mary or Aro Bellini	14
Toast with homemade spreads	v (vg gf) 6
Cranberry & brazil muesli with poached pears & zany yoghurt	v (vg) 14
Bruschetta with smoked fish, cream cheese, fennel, capers, fresh herbs	(gf) 18
Bruschetta with mixed mushrooms, chilli, garlic & parsley	v (vg gf) 16
Eggs
Poached with toast	v (gf) 12
Scrambled with herbs & toast	v (gf) 13
Sage fried with toast Add: * Roasted field mushrooms w thyme, garlic & chilli spinach, braised lentils or homemade baked beans ** Bacon, Island Bay black pudding, Island Bay pork & fennel sausage, smoked salmon, avocado	v (gf) 13 * 5 each ** 6 each
Dishes
Vegan brunch with potato, spinach, baked beans, sausage, mushrooms	20
Chilli scrambled eggs, bacon & rocket	(gf) 18
Poached eggs, braised lentils, spinach & grilled ciabatta	v (gf) 20
Zucchini & feta frittata	v gf 19
Buttermilk hotcakes w seasonal fruit, mascarpone & maple	v 19
French toast, vanilla marscapone, fruit & maple	v 18
House smoked fish hash w poached egg, fresh herbs & lemon	gf 22
Panfried halloumi with cauliflower, currants, lemon & fresh herb salad	v (gf) 19
Vegan chickpea burger, beetroot relish, avocado, tomato, chef potatoes	20
Pork & beef meatballs with spaghetti pomodoro	22
Pan-fried fish with cherry tomatoes, cannellini beans, capers, rocket	gf 23
Sirloin steak salad with wild rocket, parmesan & anchovy dressing	gf 23
Butterhead & mixed leaf salad	v vg gf 6.5