Smith & Co Café
A historic café at the Buried Village of Te Wairoa, serving freshly baked scones, loose-leaf tea and handmade Kiwi favourites in a relaxed setting.
Smith & Co Café offers comforting food, warm hospitality and a fascinating connection to the history of Te Wairoa. Located at Rotorua’s Buried Village archaeological site, the café continues a tradition of local tea service that began in the early 1900s.
After the original tearooms were lost to fire, Violet and Reginald Smith rebuilt them. The café reopened in 1931 and continues to operate from the same historic building today. Generations of visitors have returned for afternoon tea, including descendants of the tearooms’ earliest patrons.
The menu keeps things simple and satisfying. Freshly baked scones are served with jam and cream, ideally accompanied by a pot of loose-leaf English Breakfast tea. The cabinet also features familiar favourites such as handmade mince and cheese and bacon and egg pies, baked in the café’s kitchen.
Surrounded by nature and rich local history, Smith & Co Café is a welcoming place to pause, enjoy afternoon tea and connect with the story of Te Wairoa.