A local Wairoa café is receiving national attention.

From its quirky mosaic-and-cutlery entrance to its outdoor seating overlooking the river, Eastend Café and Bar continues to cement its spot on the country’s café trail.

Donna Priestley bought the popular character café just over a year ago, trading in her Eazy Eats mobile food van for the main street eatery.

Donna never set out to be a cafe owner but is proud of what she and her team have achieved. The iconic café was originally established by Ang Whitworth nearly 20 years ago, with Donna maintaining the café’s successful foundations.

An area she has expanded is desserts, with a range of cakes and slices that picked up the Restaurant Guru 2026 award for best desserts in Wairoa. Donna attributes the win to baker extraordinaire Eshay Matthews, who fills the cabinet on a Monday only to have it emptied out by appreciative customers the next day.

Donna has mixed up the counter selection and menu to add her own touches, including new go-to options and regularly changing the cabinet fare. “It’s important to keep our clientele interested by having the popular staples like chicken slaw and sausage rolls, but also changing the salads and pies regularly so there’s always something different. Eggs bene and beef burgers are go tos, and of course, the Havana coffee is non-stop.”

Donna is proud that as much of the menu as possible is homemade. We start the day with homemade granola, and it just grows from there. Our focus is on good-tasting, fresh food made from scratch when we can.

Being in business has been a huge learning curve. Donna says she literally went from selling takeaway savoury pancakes and Cuban sandwiches from a gazebo to expanding into a mobile business and then buying a café. “The transition has been enormous, and there has been a lot of learning and growing.” The self-confessed foodie says buying the café has been a great opportunity, and she is pleased to have been able to retain such an iconic part of Wairoa’s community.

Donna says the café is a go-to for locals and visitors – many of whom go out of their way for the Eastend experience. “We get so much great feedback about the funky and iconic décor, casual vibe, and people love the rustic feel, overlooking the river. We aim to make the Eastend experience as good as we can for all our clients by ensuring our food and service are at the highest level possible.

External catering is another element of the business, with finger food platters a popular go-to option.

Donna says that because she is supported by such a great team, she is now able to open 7 days a week, from Monday to Saturday, 8am -2.30pm, and on Sundays, 9.30-2.30pm.

As Donna reflects on her first year in business, she extends her thanks to all those who have helped make her journey a success, from her family and staff through to landlord Geoff Hole and, of course, her customers.

Address: 250 Marine Parade, Wairoa
Phone: 027 614 3328
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 8am -2.30pm Sundays, 9.30-2.30pm.

29 May 2026

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