I can’t imagine it would be easy to fill the figurative shoes of a cafe that had worked to establish itself for 20 years previously, but that’s exactly what Emma Lyell and Tane Williams did when they opened Auckland, New Zealand’s Bestie Cafe two and a half years ago. With a certain sensitivity to the […]

I can’t imagine it would be easy to fill the figurative shoes of a cafe that had worked to establish itself for 20 years previously, but that’s exactly what Emma Lyell and Tane Williams did when they opened Auckland, New Zealand’s Bestie Cafe two and a half years ago. With a certain sensitivity to the 100+ year-old building, they wanted to create an inviting and cozy aesthetic while still being highly functional in the large space they had to work with. “This space is one that I had dreamed of having one day,” Emma begins, “but never ever thought it would actually happen! It’s got one of the most incredible views in the city, as well as being in the most amazingly designed arcade from the 1920s (it has been a cafe or tea room the whole time). When we heard from friends that the space was up for grabs, Tane drew up a little pitch about why we would love the cafe and what we planned to do there — and to our surprise and delight we got the lease. The neighborhood is one of the most diverse and creative spots in the city and somewhere we already had worked in and loved. So it was a perfect fit.” Tane...