HILL & FARM HOUSE CAFE NEWSLETTER | EDITION 004
FEBRUARY 2026
February at the cafes — love, laughter, and a little chaos
Peter - Owner
Peter reflects on a joyful start to the year, from a memorable trip to Samoa and the everyday moments that make café life so special, to celebrating Pride and creating welcoming spaces for everyone. Filled with humour, gratitude, and stories from behind the counter, this edition celebrates community, connection, and the belief that love—and good food—bring people together.
Kia ora, friends and family,
Before February properly gets underway, I have to say how special January was. We were lucky enough to spend five beautiful days in Samoa visiting Leilana’s home, together with my awesome sister Tanja and her husband Frene. It was one of those trips that resets you — sunshine, laughter, incredible hospitality, and time with people you love. The photo above captures just a little bit of that joy.
February already — and what a chaotic, beautiful start to the year it’s been.
There’s something really special about this time of year in the cafés. We see so many first-time visitors discovering Hill House and Farm House, often after hearing about us from friends or family. At the same time, we’re constantly reminded how lucky we are to still be welcoming so many regulars who have been with us since the very beginning — people who watched this dream grow from a small idea into two community spaces filled with life.
Running cafés means you also get some unforgettable moments. One of my favourites recently was a guest telling me how disappointed she was with our Greek salad — because it didn’t have croutons and cos lettuce. I couldn’t help but laugh and say my Greek relatives would be absolutely shocked to hear that version of a “Greek salad”! Moments like that remind us that food is deeply personal — and sometimes wonderfully misunderstood.
Another recent moment had the whole team confused was when someone asked if we were “frog-friendly.” We all looked at each other wondering whether we needed to start planning amphibian accommodations. Turns out predictive text had struck again — they meant dog-friendly (which we very proudly are).
What matters most to us has always been community. From the beginning, Hill House Café was created to be a safe, welcoming space for everyone — regardless of background, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation. That idea remains at the heart of everything we do.
We were incredibly proud to support Pride Month this February, including a sold-out Pride event at Farm House Café this past Saturday. And the celebrations continue — we have another gorgeous Pride “Bottoms Up” Bottomless Brunch coming up this Saturday at Hill House Café, and we’ve just released the last tickets for it (more below).
In times that can sometimes feel divided or uncertain, creating places where people feel accepted, seen, and comfortable matters more than ever. If you watched the Super Bowl the other day, you might have heard Bad Bunny say something that really stuck with me — “love is more powerful than hate.”
Speaking of love, Valentine’s weekend is just around the corner, and we’re excited to host so many celebrations across both cafés. We’ve put together some really fun offerings for the weekend (more below), and we can’t wait to see people connecting, celebrating, and making memories together.
Thank you, as always, for being part of this journey with us — whether it’s your first visit or your hundredth.
With gratitude,
Peter
VALENTINE'S DAY OFFERING
VALENTINE’S WEEKEND IS LOOKING EXTRA SPECIAL THIS YEAR.
From Friday to Sunday, we’ll be offering these Valentine’s specials at both Hill House Café and Farm House Cafe:
The Lovebird Brunch Bundle
Pimp My Scone + any waffle + two glasses of
Piper-Heidsieck Champagne
$99.90 for two
And then there’s the DESSERT OF ALL DESSERTS!
“The Love Actually Sundae” (for two)
An incredible creation from our Executive Chef Marc. It includes six scoops of house-made gelato, our iconic sin-in-a-bun, brownie, and so much more. We’re still finalising pricing, but it’s looking like we might accidentally lose money on this one… haha. Worth it.
If you’re planning something sweet this weekend, this might be it.
SUMMER SPRITZ CONTINUES
FEBRUARY: SUMMER SPRITZ CONTINUED!
Summer Spritz Month was SUCH a hit in December and January that… it never really ended.
Here’s what’s pouring right now:
🍊 Aperol Spritz — bitter, bright, a slice of Italian holiday bliss
🍃 Hugo Spritz — elderflower, mint, refreshingly light
🍋 Limoncello Spritz — zesty, vibrant, pure sunshine
🥭 Passionfruit & Vanilla Spritz — tropical, elegant, lightly sweet (also available as a mocktail!)
🍓 Strawberry Spritz — iconic, juicy, bubbly sweetness (also available as a mocktail!)
At this point, it’s safe to say spritz season might just be year-round.
SIN IN A BUN
FEBRUARY FLAVOURS
If you’ve been in recently, you may have noticed something happening in the cabinet… The Sin in a Bun family is expanding, and honestly, we’re not mad about it.
It started with the OG — the bun that quietly became one of Hill House Café’s most iconic creations. Then came Biscoff, which we probably should have seen coming because… Biscoff. After that, things escalated quickly.
Across both cafés, we’re now rotating and playing with flavours, giving each location its own personality (because let’s be honest — Hill House and Farm House are siblings, not twins). The OG and Biscoff are available at both locations, because removing them would probably cause a small public uprising.
At Hill House Cafe, you’ll find slightly unhinged cabinet favourites like Oreo Cookie Monster and Raffaello. These are rich, nostalgic, and unapologetically indulgent.
At Farm House Cafe, things lean a little more seasonal and farm-inspired. Enter Pistachio Pal, dripping in pistachio cream cheese, and Lemon Curd Cowboy, topped with our house-made farm lemon curd.
VALENTINE'S HIGH TEA AT FARM
MOTHER'S DAY
Mother’s Day High Tea is returning to both Hill House Café and Farm House Café this year — one of our favourite celebrations on the calendar.
Bookings will be opening in early March, and we’ll be announcing all the details on our social media channels & website, so keep an eye out to secure your spot early — these always fill quickly.
MEET THE TEAM
Some people join a team. Some people become part of the DNA. Ana is the latter.
Our longest-standing Front of House superstar, Ana has been with us since August 2023, right back in the Nathan Homestead days — when we were one little (very cute) café with big dreams, tight walls, and absolutely no idea how much we were about to grow.
An actual OG.
From day one, Ana brought a smile, warmth, and a kindness that radiates the minute she walks into a room. She has this beautiful, calming presence — the kind that makes customers feel welcome, staff feel supported, and busy days feel manageable.
And while she has grown so much over the years — in confidence, leadership, and as an all-round incredible human — she’s also growing in another very exciting way…
Ana is expecting a baby girl, and we could not be more excited to welcome our second Hill House Group baby. If there’s anyone destined to be an incredible mum, it’s Ana.
Family has always been everything to her — they even commit to a full family photoshoot every single year (energy we absolutely love 👏). That love and loyalty run deep, and now she’s creating a little family of her own.
A few fun facts about our Ana:
• She loves trying new things… but veggies? NO THANX!
• HOWEVER — she recently discovered Laab from Secret Thai Garden and apparently… it SLAPS.
• She is known to enjoy a good time — sometimes so enthusiastically she might stop, drop and roll into the corner of a table. Oh Ana… never change.
• Some of the team (especially those who remember the dynamic duo days with Julius — now Farm House Café Manager) affectionately refer to them as “The Hyenas.” When those two get together, the shade-throwing and cackling laughter sounds like a deleted scene from The Lion King.
It’s loud. It’s Hillllll-ariousssss. It’s absolutely iconic.
At her core, Ana is pure heart. Caring. Loyal. Steady. A joy to work alongside. She has been part of our journey from one café to two, from small team to thriving group, and we are so incredibly grateful she chose to grow with us.
Ana, you are an absolute treasure — and we love you so much
MEET ANA - Cafe All Rounder, Till Person & Host Extrodinaire