Cafe Magazine

Best Cafe awards

• 2008 - Regional winner
• 2006 - Regional runner up
• 2004 - Regional winner
• 2003 - Regional winner

Dine Out

New Zealand's most popular review site - "On many occasions while living in thames i stopped at sola for lunch or just a coffee(their chai lattes are superb!)there food is out of this world even for people that arent vegetarians."

Waikato Times, May 2007

The flavours at Clare Rodley's Thames cafe may be international but the produce is very much regional, writes Denise Irvine.

Read the full article.

Hauraki Herald, May 2006

On arrival we found the place full and people were happily queuing at the door. A short wait and we were seated. Bright and cheerful smiles, lovely warm atmosphere, excellent food of great variety. All the staff greeted with a smile. The coffees were hot and of the highest standard. The salads crisp and beautiflly served and the cakes - decadent class - were so delicious and mouth watering.One could go on about other little services that make this cafe so inviting. Well done people. I will be back.

Marie Higgs, Picton

Couldn't agree more on all counts. It's one of the few cafes in Thames that consistantly have good coffee. And you know what thay say - lifes too short for bad coffee (not to mention bad food and service). Editor

36 hours in Coromandel - by Maggie Wicks- Dec 2005

"We get horribly lost in Pauanui and decide it'd be easier to cut back across the hills and through to Thames for a coffee. We've heard about this cafe, you see, Sola - a vegetarian place, and the only cafe open in Thames on a Sunday afternoon. The panini was made fresh, the burrito was huge and had a good salad on the side. The coffee was excellent - strong, tasty and thick. And the carrot cake? Moist and perfectly sweet, with not too much icing and far too much cream! Sublime."

Cuisine Magazine - January 2003

This is the place to fill up before the espresso-less drive north. Sola is easily the hippest place to enjoy a short but sweet vegetarin menu, some freshly squeezed juice and great coffee.

Eating Out - NZ's best Restaurants Summer 2003

This alluring Cafe is where you go for the best espresso and vegetarian fare - including wheat and gluten free offerings. Original art from local artists adorn the tamarillo and zest colours walls, and various deli goods are displayed on shelves.

Celest Broard, Thames. July 2005

Each time we visit Sola Cafe the staff are "just right", they get the balance right, being friendly, but respect you have come in for a break, they all seem passionate about the food that thay sell, they are efficient and genuinely seem to enjoy being there. The food is beautiful - fresh ingredients, presented well, good variety, and tastes devine. Decor is modern but personal and relaxed.

We appreciate that Thames is a small town but word of mouth is the best recommendation and Sola certainly has ours.