Monday–Sunday
9am–5pm
An oasis in the heart of the botanic gardens. Ilex Café consists of multiple indoor and outdoor entertaining areas. Inside, floor to ceiling windows fill the room with light and views that overlook vast lawns and the luscious palm-filled nursery. Outdoor guests are treated to an extensive outdoor area surrounded by nature, with bar and food stations setting the scene for a lively day in the gardens.
Ilex Food
Living by the mantra: “From garden to plate” Ilex food and beverages are a continued appreciation of the land, with produce grown and sourced locally. Culinary creative Jonny Schwass creates menus that reflect the garden landscape, ever- changing with the seasons for all hours of the day.
Events
Wanting to use the Ilex Café or function room for your next conference, wedding or corporate event? In the evenings this space is brought to life, transforming into multiple indoor and outdoor entertaining areas.
Menu
Ilex Counter
Daily cookie
V
$5.00
Bliss ball
GF/DF
$5.00
Chocolate truffle
GF
$5.00
Sweet muffin
V
$6.00
Triple chocolate brownie
V
$6.00
Cheddar Cheese Scone Heated w Butter
V
$4.00
Date Scone Heated w Butter and Boysenberry Jam
V
$7.00
Seasonal Friand
GF
$6.00
Morena Brioche Bun
V
$8.00
Loaded Brioche Donuts
V
$8.00
Yorkshire Muffin w Cheddar
V/GF
$9.00
Carrot Cake
V
$9.00
Coconut Bounty Bar
GF/DF
$9.00
Croissant w Almond and Marmalade
V
$10.00
Sandwiches (grilled with chips or salad add $6.00)
Ilex BLT w Bacon, Crisp Lettuce, Tomatoes and Aioli in a Soft Bap
$14.00
Vegan Falafel Wrap w Rainbow Slaw, Roasted Red Peppers,
Hummus and Seasonal Greens
V/VG/GF
$16.00
Ham and Cheese w Peter Timbs Ham, Edam Cheese, Wholegrain
Mustard on Midnight Rye
$16.00
Breakfast Roll w Bacon, Fried Egg, Cheese, Onion Jam
and Sriracha Mayonnaise
$16.00
Toasted Ruben w Pastrami, Sauerkraut, Edam Cheese, Pickles and Wholegrain Mustard
$16.00
Akaroa Salmon w Pickled Red Onion, Capers, Cornichon
and Cream Cheese on Toasted Sourdough
$16.00
From the Kitchen
Brunch
Ilex Big Breakfast w Streaky Bacon, Butchers Sausage, Pastrami Hash, Spinach, Poached Eggs and Wholegrain Mustard Hollandaise
$32.00
Poached Eggs Benedict w Toasted English Muffin, Wholegrain Mustard Hollandaise and Bacon
$27.00
Poached Eggs Florentine w Toasted English Muffin, Wholegrain Mustard Hollandaise and Buttered Spinach
V
$27.00
Poached Eggs Royale, Toasted English Muffin, Wholegrain Mustard Hollandaise & Hot Smoked Salmon
$27.00
Breakfast Waffles w White Chocolate Mascarpone,
Doris Plum Ice Cream and Oat Crumble
V
$27.00
Smoked Mushrooms w Poached Lamond Farm Eggs,
Crème Fraiche, Lemon, Herbs and Parmesan on Rye
V
$27.00
Avocado and Feta on Pumpernickel w Poached Lamond Farm Eggs, Lemon, Herbs, Almonds and Kale
V
$26.00
Coconut Chia w Seasonal Fruit, Toasted Seeds and Nuts
V/VG/GF/DF
$14.00
Lunch
Fish and Chips w Panko Crumbed Market Fish, Hand Cut Fries, Tartar Sauce and Bistro Salad
DF
$32.00
Caesar Salad w Free Range Chicken, Bacon, Poached Egg, Croutons and Grana Padano (with or without Anchovies)
$32.00
Double Beef Cheeseburger w Double Beef Pattie, Double Cheese, Burger Sauce, Pickles, Fries and Aioli
$30.00
Slow Roast Canterbury Lamb Shoulder w Crushed Peas, Black Olives, Mint Gremolata, Feta and Artichoke
GF
$36.00
Beef and Cheddar Pie w Slow Cooked Waitaha Beef, Peninsula Cheddar, Crushed Peas, Botanic Relish and Bistro
$24.00
Organic Vegetable Frittata Free Range Eggs, Spinach and Feta w Pickled Red Onion and Botanic Relish
V/GF
$16.00
Shoestring Fries w Tomato Sauce and Aioli
V/DF
$12.00
Kids
Kids Lunch pack-Ham and cheese sandwich, carrot sticks, raisins, mandarin and a cookie
$12.50
Roma Burger-beef, cheese, special sauce, fries and tomato sauce
$12.50
Kids Waffles w Raspberry, White Chocolate and Vanilla Ice Cream
V
$12.50
Kids fries
V/DF
$7.00
Juices
Fresh OJ, Apple Juice and Non Alcoholic Punch
$6.00
Almighty Organic Orange, Apple and Mango
$6.00
Karma Raspberry and blackcurrant
$6.00
Almighty Organic Apple juice
$6.00
Almighty Organic Carrot, Orange and Tumeric
$6.00
Almighty Yuzu, Lime and Lemon Sparkling Water
$6.00
Karma Cola, Karma Sugar Free Cola
$6.00
Lemmy Lemonade, Karma Gingerella
$6.00
Lemon and Ginger Kombucha
$6.00
Good Sh*t Ginger Probiotic Soda
$6.00
No Ugly Detox
$7.00
No Ugly Wellness
$7.00
Chia Sisters Fruit Smoothies
$8.00
Bottled
$5.00
Sparkling Water
$6.00
Handmade
Iced coffee with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream
$10.00
Iced chocolate with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and a flake
$10.00
Coffee by Supreme Coffee
Flat white, Latte, Cappuccino or Mochaccino
$5.50 $6.50
Short Black, Long Black or Americano
$5.00
Short or Long Macchiato
$5.00
Hot Chocolate
$6.50
Chai Latte
$6.50 $7.50
Alternate milks oat, soy, coconut and almond(please add)
$1.00
Syrups Vanilla, hazelnut, caramel(please add)
$0.80
Tea by Noble and Sunday
English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Strawberry Plum, Peppermint Breeze, Imperial Sencha green
Tea for one
$6.00
Tea for two
$9.00
Beer
Heineken
$10.00
Tiger Crystal Ultra low Card
$10.00
Cassels Brewing Co Hazy Pale Ale
$12.00
Cassels Brewing Co Necatron Ipa
$12.00
Cassels Brewing Co Light Owl 2.5%
$12.00
State of Play 0% Ipa
$10.00
Zeffer Apple Cider
$12.00
Wine
House White, Red, Rosé
$10.00 Glass/$45.00 Bottle
Makers Anonymous Prosecco
$11.00 Glass/$55.00 Bottle
Mumm Marlborough
$75.00
Mumm France
$120.00
Main Divide Sauvignon blanc
$12.00 Glass/$55.00 Bottle
Main Divide Riesling
$10.00$12.00 Glass/$55.00 Bottle Glass/$45.00 Bottle
Main Divide Rose
$12.00 Glass/$55.00 Bottle
Main Divide Pinot Noir
$13.00 Glass/$60.00 Bottle
Cocktails
Ilex Lux G&T w Malfy Rose Gin, Sours and Fever Tree TonicLighthouse gin, fancy tonic & a slice of lemon
$15.00
Aperol Spritz w Prosecco, Aperol, Orange and Soda
$15.00
Makers Mimosa w Prosecco and Fresh OJ
$50.00
Fancy RTDs
Cucumber, yuzu and denzin gin
$12.00
Blood orange, ginger and denzin gin
$12.00