Harlau House Cafe (formerly The Stables)

We had a baby shower event at Harlau House and everyone had the best experience there! The food was to die for, absolutely delicious, well presented and classy! The decor was stunning in general, well designed and thought out atmosphere! The fire was warm and cosy, even had a cake stand for the cake! They have a side door to the second dining area which makes set up of events a breeze! Plenty of parking too. They even have a playground for our small guests and a high chair available. The staff were so amazing, helpful, accommodating and the service was absolutely excellent! We are just so happy we chose Harlau House to host us! We will certainly be back for many events and eating out in general! Harlau House, we can’t thank you enough!

What a stunning setting! Even before I reached the restaurant itself, I was captivated. As my photos show, it has a serene rural feel with beautifully gardens, surprisingly close to town. A true gem! This restaurant is expansive, featuring diverse indoor and outdoor spaces. Separate large indoor areas and dedicated garden spaces suggest its suitability as a wedding venue, which is indeed the case. The decor throughout is exquisite. Six of us dined here, and each of us thoroughly enjoyed our meals. I followed a friend's recommendation and ordered the vegetable stack, which was beautifully presented and delicious. One of our party had fish and chips, and they praised the light, fluffy batter that wasn't greasy at all. Others savored the Creamy Cranberry and Chicken filo. We visited on a Friday lunchtime, so the restaurant wasn't overly crowded, but I can easily imagine it being a popular and bustling spot on weekends. Adjacent to the restaurant is a charming home and interior store, showcasing tasteful decor items. I would absolutely return to this restaurant if I were ever in Timaru again.

Quiet on the day we visited, had a couple of shared plates between my wife and I and both were lovely.

Honestly, this is a destination visit! I have been there three times and keep getting blown away by how good the food is, quite simply: delicious. The people are always only too happy to help and so friendly. It has a cool playground for the kids, two Avery’s AND a really good fabric and furniture store right there as well. I cannot rate this highly enough, definitely book your table as it fills up. Looking forward to the next time I can go!

Very friendly and helpful staff. Lots for the kids to do. Good value for food. The only thing I wish is more vege option for the kids, like carrots, cucumbers, or some apples on the side.

Good atmosphere, friendly staff. Wide, open seating. Food can be expensive ($24-$30) and not my first choice personally, but still great food for a cafe. Kept clean and tidy. Nice garden area.