I’ve been meaning to check out this new Kingsland cafe for quite some time, and finally got around to it today. Unfortunately, like most places on New North Road, parking is a little hit and miss, so it might pay to prepare for a bit of a walk from a nearby parking space. Anyway, turns out that Shaky Isles is a delightful little place to stop for lunch, and pretty accessible too!

We walked in and thought… no problem! I think there was a slight incline but nothing your average wheelchair can’t handle. Impressed by the roominess, too, for what seems to be a rather small establishment.

We ordered… Pikelets with raspberry jam and mascarpone, which is supposed to be pronounced fancily, I think, and my partner in crime ordered “Good stuff in a bun”, which was a dazzling array of pesto, mushrooms, and other vegetarian delights. Both were a roaring success, and the coffee was great too. See the picture on the right.

The ‘accessible’ bathroom… Got a solid ‘functional’ tick in my book, nothing too fancy, but easily manageable. The door was one of those pull-toward-you-on-a-hinge ones, which I find particularly difficult, and would take a sliding door any day. But other than that, because it’s a relatively new place it was in great condition and built to proper specification.

THE LOWDOWN:

• Easily accessible entrance, the place is small but not cramped
• Outdoor seating if you want
• Really friendly staff, I immediately felt like I was a ‘regular’
• Accessible counter – at a nice height for my wheelchair
• Good accessible bathroom, although the door’s a bit tricky and the hand-dryer is quite high on the wall
• Overall accessibility rating: 4 / 5

Website: shakyisles.co.nz
Phone: (09) 815 – 3591