Welcome to Baobab Cafe!

Cafe Baobab takes its name from the Baobab tree — often called the Tree of Life. Across cultures, the Baobab is known for offering shelter, nourishment, and quiet strength. 

For more than twenty years, Cafe Baobab has been part of Newtown’s everyday life as a beloved breakfast cafe and coffee shop. It has been a place to meet, to rest, to talk, to think — and sometimes, simply to sit quietly with a cup of coffee. 

We believe in simple food, a thoughtfully prepared lunch menu, and the power of kindness. We believe a café like ours can be a place where people feel at home.

Gurpreet Singh, affectionately known as Guppy, is the current custodian of Cafe Baobab, a beloved breakfast cafe and coffee shop in the community. Guppy believes that a café is more than just a business — it represents a responsibility to the community it serves. Under his care, Baobab continues to be a welcoming place where warmth comes first for everyone. 

A professionally trained chef from EIT Napier, Guppy boasts over a decade of hospitality and entrepreneurial experience. This includes leading and profitably exiting a fine dining restaurant (Habitat on the Quay) and managing two Hawke’s Bay cafés (Artisan), one of which he expanded to include its own coffee bean roastery. He brings deep culinary craft, operational excellence, and startup discipline to Baobab’s next chapter, enhancing their lunch menu and coffee offerings. 

You’ll often find Guppy behind the counter, greeting customers with a smile and recalling their preferred coffee orders.

Radhika Ranga, Guppy's partner in life and the cafe, serves as the chief of Bakery at Baobab Cafe, a beloved breakfast cafe. Radhika is the heart behind Baobab’s baking. As the café’s official baker, her breads, cakes, and baked treats are made with care, patience, and a deep love for the craft. Many of Baobab’s regulars come not just for the coffee at this cozy coffee shop, but for the familiar comfort of something freshly baked from Radhika’s kitchen. Her baking brings warmth to the café in a quiet, steady way — the kind that feels like home. Radhika brings with her extensive experience in the aviation and hospitality industry. She studied in the financial capital of India - Mumbai, which is a melting pot of many cuisines catering to multiple nationalities and taste buds. Her work experience has taken her around the globe, allowing her to dive into the nuances of the local food scene. A quick learner with a keen eye for detail, she has honed many of her baking skills on the job. Moreover, being a doting mother to their two beautiful daughters has added even more feathers to her repertoire of baking and cooking skills. When Radhika is not at her baking table, you will find her behind the counter, happily chatting and taking special requests from her regular customers who are fans of her baked delicacies! Come check out what's baking and explore our delicious lunch menu!