This is one of my favourite cafes in Auckland! They have a gorgeous little courtyard you can sit…read morein, and quite a bit of space inside. If you choose to sit outside (and I really prefer it), they have fleece blankets to ward off the cold. So cute! There is free wifi, the coffees are really good, and they have a $6 coffee & slice deal. I just tried their waffles for the first time this weekend, and they were so, so good. But very large, so I'd suggest sharing! The waitresses are always lovely and friendly, and they're always playing piano versions of anime songs, which is an adorable quirk. Few things make me happier than good coffee, sweet treats and listening to the My Neighbour Totoro theme song!

One of the few places with wifi available for patrons in Parnell, unless you want to head down to…read moreEsquires and endure their hideous coffee. The internet is fast and works well outside in the courtyard, which is a nice place to sit on a good day (can be a bit breezy though). Good strong hot coffee is on offer, and also a moderately-priced lunch menu available. I didn't get any food, but the girls next to me got a waffle with a huge amount of whipped cream on it with berry sauce, which made me get quite substantial food envy. Nice chilled acoustic music plays in the background, and is quite audible outside as there is an outside speaker. When it is too sunny or raining, they put up a cover over the courtyard, so you can still enjoy your coffee in the atmospheric, cobblestoned space outside without getting too hot or rained on.

"Yay! I'm a fan!" perfectly encapsulates my feelings toward this fine espresso establishment…read more Albeit its somewhat random location (basically adjacent to Ellerslie train station), Gasket is brimming with character. Ginger latte? spot on. Warm bircher muesli topped with grated apple, raspberries, dried fruit, sliced banana & sweetened with agave? choice. The cabinet sandwiches and sweet treats looked delectable as well (they have about 10 different slice varieties so...go crazy!). The bright, airy space was buzzing with local workers while I was there. It was clear they had cleverly chosen Gasket as their "meeting" venue. ...I see right through you, folks ;) Oh, and +1 for free wifi!

Who would of thought that tucked down the back of Ellerslie would be this gem of a cafe! Well,…read moreobviously a lot of people because when we went at 11:30am on a weekday it was choccas. From the outside Gasket Espresso Kitchen looks rather small but don't be fooled, there's plenty of seating inside. There's even a private room with a large table for corporate folk to have their afternoon "meetings." The decor is modern with concrete floors, exposed ceiling beams and white walls with feature art pieces. The vibe is friendly and relaxed - most definitely service with a smile. I ordered the lamb salad and a coffee. The lamb salad came out sans lamb but before I realised the waiter came back to rectify the situation, whisking it away to mix in the lamb. She was apologetic and to be honest, I didn't mind - at least they had realised before I tucked in. The coffee was the perfect temperature and most importantly, not burnt or bitter. I also noticed that they also have plenty of cabinet full of both savoury and sweet delights - bagels, salads, sandwiches, slices and the like - perfect for those on the go!

Came in this afternoon while I had some time before a tour of possible apartment. The shop is…read morebright, open and comfortable. Had the spicy chai latte and a chocolate chip cookie. Latte has distinctive cinnamon taste and is rich as well as tasty. Chocolate chip cookie was not too sweet. Great crunch too. Plus 80s tunes on the sound system.

Gallery Café is a nice and spacious café, and one that doesn't seem to be busy all that often. This…read moremeans that it is a reasonably quiet place to relax and do some reading/study. It's kind of close to Auckland Uni as well, so that makes it good for students who want to get away from all of the busy and loud places around campus. Expect to pay café prices for food though (i.e. expensive), but the coffee is standard, and not bad coffee at that. However I don't really come here for the food and coffee, but more for the atmosphere. There are plenty of tables and seats, and comfy lounges to lounge out on. It's the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of life, and into a good book, or in my case into some good study notes before an early morning exam.

Food is great, the staff is very friendly and helpful. They have few tables outside in the garden.read more

This place is close by where I live so I had high hopes and anticipation early last year when I saw…read morewe were going to finally get something new. Big Beat has been no disappointment. Although the food in the cabinet all looks amazing, it'a also quite expensive. Happily, the menu items are better value for money and we have spent many a post soccer Saturday brunch here. My thing is their Spicy Chai Latte which is so spicy I think it might have chilli in it. The Mince on Toast is also a favourite at our big table out the back and the kids have given the smoothies and muffins the big thumbs up. The people who run this place are really lovely and it has that wonderful neighbourhood cafe feel that this end of Mt Eden/Balmoral has been lacking for so long. Long may it last.

I was in Auckland for a day/night and found out about Mojo from all of you lovely Yelpers out there…read more:) We stayed the night in the Skycity Grand and walked over to Mojo from there. It was a few blocks away, and some hills worthy of mentioning (especially when you're pushing a 40-pound, 4-year-old uphill in a stroller), but anyway.... IT WAS SO WORTH IT! Wow, yum. I've had a lot of muesli since moving to New Zealand (it must be on every breakfast menu) and this one eeked it's way into first place. Really, it was right there at the top (see my picture). The coffees were awesome, though I don't prefer hot drinks to be served in glasses ('cuz they get too hot to hold) but I would have happily endured a few minor finger burns to gulp down that caffienated goodness. The only minor issue here was the seating (for us, with 2 kiddos). It's a lovely, long table through the center of the room (the decor is light and beautiful) but it's slightly socially awkward when everyone else is sitting at the far other end of the table (presumably, to avoid the kiddos). That said, however, one of the chefs was super nice to us, brought us lots of extra napkins (pre-emptively) and played peek-a-book with my 1-year-old while we ate and kept him occupied in the stroller. A high chair at the end of that beautiful table would surely have ruined the scene (but would have been helpful). In spite of these little things, our overall experience was excellent. Even my husband said so, and that's saying something :) We will happily come back here every time we are in the area.

Heads up coffee/food lovers... there's a new Mojo in town! From their popular Vulcan Lane store, to…read moretheir large cafe in Newmarket and now one has just opened on Durham Street! Located just up from Glassons and right next to Renkon, this new cafe is easy to spot - you won't miss the bright blue building and outdoor seating. Inside, the decor is light, bright and you can either sit at the very long table in the middle or at the window bar, which would be great for people-watching! Now, onto the food! Couldn't believe how many options there were! From their breakfast and lunch meals (they cook everything fresh to order), to sweet treats from Amandine, raw cheesecakes from The Raw Kitchen, plus amazing paninis (I like the prosciutto one), sandwiches and muffins etc. And we can't forget the coffee! I have to be honest, I didn't actually try one...instead I saw Kombucha (organic probiotic tea) on the menu and had never tried it so I finally did! But if their coffee is as good as their Vulcan Lane store, then I'm sold! Strong, extra hot coffee, just how I like it! If you're not a coffee lover, they also serve an array of drinks, such as sodas, kombucha (as mentioned above), juices, smoothies (I've got my eye on the cacao one) and Hopt soda! So excited to see a cafe in the CBD selling Hopt - made my day! Overall, had a great time at the new Mojo - now just gotta eat and drink my way through the whole menu!

Unexpectedly good little tea shop buried in the heart of suburbia. I loved my ginger slice and the…read morecoffee was well flavoured and poured.

I stumbled across Garnet Station this week after strolling back towards Westmere from Grey Lynn…read moreafter a meeting. What a find! It's not a shrinking violet by any means so you can hardly miss it. Even if it's a good day for sitting outside I would urge you to order at the counter and then venture into the back room(s) where homely lounge furniture and quirky decoration make it instantly relaxing. I was served an ace coffee and delicious toasted sandwich very quickly and was so comfortable I stayed for another hit of warm brown. They also broadcast Garnet Radio from the premises on a web only basis - check it out on their website.

Shaky Isles is probably 1 of the more recommended places we heard about it in Auckland, and after…read moreeating breakfast there, we could see why it's so popular. The interior has a modern warehouse vibe with cool bits of artwork and greenery spread throughout. As normal for Auckland, you order/pay at the counter whenever you're ready, and your food/drinks are brought to your table. Water and utensils are help yourself as well. Between the 4 of us we had 3 long blacks and 1 pour over coffee to start off. The coffee was quite strong here, but that jolt of energy is exactly what you need in the morning. For food we tried their lamb kumara meat pie, bacon/egg breakfast meat pie, and their breakfast croissant sandwich. The meat pies' homemade flaky crust was the best part of breakfast, and the croissant sandwich was delicious as expected. Shaky Isles was just as good as people recommended it to be! It's a cute cafe with lots of variety and personality. Solid spot to start your day off right at an affordable price! We'll be back again soon!

Don't know never found place. Way too hard…read more Must be set up poorly. Once you start you have to finish or you have uncompleted draft .

Cute restaurant. Nice food and amazing service!!! Had the salmon eggs Benedict and scrambled eggs…read moreon multigrain bread with fruit. The couple that runs it were friendly and kind. Will be going back!!

Absolutely charming little breakfast nook just south of the main strip. Came here with my husband…read morefor a gluten-free breakfast and was not disappointed. The Mash Mash was delicious, best corned beef ive ever had! Service was great, and the eclectic interior decoration was cute and interesting. They had no problem with catering to our gluten allergy, and the food came out quick and hot prices are reasonable too. Can't wait to go back!