Fallen in LOVE with this unassuming wee coffee spot after only one visit…read more Tucked in next to the hardware store on Clarence St, look out for the brightly colour stools and blooming flower pots. Whilst they have a bit of food on offer (croissants and cookies when I went) and a good range of cold drinks, here it is all about the coffee. The barista was lovely as well as knowledgable and made my soy FW to perfection - beautifully creamy and not too hot...just how I like it. Will mos def be back next time i'm in Devo!

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!

i highly recommend this breakfast spot in Auckland. it has a hippy vibe and we were welcomed with…read morewarm greetings and smile by all of the staff. both the coffee and food were amazing. the place is always packed so make sure to come in early to get a table.

Fantastic place, went here several times for morning coffees and a breakfast. Great vibe and great…read morecoffee with great staff. There are inside and outside seating a with great menu with varies coffee and baked good plus breakfast. Love my avocado bread and of course cappuccino. Just perfect for the morning. Staff are friendly and nice. The place is not that big but well layout with plenty of seating in different style from bar seating to couch setting, to table to window seating and outside. The decor is mixed of everything you can imagine a with plans which work well. Love it.

This place epitomises a "hidden gem." It's tucked down the end of a rather dark and dingy alleyway…read moreoff the main street in Takapuna (you know, the one with the dinky music shop and friendly shoe repairman). I must of walked past it a dozen times oblivious to the fact that it existed...shame on me! What I love about it is that, whilst the alleyway is rather grimy the space itself is anything but. You enter through a nondescript door at the end of the corridor into a beautifully modern, open space with fresh white walls and polished concrete floors. There is a huge black and gold coffee roasting machine as well as ample tables and chairs (and great magazines!) for you to enjoy your coffee in peace. What's also pretty cool is that they serve several different Single Origin beans and have examples of each on the counter for you to sniff before you buy/drink. When I went, I was in a bit of a hurry so opted for the coffee of the day but I am looking forward to going back and trying the different origins.

I was actually trying to find a quicker route from The Department Store to La Tropezienne when I…read morehaphazardly stumbled across this place. I think it was fate. Run by two Japanese sisters, Ark Coffee Company is dedicated to specialty coffee. There are no excess food offerings save for a few actually quite good looking cookies, everything is quite minimalist and spare and very much centered around the coffee itself, which shines. I tried the best Iced Latte I have ever had and that is quite frankly saying a lot cause I have guzzled a fair few in my time. All it was, was coffee and ice cubes and some sweetener but damn near close to perfection it was. And at really reasonable prices too. I have been converted, follow me to the Ark!

I've been to Geeks On Sainsbury twice now and I'm definitely keen to go back again!…read more Where are they? Their location, 1/55 Sainsbury Road, gives them enough privacy that they aren't packed with people, but enough exposure that you don't feel like you are hidden away. Both times I ate here, I happened to be in the area. They are right beside this little park which has a few seats in it, so you could easily get takeaways on a nice sunny day and have a picnic! They are also just down the road from St Luke's Mall, so if you want some nice food that isn't from a food court, then this should be your go-to place! My sister used to live across the road and it would have been such a joy to have Geeks On Sainsbury as a local. So what's their service like? They come up to you relatively straight away when you arrive and ask where you'd like to sit. The second time I went I was on crutches and that didn't seem to bother them, which was nice. They were fast on taking our orders, although didn't mind coming back to let us spend a few more minutes deciding what to get. All of the staff I have interacted with have been super friendly and the ones who see you leave say 'Thank you' and/or 'Goodbye', which is always a nice touch. It's a cute location with delicious food and friendly staff. I would recommend it to anyone in the area! And their food? Delightful! Below are a few shots - Eggs Bene, Pork Salad, Bibimbap and a drink. I would recommend their 'Yellow' smoothie and anything with a side of their potato stack... because it is absolutely divine. There a quite a few gluten-free options, which is great and overall they have a relatively wide selection of food to choose from. They also have a cabinet with sweet treats and a few sandwiches, if that's more your style. Cost? I believe they would be considered an average café cost - around $20-$30 for a cooked meal and a drink. Not super cheap but not crazy expensive either. Totally worth what you get!

We decided to go to Geeks and Sainsbury on a whim. It had been on the back of my mind and the name…read morereminds me of the Big Bang Theory! I could just imagine the waitors in lab coats measuring out the amount of coffee beans with a test tube. Not quite! There's much to boast about their coffee lineup though. They serve coffee from Wellington boutique roasters Red Rabbit Co, famous for their labyrinth of flavours in a cup. The first choice on the All Day Breakfast menu was Granola. It sounded delicious with white quinoa, glazed strawberries, roasted almond with pumpkin seeds. Nothing like the chew-til-your-temples-hurt type that I have in a box at home. That set the tone of being healthy over geeky. The eggs benedict had the option of pan fried tofu with poached eggs. Heck, even the Waffles had granola in the ingredients list. The pork salad obviously was no normal salad, beautifully plated and garnished on top. The sunflower encrusted shell the a standout element. Light but full of crunch, the house made chutney and shredded apple was tantalising to my sweet side. The eggs benedict comes in the option of Petit and Regular so you can easily satisfy your brunch craving after a round of gym. Again keeping it light, layered agria potato takes the normal place of a hash brown. With an open bright space spilling out into the sunny outdoor setting, it's an attractive place to be all year round. The decor is determinedly geek chic. A blackboard diagram details how seriously they take their coffee extraction method, and shelves look like they belong on Pinterest. They show the same dedication to their food. Presentation is exact, pairings are purposeful. It's a shame to hear that the Shore could have boasted this cafe gem. While it reminds me of Little King, it could easily take out the backsliding quality of the food there. Service was a bit unsure - there were moments where I got excited by food coming my way, only to have the waiters step on their brakes. That however, was minor and played no part in the rest of the experience. Geeks on Sainsbury, you are doing great things for Sandringham, looking forward to hearing more from you!

This is, by far, my favorite coffee in Auckland. Thank you to Alton Brown for suggesting it on one…read moreof his blog posts. If you've never had a flat white and want to know what one should taste like, order that here. I can't think of a better place that makes it. They also sell their whole beans, so we were able to take some bags home. After we finished our supply, I was quite thrilled to discover that they ship to the United States. Although shipping is pricey, this coffee is worth it! Now we can have our favorite coffee anytime we want without traveling across the globe.

Walking up High Street, you probably wouldn't see it, but Eighthirty has just opened up a new cafe,…read morein the space underneath where Rakinos previously resided. What used to look like a long and dark corridor now has a shining white and pink light at the end of it. I loved everything about this Eighthirty branch. Specifically the service and design. The two guys working were friendly and welcoming, which was nice on this wet and wintery day. I also liked the interiors - different to their K'Rd and Ponsonby cafes, but more stylish. It has a very fresh look, with white being the predominant colour - the coffee machine, the coffee cups (aside from the red writing), the walls, the tables and chairs, plus the funky lights above. But the standout feature is definitely the light pink feature wall in one of the corners - I couldn't stop staring at it! This place is very trendy chic. I ordered my usual - trim mocha, extra hot. It was creamy, delicious and had a pretty fern/heart design on top. I didn't have to wait long for my coffee, but I think as the word gets out, I may have to opt for takeaway. They also have cake! Yes cake! And other delectable delights including cupcakes and rolls, all provided by Catroux and Cool Foods. Today they had a red velvet cake - a slice of this with my coffee made for a very lovely morning tea. Another great thing is their vases of sparkling water infused with mint and lemon - delicious! Overall, I had a great morning at Eighthirty and I am super excited that they have opened up in the CBD as it is just up the street from my work!

Amazing coffee, amazing food and amazing service nuff said…read more Amazing selection of domestic espresso equipment. If ya want coffee at home this is the place !

Altura do real good coffees- highly recommend their trim flat white- beautiful pale brown moon…read moresurface. Their baristas are great- have also had their dark brown, fern-patterned cappuccino. Awesome because they have a great menu at the front of the store which describe all the coffees they have on offer- perfect for those who are still learning all the different types of coffee. Ordered their Mini Breakfast- which is half of their big breakfast. Got the eggs scrambled- choice of how they are cooked. Came with a piece of toasted 7 grain bread (or ciabatta) and a small package of butter. Also with a few strips of bacon on top with a roasted tomato, roasted mushroom, interesting choice of cheese kransky sausage and hash brown. A mix of several savoury components for a hearty start to the day. Good choice. Friend got their french toast which looked delicious with brioche bread. Have both indoor and outdoor seating with tarpaulin walls that still let in sun. A small courtyard fully outdoors as well. Able to see the roasting of coffee beans, purchase whole coffee beans, espresso or equipment as well as get something out of their great cabinet. Have a lot to offer- definitely go check it out.

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.