Not recommended, staff all standing around while the tables need to be wiped down. $18 for a…read moresandwich, $22 for a basic af waffles and $7.50 for a mini milkshake.. there is also bird shit running down the interior walls, so much so that others in our group argued it wasn't bird poo it was a decoration/pattered.. the birds obviously get in and sit up on the ledge watching patrons. Needs to be cleaned up it's fkn disgusting. Have added picture of the colds cabinet, $22 waffles and an example of the birdshit. They were watching me while I was taking it so it's poor quality.

I've been to The Verandah Cafe a number of times, mostly because it is located right on the lake…read moreand I take my son to the playground there frequently. The cafe is quite large, and there appear to be a number of new-parent groups and others there on a regular basis. I've had the flat whites and for me, they are fine, but nothing to write home about. It will get me through another duck-feeding 30 minutes with my son. I've had a couple of the bakery items and they, too, are fine, but nothing special. My new-parent group met here a couple of times, but then we changed location because it was too crowded and noisy to suit our own tastes. I also feel that they are slightly higher priced than most other coffee shops I've been to in town. However, they do have a loyalty card which you can use to earn towards a free coffee drink.

Geoff's is no longer the in-the-know Auckland hipster's secret. Go here on Halloween and you will…read moresee what I mean. Luckily, Halloween only happens once a year but year round Geoff's is the place that truly does have everything. I am most often here for random products like baby oil ($6 for a small bottle of branded petroleum by-product at a supermarket? $2 here), fabric dye, art supplies, sewing stuff and what must be Auckland's cheapest fabric. No offence to Spotlight, but go here first if you need anthing crafty. There's ribbon, cotton, buttons, sparkly bits, belt buckles, bra pads, googly eyes, appliques, patches.... on and on and on. The fabric selection is no small part of the shop and the pricing fairly freakin ridiculous. You'll also find toys, costume jewellery, probably Auckland's biggest range of wigs and "ready-costumes" for adults and kids, as well as such essential props as tiaras, plastic swords, feather boas, cowboys hats, gloves, face paint and garters. There are paints, brushes, canvases, dyes, sketch books...... You can even buy paperbacks, hardware, kitchen equipment, candles and it just goes on. What I love most about Geoff's is that it has been around as long as I can remember and as far as I know, Geoff himself is still around too. My kids love coming here with a handful of coins and leaving with treasures and so do I. The staff are awesome and Geoff's is such a wonderful reminder to me that some things don't ever change, they just get better with age.

This place is AWESOME. Recommended to me by a fellow sewing friend, I decided to check it out…read moretoday. Walked in the door and thought wow, this place is a bit...crappy. But then I walked in further, through the narrow door and into a huge space, filled with all manner of crafty supplies! I was there to buy interfacing, and buy it I did - 5m for $5! Incredible prices. I also got a zip for $1.05 and a belt buckle kit for $1. The prices are insane, even cheaper than what I paid living in the US. I saw some gorgeous fabrics in there, too, but I'm trying to watch my fabric budget right now so I sadly left it behind...for now. The woman who served me was really friendly, carefully rolled up my interfacing and asked about my projects. I can't wait to go back and browse their fabrics some more, and they will definitely be my go-to place for notions, too! I didn't explore the rest of the shop too closely, as I had a sick husband in tow, but they have a huge range of paint/art supplies, party supplies, incense and other trinkets, and heaps of other stuff too.

Oh crikey - we have found the holy grail of cheap and cheerful. This place is packed with…read moreeverything you could ever need when dressing up or getting crafty, and is surprisingly huge. There is a huge range of costumes and accessories, fake flowers, themed-decorations, crafts, and more and more and more. Around the time of office Christmas parties and St Patricks Day, the place is packed. And they order in more stuff depending on the celebration. There is a very entertaining R18 section for funny presents, or just actual stuff. But it;s not just silly stuff, head down the back and you'll find kitchen utensils, rubbish bins, frames, cleaning products, bathroom stuff, hangers and all the rest of that kind of stuff for super cheap. It's actually not a bad idea to see what you can find.

This place is Mecca for costumes and silly novelty items. It's a one stop shop for all your fun and…read morefrivolity needs: dress up parties, St Patrick's Day, sporting events, or just silly gifts. If you want it, Look Sharp probably has it, and you'll probably only pay ten bucks. I've accumulated a small collection of awesomeness from Look Sharp, including costumes, canes, hats, wigs and flags. I have also made extensive use of their wonderfully inappropriate R18 section for Secret Santa gifts - hilarity and awkwardness ensued. In short, any occasion is better if preceded by a visit to Look Sharp.

Celebrations is a wholesale party supplies store. Floor to ceiling of tinsel, sparkles and plastic…read more Personally, I find it a bit depressing but each to their own... Celebrations also have a tonne of themed stuff for kids parties - party favour bags, birthday hats, paper plates, cups and the like. If you're throwing a Frozen themed party then this is most definitely your jam. They also sell and fill helium balloons.