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Ponsonby Road Cafe

4.6 (250 reviews)
Closed • 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

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PONSONBY ROAD CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Ponsonby Road Cafe

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Sophia S.

Loved the service and enjoyed the sausage roll and coffee! It's a pretty small place, but it wasn't super busy when we came by at around 11:30am on a Saturday. We nabbed some street parking, but learned that they actually provide an hour of parking behind the building (with purchase). Will definitely file that away for a future visit! Now, for what we ordered: -mocha with whole milk and hazelnut syrup: my partner really enjoyed this! He said it was good, and repeated himself a few times as he kept drinking. He said he really liked the flavor combination and appreciated that it wasn't super sweet. -latte, iced with whole milk and strawberry: the flavor of the espresso really came through, and it was a solid latte. I requested the strawberry from their matcha to be added to the latte (which they were nice enough to do!), but honestly I think the latte would have been better without it. I'd stick to their usual menu offerings next time! -sausage roll: came out hot, flaky, and with 2 sauces (ketchup and a habanero sauce, which is apparently made in-house, as is their salad dressing!). Solid, nice snack. We wanted something savory and tasty, but not too filling before a late lunch, so this really hit the spot. The sausage part is like a seasoned meat/sausage patty, and it was juicy, tender, and really nice with the sauses. There were a few tables with seating inside, a few bar-style stools for seating by the window, and a few small round tables with seating outside. Overall, really enjoyed our time here, and I would definitely like to return for another coffee and savory pastry!

Menu as of April 2026
Bella S.

I've been wanting to try this place for some time now as there are not a lot of places in the area for New Zealand style meat pies. Upon entering the cafe, my 1st impression is that the vibe is chill. The eating space is actually quite small, but they do have a few tables for those who choose to dine-in. Staff were friendly and willing to answer questions. Kudos to the staff for being on top of their service - they provided utensils without me even having to ask for it in advance. My goal for my 1st visit was to get 2 meat pies and 1 drink. I ended up getting just 2 pies since most of their drinks are made with syrup, which I am not a fan of as it's just sugary flavoring; I prefer flavors made from real brewing (ie. earl grey should be from earl grey tea, not syrup ... but that's just my opinion of course). 1. Steak, Cheese, and Jalapeno Meat Pie (3.5/5) Overall, not a bad meat pie. I really liked the outside of the pie, which was flaky and pleasantly doughy ... just how I like it. Minus a star and a half because the steak was not tender, there was no jalapeno/jalapeno flavor, and the savory filling was a bit too salty & this is coming from someone who craves salty things all the time. The sauce filling also didn't stand out as being anything special. I think some herbs or some actual jalapeno spice would elevate it more. 2. Sausage Roll (2.5-3/5) The same pastry dough on the outside of the roll wraps around a log of moist sausage meat. The pastry part for this roll was not as flaky as the pies. The sausage filling part had a very mushy texture, which was off-putting to me and the flavor of the sausage was bland; lacked any spice at all. They do provide a side of ketchup and some spicy sauce. The spicy sauce did elevate the dish, which allowed me to finish it. If it weren't for that spicy sauce, I probably wouldn't be able to stomach the sausage roll. I'd skip the sausage roll next time and stick with the various meat pies.

New Zealand Meatpie
Allen V.

Came here as we wanted something small to snack on and for my cousins to compare the Australian pies to New Zealand pies, which they also enjoyed. The young women were kind and helpful, food arrived quickly. We sat outside the small area, it's clean.

Half steak and cheese + half bacon and egg, pies served with salad and sauces.
Jaq V.

A go-to for breakfast pie. Yes, pie for breakfast with the most delicious savory fillings. My favorites are steak + cheese and butter chicken. Service is always great here and food quality is consistent. I like the cozy ambiance inside too, just a few tables and they also have seating outside. Besides the pie they have good coffee and tea options. I highly recommend you try this place if ever in the area.

Simple, but with awesome food!  Pies!  New Zealand style!
Arnel S.

I miss New Zealand. And visiting this place has made my homesickness worse. All because of their meat pies! They make it just like they do at home...flaky, crusty top...filling that is meaty...with a thick gravy...served warm on a plate, with a side of salad and dressing to boot! Good, old New Zealand satisfaction to me and my family's palate! The place is very cozy. Nice decor all around, with parts decorated with vines and pictures on the wall. Well-lit, a few tables for the diners, with comfortable seating. The service was above par. Friendly staff, most accomodating and helpful to your every request. They offered free tasting of lamingtons, which was just like I remember from shops in Auckland. The food was really good that my daughter ordered quite a few meat pies for s to take home! If you crave meat pies, the Ponsonby Road Cafe is the best place to fill your gastronomic wish!

Steak and Cheese Meat Pie and Fruity Pebbles Matcha Latte
Carlo G.

I really wanted to rank this place high, but one item on the menu prohibited me from doing that. I visited this New Zealand cafe on a Friday for an early lunch. The cafe is small, but cozy with lots of plant decor. The staff were also nice. I ordered the steak and cheese meat pie which was a recommendation from one of the staff members with a fruity pebbles matcha latte. The pie came with a side salad which was great for balance as well as a couple of different sauces. The pie was pretty good. It warm, crispy, flaky, savory and meaty. I only wish the meat was more tender, but good nonetheless. It also paired well with the spicy sauce which cut the richness. The salad was standard with this dressing that was not too strong. The matcha was pretty terrible though. Both the cream and the matcha weren't flavorful at all, it was like drinking milk with a dash of matcha. They only sprinkled the cream with fruity pebbles and I couldn't taste the fruity pebble flavor anywhere else in the drink. Honestly disappointing for an $8 matcha. Would not recommend. What was nice was the staff gave us complimentary chocolate cake on the house. The cake peices were moist and chocolately. Overall, a mixed experience here. While the matcha was terrible, everything else was good. I would come back again, but not get a matcha.

Chicken Pesto Panini
Candace R.

Visiting town and walked here for coffee and lunch this afternoon. It's a cute, small little cafe with both indoor and outdoor seating. I was greeted and after a moment, ordered a dirty iced chai and the chicken pesto panini. She said it'd take 5-10 minutes so I grabbed a seat inside and got comfortable. It's cutely appointed, although I noted the cooler was sparsely stocked and there was trash left over from a previous guest on a table. (It's not really clear where to put plates when you're done dining in) My drink was okay. Part of it is I think oat milk can overpower lighter drinks but also, I could taste some of the chai powder so I don't think it was mixed the greatest. It was drinkable so I finished it. The panini was okay. There wasn't a strong pesto flavor and I found myself using all of the provided hot sauce for added flavor. The side salad was fresh, but would have appreciated more than a thimbles worth of dressing. I wouldn't run back to try it again, but I think it's fine in a pinch.

Iced Cortado hits right.
Rickey K.

Stopped by here a few times and the coffee hits right every time. Fast speedy service. Haven't tried the food yet but they serve a clean iced cortado just right!

Bathroom was nasty
Jackie P.

Coffee sucked. She forgot the vanilla syrup in both dunks. Bathroom was nasty. Faucet was running and serious grime like hadn't been cleaned minimum in days. Some other customer wanted bacon on a sandwich and they didn't have any and the women who work there told the guy- well we just got here so idk. Very poorly run establishment. Reviews can't be real

Chicken Pesto Panini
Tyler S.

Ponsonby Road Cafe is the perfect spot for a light, fresh bite. The Chicken Pesto Panini was flavorful and satisfying without being too heavy--ideal after a workout. The space is clean with an earthy, relaxed feel, and the menu offers plenty of healthy, well-prepped options. Service is quick.

Arleen S.

This is my 2nd time here and they still haven't let me down with the food. I bought a dozen pies because my inner Kiwi needs it lol. We also ordered pies to eat in-store and they came out hot and tasty, super flaky and packed with meat. We also ordered a few drinks and the server (who I think was the owner) was kind enough to let us try some of the lamingtons as well. The pies and lamingtons tasted just like home and my Kiwi heart is full. Inside, there's a few tables to sit at, with cute decor of a ton of plants that make it feel almost jungle-like (in a good way). This is by far my favorite place to come to when I'm down in LA and will continue to support my fellow Kiwi and the delicious foods they serve.

Steph H.

Not understanding these mostly 5 star reviews at all, it's not even remotely close. We go to the sushi spot next door frequently and never happened to see this cafe next door. Was excited to check it out. First of all, both female baristas had an attitude and were not friendly. This being our first time in, it was definitely off putting. We did not get food, but I wouldn't as the cleanliness of the cafe was not great. We got a dirty chai iced and their iced green tea. The dirty chai was terrible, bitter espresso and bizarrely watered down even with oat milk, flavors regardless weren't good. The iced green tea was a joke, it tasted like dirty water. We never ever throw away full drinks but we made an exception here. Do not recommend at all.

Butter chicken meatpie

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Reviews are largely positive. People highlight the authentic New Zealand pies, enjoy the friendly and attentive staff, and appreciate the cozy, relaxed atmosphere.

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Best meat pies ever. A hidden gem for sure. A must have. A MUST. Do yourself a favor and go.

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