Had a lovely high tea here - it's like stepping into your grandma's (poshed-up) sitting room; all…read morechandeliers & mis-matched tea sets. There's even a wee courtyard out the back. The cabinet food is a drool-worthy selection of gourmet pies, sausage rolls, sandwiches & filled rolls. If you fancy something sweet with your cuppa, you're also in luck - lamingtons, cupcakes, scones, brownies & cakes galore hide under beautiful cake trays. We had booked for the High Tea - $40 for 2 people, and had managed to get a sweet spot in the courtyard on a balmy Saturday autumn morning. The tea list came out first with a good selection of black, green & herbal teas. You can also order milkshakes, smoothies & coffees. I went for a Gorgeous Grey blend of black Earl Grey leaves with citrus. Other options chosen were Japanese Lime green tea, Berrylicious herbal & Red Vanilla herbal tea. All were leaf teas leaves served in individual teapots with lovely china tea cups & saucers. To be drunk with your little pinky extended of course! The cake stands arrived laden with our high tea, consisting of a selection of club sandwiches, brownies, cupcakes, pecan & blueberry tarts and the most amazing date & orange scones served with cream & yoghurt. We really struggled to get through all the food. It was so fresh & tasty; the sandwich fillings of ham & cheese, egg & cress and chicken & avocado were a big hit. A super cute little suburban spot to read the paper, shout your nana or start writing that novel!

This place looks fabulous from the outside and it looks fabulous inside, but what a lot of people…read moredon't know about this place is that it has a courtyard outside! It's a great place to go if you are wanting some outside time away from Auckland noise and traffic. I would describe the décor as decadent and elegant and the food is...dainty? It's like delicious little cakes and biscuits and things that go well with english breakfast tea if you catch my drift. I had always driven past this cafe and had always wanted to go in, when I finally did I kind of wish I didn't because now I regularly think about it and want to go back. The only niggle I have is that they close quite early I wish they were open till four it's much easier to get there for then and much more appropriate for afternoon tea, but other than that...love it!

The cafe is surrounded by plants and trees. It's located across the street from the main gardens,…read moreor Tropical House and Fernery. The patio is perfect with tables and umbrellas. The dining room is somewhat formal with white tablecloths. It is spacious for a luncheon cafe. Come nicely dressed. You can have breakfast and lunch here. This venue can also be rented for special occasions. The menus have a variety of better, healthy foods. GF breads are included. The kids menu selection looks delicious.

Way back when in 2015 we visited this garden outside Auckland as part of our 10 day tour of NZ…read more Also the tour guide had to keep us out and about for a few hours after long flight from USA before hotel rooms available. I took a few photos and posted them here. Not too far from Michael Joseph Savage Park so swing by there afterwards. We just walked around the grounds but there there is a cafe there.

Stopped by for afternoon tea. The estate had quite the view of the rolling tropical hills and of…read moreAuckland at a distance. Tea and food was very nice- our bellies were full by the end. The hotel portion seems to be high end and even has a helipad for guests. Parking was free and the drive was about 30 min from downtown. If you need a bit of an escape, this would be a good option.

As the Maid of Honour, I organised high tea for my sister-in-law this past weekend. I changed the…read morebooking a number of times during the process (why are groups of ladies so difficult to organise??) but the staff at Waitakere Estate were always lovely and obliging. The location is lovely with breath-taking views and at $32 per person, their high tea is the best value in Auckland AND even available during winter! The food was great, I had my own vegetarian stand with lovely sandwiches (that focaccia though) and sweet treats. Their tea menu could be a bit more varied and intensive, but everything else was great. The girls and I had a wonderful time and even wandered through the lawn after our meal for some epic photos. I'd definitely return again!

I love stopping by Chalin for my takeaway iced green tea fix. The staff always seem quite perplexed…read morewhen I say I just want it plain. After all this is a bubble tea shop, so they expect you to want the extras (think fruit, milk, syrup, and tapioca balls). But the best part is in fact while I'm waiting for my tea, because I get to peruse the in-house selection of toys and cosmetics. It's where I snapped the little gem that is bust cream - complete with a woman imploring her breasts to go "Up! Up!", under the delightful heading of "Sexy Look Body Performance Attack Flat...130% up!" I hate to think what would happen if the formula proved as efficacious as it advertises - if it rose 130%, where would your bust end up?! Okay, so perhaps I mostly love Chalin because I love Engrish. But the tea really is good too.

My son was playing basketball at the nearby gym. I popped down to Waiau Pa to wile the time away…read moreand was pleasantly surprised with the fine fare at The Vintage Cafe. Nestled in beside the GAS petrol station I nearly missed it. But thankfully I was sitting nearby on my phone and noticed a gentleman walking out with a takeaway cup of coffee. Popping into the cafe, one transcends to a time of the old tea rooms of yesteryear. But with great coffee, not the twin offerings of black or white instant coffee of the old tea rooms. I had a caramel and berry slice which was divine. There are two long tables with bench seats outside which make for a fine gatherings so long as the weather is amenable. Definitely a great find. I'll be heading back to the Vintage Cafe next time I'm in Waiau Pa. hopefully I'll have more time so I can gobble up more of their sumptuous food. Great country food in a great country stop.

This cute and cosy setting within a knitting shop isn't your standard setting but makes for the…read moreperfect spot for scones, petit fours and a delightful range of tea. You could bring granny here or your bestie for a catch up or mum for a treat. It has to be said there scones (the recipe recently featured in the paper) are the prefect mix of crunch on the outside and soft on the inside. Combine with jam and a pot of tea on a pretty tablecloth, you have a winner. Don't go past this place if your after scones, tea and a touch of homely comfort.

Trying to find a cafe that's open after 4pm and stumbled upon this beauty. It felt like I found…read morelittle red riding hoods grandmothers tavern and it was absolutely adorable. We had excellent coffee and vanilla grapefruit tea from an extensive tea menu served in vintage tea cups. I wanted to try the Devonshire scones with strawberry jam and cream but unfortunately they were all out for the day so we had finger sandwiches with asparagus and almond meringue cake which was freshly made and delicious!

Located close to Freemans Bay primary school, Rupa's Cafe offers affordable, high quality cakes (I…read morehaven't tried the coffee) with a range of ingredients/flavours- plum, date, lemon, orange almond, and many more in a clean, pleasant space. Their cakes are moist, quite large (larger than those small slices of cakes cafes usually sell) and super yum. They also sell some wraps/sandwiches and frozen curries (that is said to be really good) The staff (which is the owners themselves) are very warm and they really connect with their customers, they know about them and remember them. There's never a day where the staff is even slightly grumpy - they always greet you with a smile and really talk to you (not the type of small talk they do with everyone e.g: how was your day?) Also they are generous, not forgetting to ask if we want little extras (for free) like butter on your bread/cake or not.

Rupa's seems to be some kind of Freeman's Bay institution. They really go out of their way to let…read moreyou know that they're owner operated and they have been for a long wee while. It's kind of like yr stock standard tea rooms, or at least they present themselves that way, with their long glassy cabinets and boring, plain jane, interior design. But really Rupa's is a little bit different and more interesting to your generic asparagus roll and a lamington type establishment. Mostly it's a cultural difference. They sell food with an Indian slant. Mainly through samosas and curries. Both of which are okay. Three stars.

I first stepped through Chapter's door about two years back when the weather was really bad and I…read morehad a 30 wait for the bus, it seemed like a good time to try it out. I think I was the youngest in there by 30 years that day but tea is not just for old people. I also didn't let the romance novels put me off, I had my own reading material anyway. Chapter is little but the shelves are crammed with an incredible range of teas, I had mango paradise, often I go for Granny's Garden, I like the fruity ones. Down the back of the store is all the tea paraphernalia, if you're serious about your tea drinking and want all the right tea gear, you'll find it here. A nice little shop/cafe and the lady who owns it is really nice, Chapter is a pleasurable place to sit over a pot of tea and the black board outside often has funny tea related quotes which is a nice touch.

Amazing experience! I live in the USA but was told I could order signed Nalini Singh books from…read morethem. I reached out to Frances who was more than happy to help me out! I was able to order 4 signed and personalized books for my sister with shipping to the USA. It made my sister so happy to get signed books from an author she's been a long time fan of and Frances was incredible and so friendly throughout the entire process!

Love this little Coffee spot but they do much more than just…read moregreat coffee.. the delicious sandwiches and baked goods are very memorable and the kindness they show towards customers and children are fantastic.

Excellent coffee shop! Most coffee shops/cafes in all of NZ don't even offer proper pour over…read morecoffee. Most cafes only offer espresso based drinks and mix with a ton of milk. If you want the best coffee, come here. You may have to wait a few minutes, but you can't rush art.