iCoco cafe proves the old adage " don't judge a book by it's cover." From the outside, iCoco looks…read morelike one of those terrible, bland cafes that serve automatic coffee and tasteless meals. But once you venture inside, a whole different experience awaits. iCoco has actually won Metro's best cafe award multiple times, and when I came for a breakfast it was obvious as to just why they receive such rave reviews. The service was great - even though the place was super busy, the waitress had time to stop and greet us on her way past, then have a chat with us as my friend puzzled over what to get. The food itself was great - big portions, cooked well, just the way I like it. The coffee was strong and had a heady crema, and despite the amount of people inside, the noise level wasn't too bad. I'll definitely head back , especially for a lunch - as their menu looks too good to miss out.

Great coffee and the folks behind the counter ARE SO NICE and friendly and genuine. Customer…read moreservice goes a long way. :)

Very quick service, cute atmosphere and allpress coffee!! I had the granola and it was filling and…read moreflavoursome. Will definitely be back here again. Great local cafe.

The food and drink an atmosphere are incredible! I had the mocha and the Mad Dog. Go try it!read more

This is one of those coffee shops that you wished you lived close by to. Trust me I know, because I…read morelive within walking distance of at least 5 (maybe more.) Their attention to detail and care was bar none. Toys and dishes not only catered to littles, but also served with kindness and delight. Their food was also delicious (sandwiches, pancakes, donuts, and muesli, oh my!) and especially loved the iced maple latte. We will be back and soon!

I really, really want to like this place, after all this is my local and the food isn't shabby at…read moreall. However every single time I came here I was let down by their service, poor, super slow, non-existent service. I wish there is somewhere better in Blockhouse Bay, that way I don't have to come here and be disappointed every single time.

The Block is a great eatery in Blockhouse Bay - hence the name, bringing a casual atmosphere for…read morethat laid back meal. For this occasion we chose to come for brunch however I will be returning for lunch or dinner after seeing what other diners around us had ordered. TBH what we ate would be a really good hangover meal. The Block serves as a real man's meal giving you everything you want for breakfast. The bf said the baked beans were great as they had a more barbecued flavour and thought the stuffed mushroom was something different! I couldn't ask for more. Everything on the sunrise sandwich was cooked perfectly and satisfied exactly what I was craving. The only issue I have is the name of the meal haha - sunrise sandwich is just odd. The meals are served hot, and quickly and although they aren't amazing they are a great size and great value for money. You get what you expect whilst tasting goood. The Block isn't trying too hard to be anything its not. Also I give them a plus for table service. Rating Food: 7/10 Service: 8/10 Value for Money: Very Good 568 Blockhouse Bay Road, Blockhouse Bay Opening Hours: Mon-Tues 7am-5pm Weds-Sat 7am-10pm Sun 7am-5pm

We stopped in for brunch to celebrate a birthday and it was confirmed. Humbug is a totally cool…read morecafé in this backwater Glen Eden street. I'd say Humbug is putting Rua Road firmly on the map because Aucklanders are flocking here any time of day. Brunch was delicious, I got the big breakfast with free range bacon; birthday girl got the mushrooms on toast which reportedly was yummy. Central hub of the café is the kitchen and counters, open plan and in full view of customers. If you want it a little quieter walk through to the second room which has a cosey family corner with multiple couches and lots of toys for toddlers. There are plenty of tables to accommodate the patrons and under-cover outside seating.

Great place! Great food, great service. Be warned, it is super popular, so on a busy morning…read morebreakfast run, or lunch, you may need to wait for a table. I love how in Auckland there are such hidden cafe gems like this place in obscure, quiet suburban areas. Neat retro shop right next door too.

A solid coffee establishment. Seating inside and outside. Free wifi (with minimum $2 purchase)…read more Great pies, sandwiches, sweets and savories. Attentive and friendly barristas and servers. Prices are fair. What more do you want??? Large cappuccino, $4.80; Large American, $3.70; Sweets average $3.75.

The glossy magazines are great at Columbus Coffee in Glen Eden. I know because I come here often…read moreand if I can I will always arrive a little earlier than my friends in order to glance through the pages of fashion. This café is not so long open but definitely has cornered the clientele. Whatever time of day you will find the café culture alive and well here. Coffee is delicious, the cakes and pastries are tasty and the meals are satisfying. While this is a chain brand what I like about this Glen Eden café is that the staff are really lovely and get to know you by name, goes towards making it our little local hang out and a great place to meet.

Really good people and service ! My favourite is lemon coconut cake with soy latte ... Enjoy the…read moresunshine with lovely yum food.. That's life!isnt it :)

These guys are still great! - and deserved an update to encourage some Aucklander's to get out…read morethere and pay these cool cats a visit... plus a 'lil birdy told me they are expanding with a new venue not too far down the road... for those of you who are unaware, they were the original owners/creators/chefs of 'Salvation Kitchen'...

I think it must have been the name that put me off stopping at Salvation Kitchen first. The…read more"Salvation" bit had me thinking that it was the new home of the Salvation Army, and the eclectic furniture outside was only eclectic out of necessity. I assumed this was a sort of halfway-house cafe, like the Lifewise cafe on K'Road. Whoops! Turns out this place is nothing of the sort. Fresh baking and cabinet food are boundless at Salvation Kitchen - these people sure know how to whip up delights. From calzones and pizzas to brioche and gateau, there's a lot on offer at this place and it's all completely scrumptious.

'Salvation Kitchen '- A 'Westie' delight! Time for lunch?…read moreAfternoon tea? Or maybe just a quick double-shot-fair-trade coffee to go? After having won several awards in recent years, this hip, retro inspired café, Salvation Kitchen, in the gastronomical-heart of Avondale, is still going strong. With over 19 scrumptious sweet treats on offer (that I counted!), many would have us believe that this is all the business needs to draw in the crowds, but the attentive service, fabulous coffee, creative décor, spacious venue and the fresh variety of lunches all made on the premises are also worthy of attention, seven days a week if it takes your fancy. Sweet as!

The kindest woman greeted us and the service was impeccable. The pastries are amazing and lots of…read moredrink options.

I just moved to the area and needed a coffee place that was open before 7:30 as sometimes I head…read moreinto work early (reluctantly, but I do it). I found Deluxe and was happy to see that they 1. had good reviews, 2. were close to my house, and 3. open super early (way before I'd even wake up). So I made a decision to try it out. This little coffee shop is hidden away among lots of warehouse looking buildings, which was kind of cool. I liked that you would only notice it if you were looking for it. How 2018. I went in one Wednesday morning, half asleep and in desperate need of caffeination. I walked in with my to-go cup and ordered a soy cappuccino. The girl behind the counter was friendly but also honored my tiredness by not being overly peppy. The ordering process was seamless and super easy. The prices are straightforward - white, black, small, large. I allotted quite some time for this trip as I know that coffee shops get busy and it takes time to make a good coffee. Lucky for me, on this bright and early morning, no one else was in the shop. This means that my coffee came out super fast, and I was on my way to work. I even arrived 20 mins early which I was happy to spend instagramming. What a productive day! All in all, I loved this place and would totally go back. Great coffee and quick, friendly service.

Solid choice for unusual brunch fare. I wasn't expecting the Asian twist, but was quite pleased…read morewith the results. I went for the vegetarian Bhan Mi with a poached egg on top. No disappointment here, except I would have liked the roll to be a bit more crispy on the outside. Otherwise, it was bursting with flavor - a nice mix of smoky sweet sauce and fresh crunchy carrot, sprouts, and coriander. It tasted just as it should, and I was very pleased that a vegetarian option was available. My husband had the geisha, cold soba noodles with sprouts, veggies, a nice dressing and warm tofu. A huge helping of delicious pickled ginger on top - my dream as a ginger lover though he thought it was a bit too much. I grabbed a taste and found it to be nice and flavorful if a bit less adventurous than other offerings. Our friend got the nest, sunflower crumbed soft boiled eggs in a nest over salad with blood sausage added. It was a vision to behold but I sensed he didn't love it as much as he has hoped. He noted the nest was a bit difficult to eat with a fork and knife. Everything was beautifully presented, and the coffee was lovely. Double shot on the espresso drinks standard, as it should be! The atmosphere was very nice. Couple of tables out front perfect for a sunny day and plenty of tables indoors. It's a small place but it's a bit out of the way and we didn't have to wait more than a few minutes to sit. So many interesting options to choose from - I can't wait to go back and try the banana rice with salted coconut cream and lychees! Sounds incredible!! Bit of a splurge at $17 average price per item, but felt like good value for the artistry and interesting flavors you get. Bravo!

HUGE fan! What a great addition to an otherwise relatively quiet neighbourhood…read more What I love about L'oeuf is that it's a little bit different, without trying too hard. For example, the menu has all the usual brunch items - eggs, mushroom, salmon etc- but they are served with a creative twist and presented beautifully. 'The Russian', which I ordered, was essentially salmon and cream cheese w toast but they served the salmon as a tartare with dill and the cream cheese was full of herbs. Combine this on the lightly seeded toast with a squeeze of lemon juice and some avo and I was in heaven. The décor is a little bit different. They've used dark wood and loads of dark, leafy greenery and with a big Persian rug taking centre stage in the middle of the floor. I loved it but I will admit, it did was rather dark inside despite being gloriously sunny out! I'm normally more of a savoury kid at breakfast but having seen some of the sweet dishes come out of the kitchen i'm already looking for an excuse to head back here ASAP!