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!

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.

Far far away in Henderson, a café is hidden somewhere off a cul-de-sac, and down a small road…read morerunning alongside the train track. The café in question here is Coffee Studio, located amidst the character buildings of the Corban Estate Arts Centre. Arriving 2pm, we were just too late to order from the main menu (the usual café options), but we were happy with their counter offerings. The vegetable frittata ($11.50), served with a root vegetable and blue cheese salad, arrived on a bright blue plate but the food itself was also full of colour: golden frittata, and vibrant reds and oranges dominating the salad. Though not outstanding, it was tasty and a satisfying potion. The carrot cake ($4.50) was a great accompaniment to a strong cup of cappuccino ($4). Personally I felt the cake on the dry side but the dollop of cream helped to offset this. The brownie ($4) was the unanimous favourite of the afternoon; a decadent delight that was incredibly chocolatey and slightly moist in the middle. The café's styling is worthy of mention: a small studio building decked out with chic art and retro furnishings inside, and vintage swivel seating outside. I also liked the handwritten chalkboard menu and the fact that all the food was garnished with a sprig of lavender (lavender shrubs everywhere surrounding the café!). Personal touches fully reflective of the bubbly team and the cosy, welcoming atmosphere. The food was solid, though probably not worth a drive halfway across town for. But if you're in the area, Coffee Studio is a nice stop to grab brunch, or a much craved coffee-and-cake energy boost.

This place is trult a hidden gem, who would've thought that such an amazing cafe would exist in…read moreHenderson. One day a friend and I decided we needed to take a walk and catch up on what was happening in our lives. On our walk we walked in the park then decided to walk through Corban Estate. We came to Coffee Studio and I was in love. The cafe had these amazing ceramic vases on the tables. I wanted to borrow the vases for my room but I couldn't. When we decided to walk into the cafe we were taken back to an era that we weren't born in. The place had a rustic feel to it. I ordered the best mango smoothie in Auckland. It was made with an actual mango and fresh ingredients before my eyes.

Little Sister is a fairly new addition to Henderson. With ex-Sweetie and Salvation Kitchen owners…read moreat the helm, it's got to be good. To be honest, I'm relying on a Viva article for the second part of that statement, because I only went to Salvation Kitchen post-sale and the coffee was bloody awful. Don't go. Sweetie, on the other hand, was lovely and just like Little Sister, its counter-top teaming with sugary treats - like a goddamn Willy Wonka scene. Impossible to resist. My husband had arrived on the hideously early flight from San Francisco last week (yes, he came bearing gifts, and the gifts he did not manage to secure I promptly ordered online), where he was hungry and in desperate need of New Zealand milk, coffee and more importantly, eggs! Given that Little Sister is only open weekdays, this was the perfect chance to #supportlocal and head somewhere I had been dying to try out. First problem: check the bloody details, Vanessa. Little Sister does not open till 7.30am. I had assumed 7am, so we hung out in the car park for 15 minutes like losers. There's lots of parking, with very definite 'Little Sister' named spots, so unless you're absolutely blind, it's quite clear where to park up. The morning menu was quite brief, and I wasn't offered another one to check out what they offer for lunch. That's not to say I'm offended by brevity, quite the opposite. As you may have noticed, I get terrible FOMO so I appreciate obvious choices. My morning meal was therefore a hearty one - pork and fennel sausage, perfectly crisp bacon, slow cooked tomatoes with just the right amount of sweet and tart, a wonderfully spiced (yes, spiced!) potato and carrot rosti, a very large mushroom that had been bathed (and appropriately drained, leaving the sticky and tangy remnants) in balsamic vinegar, and two glorious eggs with the most vibrant orange yolk. And, of course, a knock-out latte to wash it all down.

Wonderful little cafe with indoor and outdoor sitting. Mostly two tops but a few tour top tables…read more Pick up a menu on the way in, order at the counter and they deliver to your table. We had poached eggs and toast, cheesy scone and a jam and cream bonbon. All were excellent! I had a large flat white with a triple shot to see me through the day and am quite happy with it. They have lots of variety in the pastry case, I was tempted by it all!

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.

Great food and service. Menu caters for gluten-free and vegetarian options available with a…read moreseparate kids menu. The food is very well presented with good size portions that's ideal for breakfast/brunch and lunch. My partner is coeliac as well as gluten-free and this is one of the few places she enjoys eating at. It doesn't have an online menu which would be helpful, the place would benefit with expanding to accomodate the growing customers. There are sufficient number of staff members and they are very courteous.

Who knew one of the best cafes would be inside a plant shop. This is one of my favorite places that…read moremy friends in NZ frequent, kid friendly too with a play area. The food and drinks are always fresh, the staff are so lovely. They offer a punch-card if you're a frequent customer for a free drink after 10 visits I think. I hope to return one day! Miss you Kings!

Love this place, probably the best coffee in West Auckland. Many options for blends of coffee,…read morewould recommend rapture or organic as they are balanced and smooth. Road runner blend is very strong, I love a good strong coffee but this blend is too bitter for me although my partner loves it. Each barista is a bit different so sometimes my Mocha is lacking in chocolate, you end up waiting a bit too long (usually after a customer orders 8 coffees) or you end up repeating what your order is about 5 times. Opening hours aren't concrete, many times they open later than stated which is unfortunate. They now serve food which is very delicious, would recommend.

After reading all the reviews, we finally tried it and have become huge fans! If your a real coffee…read morelover, give this place a go. It is quite small so there is usually a line out the door and is quite busy in the mornings. We get the usual strong flat whites and they are to die for. Open 7 days a week is a bonus! Need your coffee fix to start the day off with a BANG? Definitely worth going out of your way!

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. :)

Recommended by a friend from Houndstooth Coffee in Texas, this place does not disappoint. Delicious…read morecoffee with incredible, friendly service.

Tucked away, inside the fruit and vege section of Ponsonby Market is Eightthirty Coffee Roasters…read more This place is tiny, yet they roast their beans on site, which I think is pretty cool. Want to know what else is pretty cool? I figured out that if you buy a coffee from a roastery your chances of it being bloody great increase exponentially. Well, at least that's what I've found and Eightthirty is no exception. They seem to hit the nail on the head every time. Rich, perfectly extracted espresso and velvety smooth milk. I only wished I lived closer! If you like coffee, you need to get here ASAP!

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!