How to best brunch in Auckland’s best cafes

This article was published on Neatplaces.co.nz and republished with permission.

As one of the best places in the world to enjoy coffee and breakfast, Sunday brunch is practically a religion for Aucklanders.

There’s a great cafe in every neighborhood, so brunch is a great way to explore the whole city. We’ve scoured the city for the best places to grab a bite to eat in the late morning or early afternoon, wherever you want to go.

While some stick to the classics and some mix it up, they all make for a great cup of coffee and a lovely atmosphere.

READ MORE:
* Auckland’s best vegetarian food is hidden in a large Buddhist temple
* Where to find Auckland’s secret bars and speakeasies
* Is this the best fish burger in Auckland?

Williams Eatery

g03/85 Daldy Street

Charles and Patrick Williams’ Wynyard Quarter place is a real family business – if you stop by on the right day, you’ll see their mom clearing tables and preparing food. It’s been called Auckland’s best cafe, and for good reason: their single-origin Flight Coffee shots are crafted with care, and Chef Arjay Soneja’s Filipino-inspired menu has some of the best brunch dishes you’ll find.

To see: instagram.com/williamseatery

Ozone

18 Westmoreland Street

New Plymouth Coffee Roasters Ozone has gone international with cafes in London, and their Gray Lynn outpost is as good as you can get. Specialty coffees and drinks sit alongside a delicious selection of classics and a few dishes you won’t find anywhere else. As an added bonus, they are extremely focused on working ethically and advocating a more equitable hospitality industry from the bottom up.

To see: instagram.com/ozonecoffeenz

Best

179/183 Karangahape Road

Bestie’s dining room is arguably the prettiest in town. Bathed in light from the huge bay window of St Kevins Arcade, Bestie is the place to go for great pastries, delicious meals and excellent service. In the evenings, the space turns into Gemmayze St, a Lebanese restaurant, and on Monday nights there’s Everybody Eats, a communal kitchen where you can pay your bill.

To see: instagram.com/bestie_cafe

aman

66 – 68, Tyler Street

One of the hardest places to get a table for dinner, Amano is also a great place for breakfast. The huge, stunning space is the perfect place to recharge during a shopping trip downtown, and their Italian-inspired breakfast and lunch menus are packed with delicious options. If you’re in a rush, you can also pick up a pastry from their bakery shop window.

To see: instagram.com/amano_nz

the candy store

2/8 Osborne Street

Nestled on a side street in Newmarket, The Candy Shop is a delightful retreat from the hustle and bustle of the main street. Their menu, split into breakfast and lunch during the week, and all day on weekends, features perennials like Eggs Bene, but the real good ones are their Korean dishes, like the Mahn Doo dumpling broth or fried chicken. They also roast their own coffee under the Camper Coffee brand and their expert baristas make a killer flat white. If you are in the area in the evening, you can also go there for dinner.

To see: instagram.com/thecandyshopnz

Federal Deli

Federal Street 86

Al Brown’s New York deli is an absolute must for brunch. Their coffee is a bottomless filter (no lattes in sight), the service is quick and efficient, and the food is indulgent; think blueberry buttermilk pancakes, salmon latkes or pastrami hash. You’ll want to get there early, though, or prepare to wait as tables fill up extremely quickly on weekends.

To see: instagram.com/federaldelicatessen

Orphan kitchen

Ponsonby Road 118

Ponsonby Road institution Orphans Kitchen no longer serves dinner, but you will find the best dishes on the breakfast menu anyway. Their spinach and silver beet on Daily Bread sourdough bread is one of the best vegan breakfasts in town, and their house blend Coffee Supreme is a hit every time. Pay a visit and find out why the coolest people in town spend their mornings there.

To see: instagram.com/orphanskitchen

Mr T’s

210 Onehunga Mall, Onehunga

The photo at Mr T’s is worth taking the train to Onehunga in itself. This French-Vietnamese cafe and bakery serves delicious banh mi alongside great coffee and delicious pastries, and if you eat inside you get the added bonus of the smell of bread being baked in the back of the room as you eat. Grab an eclair to finish, continue.

To see: instagram.com/mr.t.thebaker

Hare and the Tortoise

1/63 New Windsor Road, New Windsor

The Hare and the Turtle is a neighborhood favorite that lets people drive from all over the city to eat their sandwiches, served quickly and made with homemade bread. The eggplant parmesan is a fan favorite, but you can’t go wrong anywhere on the menu here. It’s all simple and delicious.

To see: instagram.com/hareandtheturtle

Coffee Pen

Basque road 6

Coffee Pen is not easy to find, tucked in the corner of a building on a side street in Eden Terrace. However, it is worth the trip. Yas and Fumi, the owners, have built a cult following thanks to delicious specialty coffees, pastries and nutritious foods like their lasagna or beef burritos, which rotate depending on the day, so check their Instagram ahead of time.

To see: instagram.com/coffee_pen_

If you just want a cup of coffee

Not every cafe visit has to be about food, though: some of Auckland’s best have no kitchen at all. If you’re a coffee specialty lover, you can’t go wrong with Daily Daily on Karangahape Road, pink neon sign on high street, Ace on Dominion Road, Red Rabbit in Parnell, coconut in Commercial Bay, or allpress on Drake Street for a delicious cuppa in a beautiful space.