10 of the best cafes in Ponsonby
Get brunch, pastries, or just really good coffee at these top cafes.
Image credit - Orphan’s Kitchen
Cafes are strung out all along Ponsonby Road, slotted in between the designer boutiques and trendy restaurants. There is excellent coffee to be had, as well as typical brunch fare and decadent bakery options.
While the vibe of Ponsonby is a bit more polished than the homey cafes in neighbouring Grey Lynn, there are still awesome cafes to settle into on weekend mornings.
Here are some of the best cafes in Ponsonby.
1. Orphan’s Kitchen
Image credit - Orphan’s Kitchen
Orphan’s Kitchen is a much-loved Ponsonby cafe which has been going strong for a decade now.
The cafe interior feels almost stripped back, with warm minimalism the setting for exquisite food. Fresh, high-quality local produce is heroed on each plate.
It’s one of the best Ponsonby cafes for a classy brunch.
Their crumpets are my favourite — the original version has honey from the rooftop, or for a more decadent version try the clotted cream and jam.
They also have a Southland cheese roll on the menu, which is pretty much a New Zealand delicacy.
At the end of August 2023, Orphan’s Kitchen also reopened their evening service. From Wednesday to Sunday you can now drop by in the evenings to enjoy the Orphan’s wine bar — with a 200 bottle deep wine list — and some fancy plates.
2. Daily Bread
Daily Bread is a welcome fixture on Ponsonby Road, with enormous loaves of crusty sourdough and flaky croissants stuffed with decadent hazelnut cream.
The space is large and airy, with a long communal table. Being more of a bakery it’s a lot more laidback than other Ponsonby cafes, which can be great if you’re after something a little more casual.
For something a little heartier than a pastry, grab a toastie.
3. Manis
Manis is more of a bakery than a cafe, but since opening in early 2023 it has become a must-visit stop in Ponsonby.
‘Manis’ means sweet in Indonesian, reflecting the owners’ unique blend of Balinese and French pastries.
Here you’ll find martabak, a type of sweet pancake, and a sweet milk tart called pie susu, lined up alongside classic croissants and rolls.
It’s the ideal place to grab to grab a treat to go, and they serve up coffee from Orakei roastery Espresso Workshop as well.
4. Little Bird Kitchen
Image credit - Little Bird Kitchen
Little Bird Kitchen was making raw vegan food long before it was cool.
It’s awesome to see they are still going, and still as popular as ever. This is the go to Ponsonby cafe for a healthy lunch, or a raw cheesecake treat that won’t leave you full of regret.
Brick walls, wooden tables, and seasonal organic produce are the defining features of this cafe. There are also some great organic deli-style goodies you can take home with you.
5. Little & Friday
Image courtesy of Little & Friday
There’s not much space to sit and brunch in Little and Friday, but this is the perfect spot if you want to pick up a coffee and a decadent cake or pastry (or both) and enjoy in one of Ponsonby’s green spaces.
The savoury brioches are gigantic and buttery, while each small cake is a work of art. Delicious.
6. Allpress Coffee Ponsonby
Image credit - Allpress
Allpress started off as New Zealand’s first coffee cart, before roasting coffee in the back of a garage. Today, Allpress supplies coffee blends to cafés around Auckland City, and around the world.
Allpress is dedicated to coffee first and foremost, so this Ponsonby cafe is a good spot to stop to pick up beans or get a truly great coffee.
The Allpress vision is that you go to a bakery for bread and a vege shop for produce, so it makes sense to stop at a speciality coffee roasters for your coffee. They’re not wrong, the coffee sets the standard along Ponsonby Road.
As well as a cafe, Allpress Ponsonby is also a retail store. You can browse blends and single origin coffees to take home, and the baristas can guide you through tasting the different blends and understanding how to make the best possible coffee at home.
The team here are coffee lovers, and as well as making coffee, they are happy to teach a broader appreciation of coffee beyond the much-loved espresso.
I also love that they leave coffee sacks outside, which you can collect for a gold coin donation (I used them as floor covers. in my van).
7. Pilar Cafe & Eatery
Pilar is Ponsonby’s newest cafe, and quickly becoming a favourite.
Pilar uses Rocket coffee beans from Hamilton, with the goal of bringing a great coffee roaster to more people.
The food is traditional European cafe food, plus Asian fusion choices.
8. Dizengoff
Dizengoff is a stalwart of Ponsonby Road, having stood the test of time as other cafes have come and gone. They’ve been in business for 25 years now, buoyed by a consistent formula of great coffee and no-nonsense food.
Named for a famous avenue in Tel Aviv, the menu has Jewish influences, with options like a Reuben grilled sandwich on rye sourdough, with pastrami, cheese, pickle, and sauerkraut.
It’s one of the best brunch options along Ponsonby Road, although it’s busy on weekends.
9. Little Garden
Little Garden does what it says on the tin - provides a quiet spot for coffee right in the middle of Ponsonby. This spot at the top of Franklin road has seen a few different iterations over the years.
The latest is a European inspired garden cafe and wine bar. Brick walls, hearty cabinet food, and a peaceful courtyard make this a fine cafe to spend time in.
10. Queenies
Image credit - Queenies
I think Queenies is technically in Freemans Bay, but I’m including it as a Ponsonby cafe because it’s one of the best spots to escape to if you want to get good food and coffee away from the main strip of Ponsonby Road.
I love the ivy, the tables and chairs outside in the sunshine, and the friendly atmosphere. Queenies feels like a local haunt and makes a refreshing change from the atmosphere of coffee shops on Ponsonby Road.
Thanks for reading this far, I hope you found a new cafe to try!
If you’re looking for more great places to eat in Auckland, you might want to check out these posts as well:
