Cafes

More Than Just Coffee | Auckland Cafes With Benefits

By Alice Chan
9th Jul 2016

auckland cafes with shops

So little time yet so much to do…and so many coffee dates to attend, shopping trips to be done and life admin errands to run!  Living in one of the great coffee capitals of the world also means that Aucklanders generally need adequate and plentiful caffeine supplies in order to fully function!  

The good news is, there are plenty of Auckland gems curating a superior cup as part of a wider retail experience. Like a two-in-one shampoo kinda thing, but cool. Whether you're a multi tasker, time poor or the idea of an actual coffee "break" scares the hell out of you; we've got your back with our list of one-stop cafes. With your new found #productivity, morning coffee runs will never be the same again.

The Botanist

Auckland CBD

Pretend you're at a garden tea party amidst the concrete jungle at this three-in-one café, bar and florist. By day, florist Eden creates beautiful bouquets and there is always a selection of the sweetest ceramic pot plants onsite. By night, catch the sunset with a wine or craft beer in hand. Oh and FYI, the gingerbread waffle with roast pumpkin and buttermilk rum caramel is as good as it sounds.

Scarecrow

Auckland CBD

This quaint café and grocery on the corner of Kitchener and Wellesley St brings country charm to the city centre. Serving Kokako coffee and a full kitchen menu, the food on offer changes daily, based on what the suppliers bring in. CBD residents will rejoice at the artisan produce available including Poppy & Olive nut butters, Wild Out West 'krauts and Daily Organics kombucha, Ceres Organics groceries and Nice Blocks ice cream.

Wise Cicada

Newmarket

Wise Cicada is a grocery shopping experience. This self-proclaimed eco super store and plant based vegan café, now located at 88 Broadway, is an emporium. We could spend the entire day here sipping on coffee or a roasted dandelion latte, while devouring raw cheesecake then stocking up on sustainable skincare and spending up large on all the organic goodies you could imagine.  

Were Bros

Grey Lynn

Muck Floral and Were Bros are the dream team. Whether you're after a quick filter coffee and brunch fix, a floral arrangement or a handmade gift, this modest Grey Lynn café, florist and general store has it all. We'd visit for Carter Were's famous organic sprouted bread alone but there is also a selection of ceramics and curios as well as olive oil on tap, bottled on request.

Blend Café & Bike Store

Eden Terrace

This espresso bar/cycle store is the brainchild of Drew Duff-Dobson, founder of coffee company, SMITH. As well as serving SMITH, Blend sells a variety of cakes and pastries, a selection of bicycles from tokyobike and a range of urban bike and lifestyle accessories including Drew's handpicked collection of "things you never knew you needed for your bike". Well now you know.

Café on Kohi

Kohimarama 

Any Hip Group café will satisfy your caffeine craving but Kohi Corner has you sorted for lunch and dinner too. Neighbouring farmers’ shop The Good Grocer has everything your fridge (and stomach) could want: cheeses, a bakery selection, onsite butcher, fresh produce, antipasti, yoghurts, olive oil, roasted coffee beans, nut milks dispensed to order, house made preserves and, the most important grocery of all, famous Milse gelato.  

Bread and Butter

Milford

Now you can have your bread and eat it too. Offering not only a superior brunch experience, Bread and Butter specialises in traditional European and naturally leavened sourdough breads. It seems like stew(-pidly cold) weather these days so grab a loaf for a toasty dinner by the fireplace.

Burrs & Grind

Auckland CBD

With a cup of eightthirty in one hand, we guarantee you'll shop 'til the last drop. Barkers flagship on High Street has capitalised on coffee-drinking and man-grooming trends by combining the Burrs & Grind espresso bar at the entrance, the Barkers menswear shop and the Groom Room barbershop on the mezzanine level. Man shopping has never been so easy.

Scratch Bakers HQ

Auckland CBD

Did you forget it was your turn to bring in morning tea? Grab a box of freshly baked from Scratch tarts, pastries and donuts—we guarantee you'll be the coolest kid in the office. The HQ is also home to the Three Beans Roastery so while you're here, treat yourself to the freshest coffee in town.

Chapter Book & Tea Shop

Mt Eden

If you wondered where booklovers flock post Borders-era, they might be at Mt Eden bookstore, Chapter. Okay so it's not really a coffee shop but you'll find brews from Harney & Sons, Ti Ora, Zealong and Pukka. They also specialise in romance novels, if that tickles your fancy.

Browns Eatery & Store

Remuera

Browns began as a humble espresso bar serving coffee and cake in a women's clothing store on Remuera Road.  These days, the revamped café and homewares store serves Allpress coffee in 'general store' slash Melbourne-style deli type set up. Hang out in the courtyard then ogle over the luxurious marble tables for sale.  

L’Atelier du Fromage

Newmarket

We are still trying to convince ourselves that the secret to beauty is cheese, wine and chocolate—how else do those French ladies look so damn good? Tucked away on Newmarket’s McColl Street, this combination deli, café, cheese counter and wine cellar (you'll find Maison Vauvron upstairs) ticks all the boxes. We say grab the girls for a gastronomic fête of French finesse.

The New Zealand Coffee Company

Grafton

Now while we aren’t suggesting you casually pick up a coffee machine with your morning cuppa, The New Zealand Coffee Company is definitely a destination for coffee connoisseurs. This Khyber Pass Road café, showroom, roastery and workshop offers expert advice on all things coffee and is the ultimate espresso experience. 

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