Food & Drink

The Best Cafes In Ponsonby Right Now

Written by: Kathryn Steane
Manis Bakery's cream cheese and Biscoff-stuffed croissant.
Ponsonby is a bonafide food and booze paradise. However, the bars and restaurants shouldn't get all the glory—this trendy 'burb is also punching above its weight when it comes to cafes and other eateries.
 
From chic patisseries and pretty pink ice cream parlours to next-level burger joints, Urban List has found there's certainly no shortage of spots to pick up the ultimate feed.

Lulu's Neighbourhood Bowls

2 Williamson Avenue, Grey Lynn, Auckland

Rachel holds an acai bowl and an iced matcha sits beside her.
Image credit: Lulu's Neighbourhood Bowls | Laura Zonnevylle

I'm not sure that it gets more Ponsonby than post-yoga açai bowls and that's exactly what Lulu's Neighbourhood Bar is dishing up. That and stunning two-tone dairy-free softserve (neatly named 'cocowhip'), plus smoothies, matcha and other plant-based treats. And perhaps you need a brass pineapple-topped bottle opener? You'll find that here, too. 

Sol's Place

121 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland

The incredible eggs benny at Sol's Place. Image credit: Sol's Place | Facebook

We're suckers for an eggs benny and Sol's version is so good, it's earned them the title of one of Ponsonby's best cafes (just look at that pic, for crying out loud. That's house-smoked salmon, people!).

However, determined not to be pigeonholed by one delicious dish alone, these guys are also slinging the likes of corn fritters and wagyu mince on toast, with a side of cosy surrounds. Did we mention that they also have a cute courtyard to kick back in (another thing we're absolute suckers for)?

Dizengoff

256 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland

Few Ponsonby cafes have stood the test of time like Dizengoff. This spot has earned a cult following since springing onto the scene almost three decades ago, and here's why: it has great food, great service, and is open almost every day of the goddam year (364, to be precise).

Whether it's a coffee and a treat to-go, or a leisurely brunch with coffees plural (anything featuring their famous mushrooms is always a good time), Dizengoff will never let you down. Rumour has it that Queen Bey even dined here once with Jay Z—if it's good enough for royalty, it's good enough for us.

Parade 

252 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland

Image credit: Parade | Instagram

Originally planned as a pop-up, Parade proved so popular that the owners (who also run Mutual Friends in Newmarket) decided to make things permanent. The secret to Parade's success?

Some of Auckland's best burgers, stuffed with the likes of smashed Wagyu beef patties and free-range buttermilk fried chicken thigh, served on pretzel-style buns made from a unique classic dough/American pretzel dough hybrid that took eight months to perfect. Wash it all down with some punchy cocktails by the jug.

Little Bird Kitchen

Summer Street & Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland

Little Bird Kitchen was one of the first places—if not, the first—to introduce us to the joys of 'unbaked' or 'raw' treats. We've never felt as good about stuffing our faces with sweets as we do when dining here because guess what? All of their treats are dairy, gluten, and refined-sugar-free.

However, it's not all about cakes and doughnuts—Little Bird Kitchen also does a solid menu of brunch and lunch dishes (think kumara hotcakes, and mushroom and cheese sourdough toasties), along with some seriously healthy smoothies.

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Duck Island Ice Cream

1/182 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland

Here Is Where You Need To Eat In PonsonbyImage credit: Duck Island Ice Cream | Urban List Jaiden Bhaga

Nobody does ice cream quite like Duck Island, whose pastel pink store on Ponsonby Road is an absolute delight. Ooh and aah over their Wonka-like selection of icy confections, many of which also happen to be vegan and dairy-free.

Their fairy bread and lolly cake creations are hard to beat, but if you really want to challenge your taste buds, they have something for that too (black sticky rice, we're looking at you). On a sunny day, you can't beat sitting beneath their outdoor umbrellas with your fave scoop.

Miann

Ponsonby Central, 136 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland

Miann is hands-down one of Ponsonby's sweetest spots, boasting a line-up of dreamy cakes, pastries and gelato—along with some seriously insane seasonal treats (they once did a chocolate train for Easter, no biggie).

After stuffing your face with said goodies, logic says that you should probably grab a few more to take home (we recommend their Dulce de Leche Caramelised White Chocolate Drinking Chocolate Mix, which will help you replicate one of Auckland's best hot choccies from the comfort of your own kitchen).

Daily Bread

108 Ponsonby Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland

Coffee and a sandwich from Daily Bread. Image credit: Daily Bread | Instagram

With a tonne of accolades to their name, we'd be mad not to include Daily Bread's Ponsonby branch on a list of Ponsonby's best cafes. Swing by and get your fill of all the usual DB suspects (buttery pastries, gourmet pies, delicious doughnuts and of course, freshly baked bread) and don't forget a cup of coffee, which always hits the spot. If you plump for only one thing, make it their cardamom morning bun aka the perfect combo of sugar, spice, and all things nice.

Looking for more rad places to eat? Check out:

Main image credit: Manis Bakery | Instagram

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