Farm House Cafe

The famous cinnabun from Hill House Cafe has returned to South Auckland. Previously in Manurewa, Hill House Cafe moved to the historic Pah Homestead in Hillsborough earlier this year and has been gracing the people of Tāmaki with their cinnamon-crunch and fluffy bun goodness. Now they’re making their comeback to South Auckland—and slinging double cinnabuns at their second site, Farm House Cafe.

Driving to Farm House Cafe would have you mistaken for going on a Kiwi summer holiday. Just half an hour drive from their Hillsborough cafe, you leave the city behind, finding yourself immersed in lush floral-scented roads and a picturesque view on arrival. Complete with soon-to-bloom sunflowers, rows of fragrant lavender and beautiful old trees dotted throughout the property (plus sheep and buffalo cows grazing in the neighbouring paddocks), it’s a wholesome day out for the family.

Walk the dog around the beautiful track that surrounds Farm House Cafe, then stay for a long lunch of elevated Kiwi brunch classics—we’re talking silky eggs with lashings of chilli butter and freshly-pressed waffles topped with scoops of their own house-made gelato.

As soon as you step inside, your summer holiday begins. The cabinet is packed with all the essential pastries, caramel slices and their signature cinnabun by the trayful— the perfect bite with a Flight coffee or iced matcha in hand. The passion from Peter, Mike and Ricardo, as well as their standout team, is seen with every plate of food sent out and every coffee made. 

Start the day right with their Hey Gorgeous Bowl—a big bowl of green goddess vibes, filled to the brim with wild green textures. We love the crispy and herbaceous super greens falafel sitting amongst the many gorgeous things (think: harissa carrot purée and crunchy green beans). They also have the Yin Yang Bowl—cacao granola with all the berry-chia trimmings, including a scoop of their house-made açai sorbet on top, because why wouldn’t you want dessert for breakfast?

The hot brunch menu is complete with D.I.Y brekkie options or trust the staff’s go-to, and get their spiced lamb omelette—the softest sunshine-yellow pillow of scrambled egg atop of a bed of 18 hour low-and-slow lamb braised in spices and red wine. Cut open the top and you’ll find layers of creamy bechamel and tangy apricot-capsicum chutney with the melt-in-your-mouth lamb on a (very) thick slice of sourdough. Farm House Cafe don’t do breakfast by halves. 

Vegetarians can also get their omelette fix, with waffles at the same time too. Cue: The Inferno Waffle. Liege waffles made to order, equally crispy and soft, plus a chilli-spiked scramble that will give you just the right amount of kick to start the day. Sweet-toothed waffles are an option too. Their double scoop of raspberry sorbetto and blueberry gelato on waffles smothered in whipped white chocolate mascarpone is the sweet escape we’ve all been thinking about (and totally justified for brunch).

Don’t leave without an iconic cinnabun for the road. Their homemade dough is super soft, specked with cinnamon and slathered in a generous ratio of cream cheese that will be sure to run down your arm. It’s doused in a generous cinnamon sugar dust, and topped with candied walnuts, peanuts and cashew. Just in: They’ve also released their cinnabun flavoured gelato. A cinnamon-spiced and cream cheese infused gelato reminiscent of their signature bake, which we know we’ll be having all summer.

Forks and scoops at the ready—rally the crew and make this your next brunch vacay.

Image credit: Wono Kim | Words: Vicki Young

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