Tucked under Maungahwau/Mt Eden you can find sweet treats, late night spots and friendly fusion restaurants.
Mt Eden takes up a fair chunk of the map, with a number of retail and hospitality hubs. Dive into this guide to Mt Eden Rd, and check out plenty more Mt Eden
gems in Viva’s guides to Dominion Rd and Uptown.
Friend and Whau
Starting at the top, this friendly cafe on the slopes of Maungahwau shares a heritage kiosk space with some interesting historical displays to peruse as you wait for your caffeine fix. Enjoy it on the sun-soaked deck or on a stroll up to the summit.
Puhi Huia Rd, instagram.com/friendandwhaucafe
Workshop Bread Company’s ciabatta might be the best in Auckland.
Workshop Bread Company
The owners of bijoux bakery Gourmet Gannet in Hobsonville needed a bigger space and found it in this sun-soaked spot on Stokes Rd, formerly home to Olaf’s. A large kitchen space turns out plenty of fresh bread, including sourdough made with a 27-year-old starter, pastries made the artisan way, as well cafe dishes designed to showcase the bread. The menu will change seasonally. Special mention to the ciabatta, which I reckon could be the best in the city; it has the requisite chewy crust and the interior is nicely hydrated with big air pockets – say hello to your perfect picnic bread.
1 Stokes Rd, workshopbread.co.nz
No, you can’t eat books (or shouldn’t, at least) but you cook from them, and Time Out has a particularly impressive selection of cookbooks on its gloriously laden shelves.
432 Mt Eden Rd, timeout.co.nz
Frasers is a rare beast in Auckland.
Frasers
There really aren’t many places in Auckland to enjoy coffee and something sweet after dark, but Frasers is that rare beast (it’s also open before it gets light, from 6.30am). Soak up the mood lighting and heritage brick-walled charm: it’s quite the Stars Hollow vibe.
434 Mt Eden Rd, frasers.cafe
KC Loo
This corner greengrocer has a 69-year legacy. It was named for its founder Kong Chew Loo, who arrived in New Zealand after his family fled occupied China in World War II, and it’s still run by his descendants. The small shop is a magic box, somehow fitting a wide selection of fresh produce as well as dried goods, plus a section dedicated to items sold to raise money for charities.
436 Mt Eden Rd, kcloofruitcentre.wixsite.com/kcloofruitcentre
No heavily battered bits of fish sweating to mush in a paper sauna here; you pay a bit more than at some places but get fish and chips worth showing off to overseas visitors. Pick up a pottle of ika mata, too, and some of the country’s best salmon, from Mt Cook Alpine Salmon.
438 Mt Eden Rd, theseafoodcollective.co.nz
There is something for everyone at Rad Cafe. Picture / Sarah Ivey
Rad Cafe
This village stalwart has been through a few owners but some things haven’t changed, including the great coffee (Rocket roast) and generously stuffed banh mi, which quickly became a signature dish when the original Vietnamese-Kiwi family opened shop. The menu is surprisingly long so there’s definitely something for everyone.
397 Mt Eden Rd, instagram.com/rad_cafe
Kebab Stop and Sheeryakh
Dinner and dessert sorted in one stop. Kebab Stop has been rolling up very decent feeds for years, and more recently added a wee ice cream parlour to the side. Sheeryakh serves the eponymous Afghan ice cream – thick and slightly stretchy, and flavoured with cardamon and rosewater, it comes topped with ground pistachios and the option of falooda (vermicelli).
395 Mount Eden Rd, instagram.com/_kebab_stop_
Banana and dulce de leche gelato from Pistackio.
Pistackio
Proper gelato made by an Argentinian-Italian couple immensely passionate about their craft. Organic milk meets other locally sourced ingredients in rich, creamy creations, and sorbets fly the dairy-free flag. I say go for the eponymous pistachio, my kids say go for a scoop of everything apart from licorice (one day they’ll get a taste for it).
416 Mt Eden Rd, pistackio.co.nz
Maison de Lys
The second outpost of this artisan bakery is open exclusively on Saturdays and Sundays, from 8am till 2pm. But get in early, because these coveted goods sell out. If you didn’t already know that all the pastries and viennoiserie served here were entirely plant-based, you wouldn’t guess it; nobody’s mourning the absence of butter, which is testament to the magic of their craft.
403 Mt Eden Rd, maisondeslys.co.nz
Circus Circus is always packed full of customers. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Circus Circus
This cheery red-and-yellow corner cafe has been slinging latte bowls since 1995. You won’t get a pour-over here, but its popularity doesn’t wane, it’s always chocka with customers day and night with all ages. The kids menu is especially good value.
447 Mt Eden Rd, circuscafe.co.nz
De Post
Belgian beer and mussel pots are the order of the day, and each day of the week brings special-value offers to make your dollar stretch further.
466 Mt Eden Rd, depost.co.nz
Chinese and Japanese fusion restaurant Xoong. Photo / Rebecca Zephyr Thomas
Xoong
More than a few Asian-fusion eateries in town have been flash in the pan, but Xoong enjoys longevity, winning over palates with Chinese-Japanese flavours that span both the food and cocktail menus.
424 Mt Eden Rd, xoong.co.nz
Cotton Candy
In this paradise for lovers of a maximalist brunch, dishes like beef brisket eggs bene and strawberry matcha toast arrive at the table looking larger than life.
418 Mt Eden Rd, instagram.com/cottoncandyeatery
Teresa Benni (right) and Flavia Formica make fresh pasta by hand at Pasta E Cuore. Photo / Sylvie Whinray
Pasta e Cuore
During the day, the window of this small pasta restaurant frames the comforting sight of chefs rolling and shaping dough to make the fresh pasta the joint is celebrated for. If you are ready to be educated on why “spaghetti bolognese” doesn’t exist, staff will fill you in the most delicious way – say hello to Tagliatelle al ragu Bolognese.
409 Mt Eden Rd, pastaecuore.co.nz
Eden Cloak Room
News scoop – the bar and eatery Eden Cloakroom is soon to reopen in its original home after Slimm’s recently shut up shop. The west-facing terrace here kicks off any afternoon of the week.
476 Mt Eden Rd, instagram.com/eden_cloak_room
Vani’s Kitchen
Dreamy dum biryani is at the core of this family run restaurant specialising in Hyderabadi cuisine. Get it family size, or an individual portion, along with requisite sides on a thali. There are curries, too – shahi green masala’s verdant blend of coriander, mint and cream is especially moreish, as is the smoked eggplant in tamarind gravy that is bagara baingan. But first, gobble some starters, textural delights all of them, bursting with flavour: dahi puri, pani puri, samosa chaat and more.
451 Mt Eden Rd, vaniskitchen.co.nz
Essential Deli is your one-stop shop for gifting.
Essential Deli
Owned by Adrienne Moors since 2001, this deli packs a lot of punch into a small space. Go for vibrant salads that change with the seasons (as well as the steadies: the Caesar and some kind of slaw), hearty sandwiches and wraps, pies, sweet slices and more, all made on-site. The deli’s own freezer meals come in many iterations, from Thai curry to tagine, and fly out the door. It’s also your one-stop shop for gifting for a foodie – so many jars, packets and accessories to impress a loved one with. The punchy Miller’s espresso might just be the best in the village.
455b Mt Eden Rd, essentialdeli.co.nz
Caspian Trading
This specialist grocer stocks all the ingredients you need to cook and eat Persian perfectly, as well as sorting your pantry with wider Middle Eastern foods. The basmati rice stocked here – mostly in larger quantities – is far superior to what you get at the supermarket; impossibly long, thin grains that resist breaking up or sticking in clumps when cooked, and instead exit the pot fantastically fluffy. Peruse rows of pickles, and pick up packs of fresh Persian, Turkish and Afghan breads. In the chiller, goat and sheep feta come in generous tubs, and cute little bottles of doogh come with old-fashioned bottle tops – try this lightly salted, fizzy yoghurt drink once and you’ll be back for more.
883 Mt Eden Rd, caspian.co.nz
At Tupu’anga Coffee, a bright exterior mural features coffee cherries, like the ones the owners grow in Tonga.
Tupu’anga Coffee
“To grow from your roots” is the eponymous phrase at the heart of this cafe. Those roots took hold in 16 years ago when Emeline and Alipate Mafile’o purchased a coffee business in the Kingdom of Tonga and grew in Mt Eden with the opening of this spacious neighbourhood cafe, which announces itself with its bright exterior mural featuring coffee cherries. The cafe menu leans classic, with a few nods to the Pacific like lu sipi pie, with taro leaves, taro, coconut cream and lamb. You can also buy those Tongan coffee beans here to take home.
597 Mt Eden Rd, tupuanga.com
Pirie’s Butchery
The vintage bicycle out front acts as an “open” sign, welcoming you inside this proper independent butcher for a gander. Grab a selection of gourmet sausages (most are gluten-free) for a weeknight dinner or invite a bit of butcher banter as you deliberate over a marbled steak or a rack of lamb for something more special. The house-made black pudding and bacon are reason enough to plan a slow weekend breakfast.
701 Mt Eden Rd, piriesbutchery.co.nz
By the Bottle are experts in wine – and plenty more besides.
By the Bottle
This independent retailer specialises in organic, artisanal wine, beer cider and craft spirits, doing such a lovely job of it that customers flock from all over. It regularly hosts winemaker tastings on weekends, and more occasionally, ticketed “locals nights”, where guests join a visiting wine personality for a meal in a local restaurant. While you’re there, pick up some snacks to go with: crackers, olives and fancy tinned fish among other things.
811 Mt Eden Rd, bythebottle.co.nz
Mr Zhou’s
Go for the dumplings, stay for what they reckon was Chairman Mao’s favourite dish from his hometown of Hunan, chilli-laden tiger prawns. There are more Hunan specialties to explore as well as classics like fried noodles, green beans with pork mince, and mapo tofu. Great spot for a group dinner thanks to the BYO status and By the Bottle just a few doors up!
839 Mt Eden Rd, mrzhousdumplings-mteden.tuckerfox.co.nz
Wild Wheat’s kūmara sourdough is a winner.
Wild Wheat
For more than 20 years, Wild Wheat has been pulling artisan breads and pastries from its ovens and passing them over the counter in Mt Eden. Its kūmara sourdough is one of the undisputed superior breads of Auckland, and in hot cross bun season, its fruit and spice-filled specimens represent excellent value at $3 a pop.
813 Mt Eden Rd, wildwheat.co.nz
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