Nice range of candy there but the service was not it. I stopped coming here but the last time I…read morecame here, the owners were eyeing us down like Hawkes when I was just browsing. I got a small bag of lollies but when I went to pay, the owner just swapped the bag of lollies I grabbed for a different bag at the back of the counter. the lady at the counter told me it was fresher and refused to give me the original bag I picked.

Thirsty from all your shopping, need a sugar pick me up then head on over to Sweet Station. This…read moresugar paradise is located opposite the sushi place and stocks a wide range of candy, drinks and snack foods. If you're with kids and they won't shut up, go buy them some candy, get them chupa chups or something. So much gum and chocolate. It may be tiny but they make the most of the space. Need gum or mints after lunch they have that too or if you buy something they actually give you a mint. Don't trust the food court here but really hungry and won't leave until you've found a bargain? Then they have chips, crackers, yoghurts and cookies, in fact it is almost like a little dairy. Tip: there is no customer service help desk in Dress Smart but if you can't locate a store buy something and ask and they will point you in the right direction.

Sugary treats, sweet delights, goody-goody-gumdrops!!! What to write about a confectionary store…read morethat I have frequented on more than one occasion... well, they are in New Lynn Mall, close to the door when coming in from the train station side, which I am sure proves problematic for many families if they need to leave that way, passing by in hope the ankle biters don't see the colourful lollies on display, wise and evil planning by The Sweet Factory owners. The shop also have a ample range of gifts already wrapped waiting to surprise a new owner, ample considering it is really only a very small store, I am guessing you couldn't fit more than five customers in there all at once. Go take some friends and try it for for yourselves, prove my theory wrong!

This place is ridiculous, with sweets of all kinds gathered for a sugar mind blow…read more Try pass your kids along this shop and you will fail miserably. The shop although tiny, is set up so that every little and big sweet is on full display. This makes it incredibly difficult to bypass it without purchasing a little something, or a lot of something. I like it because they have a great selection of foreign sweets too, which can sometimes be hard to come by. What I don't like is that it is a little on the expensive side for my liking, and of course the fact that all the sweets are terrible for your health! Also, you can't really tell what it is that you are purchasing, because not all the products have their ingredients listed on the packaging, and some sweets don't even have packaging (gross).

I dare you to try and wrap your mouth around one of the Giant lollipops they stock here. At $12,…read moreit's probably the most you should probably spend on a lollipop but totally worth it for the challenge alone. 'The Old Lolly Shop' in Takapuna may be one of the last of its kind in Auckland, stocking all of your kiwi favourites, like spearmint leaves, humbugs, chocolate fish and lots more. They have their very own instore 'Lollymaker', who you can pop in to see in action. They are available to make handmade lollies to order. You choose the size, shape, colour and flavour. If you book in a group of people, say for a playgroup or school trip , you even have the option to each make your own lollipop. I mean how awesome is that!

For 12 years I was happy to buy American food and things like toothpaste with peroxide and baking…read moresoda not otherwise available in NZ from Martha's. During those 12 years one of the owners frequently went to America to buy the stock. And for many years they got special orders for me. But ever since the pandemic they have lost the plot. They refused to accept special orders and their shelves rarely offer me what I want. I have repeatedly asked them to figure out a new method of getting their supplies which they refuse to do. How they stay in business is a mystery without desirable stuff to buy. They're old and no longer seem to give a damn. I find it remarkable that they stay in business. Not worth the trip.

Ever have the feeling of giddiness as an adult, that makes you say 'get ahold of yourself now?' But…read moreyou can't and your smile is ear to ear. Well that's what Martha's Backyard did to me. I was instantly hit with Americana as the doors spread open for me. No need to trouble yourself with pushing a door American, here let me automatically open for you. Star! Since the owner was clearly using her consumer... ahem marketing skills, the first sight upon entering was a stock pile of Stars & Stripes regalia. All that was needed was the Star Spangled Banner playing in the background. Independence Day is only a few days away, so stock up. Martha's Backyard which of course is a play on words, (think Martha's Vineyard) has many American culinary favorites from candies, seasonings, sauces, cereals, beverages and snacks. I walked out with Cholula, Louisiana Hot Sauce, Lawry's Seasoned Salt, a pack of Lawry's Taco seasoning, mini Butterfingers and 2 boxes of Cap'N Crunch cereal for under $40.00. Not a bad price for imported happiness.

I have a sweet tooth, more than one in fact, so those of you out there like me, will like this…read morelittle gem of a store conveniently located at the bottom of the escalators in West City, Henderson Mall. A line up of bulk lollies, (for all the American's that may be reading this, that means 'candy'), and chocolate pieces, sit side by side, waiting to be picked for just $2.39 per 100g. Sweet as! Choices? Fudge chocolate, jelly lollies, boiled lollies, chocolate coated peanuts (my pick!), too many to list in one review. Was sad to see they also sell cigarettes behind the counter, it just didn't look appropriate for this type of shop. They also have an array of pre-wrapped gifts, from the large traditional teddy in a basket surrounded by sweets, to the small nicely wrapped chocolate bars for less than $5.00.

Oh crikey - we have found the holy grail of cheap and cheerful. This place is packed with…read moreeverything you could ever need when dressing up or getting crafty, and is surprisingly huge. There is a huge range of costumes and accessories, fake flowers, themed-decorations, crafts, and more and more and more. Around the time of office Christmas parties and St Patricks Day, the place is packed. And they order in more stuff depending on the celebration. There is a very entertaining R18 section for funny presents, or just actual stuff. But it;s not just silly stuff, head down the back and you'll find kitchen utensils, rubbish bins, frames, cleaning products, bathroom stuff, hangers and all the rest of that kind of stuff for super cheap. It's actually not a bad idea to see what you can find.

This place is Mecca for costumes and silly novelty items. It's a one stop shop for all your fun and…read morefrivolity needs: dress up parties, St Patrick's Day, sporting events, or just silly gifts. If you want it, Look Sharp probably has it, and you'll probably only pay ten bucks. I've accumulated a small collection of awesomeness from Look Sharp, including costumes, canes, hats, wigs and flags. I have also made extensive use of their wonderfully inappropriate R18 section for Secret Santa gifts - hilarity and awkwardness ensued. In short, any occasion is better if preceded by a visit to Look Sharp.

I was elated when The Sweetest Little Chocolate Shop opened a new store in Sylvia Park. Not only…read morewas it much closer to home, but personally, it was bigger and better- its a modern take on the charming, original Midcity Arcade store. The service is friendly, patient and very knowledgeable; because of this I can never leave without a box of ten chocolates and a bag of their delicious Russian caramel fudge. The staff really make it an experience and because of this, I've become a regular here. You'll be dying to try all the flavours they provide, and its an extensive list. For someone who already knows what they're after or they're short on time, they do provide a range of pre-packed candies, chocolates and bars to suit any need. My favourites include the almond rocher, coconut snowball truffle and the roasted almond honey truffle- all to die for! Take a few flavours home with you to try- you really won't be disappointed.

It really is! (the sweetest little chocolate shop). I'd never seen my niece's eyes so wide as we…read morewalked in; it's a beautiful little store with a great selection of hand made chocolates. This is their third store; half of the choccies they make themselves, the other half imported from around the world. We spent at least 30mins choosing from the cabinet, they are all so perfectly made and nearly look too good to eat. The passion fruit heart was my favourite; my niece couldn't get enough of the truffles. This is a great place to buy a gift; either make a box up yourself or choose from their large range of pre-packaged goodies. The staff are very helpful and my niece was SO jealous when the girl behind the counter said she had tried most of the chocolates. You can guess what she wants to be when she grows up now!

Wheel upon wheel of New Zealand cheese, Kapiti icecream by the scoop, rotisserie chooks and chewy…read morecookies that upon request can be made into ridiculously huuge (and unbelievably good) ice cream sandwiches....seriously, what's not to like! Okay, so I will admit that the cheese is little pricey but you get what you pay for, which is beautifully made NZ cheese. Mention must also be made of the service at this joint. I came here recently with a friend for a post pizza ice cream juuuust as they were closing and not only did the friendly bloke behind the counter give us a mini cheese tasting (not that we needed it) but he also offered us complimentary nerds with our ice cream. Not sure if this is standard procedure but we were absolutely chuffed - I hadn't had nerds in years! He even offered to unstack some of the chairs so we could sit and enjoy our ice creams inside, out of the wet and windy weather outside. Bless his little cotton socks.

I really enjoy coming to The Dairy! This cafe brings back so many childhood memories, from candy…read morefloss to sodas to freshly baked cookies straight out of the jar! It really is a one of a kind. First time coming here, I almost felt like a giggly schoolchild again, forever trying to decide on how many cookies I wanted and which delicious Kapiti ice cream flavour I wanted to sandwich between them. I love that the cookies are HUGE and they come with generous amount of ice cream, which honestly makes them a bit tricky to eat as they can get very messy, but I suppose that is all part of the fun and remembering what is was like to be a kid? Personally, I think The Dairy is great for any ages. I took my Mum once and even though she didn't try anything, she got a lot of joy out of watching my older sister and I trying to eat their giant ice cream sandwich cookies! Highly recommend this place!

I would never have known about this place unless someone else had directed me there and it really…read moreis a bit of a secret. Cheap Lollies. Lots of cheap lollies. And biscuits and chocolates and salty snacks and even random grocery items. This is the physical shop of FBC Confectionery and I'm not sure how it works but they seem to have clearance products of not only popular sweets but also quite a few retro lollies that you don't often see elsewhere these days. Like Lifesavers, Spacemen (not ciggies - confectionery sticks if you will), K-Bars and the like. The prices are crazytown and you need to exercise restraint because you really can GO to crazytown buying up large here. If you need bulk supplies for Easter egg hunts or other events (we had bags of Mixed Lollies circa 1982 for our wedding guests) this is the place to go - you'll save hundreds of dollars.

Yep I'm hooked on this place as are my all my young adult children. So cheap its crazy friendly…read morestaff a little hidden gem great one stop shop for last minute party goodies or just to pick up something special for your bestie or partner also do hampers from time to time love it

The concept behind the new Cheltenham Dairy & Milk Bar warms the my cockles of my heart. Sure, I…read morewasn't alive when dairys looked like this but I've seen the photos and been told the stories. My grandparents grew up on the Shore and I can just imagine them heading down to the local Milk Bar for a shake or to pick up some groceries. Nostalgia aside, Cheltenham Dairy & Milk Bar is pretty much a schmancy diary. There's all the usual lollies, ice cream, chips and drink but they've also got a small selection of baked goods (muffins, slices and some sandwiches), Allpress coffee and juices & smoothies as well. I didn't actually spy any milkshakes when I was there but surely they do them! When I popped in it was late afternoon I was in need of refuelling so I ordered their berry smoothie. The serving was large but unfortunately the taste was disappointing. It was incredibly sour and icy. I should've taken it back but I was already on the road when I took my first sip. Suffice to say, I'll be sticking to regular diary products next time. You can't go wrong with a couple of scoops of ice cream right?

I came here after reading about ice cream sandwiches and gosh they did not disappoint at all!! The…read morestaff there was soooo friendly and nice, everyone in the neighbourhood was nice! I got a salted caramel ice cream sandwich which was premade but not soggy at all. Anything but. He offered to make me a new one but I declined as it wasn't necessary. The chocolate dipped graham biscuit was crunchy and the perfect flavours for an ice cream sandwich. The salted caramel ice cream had the perfect amount of salt to sugar ratio (which believe me can go sooooo wrong). And just the marriage of he two was heavenly .... I know... It's so basic and to judge a whole store on something that can be made anywhere. But the environment, staff and the one item I tried was perfection. And those outdoor seatings. Soooo cute.