Good coffee. Lemon coconut cake was tasty but not as fresh as it could have been. Nice atmosphere,…read morevery friendly staff. Great sheltered outdoor area with wind screens and heaters against the winter chill

Fantastic food. Friendly staff. Amazing coffee from Bobby.read more

Quirky little cafe with delicious, rich coffee. It's right on the beach of Browns Bay, and lives up…read moreto it's name with animal and plant decor. I had a BLAT the day I went, and while it was too big for my mouth, I enjoyed picking it apart and tasting the layers of goodness.

I used to be a regular here back in 2012 before their renovation which got rid of their cute (and…read morehandy) kids play area. Because of that, I wasn't in a hurry to return since when ever I go to cafes, I always have at least one pre-schooler in tow. I decided to give them a go last week with an Entertainment voucher being part of my motivation. I'm a bit torn as whether to rate them 3 or 4 stars since I had two very different experiences with two different staff. I was barely greeted by the first, whom informed me that yes, they still had highchairs. During my meal this staff member took a seat in the booth next to me to talk for ten minutes to their friend about smoking in cars and how their whole family smokes etc etc. Very unprofessional and off putting. Then when clearing my dishes I thanked them & felt like I shouldn't have with the look I was given. Again, the same happened when paying for my meal & I wasn't even asked how it was. The second staff member when noticing my presence immediately welcomed me to grab a seat & they would bring the highchair over. This person took my order, served my coffee and food & obviously enjoyed their job. I enjoyed a generous sized omelette which was light and fluffy and steaming hot when it arrived on the table. The coffee was very good too. The interior changes have given the café a fresh, contemporary face lift with quirky colored cardboard animal heads (think stag, rhinoceros, etc) adorning the walls and a striking rouge color theme throughout. If one of the above mentioned staff members would have been sick that day it would have been a 5 star review.

Love this cafe it's the best. Used to have the best view in the world before they built houses on…read moreit now you can't see much of anything. I used to enjoy climbing the hill to wail into yonder valley like a banshee, alas no longer, but sentimental to me all the same, as now I may enjoy a beverage with someone special as I reminisce. Convenient and super dog friendly.

We have lived in Torbay for a year and finally got around to going to the Long Bay Cafe for brunch…read more We arrived to a pretty full cafe, no outside tables which was disappointing as the lawn is pretty big so could have accomodated more. There was a bit of a wait on food but we were told this when we ordered so that was ok. The food was actually pretty good which we were really pleased about as it's kind of our local cafe. The prices were a little high would be my only criticism. Great view of Long Bay

Great location, great cafe, and amazing juices! This place…read morehas just recently opened and features some well thought out food options, smoothies and juices that they prepare fresh daily. The cafe has a tone load of sitting areas both inside and out. This place will be a total sun trap in summer. I'm a huge fan of clean protein and it's great to see this product is used here. I do feel that they need more lunch options in their cabinet for those who work close by like me! Otherwise totally coming back here. Great to see places like these opening on the shore.

You could blink and miss this place - the branding initially made me think it was a shop selling…read morekitchen equipment or something, it wasn't until I actually walked past the door and looked in that I realised. However they have good food, coffee and smoothies! Cool decor but lacks a bit of soul - it's quite clinical and no music playing which left it feeling quite dead. The staff weren't friendly which is always such a shame.

Sitting in the back corner of the Matakana Country Park, Bramble is a cute espresso shop and honest…read morecanteen with a focus on local, fresh and healthy foods. They do great cabinet food with appetising looking home baking, filling savouries alongside hot drinks made to order and a fridge of other treats. Got the winter panzanella which was a salad with beetroot, spinach, sundried tomato, croutons and feta in a winning combination. A nice communal wooden table with magazines to peruse and a neat little lounge space with a real fire and comfy couches on the opposite site of the barn. Also seats outside if the weather is nice, perfect for summer. Great to stop by after the Matakana Indie market or if you are already in the area what with the other stores, cool playground and animal farm behind.

Good and friendly service, nice indoor/outdoor setting. Great coffee and good food.read more

This cafe is a bit of drive out of Auckland, but is a good place to meet up with friends. It's…read moreright by the dairy and close to where they hold the monthly Coatesville Markets (first Sunday of the month). Black Cottage (the new kid in the country) is on the other side of the dairy, brand new and always busy. This cafe is the original and a bit more laid back. Playground outside for kids and seating inside, on the verandah or outside under the trees. I can't rave about the food to be honest, except for their homemade pies which they sell at the market. I ordered the BLT, but it was made with bread so lightly toasted it was unappealing - wouldn't order that again. The mince with poached eggs and the mushrooms on potato rosti looked good. A little surprise was the coffee art, didn't expect that!

Both the indoor and the outdoor seating are very pleasant. The cooked breakfast was ok, the coffee…read morewas ok. What makes this place worth visiting is the environment.

5 stars for a beautiful location and service and the Best fluffy omelette and good coffee - but…read moreplease new owners - provide better quality toast bread - charge a wee bit more and provide quality ingredients - and would suggest water blasting your outdoor chairs.

Another favourite stand at the Matakana Village Farmers' Market is Ringawera. You may recognise the…read morename as co-owner, Patrick Griffiths, originally ran Ringawera Bakery on Waiheke Island, where he lived for the past 18 years. The shop closed two years ago as Patrick was looking for a new challenge, and thus, early 2018, he opened Ringawera Cafe in Matakana - next to Morris and James art gallery. In October last year, Patrick started selling his freshly baked breads at the Matakana Village Farmers' Market. Look out for the rows and rows of pastries, croissants, beautiful breads, and baskets of baguettes as you enter the market - they are the first stall on the left. It is definitely the most well-presented stand in my opinion! His ciabatta and sourdough are my favourite breads to purchase at the market. Side note: Patrick has also opened Ringawera Bakery on Matakana Valley Road, just above the Matakana Village Farmers' Market All of his breads are baked onsite, from scratch and use quality ingredients. The smell is heavenly when you walk into his shop. You will find all of their freshly baked breads - sourdough, ciabatta (try the mini rolls!), foccacia and mixed grain loaves, plus piping hot Ozone Coffee, pastries, croissants, brioche and generously filled sandwiches to go. They also make some of the best hot cross buns!