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MELBA - Manukau

3.5 (14 reviews)
ModerateCafes
Open • 7:00 am - 4:00 pm

MELBA - Manukau Cafes Restaurant Photos

MELBA - MANUKAU ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Good for kids
Outdoor seating
Good for groups

Recommended Reviews - MELBA - Manukau

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Melba, Ronwood Avenue, Manukau
Joseph F.

I had specifically gone to Westfield Manukau to take lunch at Kyoto Japanese Restaurant. On arrival my heart however felt very much like the interior walls of Kyoto - gutted. Closed For Renovations the sign proclaimed on the window. A muttered "kuso" (Japanese for "for goodness sake") and it was off through the car park, down the outer stairs & across Ronwood Avenue to: Melba. Melba has very large windows so it was easy to see that the place was heaving with humanity. I almost turned to leave, thinking my chances nil of getting a table, when a cheerful voice called to me and a smiling staff member directed me to a large, long & empty table, obviously designed to cater for the overflow of diners such as I. As soon as I sat down, a menu was promptly offered for my perusal. Melba does not have a comprehensive menu but I believe that it doesn't need to. The All Day Menu consists of mainly standard fare breakfast/brunch items, the other part of the menu lists your luncheon options. Desserts are plated and displayed in a cabinet near the front counter, a blackboard menu further lists the specials on offer for that day. I ordered the crispy salmon off the lunch menu as my main, and the lemon grass & peanut butter cheesecake for afters. To say the food was outstanding would be a gross understatement. Indeed I had to maintain what little sense of decorum I possess and not lick my dessert plate clean, such was the flavoursome combination of the cheesecake ingredients. Coupled with the attentiveness of the young enthusiastic staff, and a kitchen obviously performing well under great pressure, I can see why Melba is such a drawcard. And yes I will definitely return, I've a hankering now to try their breakfast menu - I know for sure that I will not be let down!

Long table for single diners and small groups
Matthew L.

has declined . This is certainly a big shot across the bow of Urban Soul and Kreem, Manukau's only other decent lunch Cafes outside of mall environments. This is a hip place with nice wooden tables and a menu that includes items for many modern diets. I had the avocado smash which was great as I am on a low carb thing that allows eggs and avocados and salad. But the fish tacos look awesome. The pizzas ok and the quinoa energy salad looks like what I will order next time. Expect me to be checking in here over the next week and look for me.

The coffee taste like it has come out of home coffee machine. Doesnt feel like a barrista brewed it
Anish R.

Coffee either makes your day or destroy it. Today it has destroyed it. Giving 2 stars for great seating and nice ambience. Coffee needs a big overhaul. Try Urban Souls coffee or Columbus Botany. Now thats called coffee. I suggest staff taking a passion in what they create. Huge pressure on barrista. They only remember your coffee not your smile or muffin. Im quite disappointed with todays presentation of coffee.

Thai beef salad

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6 days ago

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8 months ago

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2 years ago

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8 years ago

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10 years ago

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4 years ago

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10 years ago

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8 years ago

Theirs shakes are great! This is our go-to cafe in Manukau. It's always busy but the workers are really good at looking after the customers.

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8 years ago

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9 years ago

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8 years ago

Best coffee in Manukau...every time I've been there & I work in the area so I go often. Staff are awesome too

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10 years ago

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St Margarets Country Cafe - The picturesque lake.

St Margarets Country Cafe

5.0(2 reviews)
12.2 km
•$$

My new favourite local eatery…read more Oozing with charm and tranquility, St Margaret's Cafe is a perfect way to unwind with a stunning garden outlook (I imagine especially so in Spring), warm and inviting service and the food..., the food was just amazing! So good in fact, that I had to have dessert with my breakfast (and I would totally recommend the season fruits with mango sorbet and nut brittle to all).

A friend of mine recommended this place, and since I was on holiday, a drive out to the Karaka…read morecountryside sounded like a nice lunch excursion. And WOW! Am I glad I made the effort! This place is seriously one of Auckland's hidden gems. The name "Country Cafe" does it no favours. We turned up on a stunning spring Friday, and discovered the most gorgeous country garden setting, complete with lake - St Margarets is apparently such a popular wedding venue during the summer months that Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays are mostly fully booked. I can see why. Entranced by the scenery, we sat down & got just as engrossed in the menu! A delicious selection of salads & more substantial main dishes made it really difficult to choose. We opted for the Chargrilled Smoked Chicken & Candied Walnut Salad with potato & bacon & dressed with maple aioli, as well as the Oriental Sticky Slow-Cooked Pork Belly Sandwich with salad & spiced pineapple chutney. I learnt a while ago never to go past pork belly on a menu, and I haven't been disappointed yet. Both meals were stunning - visually gorgeous & utterly delicious. Well worth the drive, and with such picturesque surroundings to walk off your meal, you can bet I'll be making the drive again.

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St Margarets Country Cafe - Eggs benedict with Salmon, 100% yum.

Eggs benedict with Salmon, 100% yum.

St Margarets Country Cafe - The seasonal fruits with mango sorbet 'dessert' (I think it works equally well as a 2nd breakfast)

The seasonal fruits with mango sorbet 'dessert' (I think it works equally well as a 2nd breakfast)

St Margarets Country Cafe - Oriental sticky slow-cooked pork belly sandwich with spiced pineapple chutney.

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Oriental sticky slow-cooked pork belly sandwich with spiced pineapple chutney.

Kowhai Cafe

Kowhai Cafe

3.3(4 reviews)
7.6 km•Mangere
•$

A throughly bad experience, the cleanliness of this cafe is horrendous, windows, filthy, dust and…read moregrime visible on walls and ceiling. My coffee wasn't great either, burnt I will not be returning, absolutely terrible.

This place is a complete GEM in a bit of a food desert. It happens to be located right by my…read moreoffice, and is worth forgetting my lunch for the chance to see what's on offer and bask in the loveliness of the place. It is like having lunch at your cool aunt's place. Homestyle fabulous! Compared to the other options nearby, this sunny little glass front cafe is a little piece of heaven. The ladies who own it are super friendly, and say hello by name whenever I stop by. They do fabulous catering, and their morning tea is to die for (warm just baked cheese scones.... savory tarts with cumin and kumera... excuse me, I'm drooling...) At lunch time they always have an assortment of interesting and healthy salads -- tons of vegetarian options, and you can mix and match as many as you want in a container. One of my favorite options of late is the spicy eggplant. It's half an eggplant that's been roasted, scooped out, mixed up with spices and whatnot, and put back in the skin. I LOVE eggplant, and this is as good as it gets!!! I always find it hard to resist their beautiful cakes. I tend to buy a slice with the idea of bringing it home to share with my husband for dinner, but sometime around my afternoon tea I end up starting to sample it. I've had the carrot cake, which was delicious, and another lemon cake thingy which was also to die for. Check out their Facebook page where they advertise their salads and other goodies for the day! Worth a trip out if you're trekking around Mangere domain, or on your way back from an airport pickup!

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Kowhai Cafe - Inside

Inside

Kowhai Cafe - Good kiwi food, great staff, fabulous service, wonderful selection of foods.

Good kiwi food, great staff, fabulous service, wonderful selection of foods.

Kowhai Cafe - Eggs Benedict and an Americano!

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Eggs Benedict and an Americano!

MELBA - Manukau - cafes - Updated June 2026

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