Winona Forever
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One of my favourite spots in Auckland to have lunch, always busy so be prepared to wait a few minutes for a table at peak times. Staff are lovely and the service is relatively quick considering how busy it is. My go-to meal is the Eton Mess which is a chocolate French toast brioche, with a poached pear, meringues, topped off with a dollop of mascarpone and a combination of fresh and freeze-dried fruit. A beautiful contrast of textures and flavours. Beautiful interior design, outstanding food presentation and lovely atmosphere. The coffee is also delicious.
When I think of food heaven, I think of doughnuts oozing with jam and cream, decadent slices filled with a thick layer of caramel, dense and fudgy chocolate brownies, freshly baked cookies, cakes piped with meringue, white chocolate truffles, fresh salads, Ciabatta sandwiches with salmon and avocado, breakfast baps, and last but not least, beautifully presented plates of brunch fare, my favourites being French toast, pancakes and eggs done various ways. And now, thanks to owners Fran Mazza (an amazing pastry chef) and Aaron Carson (former owners of Hello Friends + Allies), a beautiful new cafe has opened up in Parnell, namely Winona Forever, which will transport you to ultimate foodie heaven and I guarantee you will never want to leave. We visited on the weekend, and the cafe was bustling with people. We headed to the main counter to be seated and at this point, I had gone into foodie shock. My eyes lit up, my mouth dropped open and out came the camera, because each slice, doughnut, cake, roll, brioche, scone, cookie and meringue out of their glorious food cabinet will be a feast for your eyes, nose and mouth. I have so far tried a slice of their Coconut Caramel (pictured below) and a Cheesy delicious scone (both melt in your mouth). Winona Forever definitely has one of the best looking food cabinets in Auckland. While coffee is usually the morning choice of beverage, we loved the sound of their hot chocolates which came with hot milk to pour over your chocolate on a stick, while watching it melt. We recommend their Dark Chocolate & Orange and White Chocolate & Coconut flavours. On the side were Turkish Delight marshmallows - yummy! If hot chocolates are not your thing, then Winona Forever also serves Supreme Coffee, sodas, smoothies (try their peanut butter and jam), Fine & Dandy teas and fancy lattes, like turmeric and beetroot. They are also licensed, serving a small selection of wine and beer. We then ordered from their all day menu, which consists of 17 dishes, with the likes of eggs your way, coconut chia seed pudding, mini ricotta doughnuts, a green breakfast bowl, mushroom crepes, the usual big breakfast and most surprising, prawn tortellini. While all of the dishes sounded like perfect brunch fare, I was set on ordering The Eton Rifle, their twist on the classic French toast. Picture brioche French toast with Eton mess, piped meringues, whipped mascarpone cream, summer berries and raspberry gin compote. Sounds amazing! The dish was beautifully presented, not overly sweet (which meant I could have the hot chocolate We also tried their Anzac Granola, with maple, pecan and pistachios, complete with coconut yoghurt and seasonal berries. The granola was very sweet, but combined with the yoghurt and fresh fruit, the flavours balanced out well. too) and I loved the crunchy texture of the meringue and the addition of freeze dried berries. Food aside, we loved the quirky decor, with the spray painted pillars (look out for the lightning bolt) and the painted mural on the benchtop counter bar overlooking Parnell Road, the hanging plants and space-like lights. The cafe also has ample seating, both inside and out, and despite the incredibly busy day, the staff were welcoming and friendly, plus we didn't have to wait long for our food - always a bonus! So, if you find yourself drooling over the likes of their Eton Mess French toast, something sweet or savoury from their food cabinet, or fancy an extra-indulgent hot chocolate, then Winona Forever should be next on your foodie list. And an important note to Johnny Depp: you really should have kept your tattoo, because you would be extremely proud of this Winona and her brilliant food!
Unfortunately, my experience here was awful. My parents and I had possibly the worst service you could ask for. Albeit, their food was good and we know they're new (teething problems etc) but in the end we were all frustrated and to be honest, mortified at how terrible our experience had been. Once our orders had been taken, it took an hour for them to arrive at our tables - coffees included. After we started to get a little restless, the staff informed us that their machine hadn't taken our order. We were peeved, but understanding. We clarified what we had ordered, and emphasised that we would love our coffee asap, even if we had to wait a little longer for our meals. Time goes by and we still don't have them. The place is getting busier (good for them, bad for us) but at least our orders had gone through properly this time. We eventually get served our coffees and one out of three meals. It then takes three mistaken deliveries for them to successfully deliver our other two orders. One hour after we ordered them. There was one staff member (manager maybe) who was apologetic and explaining how it was the machines fault at first, but in all honesty - aside from the time issue, the service was generally not that spectacular anyway. The staff didn't acknowledge us, they didn't smile when we walked past them and when my mother asked for a spoon (to use the sugar on the table), they just walked off and served someone else (so by the time they finally came back, my mother had already got one off the table next to us). As I said above, their food was lovely. But as lovely as it was, it was not worth the hassle. I was late to an appointment (due to how long it took to receive our orders) and overall felt disappointed about our experience. We try to be understanding, especially to new places, but we can only be so patient! Once they've been around for a while (teething problems sorted) I may try it again, as we all had high hopes for this place, but for now - no thanks.
A busy new cafe popping up on the street of Parnell, where it seams to be the trend of new openings, bringing back a reason to come to Parnell and not to just stuff our face with chocolate at The Chocolate Boutique. If you have been to Hello Friends and Allies, you will be happy to know the now previous owners have opened Winona Forever which you will see similar trends with their display food setup. Who can't agree that brunch is the best meal of the day and if you want to walk away feeling stuffed and satisfied, this eatery will be next on your list. There really isn't an item on the menu that doesn't sound appealing. Going for the lighter option besides my 3 fatty dining partners, the Beet Street was beautifully presently but delicately light and fresh to eat. Though as much to say I wasn't much better by ordering the Peanut butter and Jelly Smoothie which I actually couldn't finish but wished I was fat enough to. I was tossing up on ordering the Beans is Beans which my mate ate being slightly jealous of her dish when placed on the table, but I am a sucker for a go to avocado dish and I was really wanting to try something different. She couldn't say a bad thing and the portion size was well worth the money! If you are typical eggs bene eater, the Bacon Benedict is for you. the only negative from the dish, was the bread tasted nice but was very heavy and dense, which can be quite overwhelming with a thick hollandaise sauce. Would I return? Hell yes! They are still trying to find their feet, as service was pretty slow but I dont have a doubt they will be running smoother in the near future. Rating: Food: 9/10 Service: 7/10 Value for Money: Very Good 100 Parnell Road, Parnell Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am-430pm Sat-Sun 8am-4pm
5 years ago
Its hard to put this experience into words. All I know is ill be sad eating any breakfast back home. It was a busy Sunday morning but still got seated promptly. The place is very aesthetically pleasing with lots of light coming in through the floor to ceiling windows all around. The menu isn't long but still has enough variance to please everyone. We had a full brunch feast with two savory plates and a sweet one. The pork belly benedict had the eggs made to perfection and the pork belly was perfectly juicy without feeling like it was all fat. The french toast was super tasty and not overwhelmingly sweet, of course the variety of colors made it such a fun plate. The bowl had the most amazing mushrooms I've ever had along with the freshest vegetables! I dream of the day I'll be able to go back and eat here. read more
6 years ago
Bright, bustling cafe serving picture perfect dishes. Service was top notch, multiple people came to check in on us, fill up our water, and all were friendly. We were in and out of there is about 40 minutes. The service was fast, which is understandable given the amount of people they must get through every morning. Coffee, pastry, breakfast, everything was on point. Food was very instagram-able but tasted like what you'd expect. Standard fair, in a good way. I.e A lot of flowers for garnish, but its an omelette and tasted like a normal omelette. If I had any feedback it would be to pull back on the garnishes and focus on things that add flavor, it'll look just as tasty with a more rustic no fuss aesthetic. Suitable for a brisk sit down brunch. It was so loud and busy in there that you wouldn't want to stay hangout anyway. read more
6 years ago
This place was aesthetically pleasing and very busy even on a weekday. I ordered the eton rifle ($18 NZD) which was basically cake for brunch! I have a big sweet tooth and loved this dish. Beautifully presented French toast topped with crunchy meringue and fresh berries. read more
6 years ago
One of my favourite spots in Auckland to have lunch, always busy so be prepared to wait a few minutes for a table at peak times. Staff are lovely and the service is relatively quick considering how busy it is. My go-to meal is the Eton Mess which is a chocolate French toast brioche, with a poached pear, meringues, topped off with a dollop of mascarpone and a combination of fresh and freeze-dried fruit. A beautiful contrast of textures and flavours. Beautiful interior design, outstanding food presentation and lovely atmosphere. The coffee is also delicious. read more
9 years ago
When I think of food heaven, I think of doughnuts oozing with jam and cream, decadent slices filled with a thick layer of caramel, dense and fudgy chocolate brownies, freshly baked cookies, cakes piped with meringue, white chocolate truffles, fresh salads, Ciabatta sandwiches with salmon and avocado, breakfast baps, and last but not least, beautifully presented plates of brunch fare, my favourites being French toast, pancakes and eggs done various ways. And now, thanks to owners Fran Mazza (an amazing pastry chef) and Aaron Carson (former owners of Hello Friends + Allies), a beautiful new cafe has opened up in Parnell, namely Winona Forever, which will transport you to ultimate foodie heaven and I guarantee you will never want to leave. We visited on the weekend, and the cafe was bustling with people. We headed to the main counter to be seated and at this point, I had gone into foodie shock. My eyes lit up, my mouth dropped open and out came the camera, because each slice, doughnut, cake, roll, brioche, scone, cookie and meringue out of their glorious food cabinet will be a feast for your eyes, nose and mouth. I have so far tried a slice of their Coconut Caramel (pictured below) and a Cheesy delicious scone (both melt in your mouth). Winona Forever definitely has one of the best looking food cabinets in Auckland. While coffee is usually the morning choice of beverage, we loved the sound of their hot chocolates which came with hot milk to pour over your chocolate on a stick, while watching it melt. We recommend their Dark Chocolate & Orange and White Chocolate & Coconut flavours. On the side were Turkish Delight marshmallows - yummy! If hot chocolates are not your thing, then Winona Forever also serves Supreme Coffee, sodas, smoothies (try their peanut butter and jam), Fine & Dandy teas and fancy lattes, like turmeric and beetroot. They are also licensed, serving a small selection of wine and beer. We then ordered from their all day menu, which consists of 17 dishes, with the likes of eggs your way, coconut chia seed pudding, mini ricotta doughnuts, a green breakfast bowl, mushroom crepes, the usual big breakfast and most surprising, prawn tortellini. While all of the dishes sounded like perfect brunch fare, I was set on ordering The Eton Rifle, their twist on the classic French toast. Picture brioche French toast with Eton mess, piped meringues, whipped mascarpone cream, summer berries and raspberry gin compote. Sounds amazing! The dish was beautifully presented, not overly sweet (which meant I could have the hot chocolate We also tried their Anzac Granola, with maple, pecan and pistachios, complete with coconut yoghurt and seasonal berries. The granola was very sweet, but combined with the yoghurt and fresh fruit, the flavours balanced out well. too) and I loved the crunchy texture of the meringue and the addition of freeze dried berries. Food aside, we loved the quirky decor, with the spray painted pillars (look out for the lightning bolt) and the painted mural on the benchtop counter bar overlooking Parnell Road, the hanging plants and space-like lights. The cafe also has ample seating, both inside and out, and despite the incredibly busy day, the staff were welcoming and friendly, plus we didn't have to wait long for our food - always a bonus! So, if you find yourself drooling over the likes of their Eton Mess French toast, something sweet or savoury from their food cabinet, or fancy an extra-indulgent hot chocolate, then Winona Forever should be next on your foodie list. And an important note to Johnny Depp: you really should have kept your tattoo, because you would be extremely proud of this Winona and her brilliant food! read more
9 years ago
Unfortunately, my experience here was awful. My parents and I had possibly the worst service you could ask for. Albeit, their food was good and we know they're new (teething problems etc) but in the end we were all frustrated and to be honest, mortified at how terrible our experience had been. Once our orders had been taken, it took an hour for them to arrive at our tables - coffees included. After we started to get a little restless, the staff informed us that their machine hadn't taken our order. We were peeved, but understanding. We clarified what we had ordered, and emphasised that we would love our coffee asap, even if we had to wait a little longer for our meals. Time goes by and we still don't have them. The place is getting busier (good for them, bad for us) but at least our orders had gone through properly this time. We eventually get served our coffees and one out of three meals. It then takes three mistaken deliveries for them to successfully deliver our other two orders. One hour after we ordered them. There was one staff member (manager maybe) who was apologetic and explaining how it was the machines fault at first, but in all honesty - aside from the time issue, the service was generally not that spectacular anyway. The staff didn't acknowledge us, they didn't smile when we walked past them and when my mother asked for a spoon (to use the sugar on the table), they just walked off and served someone else (so by the time they finally came back, my mother had already got one off the table next to us). As I said above, their food was lovely. But as lovely as it was, it was not worth the hassle. I was late to an appointment (due to how long it took to receive our orders) and overall felt disappointed about our experience. We try to be understanding, especially to new places, but we can only be so patient! Once they've been around for a while (teething problems sorted) I may try it again, as we all had high hopes for this place, but for now - no thanks. read more
9 years ago
A busy new cafe popping up on the street of Parnell, where it seams to be the trend of new openings, bringing back a reason to come to Parnell and not to just stuff our face with chocolate at The Chocolate Boutique. If you have been to Hello Friends and Allies, you will be happy to know the now previous owners have opened Winona Forever which you will see similar trends with their display food setup. Who can't agree that brunch is the best meal of the day and if you want to walk away feeling stuffed and satisfied, this eatery will be next on your list. There really isn't an item on the menu that doesn't sound appealing. Going for the lighter option besides my 3 fatty dining partners, the Beet Street was beautifully presently but delicately light and fresh to eat. Though as much to say I wasn't much better by ordering the Peanut butter and Jelly Smoothie which I actually couldn't finish but wished I was fat enough to. I was tossing up on ordering the Beans is Beans which my mate ate being slightly jealous of her dish when placed on the table, but I am a sucker for a go to avocado dish and I was really wanting to try something different. She couldn't say a bad thing and the portion size was well worth the money! If you are typical eggs bene eater, the Bacon Benedict is for you. the only negative from the dish, was the bread tasted nice but was very heavy and dense, which can be quite overwhelming with a thick hollandaise sauce. Would I return? Hell yes! They are still trying to find their feet, as service was pretty slow but I dont have a doubt they will be running smoother in the near future. Rating: Food: 9/10 Service: 7/10 Value for Money: Very Good 100 Parnell Road, Parnell Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am-430pm Sat-Sun 8am-4pm read more
5 years ago
9 years ago
We've walked past this place twice, mainly because it looked so busy. However today we were lucky to get a seat. Extremely well presented fast food- the service was friendly. One of the best breakfasts I've had in Auckland read more
7 years ago
This place is outstanding. Creative, satisfying and quaint. I actually loved my experience here. Limited breakfast menu but delightful and inspired at the same time. read more
8 years ago
Best breakfast in Auckland! The French Toast and Big Breakfast are amazing. I could eat their melt in your mouth pork belly for an entire meal. Seriously, you can't go wrong here. If you're in Auckland, you need to make it a point to check this place out. read more
7 years ago
Soft shell crab omelette was edible, omelette lacklustre but crab was delicious. Would also recommend the hot cakes. Good coffee, and atmosphere, would come back again but avoid the omelette. read more
8 years ago
7 years ago
8 years ago
9 years ago
More info about Winona Forever
100 Parnell Rd
Parnell
Auckland 1052
New Zealand
Parnell
Directions
09 974 2796
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Winona Forever - coffee - Updated July 2026
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