St Kevins Arcade,
183 Karangahape Road,
Newton
Auckland,


(09) 377 8424

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4 out of 5 stars

I haven't been motivated to visit K Rd for coffee until recently. This is due in part to friends constantly suggesting that the only good place was Verona (emphasis on the 'was'). But I do recall one friend constantly harping on about Alleluya. It starts with A so...

You'd blink and miss Alleluya if you weren't looking for it. Tucked away at the back of St Kevin's Arcade, the cafe itself is tiny, though chairs and tables spill out into the atrium so there is more than enough room at all times of the day. Head straight for the food cabinet as that's where the goodness lies. On our visit, we went for the vegetarian flan and custard cake. Both were fantastic, and the flat whites were on the money.

The staff do their thing but come across as a little bit detached, a bit preoccupied. Maybe it had been a busy start (we were there just before 12). Or maybe it was the night before. Either way, there certainly didn't seem to be a rush to get people served, though to be fair, in a weird way it works with the vibe of the place.

But you should visit Alleluya. The behind-counter service may be bordering on disinterest, but just relax, watch the cool kids, admire the record player and savour the food - it's really quite good. Oh and invest in a KeepCup - it'll save you 50c each time you go takeaway and they sell them here.

The details: 183 Karangahape Rd, St Kevins Arcade, Auckland Central. Phone 09 377 8424.

A Flat White costs: $4, or $4.50 to take away.

Must Try: Drop a slice of Custard Cake from the cabinet. It's brill.