Agnes Curran
(Cafe)Ah, Agnes Curran. It is even possible to mention the words 'Ponsonby' and 'cafe' in a sentence without bringing to mind the wonder that is Agnes Curran? The reputation of this deceptively unassuming Ponsonby cafe and it's quintessentially Kiwi lamington cake precedes it, with this Agnes Curran having been featured in countless international media features for its Kiwiana appeal over the years. However, despite its unprecedented fame and repeated solicitations from international stars, Agnes Curran remains one of the most humble cafes around and never fails to provide service with a genuine smile - a rarity in itself around Ponsonby. Need we even justify Agnes Curran's spot in this list? Bambina
(Cafe)The popularity of Bambina Cafe, Ponsonby, Auckland is undeniable - whether weekday or weekend, this Ponsonby cafe is always positively filled to the brim with people, people and more people. Although there doesn't appear to be anything particularly outstanding about Bambina Cafe, customers can't help but keep coming back for more because Bambina does what it does well, and doesn't try to be a jack of all trades, but master of none. With its unassuming and not too-try-hard vibe, Bambina churns out its brunch dishes with flourish every single time and never rudely surprises us with inconsistencies in their food or service, which deserves serious kudos in our books. Coffee Supreme (formerly Good One)
(Cafe)Sure, cafes serving Coffee Supreme can be found in every other cafe around Auckland, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a cafe that treats its beans and milk as well as Good One does in Auckland, let alone Ponsonby. But coffee isn't the only thing that Good One excels at - just wait until you try one of their smoked fish pies or sausage rolls served warm with their house made chutney! Dida's Food Store
(Cafe)We feature Dida's Wine and Tapas Lounge in our Recommended Ponsonby Restaurants list, so it may seem like overkill for us to include sister and co-resident eatery Dida's Food Store into our recommendations for the best of Ponsonby cafes as well. Our apparent love for the flagship Dida's branch here on Jervois Road, Ponsonby is fully justified, though - the sheer brilliance of their food and the thoughtful innovation demonstrated in their all-day breakfast menu (sometimes we DO want something more than the usual eggy brunch) earns this Auckland cafe a spot in our top Ponsonby cafes list. Dizengoff
(Cafe)It does sometimes seem like Dizengoff had been around Ponsonby, Auckland since forever because it had become such an iconic institution for us Auckland locals. Even after all these years and changes in ownership had Dizengoff retained the love fellow Aucklanders have for it, presumably thanks to their ability to maintain the standard of favourites such as their fabulous creamy mushrooms on toast or the fulfilling chicken pasta dish. Come pay this all-rounder Ponsonby cafe a visit the next time you're undecided on a coffee stop - it's a fool-proof choice. The Food Room
(Cafe)Although it's located in a particularly dubious-looking shed almost uncharacteristic of the chic Ponsonby Road atmosphere, The Food Room had become a huge favourite amongst the Ponsonby locals. We here at View Auckland would be avid regulars ourselves were we to be based in Ponsonby, as The Food Room is a branch-off of the ever-popular The Fridge in Kingsland and even sells the same flaky pies The Fridge is renowned for. For its scrumptious food itself and dodgy atmospheres aside, we'd say The Food Room is a worthy contender for being one of the best cafes in Ponsonby. Landreth & Co
(Cafe, New Zealand)The fully licensed Landreth & Co is a Ponsonby favourite - a small, cozy space that is laidback, cozy and grungy all rolled into one irresistibly magnetic stained wood interior. While Landreth & Co has got an extensive list of the usual brunch favourites, they don't neglect inject some creativity into their menu as well. And with exotics such as their infamous Waikanae Crab Omelette and the Scandinavian Smörgåstårta - or Sandwich Cake, it's no surprise that this Ponsonby Cafe has a huge following not only from the people of Ponsonby but with locals all over Auckland as well. One 2 One
(Cafe)One 2 One Cafe is one of the few Ponsonby cafes we can safely proclaim to be kid-friendly - a notoriously lacking feature in most of the trendy, yuppie-oriented cafes this side of Auckland. Unlike the overbearingly pompous vibe that the shops along the Ponsonby strip sometimes emits, One 2 One Cafe retains a welcoming and imtimate, homely atmosphere and always has a smile (and a yum ginger slice) for all that stop by - yes, even the two stand-offish resident cats at this Ponsonby local we're sure are secretly delighted to see you there!