Amanda B.'s
Where to take your sweet tooth
- 110Casa Del Gelato - ParnellParnellThis is the cutest little place. There are so many tasty desserts to choose from – I like the fondant chocolate – and the gelato is smooth and creamy and delicious. But I think my favourite thing about it is the adorable little seating area, down a cobblestone path. Matching flower vases tie together the mismatched tables and chairs and a giant teddy bear in the corner keeps watch as you dig in.
- 2107Little & Friday North ShoreBelmontLittle & Friday is the perfect place for a sweet afternoon treat. They make amazing little cakes with all natural ingredients, and pretty good tea, too. Everything is served on mismatched china plates, and I love that instead of a number you get a little red-painted animal – a polar bear, a giraffe, a bull – to put on the table.
- 347Chocolate Boutique CafeParnellIf you love chocolate, you’ll love The Chocolate Boutique. You’ll want to keep going back to try all the desserts on the menu – I do, anyway. There are so many chocolates in the window it’s difficult to make a decision! It seems to get pretty busy later in the evening, so be prepared to wait for the deliciousness if you’re going late. And you can order online and have chocolatey goodness delivered! How awesome is that??
- 443PetalNewmarketPetal make the yummiest cupcakes. They are always so light and fluffy and the icing has so much flavour. Not to mention they’re absolutely gorgeous. I love that you can get little gift boxes, which turn your cupcake into the perfect little birthday present. Salted caramel, mango, chocolate and raspberry are all winners.
- 595GiapoAuckland CentralThe best thing about Giapo is that they’re always coming up with crazy new flavours to try. The staff are so nice and patient and don’t mind if you taste heaps of flavours before making your choice, which is tricky because they’re all so good. A bit of a mission to get to if you don’t live central but so worth it!
Amanda B.'s
What to do on a lazy Saturday
- 19Parnell Farmers MarketParnellThere’s nothing better than rolling out of bed on a Saturday and heading up to the market. It’s your one-stop-shop for fresh fruits and veges, but it’s also home to delicious danishes and pastries and the creamiest, most delicious feta cheese I’ve ever had. Everyone is super friendly and there are Eftpos machines there so you don’t have to worry about getting cash out before going. A Saturday morning must!
- 23The Coffee Club ParnellParnellI’ve been to a number of Coffee Clubs - they’re all over the place - but I always choose the Parnell location for Saturday brunch. The food is good at all of them, but the service at Parnell is spectacular and the building is adorable. On a warm day you can sit outside and people watch while you wait for your meal, which won’t take long.
- 336Chapter Book and Tea ShopMount EdenWhat do you get when you combine tea and books? Paradise, obviously. The staff are very patient and are happy for you to smell samples of each of their many, many teas before choosing, and don’t seem to mind if you sit sipping tea and chatting for aaages. There are delicious treats sitting in the cabinet just waiting to be an afternoon snack and you can browse their selection of novels as you sip your tea. It's the best!
- 47The Claddagh Irish PubNewmarketDinner and a drink or two at the Claddagh is the perfect way to end a lazy Saturday. The staff are friendly, the food is tasty and the atmosphere is great. Sitting by the heater and polishing off a yummy dessert will make you totally forget the stresses of the week and later on live music will keep you entertained.
- 56Yoghurt Story Queen StreetAuckland CentralIt always ends in happily ever after at Yoghurt Story. I mean, who doesn’t love frozen yoghurt? Serving yourself means you get exactly what you want - whatever combination of flavours and toppings, however weird and/or wonderful. You can taste all the flavours before making a decision and paying by weight means you get a wee snack without paying more than you should. Awesome.