Best brunch spots to try this weekend 

Brunch is undoubtedly the best meal of the day. Not only do you reap the benefits of a bit of extra shut-eye, but should you wish to order a freshly blended Acai bowl or a more lunch-centric option like an open-faced sandwich, you can damn well go right ahead and do it.

Ahh yes, nothing makes us happier than a gooey poached egg on gluten-free toast come Saturday morning.

We took it upon ourselves to scout out the best brunch spots in Auckland, and you’ll be delighted to note they’re all within 2km radius. That’s right, we found Newmarket is undoubtedly the place to be for the best brunching in town.

Champ Canteen
The brains behind Newmarket’s Champ Canteen are the same clever clogs who poured their creativity into Mount Eden’s popular RAD café. Situated just off Broadway, this quaint café makes for the perfect people watching spot while you enjoy a cup of Rocket coffee, offered as single-origin filter and roasted in season. If you’re not typically the filter coffee type, we suggest you go with an open mind and you may just be delighted. Trust us.

When it comes to food, Champ’s toasties are virtually unmissable. Featuring gourmet fillings like 15-month-old Gruyere Suisse and truffle butter, or Pokeno Toulouse sausage with pasta and cheese, this is a decidedly adult update to a childhood favourite.

For breakfast, we couldn’t look past the French toast – artfully built with hazelnut crumbed brioche, Colombian and Ethopian coffee, custard, caramelized bananas, Freedom Farmed bacon, and Rush Munro icecream. 

Check it out at 17a Remuera Road, Newmarket, or head here for more.

Billy Café
Boasting uninterrupted views of Auckland Domain, Billy Café opened late last year to raving reviews. While the Pan-Asian café highlights the best flavour combinations from South East Asia, the taste sensation doesn’t stop there. Breakfast at Billy’s is something to behold – think eggs any style served on rustic kumara sourdough with a side of avocado, potato rosti, bacon, seasonal greens or salmon.

Opened by a group of mates, Billy’s certainly has the relaxed, friendly vibe down pat. Satisfy your sweet tooth with something from the cabinet, expertly made by their in-house bakers, or sip on Supreme coffee as you take in the incredible view of the park.

Check it out at 79 Carlton Gore Road, Newmarket, or head here for more.

Paneton Bakery
Attention all sweet tooth’s! A delectable French patisserie opened in popular Newmarket shopping district Teed Street last year and it’s totally worth a visit. Paneton Bakery, whose origins trace back to a tiny village in Southwest France, have been bringing French favourites in New Zealand for the past quarter-century. The Teed St café is the second location for the bakery, following the success of their Victoria Park possie.

Whether you’re in the mood for a Pan Au Chocolat or an almond croissant, the cabinet fare on offer is sure to delight your tastebuds. If you prefer a savoury start to your day, consider the range of quiches, breads, sandwiches and vegetable tarts as your Saturday brunch pick.

The best part? You can take some Paneton Bakery magic home with you, with takeaway Sourdough, par-baked rolls or frozen pastries at your convenience.

Check it out at 16 Teed Street, Newmarket, or head here for more.

Garden Wholefoods
With not a slice of bacon in sight, Garden Wholefoods is a vegetarian’s dream. All ingredients are sustainably sourced, meaning you can feel good about whatever menu item is lucky enough to end up on your plate. And trust us, they’re ALL good.

After opening in December last year, Garden Wholefoods has been serving its mouth-wateringly good all-day breakfast menu to the masses. Try the grilled asparagus, soft duck egg, and beautifully toasted brioche, or something from their ‘simply on toasted sourdough’ menu, where you can opt for six gourmet toppings, including whipped goats cheese and organic honey, or avocado, miso-tahini and black sesame gomashio.

Be sure to check out their cabinet for a sweet fix, it’s absolutely chock-full of raw treats as well as a selection of baked pastries and cakes for the traditionalists amongst us. L’Affare delivers on the coffee front, serving Fairtrade, organic brew to the addicted.

Check it out at 123 Carlton Gore Road, Newmarket, or head here for more.

Photo credit: The Urban List, Billy Cafe Facebook, Paneton Bakery Facebook, Champ Canteen Instagram