It’s pretty well known that the Kiwi’s make great coffee but on my recent trip to Auckland I found that they excel at cakes too. From delicate French pastries to bespoke blended hot chocolate, read on to discover some of the sumptuous sweet treats on offer in Auckland.
La Cigale French Market
You’ll be transported to France with the scent of the fresh croissants and sound of French accents at La Cigale French Market. This surprisingly authentic French market offers oozy croque madams, creamy custard tarts and fresh brews by Gravity Coffee Roasters. For the sweet tooths I suggest you make a beeline for the crunchy chocolate twists or delicate mille-feuille pastries – who can resist one with salted caramel and pecan? There’s a shabby-chic bistro if you choose to dine in or live music in the market with nearby casual seating.
Where: 69 St Georges Bay Road, Parnell (Also a smaller version at Takutai Square, Britomart)
When: Saturday 8am to 1.30pm & Sunday 9am to 1.30pm
Milse Dessert Bar
Auckland’s first dessert bar is a cosy nook filled with exquisite cake. Hidden in a side alley near Ortolana in Britomart, Milse offer hand made tarts, pastel-coloured macarons and ice cream treats that you can enjoy at the bar or take home with you. They have a rotating tart of the day, which was a dreamy cookie, salted caramel and mascarpone concoction on the day of my visit. (I still drool just thinking of it!)
Where: 31 Tyler Street, Britomart
When: 10am until late Monday to Sunday
Miann Chocolate Boutique And Patisserie
Also found in Britomart is Miann who specialise in satisfying your cravings for decadent chocolate treats. (Miann is Gaelic for ‘to crave’.) Whether it’s a gateaux, truffle or gelato stick you desire, Miann offers the ultimate chocolate fix. If you’re looking for something sweet to end your evening in Auckland you must order their sumptuous speciality hot chocolate. Miann are the first patisserie in Asia Pacific to have their own, bespoke blended Valhorna hot chocolate and its available exclusively instore until late in the evening.
Where: Arthur Nathan Building, 36-42 Galway St, Britomart
When: 8am-late, Monday to Sunday
Peacock Sky Wine Tasting & Degustation – That Brownie!
With its boutique wineries and blissfully empty beaches there are many reasons one should hop on a ferry to Waiheke but for us sweet tooths there’s something else worth sailing for and it comes in the shape of a brownie! At Peacock Sky Vineyard you can take part in a wine tasting and degustation experience where their boutique wines are perfectly matched to tiny morsels of fine food. One of those perfect morsels is a brownie baked by the in-house chef and it happens to be one of the best brownies I have ever tasted. After one mouthful I was so enamoured I immediately asked if I could buy more. Luckily they had some wrapped up to go but as I’m out of supplies already I can’t wait to go back and restock.
Where: Peacock Sky Vineyard, Waiheke Island
When: Open 7 days a week. Tour groups via appointment only. We visited as part of a tour with Around Waiheke Tours.
I travelled to Auckland as a guest of TFE Hotels and stayed at the stylish Adina Apartment Hotel Britomart. Watch the below video for more ideas on how to spend a food-filled weekend in Auckland.
Great coffee and now great sweets and cakes; what more could you wish for in Auckland. It certainly whet my appetite.
It sure makes a tempting weekend away!