Mornings at Abstract Hotel are a chance to pause before peeling off into the crowd; linger awhile over a freshly made barista coffee and biscotti in our Alla Prossima restaurant or Winter Garden. Once outside the hotel doors, the surrounding area — including vibrant Karangahape and Ponsonby Roads, and the central city fanning out from Queen St — boasts plenty of spots offering excellent coffee and atmosphere. Here’s our pick of 10 of the best in the neighbourhood.
Summary
From bold espresso to the widest pour-over list in the country, Karangahape Road and its surrounds are packed with excellent coffee within easy walking distance of Abstract Hotel. This guide rounds up ten favourites, from Miller's just across the road to Bodega and Juno a little further into Ponsonby and Grey Lynn.
Miller’s
Bold espresso since 1984
Just opposite the hotel doors, duck down cute little Cross St and straight into Miller’s, which has been roasting beans and extracting espresso since 1984. As well as the coffee — which is as bold as they come — don’t miss the handmade chocolates for a pick-me-up, and try the Chidori, a moreish sparkling drink made with ume plums which you can buy freshly made, or in a neat slim can to go.
Miller’s, 31 Cross St
Bestie
Single origin filter with city views
Nab a table by the expansive leadlight windows in characterful 1920s St Kevins Arcade on K’ Road, home to Bestie for over a decade and just a few minutes’ walk from Abstract. Over the rim of your steaming cup of coffee you’ll get the most lovely view of the city, grazing the tops of Myers Park’s date palms directly to the Sky Tower. Along with espresso, Bestie serves eighthirty single origin filter coffee and an extensive cafe menu — the Towpath Cheese Toastie is a popular pick.
Bestie, 183 Karangahape Rd
Fort Greene
Celebrated sourdough and Red Rabbit coffee
Head to Fort Greene cafe and bakery in the middle of K’ Road for the sourdough (quite probably the city’s most celebrated), stay for the hearty sandwiches made with it, plenty of delicious pastries and locally roasted Red Rabbit coffee. Soothing in sage-green, Fort Greene is a great space in which to park up for a while.
Fort Greene, 327 Karangahape Rd
PieFee
Award-winning pies and coffee
PieFee (noun): the cup-shaped cookie filled with coffee, or any drink of your choice, at this eponymous petite bakery and cafe right in the thick of the action on K’ Road. Do yourself a favour and succumb to the pie craving while there — the traditional mince and cheese is award-winning, or you might explore a more adventurous filling like spicy prawn.
PieFee, 349 Karangahape Rd
Daily Daily
NZ’s widest selection of pour over coffee
Wander over the Rainbow Bridge and be rewarded with discovering this bijou coffee specialist. Most days you’ll find Daily Daily owner and former dentist Albert behind the counter of this calm retreat, with its pared-back but welcoming Danish-inspired interior and window seating. It boasts possibly the widest selection of pour over coffees of any cafe in the country, the fragrant liquid trickling into charming vintage cups, alongside Supreme espresso.
Daily Daily, 452 Karangahape Rd
Hardcore
Creative space, extra strong roast
Housed in a well-known former gallery space, and with artists resident in studios upstairs, this spacious newcomer to K’ Road — 10 minutes’ walk from the hotel — is charged with a creative energy. Hardcore’s striking fitout is the handiwork of owner Robby; he laser-cut aluminium to create the starburst coffee table (already a hit on Instagram) and chairs at the large central table, plus the extra-long counter where you’ll find him coaxing an extra-strong Supreme roast through the espresso machine.
Hardcore, 510 Karangahape Rd
Once outside the hotel doors, the surrounding area — including vibrant Karangahape and Ponsonby Roads, and the central city fanning out from Queen St — boasts plenty of spots offering excellent coffee and atmosphere.
Open
Community favourite with eightthirty blend
Woven into the rough-edged surface of K’ Road is a strong community. Open is one of its key pillars, thanks to the positive vibe, warm welcome and consistently top-notch eightthirty blend coffee offered by owner Christy and her team in the cosy brick-walled space, a 10-minute walk from the hotel at the far end of the shopping strip.
Open, 553 Karangahape Rd
Bodega
Popular in Ponsonby from morning till night
A 15-minute walk or 5-minute bus ride from Abstract, Bodega straddles a sun-filled corner of Ponsonby Rd and Williamson Ave. A steady crowd takes up residence on vintage wooden benches to enjoy coffee and pastries from 7am, fantastically filled sandwiches from 11am, and beer, wine and cocktails in the evenings.
Bodega, 86 Ponsonby Rd
Juno
Signature iced Vienna coffee
If sleek design is your thing, stroll a few minutes into Grey Lynn territory to revel in the calm surrounds of Juno, where owners John Yip and Jamie Yeon balance casual sophistication with cafe fare that tastes as good as it looks. ‘Special’ coffee — a little fancy, a little frilly — is making a comeback and Juno’s signature is the Vienna: an iced long black gently flavoured with demerara sugar and orange peel, topped with a cloud of sweetened cold cream.
Juno, 20 Williamson Ave
Rumours
Minimalist space with single origin
From Abstract’s position on Upper Queen St, there’s a mercifully short, gentle bit of uphill to walk and then you’re coasting it easy-peasy down Queen St. Call a break 20 minutes into your rambling and duck into Rumours, a minimalist shrine to caffeine on the convergence of midtown and downtown. Single origin coffees are the focus, with pour over or espresso on offer. The shopfront’s floor-to-ceiling glazing is the ideal window onto Auckland city life.
Rumours, 19 O’Connell St
Frequently asked questions
Which of these coffee spots is closest to Abstract Hotel?
Miller’s is directly opposite the hotel down Cross St, making it the closest option for a quick coffee before heading out for the day.
Are any of these cafes within walking distance of each other?
Yes. Most of the K’ Road spots — Bestie, Fort Greene, PieFee, Daily Daily, Hardcore and Open — sit along the same strip, so it’s easy to combine a coffee stop with a wander between several of them.
What if I want something further afield in Ponsonby or Grey Lynn?
Bodega and Juno are both a short walk, bus ride or Uber from Abstract and make a good excuse to explore a little further into Ponsonby and Grey Lynn.
Do any of these cafes serve food as well as coffee?
Most do — Fort Greene’s sourdough and pastries, Bestie’s toasties, and Bodega’s sandwiches are all popular, so you can easily turn a coffee stop into brunch.
Ready to explore K’Road for yourself?
