Hole in the Wall Eats

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F i v e Holei n -t h e W a l l Picks

Scattered around Auckland city are little hole-in-the-wall cafes, just big enough for a barista, their coffee machine and a few nibbles. You have to wonder why these holes even exist in the first place, because aside from serving potentially the best coffee and treats in the city, they probably wouldn’t be of much use otherwise. Rene Ryall and Tegwyn McCormack scouted out some of the hot spots.

The Receptionist 32 Lorne Street, Auckland CBD

Stolen Summer 18B High St, Auckland CBD

He’s not only the loveliest and bubbliest barista around, but K, the receptionist himself, is also an undeniably talented designer. His vision for The Receptionist was a bit of a spy theme and the place is decked out in emerald green, from the walls to the coffee machine. In saying this, the cafe doesn’t exactly fly under the radar, with music pumping out of the place that can be heard right down Lorne Street. K reckons that music is so powerful that even water listens and responds to it and so the music he plays is intended to brighten up the straightfaced city goers and put a smile on everyone’s dial. So next time you find yourself wandering up Queen St, take a detour and check this one out. If you’re looking to jazz up your Instagram feed, Stolen Summer with its bright aesthetic is a great option. Although the place is still pretty little, you can actually step inside and take a seat while you wait for your drink at this one. The owner, Kay, opened shop about 18 months ago and this teeny tiny cafe has proven to be a hit. Here, you’ll find a full cabinet of delicious inhouse baked sweets with coffees that (delightfully) come with complimentary biscuits. What’s not to love about Stolen Summer?

Coffee on Vulcan Vulcan Lane, Auckland CBD

Dear Deer 3B/77 Broadway, Newmarket

Coffee on Vulcan is a hidden gem that will brighten up your morning (or afternoon). This pick has a bit more in the way of variety in the cabinet, so if you need a quick bite to eat with your caffeine kick then they’ve got you sorted. Again, design is something that hasn’t been forgotten here, as this dinky little treasure is beautifully set up and has a trendy, slightly edgy feel to it. It’s set into the wall down Vulcan Lane so there’s a great cool, calm and collected atmosphere that serves as a nice escape from Queen Street.

This hole-in-the wall is big on filter coffee, specialising in beans from all over the world. The coffee side of Dear Deer is your classic hole-in-the-wall, but around the side you can enter the back of the shop where you can select your own beans and watch them roasting. It’s an intriguing process from start to finish. You can choose your beans and take them home either whole or ground for you, along with the opportunity to purchase your own filters, jugs and drippers in store. We love Dear Deer’s unique concept and highly recommend you check it out for yourself.

Coffix 442 Khyber Pass Road, Newmarket

There are quite a few Coffix hole-inthe-wall cafes dotted around Auckland, but we decided to check out the one off the main street in Newmarket. This spot keeps everything very minimal, and the barista explained that there is a reason for this. Coffix has the most inexpensive coffee out of all the places we visited, perfect for poor uni students like ourselves, with their regular size being just $3. We tried their iced chai latte, which was super good. Their cabinet treats also looked extremely tempting. It was good seeing what else is out there when you stray from the main road a little bit and support smaller businesses.