Café aficionados fall into one of two camps: they’re either loyal patrons of a tried-and-trusted local or they’re adventurous with an ear-to-the ground for the next new coffee experience. If you fall into the latter category, and can’t wait to check out a café with a difference, we have 4 seriously diverse suggestions for where to sip your next coffee. So whether you live in Auckland or plan to visit sometime soon – make sure you get to experience them all.
Baristacats
Baristacats, in the heart of Auckland’s CBD, is home to fourteen friendly cats who just love to hang out with their owner’s café customers. Whether you’re relaxed and on holiday, or strung out with an over-full schedule and need to wind down, Baristacats has a cat to suit you – and you can be sure it’ll give you’re the purr-fect welcome. That’s because every pussy cat on the premises has been double-checked by an animal behaviourist to make sure it’s happy to live in an indoor environment. Best of all, at Baristacats your coffee comes with a fabulous feel-good factor because the felines have been carefully selected from a pool of cats that have special needs and might otherwise not find a home. If you have grandies with you – note that, in accordance with SPCA guidelines, children under 10 are not able to be accommodated at the café.
Guerilla Café
If you like social enterprises, the Guerilla Café is Swanson Street is the place to visit. The café, which features school desks and blackboards, is an off-shoot of renowned barista training establishment Espresso Coffee School, and is where up-and-coming baristas get to test out their skills in a real life situation. Don’t expect to meet the same barista twice but do feel free to ask for your coffee to come with the latest in latte art. The café doesn’t have fixed prices – it’s a case of ‘pay what you feel it’s worth. However, the general guideline is $4 so why not just go with the flow! Open weekdays from 7am-2pm.
Merge Café
Merge Café at 453 Karangahape Road is a community capacity builder that lives up to its name. With free Wi-Fi and iPad access, books and magazines to browse, and food and coffee that everyone can afford, it’s a meeting place for people from all walks of life. With the goal of ending homelessness, the café started as a way to remove the barriers that keep some people marginalised, so when you visit, expect to rub shoulders with business people and the homeless in one seamless and enjoyable environment. And if you want to give before you go, feel free to pay your café experience forward by leaving a few dollars as a donation.
Cakes ‘n’ Ladders
All aboard for a coffee with extras at Cakes ‘n’ Ladders in Symonds Street – and be sure not to rush because this clever café boasts shelves … and shelves of board games, all neatly divided into different categories from family games to those that are quick and easy to learn. Whether you’re looking for old-fashioned snakes and ladders or news games such as Libertalia and King of Tokyo, you’ll find them here. And if you need a hand with the instructions, just ask the manager. Not sure if the café has your favourite game? Hop online before you go – and if you have a request for a new game, let the establishment know. Games cost $2.50 pp, per hour.
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