Willow Cafe image

Willow Cafe

Restaurant Cafe Breakfast restaurant

One of the Top rated Breakfast restaurants in Upper Harbour


Address

42 Tawa Drive, Albany, Auckland 0632, New Zealand

Website

www.willowcafe.co.nz

Contact

+64 9 414 6297

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.50 (675 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Sunday: 8 am to 3 pm
  • Monday: 7 am to 3 pm
  • Tuesday: 7 am to 3 pm
  • Wednesday: 7 am to 3 pm
  • Thursday: 7 am to 3 pm
  • Friday: 7 am to 3 pm
  • Saturday: 8 am to 3 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: great (15) staff (12) coffee (11) toast (11) service (9) lovely (8) breakfast (8) busy (8) Great (8) cafe (7)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Trentyz 1 year ago on Google
    What a great local cafe - this is a well oiled machine. Willow ticks all the boxes - friendly and efficient staff, great coffee, great selection of cabinet food and lovely indoor-outdoor flow. We ended up just people-watching for a while because I couldn’t get over how well run the place was. I don’t think the waitresses ever stopped, they always had their eyes on the floor to make sure everyone was being looked after. Kudos to the owners.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Dana Y. 2 years ago on Google
    This place is quite popular. Had their pork belly Benedict bao, unfortunately the pork was dry. Would be nice to have some greens beside it to cut down the richness and sweetness. Smoothie was pretty good. The big breakfast really loaded up the bacon, but some beans would have helped tie the dish together as it was overall quite dry. Good and friendly service.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Anthony van R. 1 year ago on Google
    Terrible service! I went through with my wife and two boys yesterday. I ordered a "big breakfast". I asked to leave off the sausages and bacon (I explained that I could not eat pork), then I asked to add one egg and one slice of toast. They first brought a normal breakfast with the pork and no toast. I explained the order again and 10 minutes later they returned with the same thing. I explained my order again and 5 minutes later they said they did not have 5 grain any more. I said any other toast was fine and 10 minutes later they returned with a normal breakfast again. Eventually the fourth time they brought the correct order less the extras... I asked for the extras and when I started eating I saw the poached eggs were cold and so were the mushrooms. When the extras arrived my family were ready to leave and I had not eaten yet. The manager avoided our table and when I tried to get her attention she looked busy and went the other way. I will not go back and will not recommend this place.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Jina K. 1 year ago on Google
    Saturday brunch at Willow Cafe. Lovely food and even lovelier staff. Cabinet food - Chicken Panini, Butter Chicken Pie and Blueberry Cheesecake for dessert. Drinks - Ice Coffee Keen to go back to try the main menus
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Kambiz R. 8 months ago on Google
    Cozy place close to the highway, and a friendly team, but the open omelet and mushroom are not what we expected. ☕ mocha and latte coffees are not tasty. But my son loved his food including roster bacon, scramble edges, and cooked tomato with toast and butter. His tomb was up for hot chocolate.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Aiden H. 1 year ago on Google
    Great cafe with awesome food. Corn fritters were great, and the Espresso Martinis are on another level.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Gill Bredl (Ten18/Charity T. 5 months ago on Google
    We attended today for a staff lunch as my managers father passed away. We wanted to cheer her up. The food was lovely. I asked our waitress for aioli for the curly fries. I waited 10 Mins and looked around for some assistance. She finally brought the aioli and I thanked her. I assumed she would walk away but she told me “sorry for the wait but If you see that I’m busy you should ask someone else”. I said “I didn’t realise I was supposed to ask someone else”. She gave me a dirty look and stormed off. I’m appalled that she started an argument about aioli on such a sensitive occasion. It was embarrassing and totally unprofessional. I’d think twice about coming back. Photo attached of the busy cafe.. 🙄

  • 5/5 Niki C. 7 months ago on Google
    What a fantastic cafe with delicious food and super friendly service. I had the chicken satay salad which was yummy and a really good coffee.

  • 5/5 Brittney Kerr (Hej H. 7 months ago on Google
    The breakfast was wonderful and the staff were kind. I had the French toast and it was excellent. Fruits with it were delightful.

  • 2/5 Sarah M. 7 months ago on Google
    We had family breakfast here on Father's day. The place is in the middle of office buildings. The waitress served us friendly and fast. Our coffee was good but the food was so average. The French toast only has 2 pieces of regular toast, served with banana for $25. The syrup was over sweet, no bacon. The strawberries were defrosted ones, soggy with poor taste. I ate many French toast in different cafes, unfortunately this is the worst.

  • 1/5 Melissa F. 8 months ago on Google
    waiters were lovely. owner/manager lady needs to 100% reflect on her staff treatment as it was SHOCKING. heard things about her but honestly do not want to see it for yourself. no wonder i’ve also heard she can’t keep staff….

  • 5/5 Janet W. 8 months ago on Google
    Had a lovely breakfast and coffee. The service is great. Despite being quite busy it was only a short wait for our meals and everything on the plate was generous and delicious. We had creamy mushrooms.s and the big breakfast. Very enjoyable.

  • 5/5 Anita Q. 8 months ago on Google
    Stopped here for a business meeting where we ended up eating. Sorry no photos but I had the open omelet with Salmon which was delicious and rather large - I needed a takeaway dish. The convenience of stopping here coming from North was easy but finding the Cafe was a little more tricky as it is hidden away and has limited parking. The outside area would be lovely in the sun. The staff were helpful and the owners lovely.

  • 4/5 cheryl f. 1 year ago on Google
    Great location, lively little indoor-outdoor vibes. Great food choices. For once prices match quality. Absolutely I’d go back. Coffee bean for me, doesn’t pack that punch but I’d still go back. Great staff. Wobbly table, that’s my only quibble!

  • 5/5 HITMEN - Ryan P. 11 months ago on Google
    Several visits have impressed me with this Cafe, Food Quality, Freshness and presentation very good. Service is stand out, the busy tempo of the team, clearing plates and tables in a timely fashion. Better than 99% of other cafes where plates are left until the clients depart. Always a happy team with great attitude. Well Done.

  • 5/5 Marion M. 10 months ago on Google
    Very nice. Staff friendly and great atmosphere. Diverse menu. Had to wait awhile for a milkshake but when it came it was so worth the wait-you gotta try one. Will go back. Very popular.

  • 4/5 MJ W. 9 months ago on Google
    Lovely brunch here today. They were super busy but nice vibe. Coffee came out before the food, which was great, and it was great coffee. Food was nice and also quick to come out, and all meals came out together, which was fab.

  • 5/5 Cole S. 9 months ago on Google
    Amazing Cafe and super service. Highly recommend. We had the French toast and smash avocado. With a bottled juice and oat milk caramel latte. Our order came out super quick even though it was quite busy. Delicious French toast with a good selection of fruits and extras. The smash avo’s toast wasn’t too hard either. Special thanks to Connor for his great waiting. Good atmosphere with nice clean tables and cool styled utensils and dishes. Will definitely be back again to explore the menu.

  • 5/5 Bryce M. 1 year ago on Google
    Nice cafe, a bit of a challenge to find parking but is well worth the it. Surrounded by businesses how they have set it up you do notice them & not noisy. Food & staff were wonderful & made sure we were well looked after.

  • 4/5 Emma M. 1 year ago on Google
    First time visit & what a lovely cafe! Food, staff & atmosphere was all pretty great... food was the stand out though! Will definitely visit again. Had Seafood Chowder, Corn fritters, coffee, blueberry & white chocolate cheesecake. Amenities also clean & tidy.

  • 4/5 Joseph K. 1 year ago on Google
    The kindest and most attentive staff I have experienced thus far. Had a tall young gentleman waiter, lower themselves to match the eye level with a customer. Great to see such care and service. Thank you staff 🙏🙏

  • 5/5 Dana 2 years ago on Google
    Stopped in here on our way home for a quick feed. Place was tucked away however very busy (always a good sign). Service was excellent, food was amazing and coffee was great. I'll definitely be back.

  • 5/5 Dom H. 1 year ago on Google
    Willow Cafe makes amazing coffee that makes you go "Oh my god!" after the first sip. I've never had coffee as good as here and it's at a reasonable price too. Staff are lovely, very friendly and provide excellent service. Every day I am at work I look forward to a coffee from Willow.

  • 5/5 Mara M. 1 year ago on Google
    When we arrived they found a smallish table for 4 of us . It was full and they said as soon as one of the bigger tables was free he'd move us. The waiter was so nice he didn't make us feel like a nuisance. Great service great food. Eggs Benedict on corn fritters ,open omelet with salmon, curly fries Apple juice, cappuccino so yummy Very popular this place can see why..

  • 5/5 Nicolett M. 1 year ago on Google
    I love their kimchi fried rice, hands down one of the best ones I've had. Whenever I go there, I intend to get a different meal but I always end up getting their kimchi fried rice. The place is clean and tidy Price is alright for the portions Customer service is great

  • 5/5 John L. 1 year ago on Google
    Great hospitality! Great coffee and beautiful cafe, hidden away an interesting location but overall great experience thank you very much! Highly recommended!


Call +64 9 414 6297 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Pets
    • ✓️ Dogs allowed
  • Parking
    • ✓️ Free parking lot
    • ✓️ Plenty of parking
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Vegan options
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Catering
    • ✓️ Breakfast
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

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