Cafe Lupo

Review One: Dizengoff

Where: 256 Ponsonby Road, Auckland, New Zealand

Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 6.30am - 5pm  Sat - Sun 7 - 5pm

Phone: +64 9 360 0108

Why? Ok, so this café exists down under, and not in London. But I want to start with this café as it is my favorite from my hometown. I am coming to London with a solid platform, and an idea of what good coffee is, and what good cafes should be. Here is Dizengoff.

1^st Impression: Packed! This white walled Ponsonby café still upholds its’ quaint and porcelain image even with what seems to be most of Ponsonby filling it to the brim. The coffee machine is cranking, with two very cool looking baristas extracting the goods.. Food teases past me non-stop, and I am chuffed.

Coffee: Flat White = Comes in a small glass, delicious coffee is on display seeping down through the milk, it’s hot, roasted, dark and has a kick. Espresso = Dark, spicy, and the taste of charred nuts..perfect.

Food: Now this is where “Diz” overrides all other attempts in Auckland. $13.50 (6 pounds) Gets you perfectly scrambled eggs or dark sautéed mushrooms, with toasted ciabatta. You also get a healthy dollop of house-made pesto as a default condiment. I grin like the Cheshire cat when this is put down in front of me.

Service: You order at the counter. The coffee and food comes out quick smart, and the staff are very chilled which goes hand in hand with their efficiency. You also don’t have to wait half an hour to be cleared.

P.s: If you are lucky enough to sit outside in the summer on Ponsonby Road you get some of the city’s best people watching action, glorious sunshine on your table, and a magnificent church in the foreground of New Zealand’s Sizzling blue sky.

If you ever visit the fine shores of New Zealand, be sure to head straight to Dizengoff for your first NZ café experience , a great way to get started indeed.

Rating:

Coffee: 8/10

Food: 9/10

Ambience: 8/10