Cafe Third Wave sits inside the swimming centre on Stadium Drive in Albany, on Auckland's North Shore, and holds a 4.7 rating from 18 reviews, with customers calling it a hidden gem, praising the lovely staff and the Supreme-roasted coffee. Poolside cafes run to the rhythm of the water — busiest when swim lessons finish, calmest mid-morning, so timing your visit matters. The flat white is the local yardstick: a properly made one shows a barista dialling in the beans each day rather than coasting. Roaster consistency counts too, which is why a name like Supreme turns up in so many good New Zealand cafes — the beans hold their character from shop to shop. Near a pool, keep it simple: quick counter service, a modest cabinet, and coffee worth returning for after a swim. For swimmers, parents on the lesson run and anyone passing through Albany, this tucked-away spot is worth finding before the crowds do.