What are Hawthorn Dene's opening hours?

Closed Monday. Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 3pm.

When is the last order taken?

Last orders are taken at 1:50pm.

Does Hawthorn Dene offer High Tea?

Yes, a High Tea experience is available - see the High Tea page for details.

Are there vegetarian options?

Yes, several dishes including the Smashed Avocado, Simple Rosti Benedict, HEAL and Sweet Corn Fritters are vegetarian.

Do you cater for allergies?

Please let staff know in advance of any allergies or dietary requirements, as the kitchen has traces of gluten, dairy, nuts, soy, eggs and sesame seeds.

Where is Hawthorn Dene located?

At 280 Botany Road, Golflands, Auckland 2013, down a long driveway.

Does the menu change?

Yes, the menu changes seasonally.

Hawthorn Dene Historic Country Cafe

cafe — Golflands · Auckland

About Hawthorn Dene Historic Country Cafe

Hawthorn Dene Historic Country Cafe is set in a cottage house built in the 1850s, reached down a 200-metre driveway lined by plum trees on Botany Road in Golflands, Auckland. The surrounding fruit trees, Hawthorn hedges and garden are part of the historic heritage managed by the Howick and District Historical Society.

The cafe serves everything from traditional cafe food to heartier dishes, with a menu that changes seasonally to suit all tastes. Breakfast and brunch dishes sit alongside burgers, salads, pasta and a kids' menu, backed by a full coffee, tea and cold drinks list, including a range of organic Tea Thief blends and T2 teas.

Hawthorn Dene also offers a High Tea experience, and many dishes can be made gluten-free on request. It's the kind of spot best enjoyed slowly, whether that's over breakfast, a long lunch, or a pot of tea in the historic garden setting.

Hawthorn Dene Historic Country Cafe: Auckland's Best Kept Secret

Down a 200-metre driveway lined with plum trees off Botany Road in Golflands, Hawthorn Dene Historic Country Cafe sits inside a cottage house built in the 1850s - a setting the cafe itself describes as Auckland's best kept secret.

A Slice of Living History

The Hawthorn Dene cottage, along with its fruit-bearing trees, Hawthorn hedges and garden, is part of the historic heritage managed by the Howick and District Historical Society. It's a genuinely unusual setting for a cafe - more like stepping into a historic homestead than a typical high street stop - and the surrounding grounds are as much a part of the visit as the food.

From Cafe Classics to Heartier Fare

The kitchen covers a wide range, from traditional cafe food through to heartier dishes, with a menu that changes seasonally. Breakfast options include the HD Breakfast - sourdough, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, rosti and eggs cooked your way - alongside Belgian Waffles, a Smashed Avocado plate, and the Signature Creamy Mushrooms on toasted sourdough with parmesan.

For something more substantial, the menu moves into pasta, salads and burgers - a Creamy Chicken Mushroom Pasta, an HD Thai Beef Salad with schnitzel and crispy noodles, and a Beef Burger Deluxe loaded with bacon, fried egg and BBQ sauce. Fish & Chips and an HD Fish Burger round out the seafood options, and several dishes, including the Smashed Avocado, Simple Rosti Benedict and HEAL, are vegetarian.

Built for Families

Hawthorn Dene runs a dedicated kids' menu, with a Kiddie Breakfast, a Chickadee nugget plate, and Mini Pancakes with banana and maple syrup - each coming with a kids' drink included.

An Extensive Drinks List

Beyond food, the cafe takes its drinks seriously. The coffee menu runs through the full espresso range, alongside a Golden Turmeric Latte and Sweet or Spiced Chai. Cold drinks include milkshakes and smoothies in a range of fruit flavours, iced coffee and tea, and a Tickety Brew Lemonade. Tea drinkers are especially well catered for, with a full range of Tea Thief organic blends - from the calming Tickety Brew butterfly pea flower tea to the spiced Kashmiri Chai - plus classic T2 teas like English Breakfast, Earl Grey and Peppermint.

High Tea and Special Occasions

Hawthorn Dene also offers a High Tea experience, making the historic cottage setting a popular choice for a special occasion or a slower, more indulgent visit than a typical cafe stop.

Visiting

Hawthorn Dene is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 3pm, and closed on Mondays, with last orders taken at 1:50pm. Diners are asked to order at the counter and let staff know their table number - and to flag any allergies in advance, since the kitchen handles gluten, dairy, nuts, soy, eggs and sesame seeds. Found at 280 Botany Road in Golflands, it's well worth the walk down the driveway.

Signature items

HD Breakfast
Signature Creamy Mushrooms
Belgian Waffles
HEAL
HD Thai Beef Salad
Beef Burger Deluxe

Tickety Brew — Organic butterfly blue pea flower, ginger and lavender; earthy, calming, changes colour with lemon; caffeine free.
Fairy Dust — Organic rose petals, lemon peel, roman chamomile flowers, mint and turmeric; warming and comforting; caffeine free.
Brewtiful — Wild hibiscus flower; tangy and refreshing with a fruit aroma; caffeine free.
Mentalitea — Organic green tea; contains caffeine.
Kashmiri Chai — Organic black tea, cinnamon, almond, cloves, green cardamom, rose petals and bay leaf; floral and spicy; contains caffeine.
Gunpowder Green Tea — Organic green tea; low caffeine.
Organic Deep Baked Oolong
Cool Brew — Ginger, organic lemongrass, lemon verbena and kawakawa; citrus, pepper and spice; caffeine free.
T2 English Breakfast
T2 Earl Grey
T2 Peppermint

Coffee

Short Black
Long Black — Served in a tulip cup.
Americano
Flat White
Latte
Cappuccino
Mochaccino
Sweet Chai / Spiced Chai
Golden Turmeric Latte
Hot Chocolate
Kids Hot Chocolate
Fluffy — Can be upgraded to a larger 450ml bowl.

Kids Meals

Kiddie Breakfast — White toast, fried egg, bacon, hash brown and tomato sauce; comes with a kids drink.
Chickadee — Five chicken nuggets, fries and tomato sauce; comes with a kids drink.
Mini Pancakes — Eight petite pancakes with fresh banana slices, bacon, maple syrup drizzle and whipped cream; comes with a kids drink.

Cold Drinks

Milkshake — Flavours include mango, tropical, mixed berry, chocolate, vanilla, caramel and banana; dairy-free options available.
Smoothie — Flavours include mango, tropical, mixed berry and banana; dairy-free options available.
Iced Coffee / Chocolate / Mocha — Blended and served with cream.
Iced Americano
Iced Latte
Iced Tea (The Tea Thief) — Lemon or peach flavour.
Tickety Brew Lemonade
Soft Drinks — Coke, Coke No Sugar and Sprite.
Juice — Apple, apple orange mango, apple mango passionfruit, lemon lime bitters and ginger beer.

Mains & Salads

Fish & Chips — Two panko crumbed hoki fillets, fries, small side salad, tomato and tartare sauce.
Creamy Chicken Mushroom Pasta — Linguine, grilled chicken, mushroom, spinach, sun-dried tomato, basil and hollandaise.
HD Thai Beef Salad — Schnitzel slices, garden salad, nut-based salad seed topping, lime ginger coriander and honey mustard dressing, crispy noodles and balsamic glaze.
Grilled Chicken Salad — Grilled chicken slices, garden salad, nut-based salad seed topping, lime ginger coriander and honey mustard dressing, croutons and balsamic glaze.
Grilled Halloumi & Avocado Salad — Halloumi, avocado, garden salad, nut-based salad seed topping, lime ginger coriander and honey mustard dressing, croutons and balsamic glaze (V).
Beef Burger Deluxe — Angus beef patty, bacon, fried egg, cheese, beetroot hummus, aioli, BBQ sauce, lettuce, tomato and onion, with fries.
Cajun Chicken Burger — Cajun chicken, bacon, cheese, beetroot hummus, aioli and chipotle sauce, lettuce, tomato and onion, with fries.
HD Fish Burger — Two crumbed fish pieces, gherkin, tartare sauce, lettuce, tomato and onion, with fries.

Snacks & Sides

Bowl of Fries — Golden fries seasoned with lemon pepper, served with tomato sauce.
Wedges — Served with sour cream and sweet chilli sauce.

Breakfast & Brunch

HD Breakfast — Toasted sourdough, bacon, sausage, tomato, mushrooms, rosti and free range eggs your way.
Belgian Waffles — Belgian waffles with seasonal fruit, bacon, berry compote, maple syrup, raspberry couli and whipped cream.
Smashed Avocado — Toasted sourdough, sauteed spinach, smashed avocado, poached egg and beetroot hummus (V).
Simple Rosti Benedict — Toasted sourdough, rosti, poached free range eggs, spinach, hollandaise sauce and balsamic glaze (V).
HEAL — Grilled halloumi, poached free range eggs, avocado slices, rosti, lemon wedge, spinach and beetroot hummus (V).
Free Range Eggs on Toast — Toasted sourdough with two free range eggs cooked your way.
HD Omelette — Free range eggs with spinach, onion, cheese, mushroom and bacon, served with toasted sourdough.
Signature Creamy Mushrooms — Toasted sourdough, creamy mushroom, spinach, balsamic glaze and parmesan cheese.
HD Sweet Corn Fritters — Three homemade sweetcorn fritters, garden salad, sour cream and sweet chilli sauce (V).

Frequently asked questions

What are Hawthorn Dene's opening hours?: Closed Monday. Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 3pm.
When is the last order taken?: Last orders are taken at 1:50pm.
Does Hawthorn Dene offer High Tea?: Yes, a High Tea experience is available - see the High Tea page for details.
Are there vegetarian options?: Yes, several dishes including the Smashed Avocado, Simple Rosti Benedict, HEAL and Sweet Corn Fritters are vegetarian.
Do you cater for allergies?: Please let staff know in advance of any allergies or dietary requirements, as the kitchen has traces of gluten, dairy, nuts, soy, eggs and sesame seeds.
Where is Hawthorn Dene located?: At 280 Botany Road, Golflands, Auckland 2013, down a long driveway.
Does the menu change?: Yes, the menu changes seasonally.

Tips

{"body":"Last orders are taken at 1:50pm, so plan your visit accordingly.","title":"Order before 1:50pm"}
{"body":"Many dishes can be made gluten-free for an extra charge.","title":"Ask about gluten-free options"}
{"body":"A good option for a special occasion in the historic cottage setting.","title":"Try the High Tea"}
{"body":"The 200m driveway, plum trees and garden are part of the historic property, worth a wander before or after your meal.","title":"Explore the grounds"}

Good to know

{"family":"Kids meals available, each served with a included kids drink.","dietary":"Vegetarian dishes marked (V); gluten-free available on many dishes for an extra charge; please advise staff of allergies in advance as the kitchen handles gluten, dairy, nuts, soy, eggs and sesame seeds."}