Honey Cafe CBD

About Honey Cafe CBD

Honey Cafe CBD is a quiet café tucked inside the Auckland Central City Library on Lorne Street, and the library setting is part of its character. Its honey-infused drinks set it apart from other cafés in the city. The café is part of the Honey Cafe group, and the CBD branch pairs locally roasted coffee and honey blends with an all-day brunch menu.

The Karaage Chicken Waffle is the house favourite, with crispy Japanese fried chicken on a waffle, plus bacon and slaw. Visitors also mention the fried chicken waffle, the spiced apple French toast and the eggs Benedict. The French toast is brioche with poached apples, crumble, bacon and salted caramel. The Chorizo Chilli Scramble Eggs bring green chilli and chorizo to flatbread with vege chips. The Brie and Caramelised Pear Toast is sourdough with brie, roasted pear, poached eggs and hot honey. For a heavier meal, the Seafood Risotto is a creamy risotto with crumbed prawns, clams and mussels. The signature Honey, Lemon and Ginger drink blends natural honey, lemon and fresh ginger, and it is the drink to try if you want something warming.

Visitors describe the space as peaceful, chill and relaxing, and say it is a good spot for study or writing. Staff are praised as welcoming and genuine, and one visitor said the creamy mushroom dish was a favourite.

Hours are Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 3pm.

Our pick in the Central City for a quiet brunch with the honey, lemon and ginger drink.

Honey Cafe CBD: A Peaceful Oasis Inside Auckland Central City Library

Finding a quiet, welcoming sanctuary in the bustling heart of Auckland’s central business district can often feel like an impossible quest. Situated on Lorne Street directly inside the Central City Library, Honey Cafe CBD manages to offer exactly that: an inviting haven where locals, university students, and busy city professionals can pause and recharge over exceptional coffee and generous, lovingly prepared meals.

Forming part of Auckland's beloved boutique cafe family alongside neighborhood sisters in Takapuna, Ponsonby, and Glendowie, Honey Cafe CBD carries forward the group’s foundational philosophy. Every outpost begins with an unwavering commitment to quality beans roasted locally for full, honest flavor, paired with an inventive kitchen that lets seasonal, fresh ingredients shine.

Seasonal Dining and Bold Morning Flavors

The kitchen at Honey Cafe CBD focuses on elevated comfort food that reinterprets classic cafe fare with creative, modern flair. Sweet and savory balance takes center stage in show-stopping dishes like the Karaage Chicken Waffle, where golden, crunchy Japanese-style fried chicken sits atop a freshly made waffle, accompanied by streaky bacon, sweet and spicy sauce, and crisp fennel and green apple slaw.

Those looking for warmth and indulgence will find it in the Spiced Apple French Toast, constructed from rich vanilla and cinnamon-soaked brioche, crowned with mascarpone, butter-poached apples, crumble, and a drizzle of salted caramel. Savory lovers are equally well looked after, with vibrant options such as the Chorizo Chili Scramble on flatbread accented with Sichuan chili oil, or the Brie & Caramelised Pear Toast finished with hot honey and house-made dukkah.

For a heartier midday meal, the menu expands into wholesome comfort plates like the slow-braised beef short rib ragu fettuccine, fresh seafood risotto, and an open steak sandwich served with battered chips.

Locally Roasted Coffee and Artisanal Sips

Coffee at Honey Cafe is treated with serious care. Double-shot espresso extractions provide a robust base for flat whites, lattes, and specialty options like their decadent tiramisu latte or peanut butter latte. True to the cafe's namesake, honey plays a natural starring role across the drinks list, highlighting wholesome hot honey, lemon, and ginger infusions alongside iced Vietnamese coffees sweetened with honey and blended with coconut milk.

Fresh cold-pressed juices pressed with lemon, ginger, apple, and seasonal greens round out the daylight offerings, while an array of wines, craft beers, and winter warmers like Irish coffee and hot toddies make the cafe a versatile setting for private event bookings and relaxed afternoon get-togethers.

A Sanctuary for Study, Work, and Community

Thanks to its unique placement inside the Auckland Central City Library building, Honey Cafe CBD naturally possesses an atmosphere of calm and focus rarely found in downtown eateries. Whether you are settling in with a laptop, meeting a friend over brunch, or grabbing a takeaway coffee between lectures or business meetings, Honey Cafe CBD delivers genuine hospitality, comforting food, and a restorative pause right in the center of Auckland.

Signature items

• Karaage Chicken Waffle
• Spiced Apple French Toast
• Chorizo Chili Scramble Eggs
• Brie & Caramelised Pear Toast
• Seafood Risotto
• Honey, Lemon & Ginger

Menu

Sides

• Karaage Fried Chicken Thigh — 3 to 4 pieces served with slaw
• Chips — Served with house aioli
• Potato Wedges — Served with sour cream
• House Smoked Salmon — Side serving
• Streaky Bacon — Side serving
• Grilled Lemongrass Chicken — Side serving
• Grilled Halloumi — Side serving
• Chorizo Sausage — Side serving
• Portobello Mushroom — Side serving
• Roasted Tomato — Side serving
• Potato Croquette — Side serving

Brunch & Mains

• The Big Brekki — Streaky bacon, chorizo sausage, poached eggs, mushrooms, house potato croquette, roasted tomatoes, seasonal greens, and choice of toast
• Free Range Eggs — Two eggs your way (poached, scrambled, or fried) with your choice of toast
• Karaage Chicken Waffle — Crispy Japanese-style fried chicken thigh on a house-made waffle with streaky bacon, sweet and spicy sauce, and fennel and green apple slaw
• Chorizo Chili Scramble Eggs — Soft scrambled egg mixed with green chili sauce on house-made flatbread with vege chips, fried shallots, and Sichuan-style chili oil
• Spiced Apple French Toast — Cinnamon and vanilla soaked brioche, mascarpone and crème fraîche icing, apple compote, butter-poached apples, crumble, vanilla maple syrup, salted caramel, and streaky bacon
• Seafood Risotto — Creamy seafood risotto with bread-crumbed prawns, prawn cutlets, clams, mussels, dill, and Parmesan cheese
• Slow-Braised Short Rib Ragu Pasta — Slow-braised beef short rib ragu with fettuccine, cherry tomatoes, parmesan, herbs, red wine, and chilli oil
• Eggs Benedict — Potato croquettes, poached eggs, fresh baby spinach, house Hollandaise sauce, and beetroot hummus
• Brie & Caramelised Pear Toast — Sourdough toast topped with brie, honey and olive oil roasted pear, poached eggs, hot honey, dukkah, cranberry compote, and romesco
• Open Steak Sandwich — Beef Scotch Fillet, lettuces, sliced tomatoes, onion relish, aioli, jus, and chimichurri on sourdough, served with battered chips
• Apple Compote Porridge — Creamy porridge topped with apple compote, hot butter-poached apples, and toasted seeds and nuts
• Shakshuka — Eggs baked in a spiced tomato and capsicum base with courgette, eggplant, and chilli beans, topped with feta, served with warm focaccia
• Citrus Cured & House Smoked Fish Bruschetta — Citrus cured and house smoked fish on sourdough with pickled onion, capers, dill, trout caviar, and fennel and green apple salad
• Creamy Mushroom — Creamy mushrooms on ciabatta with one poached egg, parmesan, and truffle oil
• Lemongrass Chicken Salad — Grilled lemongrass chicken thigh, quinoa, roast pumpkin, grilled mango, halloumi, spiced cauliflower, vegetable chips, greens, aioli, and yuzu dressing
• Mince on Toast — House-made prime beef mince cooked with cherry tomatoes on ciabatta with a poached egg, parmesan, and sour cream
• Omelette — Three-egg omelette served with romesco sauce and choice of three fillings
• Lamb Fry (Lamb Liver) — Served with potato croquettes, free-range bacon, grilled vine tomatoes, a poached egg, house chilli oil, and herb butter

Alcoholic Beverages

• Irish Coffee — Hot coffee with Irish whiskey, brown sugar, and cream
• Hot Toddy — Warm whisky with lemon, honey, and winter spices
• Heineken — Bottled beer, 5%
• Corona — Bottled beer, 4.5%
• Garage Project Chipper Hazy Pale Ale — Craft hazy pale ale, 5%
• Somersby Apple Cider — Cider, 330ml
• Squealing Pig Sauvignon Blanc — Marlborough, NZ
• Awatere Valley Pinot Gris — Marlborough, NZ
• Oyster Bay Chardonnay — Hawkes Bay, NZ
• Stoneleigh Wild Valley Rose — New Zealand rose wine
• Gancia Prosecco DOC NV — Italian sparkling wine
• Huntaway Reserve Pinot Noir — Marlborough, NZ
• Rua Pinot Noir — Central Otago, NZ
• Yalumba Galway Vintage Shiraz — Australian red wine

Hot Coffee & Drinks

• Flat White — Espresso with velvety steamed milk
• Cappuccino — Espresso with steamed milk and dusted foam
• Latte — Double shot espresso with steamed milk
• Short Black — Double shot espresso
• Long Black — Double shot espresso over hot water
• Americano — Classic espresso diluted with hot water
• Macchiato — Espresso marked with a dash of milk
• Piccolo — Single shot espresso topped with steamed milk
• Fluffy — Steamed milk froth served with marshmallows
• Hot Chocolate — Rich hot chocolate
• Mocha — Espresso blended with chocolate and steamed milk
• Chai Latte — Spiced chai tea blend with steamed milk
• Tiramisu Latte — Specialty flavored latte inspired by tiramisu
• Honey, Lemon & Ginger — Warm soothing honey, fresh lemon, and ginger drink
• Peanut Butter Latte — Specialty latte infused with peanut butter
• English Breakfast Tea — Pot of traditional black tea
• Earl Grey Tea — Pot of bergamot-infused black tea

Specialty & Cold Drinks

• Vietnamese Coffee — Sweetened with honey and made with coconut milk unless requested otherwise
• Matcha Latte — Japanese green tea latte
• Strawberry Matcha Latte — Layered strawberry and matcha green tea latte
• Turmeric Latte — Golden spiced turmeric latte
• Iced Chocolate — Chilled chocolate milk over ice
• Iced Mocha — Chilled espresso and chocolate over ice
• Iced Latte — Double shot espresso over chilled milk and ice

Smoothies & Fresh Juices

• Blueberry Smoothie — Blueberry, banana, peanut butter, vanilla, and almond milk
• Strawberry Smoothie — Strawberry, banana, mango, vanilla, and coconut milk
• Green Tropical Smoothie — Mango, pineapple, banana, spinach, and coconut water
• Mango Lassi Smoothie — Banana, yoghurt, vanilla, milk, and mango syrup
• Yellow Juice — Freshly pressed orange, lemon, ginger, and apple
• Red Juice — Freshly pressed carrot, lemon, ginger, and apple
• Green Juice — Freshly pressed cucumber, green apple, green pear, lemon, and ginger
• Orange Juice — Freshly squeezed orange juice
• Apple Juice — Fresh cold-pressed apple juice

Frequently asked questions

Where is Honey Cafe CBD located?

Honey Cafe CBD is located at 44-46 Lorne Street in Auckland CBD, situated inside the Auckland Central City Library.

What are the opening hours at Honey Cafe CBD?

The cafe is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Saturday through Sunday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

What time does the kitchen close?

The kitchen closes at 2:30 PM every day, both on weekdays and weekends.

Are there vegetarian or gluten-free options available?

Yes, the menu includes vegetarian (V) dishes and options where gluten-free (GF) or dairy-free (DF) preferences can be accommodated upon request.

Can I book a table in advance?

Yes, table reservations can be made online through their website booking portal.

Is Honey Cafe CBD available for private events?

Yes, the venue is available for private hire, catering to everything from corporate breakfasts to private dinners.

Tips

• {"body":"While the cafe remains open until 4:00 PM on weekdays and 3:00 PM on weekends, the kitchen stops food service at 2:30 PM daily.","title":"Plan Around the Kitchen Hours"}
• {"body":"Being housed inside the Central City Library, the cafe offers a quieter, more relaxed ambiance than typical downtown cafes.","title":"Ideal for Quiet Working or Study"}
• {"body":"Look beyond standard coffee orders to try signature drinks like the warming honey, lemon, and ginger brew or the honey-sweetened Vietnamese coffee.","title":"Explore the Honey-Infused Specialties"}

Good to know

• {"dietary":"Vegetarian, dairy-free on request, and no-gluten-added options available on the menu."}