Lime Espresso Bar & Eatery is a neighbourhood café on Great South Road in Ōtāhuhu, Auckland, built around the belief that coffee should be more than a drink — it should be an experience. Rich, freshly brewed espresso and barista-made coffee anchor the menu, alongside wholesome, freshly made food: quick toasties and bagels in the morning, loaded Eggs Benedicts and a seriously stocked Big Breakfast, plus burgers, fresh salads, wraps and a sandwich range through the day.
The space is described by its owners as built on passion — a place where good food and good vibes come together. Visitors tend to agree, praising the beautiful presentation, the wall ornaments and paintings around the shop, and a friendly team that delivers service with a smile. Regulars talk about the morning chat as much as the food, and more than one reviewer calls it a standout Ōtāhuhu business and 'a relaxed place to just take time out and chill'.
Whether you're after an early morning pick-me-up (doors open 6.30am on weekdays), a slow brunch with friends, or a family breakfast with a dedicated kids menu, Lime keeps things simple: fresh ingredients, generous plates and a warm welcome. Online ordering is available through their website, and the team can be reached by phone or email.
On Great South Road in the heart of Ōtāhuhu, Lime Espresso Bar & Eatery has built its name on a simple belief: coffee should be more than a drink. This neighbourhood café pairs rich, freshly brewed espresso with a surprisingly full kitchen — everything from quick toasties and bagels to loaded benedicts, burgers and big plated breakfasts. Whether you're stopping in for a morning pick-me-up, settling into a slow brunch with friends, or taking a quiet moment to yourself, the idea is the same: fresh ingredients, generous plates and a warm welcome.
The team describes the place as built on passion — a space where good food and good vibes come together. In practice that means wholesome, freshly made meals, barista-made coffee and a friendly crew that regulars come back for as much as the menu. Reviews consistently mention the same things: beautiful presentation, thoughtful décor with wall ornaments and paintings, and staff who deliver service with a smile.
The breakfast menu stretches from the simple to the serious. Start light with an egg on toast, a custom toastie built on two fillings of your choice, or a bagel — plain with jam, or topped with cream cheese and smoked salmon. There's a homemade toasted muesli bowl with seasonal fruit, Greek yogurt, honey and berry compote for the health-minded.
At the other end sits Lime's Big Breakfast: hashbrowns, sausage, bacon, grilled tomato, grilled mushrooms, eggs any style, baked beans and wholemeal toast. Mince on toast with poached eggs, and an Egg Burji — scrambled eggs laced with spices, turmeric and chilli flakes — bring heartier, homestyle flavours to the table. Extra toast in several styles (including gluten free) and a range of sauces can be added to any plate.
Eggs Benedict is clearly the house obsession. Choose your base: mushroom, chicken rashers, bacon or salmon over English muffins with spinach, poached eggs and hollandaise — or go with the Rosti Benedict, a vegetarian, no-added-gluten take built on a potato and herb rosti with mushrooms. A Potato Rosti with Salmon adds smoked salmon and feta on top. Reviewers single out both the bacon and salmon versions as favourites.
If you lean sweet, French toast made with cinnamon-grilled brioche arrives with caramelised banana, crispy bacon, maple syrup, berry compote and whipped cream — sweet and savoury on one plate. Pancakes come much the same way, and the waffle can even be topped with fried chicken on request. Sides run from hashbrowns, grilled mushrooms and chorizo to loaded wedges, with a warm brownie and ice cream for after.
Coffee is the anchor: rich espresso and barista-made brews, with regulars recommending the dark mocha with caramel. Tea drinkers get a small touch of theatre — a timer that tells you when your brew is properly ready. On warmer days the Passion Fruit Mango Fizzy, a tropical passion fruit and mango soda, does the refreshing. Beyond breakfast, the all-day menu covers burgers — the crispy chicken burger on a brioche bun is a standout — with fresh salads, wraps and a sandwich range also on the boards.
Visitors describe Lime as 'a relaxed place to just take time out and chill' and call it one of the standout businesses in Ōtāhuhu. The room is easy on the eye, the plates are well presented, and the atmosphere is complemented by a team people genuinely enjoy chatting with. It works just as well for a solo flat white, a catch-up with friends or a family breakfast — there's a dedicated Kids Delight menu alongside the main boards.
Lime Espresso Bar & Eatery sits at 507 Great South Road, Ōtāhuhu. It opens early on weekdays — 6.30am — running through to 3pm, Monday to Friday, with Saturday hours of 8am to 2pm. Sundays are a day off. Online ordering is available through the website if you'd rather skip the wait, and the team can be reached on 09 270 2570 or by email. Vegetarian dishes are marked on the menu, the Rosti Benedict is made without added gluten, and gluten-free bread is offered as a toast option, so most diets are covered.