Little Urban

About Little Urban

Little Urban is a warm, child-friendly, licensed daytime cafe at 653 Manukau Road, directly opposite the main entrance to One Tree Hill via Cornwall Park, with the Stardome Observatory and a kids' playground with flying fox close by. It is built around great food and superb coffee - the kind of neighbourhood cafe where a morning coffee can genuinely boost your day.

Seating is comfortable whatever the weather: street-side tables along Manukau Road, a cosy interior, and a covered, heated deck. The menu takes cafe classics and gives them personality - ube and tiramisu French toast, shakshuka, karaage chicken benedict and a generous big breakfast - with burgers, salads and comforting staples at lunch.

Little Urban is genuinely set up for families: kids' toys, activities and a blackboard keep children happy at the table, and the park across the road turns a meal into a proper day out. Free parking is available just outside on Manukau Road, on Haydn & Beckenham Avenue, or across the road in the park.

High teas are available on booking, and the team happily takes bookings and function enquiries by phone. Hours run Monday to Thursday 7am-3pm (kitchen closes 2.30pm) and Friday to Sunday 7am-3.30pm (kitchen closes 3pm), with public holidays 7am-3pm.

Little Urban Cafe: Family-Friendly Brunch and Superb Coffee by One Tree Hill, Auckland

Little Urban sits at 653 Manukau Road, directly opposite the main entrance to One Tree Hill via Cornwall Park - a location that shapes everything about it. This warm, licensed daytime cafe serves great food and superb coffee to park-walkers, families and locals, with the Stardome Observatory and a kids' playground complete with flying fox just across the road. It is the kind of place where a quick morning coffee can genuinely boost your day, or where brunch rolls comfortably into an afternoon in the park.

Seating is flexible: grab a street-side table and watch Manukau Road go by, settle inside, or take the covered and heated deck, which keeps things comfortable whatever Auckland's weather is doing. Free parking just outside on Manukau Road, on Haydn and Beckenham Avenue, or across the road in the park takes the stress out of arriving, and the team is happy to take bookings by phone.

A menu of brunch classics with personality

The kitchen takes familiar cafe favourites and gives them a twist. The French toast line-up is the clearest example: a Tiramisu French Toast of thick-cut brioche with vanilla mascarpone, cocoa and coffee anglaise, and a striking Ube French Toast - halaya ube and cream cheese stuffed into brioche, served with coconut sorbet, mascarpone and maple syrup. Egg dishes run deep, from a fragrant Middle Eastern shakshuka with braised tomatoes, capsicum and feta, to karaage chicken benedict on potato rostis with yuzu hollandaise, chilli scrambled eggs on sourdough, and eggs benedict built on gluten-free rostis with a choice of Florentine, smoked salmon, mushrooms, halloumi or streaky bacon.

Heartier plates include the Big Breakfast and a Vegetarian Breakfast, both with free-range eggs any style. Lighter starts range from housemade granola with Raglan vanilla bean coconut yoghurt and poached pear, to a vegan porridge with apple compote, plus avocado on toast with feta, dukkah and pickled fennel.

Lunch keeps the standard up. Burgers come on toasted brioche with housemade patties - try the Beef & Bacon or the Bang Bang Chicken with slaw and crispy onion rings - alongside Japanese-style karaage chicken with liege waffles, salt and pepper squid, crumbed fish and chips, and a comforting mince and cheese pie with chips and gravy. Salads have real presence too: Thai chicken and Thai beef salads with crispy noodles and snowpea shoots, a colourful Buddha bowl with falafels and hummus, and a pumpkin, kale and tofu plate with green goddess dressing.

Built for families

Little Urban is unapologetically child friendly. Kids' toys, activities and a blackboard keep little ones busy at the table, and the setting does the rest: the Cornwall Park playground with its flying fox is essentially next door, and a post-brunch wander toward One Tree Hill or the Stardome turns a meal into a proper day out. Families are a core part of the cafe's identity rather than an afterthought.

High teas, bookings and functions

For something a little more occasion-worthy, Little Urban offers high teas on booking - a lovely format for birthdays, baby showers or a long catch-up. The team also welcomes general bookings and function enquiries by phone, so larger tables and celebrations are easy to arrange. As the cafe itself puts it: all you need is love and a cup of coffee.

Planning your visit

The cafe runs Monday to Thursday from 7am to 3pm with the kitchen closing at 2.30pm, and Friday to Sunday from 7am to 3.30pm with the kitchen closing at 3pm; public holidays run 7am to 3pm. For bookings and enquiries, call (09) 624 1130 or email littleurbancafe@gmail.com. Between the heated deck, the free parking and the park across the road, Little Urban makes an easy, welcoming anchor for any Auckland day out.

Signature items

• Ube French Toast
• Karaage Chicken Benedict
• Tiramisu French Toast
• Shakshuka
• Big Breakfast
• High Tea

Menu

Lunch

• Mushroom Stroganoff — Creamy mixed mushrooms, garlic, onion, herbs & sour cream on toasted turkish bread with poached egg
• Buddha Bowl — Pickled carrots, falafels, olives, sundried tomato, beetroot, quinoa, crispy kale, edamame & hummus; add smoked salmon, chicken, squid or tofu
• B.L.A.T — Streaky bacon, lettuce, tomato & avocado smash on a toasted brioche bun with fries; add a fried egg
• Beef & Bacon Burger — Housemade patty, crispy onion rings, lettuce, tomato, gherkins & burger relish on brioche with fries
• Bang Bang Chicken Burger — Housemade patty, slaw, crispy onion rings & bang bang sauce on brioche with fries
• Japanese Style Chicken Waffles — Karaage chicken on liege waffles with honey soy dressing & sesame seeds
• Salt & Pepper Squid — Deep-fried squid with garden salad, fries & tartare sauce
• Thai Chicken Salad — Marinated chicken, crispy noodles, crispy shallots, asian salad, bamboo shoots, mung beans & snowpea shoots
• Pie, Chips & Gravy — Mince & cheese pie with rich onion gravy & fries
• Thai Beef Salad — Marinated beef, crispy noodles, crispy shallots, capsicum, mung beans, asian salad, pak choi & snowpea shoots
• Fish & Chips — Crumbed dory with rainbow salad & fries
• Pumpkin, Kale & Tofu — Shredded kale, fennel, quinoa, pumpkin, marinated tofu, edamame, pumpkin seeds & green goddess dressing

High Tea

• High Tea — Tiered high tea available on booking - call the cafe to reserve

Breakfast

• Granola — Housemade honey-toasted oats, nuts, seeds & dried fruits with Raglan vanilla bean coconut yoghurt & poached pear
• Vegan Porridge — Made with apple juice, coconut milk, LSA & bran flakes, topped with apple compote
• Shakshuka — Middle Eastern baked eggs - braised tomatoes, capsicum, onion, garlic & feta with turkish bread; add chorizo
• Avocado on Toast — Roasted red capsicum, feta, pickled fennel, dukkah, poached egg & balsamic reduction
• Tiramisu French Toast — Thick-cut brioche with vanilla mascarpone, cocoa dusting, coffee anglaise & whipped cream
• Crepes / Liege Waffles — Vanilla bean mascarpone, candy floss, whipped cream & maple syrup; bacon & grilled banana or poached pear & apple compote
• Ube French Toast — Halaya ube & cream cheese stuffed brioche, coconut sorbet, vanilla bean mascarpone & maple syrup
• Karaage Chicken Benedict — Two free-range poached eggs on potato rostis with wilted spinach & yuzu hollandaise
• Chilli Scrambled Eggs — Scrambled eggs on sourdough with chilli oil, fresh chillies, herbs & rocket
• Eggs Benedict — Two free-range poached eggs on gluten-free potato rostis, wilted spinach & yuzu citrus hollandaise - Florentine, smoked salmon, mushrooms, halloumi or streaky bacon
• Eggs on Toast — Two free-range eggs any style with herbs & sourdough; add bacon
• Big Breakfast — Two free-range eggs any style, streaky bacon, mushrooms, cheese kransky, hash sticks, tomato & sourdough
• Vegetarian Breakfast — Two free-range eggs any style, mushrooms, crispy kale, hash sticks, halloumi, tomato & sourdough

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a booking?

Walk-ins are welcome, but the team is happy to take bookings and function enquiries - call (09) 624 1130.

Is Little Urban suitable for children?

Yes, it is deliberately child friendly, with kids' toys, activities and a blackboard at the cafe, and a playground with a flying fox across the road in Cornwall Park.

Where can I park?

Free parking is available just outside on Manukau Road, on Haydn & Beckenham Avenue, or across the road in the park.

What are the opening hours?

Monday to Thursday 7am-3pm (kitchen closes 2.30pm); Friday to Sunday 7am-3.30pm (kitchen closes 3pm); public holidays 7am-3pm.

Are there gluten-free or vegan options?

Yes - gluten-free toast is available, several dishes are no added gluten (such as eggs benedict on gluten-free potato rostis), and there is a vegan porridge plus plant-friendly bowls and salads.

Can I book a high tea?

Yes, high teas are available on booking - phone (09) 624 1130 to arrange one.

Is the cafe licensed?

Yes, Little Urban is a licensed daytime cafe.

Tips

• {"body":"The kitchen closes at 2.30pm Monday to Thursday and 3pm Friday to Sunday (and on public holidays), so order lunch earlier in the afternoon.","title":"Watch the kitchen clock"}
• {"body":"The cafe sits opposite the One Tree Hill entrance via Cornwall Park - the Stardome Observatory and the flying fox playground are right there for afterwards.","title":"Pair it with the park"}
• {"body":"High teas run on bookings only - phone (09) 624 1130 to secure a spot for a special occasion.","title":"Book ahead for high tea"}
• {"body":"The team welcomes bookings and function enquiries, so phone ahead if you're bringing a larger table or planning a celebration.","title":"Call ahead for groups"}
• {"body":"The deck is covered and heated, so outdoor-style seating works even on a grey Auckland day.","title":"Any-weather seating"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Child friendly with kids' toys, activities and a blackboard; playground with flying fox across the road","dietary":"Gluten-free toast available; vegan porridge plus no-added-gluten and vegetarian dishes","parking":"Free parking outside on Manukau Road, on Haydn & Beckenham Ave, or across the road in Cornwall Park"}