When did Sol's Place open?

It was created in 2021, reviving one of the oldest and most iconic café spots in Ponsonby.

Where is Sol's Place located?

121 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland.

Does Sol's Place cater for allergies or dietary requirements?

Yes, let the team know and they'll do their best to accommodate.

Is there a surcharge on public holidays?

Yes, a 15% surcharge applies on all public holidays.

How are bills handled on weekends?

On weekends and public holidays, it's one bill per table.

Does Sol's Place serve cocktails?

Yes, including a Mimosa, Espresso Martini, and a house Smoked Bacon & Maple Infused Bloody Mary.

Sol’s Place

cafe — Ponsonby · Auckland

About Sol’s Place

Sol's Place Café was created in 2021 to bring back to life one of the oldest and most iconic café spots in Ponsonby, at 121 Ponsonby Road. It's named for Sol Filler, who ran many hospitality locations during his lifetime and treated each one as an extension of his own home, welcoming guests in like family — a spirit the café carries forward today.

Sol's Place describes itself as a community focused, vibing eatery serving delicious food and fantastic coffee. The kitchen uses locally sourced suppliers throughout, with free-range eggs and meat products across the menu, and the team is happy to accommodate allergies or dietary requirements on request.

The menu runs from hearty all-day breakfast and brunch dishes through to tacos, burgers and salads, alongside a full coffee, tea, juice, wine, beer and cocktail list, plus a dedicated kids menu and a cabinet stocked with daily baked treats.

Sol's Place: An Iconic Ponsonby Café Brought Back to Life

At 121 Ponsonby Road, Sol's Place Café occupies one of the oldest and most iconic café spots in Ponsonby, brought back to life in 2021. The name honours Sol Filler, who ran many hospitality venues during his lifetime and treated each one as an extension of his own home — a warmth the café aims to carry through every visit.

Community First

Sol's Place describes itself simply as a community focused, vibing eatery, built around delicious food and fantastic coffee for locals and visitors alike. The kitchen sources locally wherever possible, using free-range eggs and meat products throughout the menu, and the team asks guests to flag any allergies or dietary requirements so they can do their best to accommodate them.

All-Day Brunch

The menu leans firmly into brunch, with dishes built for lingering over a coffee. Sol's Bene pairs poached eggs and house hollandaise with hash browns and a choice of protein, while the Big Breakie stacks free range eggs, smoked bacon, Spanish chorizo, hash brown and roast tomato for something heartier. Shakshuka brings roasted vegetables and poached eggs together in a tomato base with dukkah and sumac, and the Hash Stack offers a vegetarian option built around portobello mushroom, spinach and hummus.

Beyond Breakfast

Past the brunch classics, Sol's Tacos — filled with pulled beef or battered fish, slaw, chipotle aioli and avo — and the BBQ Pulled Beef Burger with smoked cheddar and slaw round out the lunch options, alongside a Falafel Salad and Sol's Bagel piled with house smoked salmon and cream cheese. The cabinet stays stocked with daily treats too — brownies, slices, banana bread and more.

A Full Bar and Coffee List

Sol's Place runs a genuine drinks programme alongside its food, from tap beers, Panhead and Little Creatures cans, and Zeffer cider, through to a Kopiko Bay wine list covering sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, pinot gris, pinot noir, merlot and more. Cocktails include a Mimosa, an Espresso Martini in a few styles, and a house speciality — Smoked Bacon & Maple Infused Bloody Mary. The coffee and tea list covers all the usual favourites, alongside fresh juices and smoothies made with yoghurt, almond milk and honey.

Families and Groups

Kids are well catered for with a dedicated menu covering a cheese toastie, egg on toast, porridge and chicken nuggets and chips, most with gluten-free options available. On weekends and public holidays, tables are asked to settle with one bill per table, and a 15% surcharge applies on public holidays.

Visiting Sol's Place

Sol's Place is located at 121 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, and can be reached by phone or email for enquiries. With its blend of brunch classics, a full bar, and a genuine community feel, it continues the legacy of the café's original spirit — treating every guest like they've walked into someone's home.

Signature items

Sol's Bene
Big Breakie
Sol's Tacos
Shakshuka
BBQ Pulled Beef Burger
Smoked Bacon & Maple Bloody Mary

Kopiko Bay Sauvignon Blanc — White wine, by the glass or bottle.
Kopiko Bay Chardonnay — White wine, by the glass or bottle.
Kopiko Bay Pinot Gris — White wine, by the glass or bottle.
Kopiko Bay Pinot Noir — Red wine, by the glass or bottle.
Kopiko Bay Merlot — Red wine, by the glass or bottle.
Barossa Ink Shiraz — Red wine, by the glass or bottle.
Septima Gran Reserva — Bodega Mendoza red wine, by the bottle.
Prosecco — Sparkling, by the glass or bottle.
De Bortoli Rosé — King Valley, Victoria rosé, by the glass or bottle.

Sides

Thick-Cut Double-Smoked Bacon — Side option.
House-Smoked Salmon Fillet — Side option.
Wilted Spinach — Side option.
Mushrooms — Side option.
Hash Brown — Side option.
Shoestring Fries — Served with aioli or ketchup.

Cocktails

Mimosa — Classic mimosa.
Smoked Bacon & Maple Infused Bloody Mary — House Bloody Mary with smoked bacon and maple infusion.
Espresso Martini — Traditional, salted caramel, or chai style.

Kids Menu

Cheese Toastie — Gluten-free option available.
Egg on Toast — Poached, scrambled or fried. Gluten-free option available.
Porridge — Banana, maple.
Chicken Nuggets and Chips — Kids menu option.

Beer & Cider

Tap Beers — Ask staff for current selection.
Panhead and Little Creatures Cans — Canned beer selection.
Zeffer Crisp Apple Cider — Cider.
Low Alcohol Beer — Low alcohol option.

Coffee & Tea

Black Coffee — House coffee.
White Coffee — House coffee.
Mocha — House coffee.
Hot Chocolate — House hot chocolate.
Tea — English breakfast, earl grey, Paris, green, chamomile, peppermint, or strawberry & kiwi.
Iced Coffee — USA, latte, choc or mocha style, or chai.

Mains & Sharing

Sol's Tacos — Slaw, chipotle aioli, avo, choice of pulled beef or battered fish, 2 per serve.
Sol's Bagel — House smoked salmon, cream cheese, capers, pickled onion, leaves, balsamic reduction.
Falafel Salad — Tomato, cucumber, olives, mesclun, artichoke, feta, hummus, vinaigrette dressing.
BBQ Pulled Beef Burger — Smoked cheddar, slaw, aioli, BBQ sauce, pickle, shoestring fries.

Juice & Smoothie

Fresh Juice — Apple, orange or carrot, with one or two other ingredients.
Smoothies — Banana & passionfruit or very berry, made with yoghurt, almond milk and honey.

Cabinet & Dessert

Daily Cabinet Treats — Brownies, slices, banana bread, French toast, and more, changing daily.

Breakfast & Brunch

Toast and Preserves — Sourdough, mixed grain or gluten free toast with house-made preserves.
Maple-Roasted Granola — Coconut yoghurt, fresh fruit.
Drunken Porridge — Poached fruit, port wine reduction.
Eggs Your Way — Free-range eggs, house chutney, choice of bread.
Sol's Bene — Poached eggs, house hollandaise, hash browns, with a choice of creamy spinach & mushroom, thick-cut double-smoked bacon, or house smoked-salmon fillet.
Omelette — Cheddar, sundried tomato, caramelised onion, with mushroom, chutney and toast.
Avo Bruschetta — Fresh avocado, feta, salsa pebre, sesame pide.
Hash Stack — Hash browns, portobello, spinach, hummus, sundried tomato salad, capers, truffle oil, avo crème. Vegetarian; poached egg can be added.
Shakshuka — Roasted vegetables, tomato base, feta, poached eggs, dukkah & sumac, multigrain.
Mince on Toast — Parmesan, poached egg, pepper cream jus, truffle oil.
Mushroom Madness — Mushrooms, chorizo, poached egg, parmesan, creamy balsamic, pesto.
French Toast — Bacon bits, banana, berry jam, candied almonds, maple and yoghurt.
Big Breakie — Free range eggs, smoked thick bacon, roast tomato, hash brown, mushrooms, Spanish chorizo, toast.

Frequently asked questions

When did Sol's Place open?: It was created in 2021, reviving one of the oldest and most iconic café spots in Ponsonby.
Where is Sol's Place located?: 121 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland.
Does Sol's Place cater for allergies or dietary requirements?: Yes, let the team know and they'll do their best to accommodate.
Does Sol's Place have a kids menu?: Yes, including a cheese toastie, egg on toast, porridge and chicken nuggets and chips, most with gluten-free options.
Is there a surcharge on public holidays?: Yes, a 15% surcharge applies on all public holidays.
How are bills handled on weekends?: On weekends and public holidays, it's one bill per table.
Does Sol's Place serve cocktails?: Yes, including a Mimosa, Espresso Martini, and a house Smoked Bacon & Maple Infused Bloody Mary.

Tips

{"body":"Two of the café's heartiest brunch options.","title":"Try Sol's Bene or the Big Breakie"}
{"body":"Gluten-free bread and kids menu items are available on request.","title":"Ask about GF options"}
{"body":"On weekends and public holidays, it's one bill per table.","title":"Know the weekend policy"}
{"body":"There's always something freshly baked on the bench — brownies, slices, banana bread and more.","title":"Check the cabinet"}

Good to know

{"dietary":"The kitchen uses locally sourced, free-range eggs and meat throughout; let staff know of any allergies or dietary requirements.","payments":"A 15% surcharge applies on all public holidays."}