The Collins Cafe And Bar

About The Collins Cafe And Bar

The Collins Cafe & Bar is a spacious, cosy, villa-style cafe and bar on Greenhithe Road on Auckland's North Shore, with a beautiful garden, courtyard and indoor seating and a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. It's a place to start the morning with a flat white, bring the family for brunch, or settle in for dinner and a drink with friends — and yes, the dog is welcome too.

Breakfast and lunch are served every day from 6.30am (7.00am on Sundays), pairing the traditional cafe favourites regulars know and love — eggs benedict, sweetcorn fritters, mince on toast and the Collins Big Brekkie — with a fresh wave of Asian-inspired dishes from the kitchen's new chef: Pad Thai, Vietnamese salads, bao buns and kimchi fried rice. From Thursday to Saturday the evening menu takes over from 5.00pm, bringing shaking beef, Peking duck roti, spiced fried squid and green-lip mussels to the table alongside the bar list.

The response from the local community has been fantastic, with guests praising the new dishes and recommending The Collins to friends and family. Beyond the everyday, the team handles larger group bookings and private events — birthdays, work functions, wakes and christenings — as well as off-site catering, best arranged over the phone. Dietary needs are clearly marked, with GF, GFA, V, VG and DF options across every menu, and the coffee is a double shot as standard, at no extra charge.

The Collins Cafe & Bar: All-Day Breakfast and Asian-Inspired Dinner in Greenhithe, Auckland

On a quiet stretch of Greenhithe Road on Auckland's North Shore, The Collins Cafe & Bar does the thing many cafes attempt and few manage: it works just as well for a 6.30am flat white as it does for a Friday-night dinner. Set in a spacious villa with a garden out the back, it has quietly become part of the neighbourhood's weekly rhythm — the kind of place where the staff remember how the regulars take their coffee, and nobody blinks at a pram parked beside the table.

A villa made for lingering

The setting does much of the work. The dining room inside is cosy and generous; outside there's courtyard seating and a garden for the days that ask for it. Breakfast runs every day from 6.30am (7.00am on weekends), and because the menu stays up all day, one table can order porridge while the next works through a 200g scotch fillet. It's dog-friendly, easy with toddlers, and practiced with crowds — one local booked their mum's 60th here for 24 people and reported not a single hiccup.

There's no rush, either. Reviews mention warm rooms and no pressure to leave, fair prices, and a Saturday crowd greeted by name. Whether it's a solo coffee before the harbour bridge gets ugly, a family brunch with two toddlers in tow, or a long dinner that drifts into the evening, the villa absorbs it all.

The kitchen's new chapter

The Collins has always been loved for its traditional cafe favourites, but the arrival of a new chef has brought fresh energy. An Asian-inspired streak now runs through the menu: Pad Thai stir-fried in house-made sauce and finished with a tiger prawn, a Vietnamese salad dressed in nuoc cham with lemongrass chicken skewers or marinated prawns, roasted spiced duck tucked into bao buns, and kimchi fried rice crowned with a fried egg. The classics haven't gone anywhere — the Big Brekkie, eggs benedict, mince on toast and sweetcorn fritters are all still on the pass. The team says the local response has been fantastic, with guests recommending the new dishes to friends and family.

What people order

The Big Brekkie has a reputation to uphold, and reviewers say it does — enormous, with eggs, streaky bacon, beef sausage, mushrooms, tomato and potato rosti. At dinner, served Thursday to Saturday from 5pm, the shaking beef and the Pad Thai have been called genuinely restaurant standard by first-time dinner guests who booked again the same night. The Peking duck bao and the crunchy tofu get flagged as worth the drive on their own, and the snapper & chips — beer-battered or grilled — covers the seafood faithful. Brunch loyalists have their own shortlist too: French toast with vanilla mascarpone and cherry compote, Big G's Hash of slow-cooked beef and smashed potato under a poached egg, and rotis your way, two flaky rotis loaded with BBQ pulled beef brisket or crispy fried chicken.

Coffee first, cocktails after

Coffee is taken seriously: every shot is a double as standard, at no extra charge, and more than one regular has called it the best flat white on the North Shore. Smoothies, raw juices and teas cover the daylight hours; from 5pm Thursday to Saturday the bar side opens up, mixing espresso martinis, Moscow mules and watermelon mojitos alongside mocktails, wines by the glass and bottle, and a compact list of bottled beers.

Plan your visit

The day menu runs Monday to Saturday from 6.30am to 2.30pm and Sunday from 7.00am to 2.30pm; dinner is a Thursday-to-Saturday affair, 5.00pm to 9.00pm. Public holidays run 8.00am to 2.30pm. Walk-ins are always welcome, though a booking guarantees the table, and groups of seven or more should phone ahead so seating can be arranged. Birthdays, work functions, wakes, christenings and off-site catering are best sorted over the phone. Dietary needs are clearly handled, with gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan and dairy-free options marked across every menu.

You'll find The Collins at 20 Greenhithe Road, Greenhithe — a neighbourhood villa pouring proper coffee at sunrise and shaking beef by night, seven days a week.

Signature items

• Collins Big Brekkie
• Pad Thai
• Shaking Beef
• Bao Bun
• Eggs Benedict
• Snapper & Chips

Menu

Wines

• Merlot — Oyster Bay, Hawke's Bay — by the glass or bottle.
• Pinot Noir — Ned, Marlborough — by the glass or bottle.
• Syrah — Church Road, Hawke's Bay — by the glass or bottle.
• Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon — Church Road, Hawke's Bay red blend.
• Sauvignon Blanc — Ned, Marlborough — by the glass or bottle.
• Pinot Gris — Ned, Marlborough — by the glass or bottle.
• Chardonnay — Ned, Marlborough — by the glass or bottle.
• Rosé — Ned, Marlborough — by the glass or bottle.
• Lindauer Brut — Sparkling wine, 200ml serve.
• Prosecco — 750ml bottle.

Dinner

• Sweet & Sour Chicken — Capsicum, chives, onion, sesame and pineapple, served with rice or roti.
• Shaking Beef (GF) — Sautéed scotch fillet with capsicum, onion and tomato; served with rice or roti.
• The Collins Peking Duck (DF) — Cucumber, carrot and spring onion salad with roti and hoisin.
• Spiced Fried Squid (GF) — Chipotle aioli, shichimi and dried seaweed.
• Popcorn Chicken (DF) — Crispy chicken with chipotle aioli and sesame.
• Green Lip Mussels — Cooked in a rich, creamy sauce, served with toasted ciabatta.
• Crunchy Tofu (VG, GF) — Spiced salt and sweet chilli sauce.

Cocktails

• Pina Colada — White rum, Malibu, pineapple and coconut cream.
• Bloody Mary — Vodka with Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco and tomato juice.
• Espresso Martini — Vodka, Bailey's, Kahlua and an espresso shot.
• Moscow Mule — Vodka, ginger beer and mint.
• Watermelon Mojito — White rum, soda water, mint and watermelon syrup.

Mocktails

• Sweet Sunrise — Pineapple, orange, grenadine and lemonade.
• Virgin Colada — Pineapple, coconut cream and pineapple juice.
• Passionfruit Fizz — Passionfruit, lemon, mint and soda water.
• Collins Mule — Ginger beer, lemon and mint.
• Mango — Mango, coconut cream and orange juice.

Bottled Beers

• Corona — Bottled lager.
• Asahi — Bottled Japanese-style lager.
• Heineken — Bottled lager.
• Emerson NZ Pilsner — New Zealand craft pilsner.
• Somersby Cider — Bottled cider.
• Heineken Light — Lighter bottled lager.
• Asahi Zero — Non-alcoholic bottled lager.

Sides & Extras

• Green Salad — Fresh green side salad.
• Fries — A side of hot fries.
• Duck Fat Potatoes — A generous side of duck fat potatoes.
• Egg, Your Way — Extra poached, scrambled or fried egg.
• Mushrooms / Avocado / Potato Rosti / Tomato — Breakfast extras to add to any plate.
• Beef Sausage / Halloumi — Hearty extras for breakfast plates.
• Streaky Bacon / Smoked Salmon / Grilled Chicken — Protein add-ons for any dish.

Breakfast & Lunch

• Porridge (VG) — Cooked with almond milk, topped with grilled banana, seasonal fruits, cherry compote and maple syrup.
• Sweetcorn Fritters (V) — Corn fritter stacks with tomato relish, herb sour cream, tomato salsa and avocado.
• Omelette (GFA) — Red onion, spring onion and cheese with toasted ciabatta; add bacon, salmon or mushroom.
• Eggs on Toast (V, GFA) — Poached, scrambled or fried, with sourdough, ciabatta, multigrain or gluten-free toast.
• Collins Big Brekkie (GFA) — Eggs, sourdough, mushrooms, tomato, beef sausage, streaky bacon and potato rosti.
• Eggs Benedict (GFA) — Poached eggs, wilted spinach and hollandaise on ciabatta — ham, bacon, salmon, beef or mushroom.
• Mince on Toast (GFA) — House-made mince on toasted ciabatta with a poached egg and grated parmesan.
• French Toast (V) — Brioche with grilled banana, seasonal fruits, cherry compote, vanilla mascarpone and maple syrup.
• Creamy Mushrooms (V, GFA) — Mushrooms in creamy balsamic sauce on sourdough toast with parmesan.
• Big G's Hash (GF) — Slow-cooked beef, smashed potato, spinach, capsicum, cherry tomatoes, feta and pesto, topped with a poached egg.
• Fried Chicken Burger — Juicy fried chicken thigh, tomato, lettuce, pickled onion and chipotle aioli, with fries.
• Rotis Your Way — Two flaky rotis with lettuce, Asian slaw and salsa; BBQ brisket or crispy fried chicken.
• Bao Bun — Roasted spiced duck on two steamed buns with Asian slaw, carrot pickle and hoisin.
• Pad Thai (DF, GF) — Rice noodles in house-made sauce with grilled chicken, sprouts, peanuts and a tiger prawn.
• Vietnamese Salad (GF, DF) — Herbs and peanuts dressed in nuoc cham, with lemongrass chicken skewers or marinated tiger prawns.
• Kimchi Fried Rice (GF) — Spicy kimchi fried rice with streaky bacon and a fried egg on top.
• Steak Sandwich (GFA) — Scotch fillet on toasted ciabatta with lettuce, aioli and tomato relish.
• Scotch Fillet (GF) — 200g scotch fillet with beef jus and green salad; duck fat potatoes, fries or mash.
• Snapper & Chips — Beer-battered or grilled snapper with fries, salad and creamy tartare sauce.

Coffee & Non-Alcoholic

• Coffee — Proper coffee with a double shot as standard — no extra charge.
• Raw Orange / Immunity / Energy Juice — Fresh raw juices in three blends.
• Raspberry Lemonade — House lemonade with raspberry.
• Lemon, Lime & Bitters — The classic refresher.
• Bottled Drinks — Chilled bottled soft drinks.

Frequently asked questions

What are The Collins Cafe & Bar's opening hours?

Day service runs Monday to Saturday 6.30am–2.30pm and Sunday 7.00am–2.30pm, with dinner Thursday to Saturday, 5.00pm–9.00pm. Public holidays: 8.00am–2.30pm.

When is the dinner menu served?

Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 5.00pm, featuring the Asian-inspired dishes — shaking beef, pad Thai, bao buns and more — alongside cafe classics.

Do I need a booking?

Walk-ins are always welcome; a booking just guarantees your table. Groups of 7+ should call 09 413 9322 so seating can be arranged.

Are there gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan options?

Yes — GF, GFA, V, VG and DF options are marked across every menu, and gluten-free toast is available.

Is The Collins dog-friendly?

Yes, furry friends are welcome, especially in the garden and outdoor seating.

Can The Collins host private events or cater off-site?

Yes — birthdays, work functions, wakes, christenings, large group bookings and off-site catering. Call 09 413 9322 to get the details right.

What should I know about the drinks?

Coffee is a double shot as standard at no extra charge, with smoothies, juices and teas all day. The bar list adds cocktails, mocktails, wines by the glass and bottle, and bottled beers.

Tips

• {"body":"Doors open 6.30am on weekdays (7.00am weekends) — early enough for a double-shot flat white before the harbour bridge gets ugly.","title":"Beat the bridge"}
• {"body":"The Asian-inspired dinner menu only runs Thursday to Saturday from 5pm, so plan ahead for shaking beef and pad Thai.","title":"Dinner is a three-night affair"}
• {"body":"Furry friends are welcome — ask for a table in the garden or courtyard.","title":"Bring the dog"}
• {"body":"Parties of 7 or more should phone 09 413 9322 so seating can be arranged; private events and off-site catering are also best sorted by phone.","title":"Big group? Call first"}
• {"body":"Sunday service is daytime only, 7.00am–2.30pm — perfect for a slow brunch before the 2.30 close.","title":"Sunday is a brunch day"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Relaxed with toddlers and prams; garden seating; large groups and events welcome.","dietary":"GF, GFA, V, VG and DF options marked across every menu."}