MELBA Manukau

About MELBA Manukau

MELBA Manukau is the Manukau branch of the MELBA café family, conveniently located just across from Westfield Manukau at 1 Ronwood Ave. It offers a welcoming retreat from the bustle of the city centre, with a generous all-day menu, freshly baked treats and consistently great coffee — a spot equally suited to office breaks, relaxed catch-ups or unwinding after a day of shopping. Warm, approachable and reliably delicious, it now also opens for dinner Wednesday to Saturday.

The café is led by licensees Shashi and Kim Bansal, long-standing members of the MELBA family who bring experience, warmth and strong leadership. With deep ties to the vibrant and diverse Manukau community, they are committed to genuine hospitality and to creating a space that feels welcoming to everyone.

The menus change with the seasons — the current winter lineup spans hearty breakfasts like the MELBA Breakfast and Eggs Benedict, lunch classics from burgers and seafood chowder to stone oven pizzas, plus a dedicated kids' day menu. Come evening, the night menu brings small plates, larger dishes, desserts and a full drinks list of wine, cocktails, mocktails and beer.

MELBA Manukau: All-Day Café Comfort Across from Westfield — Now Open Nights

Just across from Westfield Manukau at 1 Ronwood Ave, MELBA Manukau has become a welcoming retreat from the bustle of the city centre. It's the kind of café that works for nearly every moment of the day: an early coffee before work, a long brunch with friends, a family lunch after shopping, and — since recently — dinner service running Wednesday to Saturday.

The café is part of a much bigger story. Café Melba first opened in Auckland's iconic Vulcan Lane in 1995 and quickly became a favourite with locals and visitors alike. From there the recipe spread across the wider Auckland region, with the MELBA Group — led by directors Shawn and Michelle Pope — upholding a commitment to quality, creativity and genuine hospitality at every location.

A local family behind the counter

MELBA Manukau is run by licensees Shashi and Kim Bansal, long-standing members of the MELBA family who bring experience, warmth and a strong sense of leadership to the café. With deep ties to the vibrant and diverse Manukau community, they've shaped a space that feels genuinely inclusive — a place built on the idea that great food, exceptional service and meaningful moments should come naturally.

What's on the plate

The menus here change with the seasons, and the current winter lineup makes the most of hearty, comforting food. Breakfast runs the gamut from a Winter Warming Porridge with black doris plum and roasted almonds to Eggs Benedict three ways, thick-cut French Toast and the mighty MELBA Breakfast — manuka smoked bacon, bratwurst, hash brown, egg and the house MELBA sauce.

Lunch brings salads, burgers and bigger plates: the Honey Garlic Chicken Salad is a MELBA classic, while the Angus Beef Burger, Seafood Chowder, Beef Brisket and slow-cooked Pork Ribs cover the comfort-food spectrum. The stone oven pizzas — from a classic Margherita to The Works loaded with chorizo, bacon and bratwurst — are a fixture of both day and night menus. There's even a dedicated kids' day menu for younger guests.

Now open nights

The big news at MELBA Manukau is dinner service, running Wednesday to Saturday from 3pm until late. The night menu leans into sharing: crispy chicken bao buns with gochujang and pickled cucumber, cauliflower pakora, salt and pepper calamari, and fish sliders, alongside larger plates like the Scotch Fillet with truffle mash and peppercorn sauce. Desserts such as the Salted Caramel Sundae and MELBA Cheesecake round things off, with wine, cocktails, mocktails and beer on hand.

The coffee — and everything around it

Coffee is a point of pride across MELBA, with every cup served as a double shot and alternative milks — oat, soy, coconut and almond — always available. Beyond the espresso machine there are smoothies, protein blends, specialty brews like the Mocha Nut and Mint Condition, gourmet milkshakes, Harney & Sons teas and a full list of iced drinks for warmer days.

Regulars can also make the most of MELBA's rewards programme, and for workplace needs the team offers a catering menu plus bookable meeting rooms. Tables can be reserved online in advance — handy for office lunches or group catch-ups.

Plan your visit

MELBA Manukau serves breakfast and lunch seven days a week, opening from 7.00am on weekdays and 7.30am on weekends and public holidays. Dinner runs Wednesday to Saturday from 3pm until late. Note that a 10% surcharge applies on public holidays. The café is at 1 Ronwood Ave, directly opposite Westfield Manukau, and can be reached on (09) 263 0598 or via [email protected]. If you have allergies or intolerances, the team asks you to speak with your waiter — the menus are seasonal and ingredients can vary.

Signature items

• MELBA Breakfast
• Fried Chicken Waffle
• Eggs Benedict
• The Works Pizza
• Seafood Chowder
• Biscoff Milkshake

Menu

Wine

• Soligo Prosecco — Italian prosecco by glass or bottle
• Pinot Gris – Mischief — Waipara pinot gris
• Sauvignon Blanc – Ten Sisters — Marlborough sauvignon blanc
• Chardonnay – Askerne — Hawkes Bay chardonnay
• Rosé – Bieler Pere — Provence rosé
• Pinot Noir – Te Hera — Martinborough pinot noir
• Shiraz – Blaxland Chocolate Box — Barossa Valley shiraz

Desserts

• Salted Caramel Sundae — Vanilla bean ice cream, mango, salted caramel, candied cashew, biscoff crumb
• MELBA Cheesecake — With seasonal fruit & meringue

Beer & Spirits

• Asahi On Tap — Japanese lager on tap
• Corona — Bottled lager
• Pure Blonde — Low carb lager
• Steinlager Light — Light New Zealand lager
• Steinlager Zero — Zero alcohol lager
• Somersby Cider — Apple cider
• Panhead Supercharger — Craft beer from Panhead
• Jim Beam Bourbon & Cola — Classic highball
• Smirnoff Vodka & Lemonade — Classic highball
• Bacardi Rum & Cola — Classic highball

Mains & Salads

• Honey Garlic Chicken Salad — A MELBA classic — free range chicken, apple, cashew, aioli, avocado, balsamic
• Angus Beef Burger — Cheddar, dijonnaise, habanero BBQ sauce, salad, caramelised onion, chips
• Fried Chicken Waffle — Parmesan waffle, buttermilk fried chicken, maple aioli, slaw, chips
• Creamy Penne Pasta — Free range chicken, mushrooms, manuka smoked bacon, basil, shaved parmesan
• Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich — Panko-crumbed chicken, brie, apricot chutney, aioli, toasted focaccia, chips
• Seafood Chowder — Thick & creamy with mussels, market fish, shrimp, calamari, toasted sourdough
• Energizer Salad — Crispy kale, grilled halloumi, quinoa, candied walnuts, cranberries, honey lime
• King of the Sea — Crispy skin salmon, chive crème fraîche, kale, pickled fennel, crispy caper
• Fish Tacos — Crumbed market fish, flour tortilla, mango, chipotle, sweetcorn salsa
• Beef Brisket — Spiced dry rub, slow cooked, cauliflower purée, scalloped potatoes, beef jus
• Pork Ribs — Slow cooked smoky ribs, sesame & apple slaw, chips

Sides & Extras

• Manuka Smoked Bacon — Two rashers
• Vine Tomato — Fresh grilled vine tomato
• Baby Spinach — Side of wilted greens
• Avocado — Fresh avocado side
• Bratwurst — One bratwurst sausage
• Creamy Mushrooms — Mushrooms in cream sauce
• Grilled Mushrooms — Simply grilled
• House Hashbrown — Crispy house-made hashbrown
• Mixed Leaf & Parmesan Salad — Fresh leaf salad with parmesan
• Smoked Salmon — Side of smoked salmon
• Grilled Free Range Chicken — Added protein for salads
• Grilled Halloumi — Salty grilled cheese
• Chorizo — Spicy Spanish sausage
• Bread With No Added Gluten — Gluten-free bread option
• House Aioli / Hollandaise — Extra sauce on the side
• Chips, Parmesan & Aioli — Crispy chips with parmesan & aioli
• Cheesy Wedges w Crème Fraîche — Wedges with crème fraiche

Stone Oven Pizzas

• The Italian — House tomato sauce, mozzarella, spicy pepperoni
• The Works — Chorizo, bacon, bratwurst, mozzarella, mushroom, MELBA sauce & aioli
• Tandoori Spice — Free range chicken, tandoori onions, cherry tomato, coriander, raita, chutney
• Margherita — Cherry tomato, mozzarella & fresh basil
• Garden Delight — Mozzarella, jalapeño, olives, pineapple, mushroom, corn, parmesan, chipotle

Breakfast & Brunch

• Winter Warming Porridge — Oats, coconut cream, chia seeds, black doris plum, grilled banana, roasted almonds
• Eggs Benedict — Poached eggs, house hash cake, house hollandaise — bacon, salmon or vegetarian
• MELBA Breakfast — Manuka smoked bacon, bratwurst, sourdough, mushroom, hash brown, egg, MELBA sauce
• French Toast — Thick cut brioche, caramelised banana, maple mascarpone, berry coulis, meringue crumb
• Salmon Mash — Soft mash with dill & lemon, smoked salmon, poached egg, house hollandaise
• Farmers Feast — Three-egg omelette, confit mushroom, chimichurri, marinated feta, kasundi
• Eggs on Toast — Poached or fried eggs on five grain toast
• Buttie — Organic brioche, pulled pork, manuka smoked bacon, aioli, fried egg, house BBQ sauce
• Mince on Toast — Baby spinach, crème fraiche, chorizo crumb, fried egg, sourdough
• Mighty Mushrooms — Creamy mushrooms, fried egg, focaccia, sun-dried tomato pesto, parmesan snow
• Avocado Toast — Crushed avocado, poached egg, marinated feta, greens, seeds, beetroot hummus

Coffee & Hot Drinks

• Espresso — Served as a double shot
• Long Black — Double shot black coffee
• Macchiato — Espresso topped with steamed milk
• Flat White — Velvety double shot, regular or large
• Cappuccino — Classic frothy favourite
• Piccolo — Small, strong milk coffee
• Latte — Smooth double shot latte
• Mocha — Chocolate meets coffee
• Organic Hot Chocolate — Rich organic cocoa
• Chai — Spiced chai, regular or large
• Ginger Latte — Warming ginger-spiced latte
• Lemon Toddy — Warming lemon & ginger brew
• Matcha — Green tea latte — contains milk derivatives

Dinner Large Plates

• Scotch Fillet — Creamy truffle mash, garlic butter, seasonal vegetables, peppercorn sauce

Dinner Small Plates

• Pizza Bread — Parmesan, garlic, olive oil & mozzarella
• Cauliflower Pakora — Garam masala infused, maple & chilli aioli
• Fish Sliders — Four sliders with pickled lemon, aioli & watercress
• Crispy Chicken Nibbles — Panko crumbed, drizzled with MELBA sauce
• Chicken Bao Buns — Korean fried chicken, gochujang, slaw, pickled cucumber
• Salt & Pepper Calamari — With chipotle & lime aioli dipping sauce
• Cheesy Wedges — With crème fraîche & cheddar
• Chips — With parmesan & aioli

Cocktails & Mocktails

• Ruby Picola — Vodka, advocaat, rhubarb syrup, house lemonade
• Classic Margarita — Tequila, triple sec, lime juice, sugar syrup
• Salted Caramel Martini — Vodka, kahlua, salted caramel syrup, espresso
• Gin Fizz — Gin, pear & vanilla syrup, lemon juice, lemonade
• Berry Smash — Mixed berries, rum, triple sec, lemonade
• MELBA Sunset — Pineapple juice, lemon juice, grenadine, mint
• Apple Pie — Apple & orange juice, lemon, ginger beer, cinnamon
• Cranberry Sparkler — Cranberry juice, orange juice, ginger beer
• Basil Babe — Peach purée, basil, lemon, ginger beer, chilli, sugar rim

Smoothies & Iced Drinks

• Lean Green Smoothie — Spirulina, apple, spinach, cucumber, banana, coconut water, cashews
• Caramel Nut Protein Smoothie — NuZest vanilla protein, dates, cashews, organic soy milk
• Berry & Banana Smoothie — Raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, banana, coconut water, honey
• Island Breeze Smoothie — Mango cheeks, pineapple & pineapple juice
• Iced Chocolate — Chilled chocolate classic
• Iced Coffee — Cold double-shot coffee
• Iced Mocha — Coffee & chocolate over ice
• Iced Strawberry Matcha — Unblended layered iced matcha
• Iced Latte — Unblended iced latte
• Iced Americano — Unblended black iced coffee
• Iced Matcha — Unblended iced green tea

Specialty Brews & Shakes

• Mocha Nut — Hazelnut mocha topped with whipped cream & chocolate syrup
• Mint Condition — Peppermint hot chocolate with whipped cream & chocolate syrup
• Slam Dunk Milkshake — Chocolate, nutella, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, flake
• Biscoff Milkshake — Biscoff spread, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, biscoff biscuit

Teas, Juices & Cold Drinks

• Harney & Sons' Teas — Earl Grey, English Breakfast, White Peach, Lemon Ginger, Peppermint, Citron Green
• House Lemonade — Fresh house-made lemonade
• Orange or Apple Juice — Fresh classic juices
• House Raspberry Iced Tea — House-brewed fruit iced tea
• House Spirulina — Green wellness drink
• Karma Cola — Natural cola
• Gingerella — Organic ginger ale
• Coke or Coke Zero — Classic soft drinks
• Kombucha — Seasonal flavour
• House Lemon Lime Bitters — House-mixed refresher
• Sparkling Water — 500ml bottle

Frequently asked questions

Where is MELBA Manukau located?

At 1 Ronwood Ave, Manukau, Auckland — directly across from Westfield Manukau.

What are the opening hours?

Breakfast and lunch are served seven days, from 7.00am on weekdays and from 7.30am on weekends. Dinner runs Wednesday to Saturday from 3pm until late. On public holidays the café opens from 7.30am.

Can I book a table?

Yes — tables can be booked online through the booking link on the MELBA Manukau page, which is handy for office lunches and group catch-ups.

Is there a kids' menu?

Yes, MELBA Manukau offers a dedicated kids' day menu alongside the all-day menu.

Do you cater for allergies and dietary needs?

The menu notes that not all ingredients are listed and asks guests to speak to their waiter about allergies or intolerances. Alternative milks (oat, soy, coconut and almond) are available for coffee, the creamy penne pasta can be made vegetarian, and bread with no added gluten is offered as a side.

Is there a public holiday surcharge?

Yes — a 10% surcharge applies on all public holidays. The café still opens from 7.30am on those days.

Does MELBA Manukau offer catering or spaces for groups?

Yes — there is a catering menu available, and meeting rooms can be booked through MELBA. Enquire with the Manukau team by phone or email.

Tips

• {"body":"MELBA Manukau is now open nights Wednesday to Saturday from 3pm until late — think bao buns, calamari, stone oven pizzas and cocktails.","title":"Come for dinner, Wed to Sat"}
• {"body":"The café opens from 7.30am on public holidays, and a 10% surcharge applies to everything on those days.","title":"Public holiday heads-up"}
• {"body":"Right across from Westfield Manukau, it fills with shoppers and office crowds — reserve a table online to guarantee a spot.","title":"Book ahead for busy times"}
• {"body":"Every coffee is pulled as a double shot, with oat, soy, coconut or almond milk on request — or add a protein shot to any smoothie.","title":"Coffee is always a double shot"}
• {"body":"Catering menus and bookable meeting rooms are available, making MELBA Manukau a practical pick for business breakfasts and lunches.","title":"Make it a workday base"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Dedicated kids' day menu available","dietary":"Speak to staff about allergies or intolerances; oat, soy, coconut & almond milks; gluten-free bread side; penne can be vegetarian"}