Posto Semplice

About Posto Semplice

Posto Semplice is an intimate Italian neighbourhood venue located on Picton Street in the heart of Howick Village. Operating under two distinct rhythms, the room transitions seamlessly from an authentic Italian morning caffè into a vibrant wood-fired pizzeria by evening.

In the morning (Mattina), the focus is on specialty coffee alongside freshly baked pastries, including daily cornetti made using a decades-old family recipe from Lombardy, bomboloni, and warm Italian sandwiches built on 72-hour cold-fermented dough baked directly in the pizza oven. Come evening (Sera), the mosaic-tiled oven fires up for Neapolitan-style pizzas, comforting pasta dishes, antipasti, natural wines, and traditional desserts like daily tiramisù and affogato. With warm wooden tables, sage-green chairs, and a signature communal long table, Posto Semplice offers an unhurried, genuine slice of Italian hospitality.

Posto Semplice: Howick Village’s All-Day Italian Caffè and Wood-Fired Pizzeria

Tucked into a cozy shopfront along Picton Street, Posto Semplice brings the unhurried spirit of an authentic Italian neighbourhood spot to Howick Village. Defined by a philosophy of doing simple things exceptionally well, the venue operates on two daily rhythms: Mattina in the early morning and Sera when dusk sets in. Within its single dining room—accented with warm wood, sage-green chairs, and a mosaic-tiled wood-fired oven at the rear—locals gather for everything from pre-commute espressos to lively late-night dinners.

Morning Rhythms: Espresso and Fresh Cornetti

The morning begins early under the Mattina service, when the scent of baking dough and roasted beans fills the room. Coffee is treated with reverence, pulling beans from local Auckland roasters like Coffee Lab and weekly single-origin selections from Coffee Supreme. Whether enjoying a double-shot espresso, a velvety flat white, or a single-origin filter pour-over, the standards are strictly Italian—meaning cappuccinos are an early-morning affair.

Alongside the coffee bar sits an array of pastries baked daily. Foremost among them are the cornetti, shaped using a heritage family recipe from Fagnano Olona, northwest of Milan, that spans more than four decades. Guests can order them plain (vuoto), filled with rich house vanilla pastry cream, or laced with vibrant pistachio cream. On weekends, Roman maritozzi—soft buns filled to bursting with whipped cream—join freshly fried bomboloni filled with dark chocolate or zesty lemon curd.

For a more substantial mid-morning bite, Posto Semplice uses its 72-hour cold-fermented dough to craft Italian wood-fired sandwiches. High-heat baking yields bread that is light, airy, and crisp, stuffed with premium pairings such as the Emiliano (mortadella, fresh burrata, and pistachio) or the Caprese with fresh mozzarella, basil, and extra virgin olive oil.

Evening Gatherings: Wood-Fired Pizza and Pasta

At 4:00 pm, the room shifts into Sera mode as the wood-fired oven is stoked to cooking heat. By five, Neapolitan-style pizzas start landing on tables. The dough is fermented for optimal lightness and digestibility, puffing up in the flames with blistered crusts.

The pizza selection balances timeless classics and rich, inventive toppings. The Margherita and Regina celebrate quality Italian staples like San Marzano tomatoes, fresh basil, and whole Pugliese burrata, while signatures like the Agnello showcase eight-hour slow-cooked lamb shoulder ragù finished with pecorino and rosemary oil. White bases like the Tartufo combine creamy truffle béchamel, porcini, portobello mushrooms, and soft egg, while the Diavola brings a kick of spicy spianata salami or nduja.

Beyond pizza, the evening menu features classic comfort plates such as fresh egg tagliatelle tossed in slow-braised beef and pork ragù, tonnarelli cacio e pepe, and antipasti featuring burrata with stone fruit. To finish, diners linger over house-made tiramisù with espresso-soaked savoiardi or an affogato poured over fior di latte gelato.

Community Dining and La Tavolata

Hospitality at Posto Semplice is built for bringing people together. Central to the dining room is La Tavolata, a long communal table suited for groups between 8 and 20 guests. With advance notice, the kitchen prepares family-style feasts that encourage passing dishes, sharing bottles of natural wine, and staying well past dessert. For those dining at home, wood-fired pizzas, sandwiches, and bakery boxes are available for takeaway and local delivery.

Signature items

• Agnello Pizza
• Regina Pizza
• Wood-Fired Emiliano Sandwich
• Fresh Cornetti
• Maritozzo
• Tiramisù

Menu

Desserts

• Tiramisù — Mascarpone, espresso-soaked savoiardi biscuits, and cocoa, made daily
• Affogato — Fior di latte gelato served with hot espresso and amaretto biscotti

Coffee Bar

• Black — Specialty coffee, roasted in Auckland by Coffee Lab or Coffee Supreme
• White — Espresso with silky milk, double shot
• Iced Coffee — Chilled espresso coffee
• Espresso — Single-origin, roasted weekly by Coffee Supreme, doppio standard
• Cappuccino — Traditional cappuccino served until 11 am
• Flat White — Silky milk, double shot
• Filter · Rotating Single Origin — V60 pour-over featuring rotating single origin beans
• Affogato Mattina — Espresso poured over fior di latte gelato

Wood-Fired Pizza

• Semplice — Mozzarella, garlic EVOO, and fresh basil
• Margherita — San Marzano tomato, fior di latte or fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, Grana Padano, and basil olive oil
• Regina — Tomato, fresh basil, a whole burrata pulled over the top, and basil olive oil
• Diavola — Tomato, mozzarella, spicy spianata salami or nduja, red onions or chilli honey, and basil
• Agnello — Semplice eight-hour lamb shoulder ragù, pecorino, mozzarella, and rosemary oil
• Gambero — Mozzarella, prawns, guanciale, chilli flakes, ’nduja oil, and parsley
• Tartufo / Bianca al Tartufo — Truffle béchamel or mascarpone, porcini salsa, pecorino, mozzarella, portobello mushrooms, soft egg, and chive
• Prosciutto — Tomato, mozzarella, rocket, prosciutto, parmesan, and EVOO
• Zola & Mele — Mozzarella, gorgonzola, fresh apple, and manuka honey
• Vodka — Tomato vodka sauce, mozzarella, pancetta, ricotta, and ’nduja oil
• Capriccio — Tomato, mozzarella, shaved ham, olives, and field mushrooms
• Pupo — Tomato and mozzarella, with optional ham, designed for kids under 12

Pasta & Antipasti

• Burrata & Stone Fruit — Pugliese burrata, white peach, prosciutto, basil oil, and sourdough
• Tagliatelle al Ragù — Slow-braised beef and pork ragù, parmigiano, and fresh egg pasta
• Cacio e Pepe — Tonnarelli pasta, aged pecorino romano, and freshly cracked black pepper

Wood-Fired Sandwiches

• Caprese — Fresh tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil, and cold pressed EVOO on 72-hour cold-fermented dough
• Emiliano — Mortadella, fresh burrata, pistachio, and EVOO on wood-fired dough
• Romano — Spicy spianata salami, house mayo, grilled eggplant, mozzarella, and pickled onions on wood-fired dough

Cornetti & Morning Pastry

• Plain Cornetto / Cornetto Vuoto — Slow-fermented, lightly sweet plain Italian croissant made from a 40-year-old family recipe
• Custard Cornetto / Cornetto alla Crema — Filled with house vanilla pastry cream and a sugared finish
• Pistachio Cornetto — Cornetto filled with pistachio cream
• Pain au Chocolat — Classic chocolate pastry baked fresh daily
• Pain au Raisin — Flaky pastry rolled with raisins
• Cherry Custard Danish — Danish pastry with cherry and custard
• Cinnamon Bun — Spiced sweet rolled bun
• Bombolone — Italian doughnut with lemon curd or dark chocolate
• Maritozzo — Soft Roman bun, split and stuffed with whipped cream (weekends only)
• Tartine — Sourdough, cultured butter, fig jam or stracciatella and sea salt

Frequently asked questions

Where is Posto Semplice located?

Posto Semplice is located at 60 Picton Street in Howick Village, Auckland.

What are the opening hours?

Posto Semplice operates Tuesday through Sunday with morning and evening sessions, and is closed all day Monday. Morning hours run 7:00 or 8:00 am to midday, and evening service runs from 5:00 pm until 9:00, 9:30, or 10:00 pm depending on the day.

Can I book a table in advance?

Yes, table reservations can be made by calling or texting +64 22 015 4054, emailing [email protected], or submitting an enquiry on their website.

Can Posto Semplice accommodate large groups?

Yes, the venue features 'La Tavolata,' a long communal table accommodating groups of 8 to 20 people with 24 hours notice.

Are takeaway and delivery options available?

Yes, takeaway orders can be placed by calling ahead, and delivery is available via Uber Eats.

Does the menu cater to children?

Yes, they offer the 'Pupo' wood-fired pizza with tomato and mozzarella (with optional ham) specifically for kids under 12.

Tips

• {"body":"If visiting for breakfast on a Saturday or Sunday, order the Roman maritozzo—a soft split bun loaded with whipped cream that is made on weekends only.","title":"Try the Weekend Maritozzo"}
• {"body":"For gatherings between 8 and 20 people, give 24 hours notice to reserve the central communal table for a shared family-style meal.","title":"Book La Tavolata for Group Feasts"}
• {"body":"The wood-fired sandwiches made on 72-hour fermented dough are served exclusively during morning Mattina service until early afternoon.","title":"Order Morning Sandwiches Early"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Offers the Pupo pizza specially made for children under 12.","dietary":"Vegetarian pizza, pasta, and sandwich options are available, alongside classic meat ragù and cured Italian charcuterie."}