2BEES Cafe is a breakfast and brunch cafe in Beachlands, on the coast east of Auckland, and it is the kind of place that suits a slow morning. The menu leans toward brunch, with eggs Benedict, a pancake stack and a breakfast burrito, along with avocado toast, a gourmet burger and cake. There is also freshly brewed coffee and a range of pastries, and the kitchen runs a separate set of options for younger diners. The cafe says it uses locally sourced ingredients, which fits a village that depends on its own residents as much as the visitors who come to the beach.
Customers who have been there say the chicken and waffles are the dish to order, and one reviewer called them very good value for the price. Another visitor, on a two-week trip around New Zealand, came back before flying out of Auckland because the drinks were so good and both of them ordered the breakfast burrito each time. Coffee is praised, and the iced coconut milk latte is described as fine rather than outstanding. The layout gets a mention too: there is plenty of seating, which helps when a family or a group arrives together.
Seating runs both indoors and outdoors, so it works for a quiet coffee on your own or a longer catch-up with friends. The cafe sits at 129 Beachlands Road, on the main road through the village, a short walk from the shops and the water.
Our pick in Beachlands for a relaxed brunch with the family, with plenty of room to spread out.