Hare and the Turtle is a neighbourhood sandwich joint at 1/63 New Windsor Road in New Windsor, Auckland. It's known for made-to-order sandwiches in its own signature buns, great coffee and freshly baked sweet stuff, alongside a kids menu and cabinet food.
Orders can be placed online through Regulr or by phone, and the café notes it doesn't take reservations and can't respond to social media messages during service. Local artists can also apply to exhibit their work at the café, reflecting its role as a genuine community spot.
Hare and the Turtle keeps focused trading hours, opening earlier on weekdays than weekends, and food is made fresh each day — some items sell out before closing.
Tucked into New Windsor, Auckland, Hare and the Turtle has built its reputation as the local neighbourhood sandwich joint — made-to-order sandwiches served in the café's own signature buns, paired with great coffee and freshly baked sweet stuff.
The menu is built around a handful of well-considered combinations. The Daisy is a standout: 14-hour slow cooked beef cheek with animal-style burger sauce, mustard, pickled onion and edam cheese on sourdough, and notably halal friendly. The Smokey Bro leans into smoked fish pate with fried shallots and piccalilli, while the Boloney keeps things punchy with mortadella, dijon, mayo and pickled onion. For something vegetarian, there's an Eggplant Parm with panko crumbed eggplant, marinara sauce, mozzarella and basil, plus a vegetarian version of the café's Mad Dog. The Geezer keeps it classic with ham, swiss cheese, piccalilli and cos, and a Grilled Cheese rounds things out with three cheeses and a side of dijon and pickle.
Alongside the sandwiches, Hare and the Turtle also offers a kids menu and cabinet food, making it a workable stop for families as well as regulars after a quick coffee and something freshly baked.
Hare and the Turtle also opens its walls to local artists, running a request form for anyone wanting to exhibit work at the café — a detail that reflects its role as more than just a place to grab lunch. It's the kind of café built around its neighbourhood, both through its food and through the community it supports.
Customers can order online through Regulr or by calling the café directly. Hare and the Turtle doesn't take reservations, and staff note they can't respond to social media messages during service — a reflection of how busy the counter gets during trading hours.
Hare and the Turtle is open Monday to Friday from 7am to 2pm, and Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 8am to 1pm — both windows running until sold out, so getting in earlier is worth it if there's a particular sandwich in mind. Located at 1/63 New Windsor Road, it's an easy stop for locals in New Windsor looking for a proper made-to-order sandwich and a good coffee.