Newmarket can be a fickle place for lunching and brunching, serviced by various food and coffee outlets that are less stumbled upon and more ‘sought out’. Thankfully, revered Wellingtonian coffee brand L’affare has been serving the suburb’s people by way of its Auckland cafe for two and half years now. With an on-site roastery, impressively knowledgeable staff and excellent food, a recent visit reminded us of exactly why the eatery is a go-to. Behold our favourite attributes:
1. The menu goes beyond average cafe food
Head Chef Luke Adams, who has been with the L’affare Newmarket team from day dot, evidently has a passion for food. Tying local, seasonal produce into each and every dish he produces, the new spring menu comprises pork tacos infused with various Korean flavours, a pleasingly pared back serving of purple dawn kumara gnocchi, and various other salubrious options (lord knows we’re trying as hard as we can to begin a healthy new chapter). On that note, did we mention they’re licenced too?
2. On Wednesdays, they have an avocado club
That’s right, an unofficial club dedicated to the beloved green fruit exists at the Newmarket locale, where on Wednesdays, their famous avocado toast is available for the very tidy price of $10. Oh, and it comes laced with chilli, pistachio and topped with a poached egg. Finally, an establishment that enables our addiction!
3. They know coffee inside-out
Every barista that works at L’affare undergoes rigorous training, meaning there’s no one who can’t confidently guide you through the nuances of their single origin lineup, or make a coffee just the way you like it. They also roast their beans on-site — a practice their master baristas are well versed in — resulting in a truly flavoursome morning brew.
4. They’ll get you equipped for your at-home coffee too
With an extensive lineup of coffee machines (including my personal favourite, the AeroPress) to get your coffee game on the up at home, it’s a great place to get some advice on where to start. Of course, they stock the crème de la crème of coffee machines from Rocket Espresso Milano too. So if you weren’t a coffee geek before, we suggest you prepare yourself.
5. It’s a great spot for business meetings
When it comes to catching up over professional matters, it’s a comfort to be surrounded by like-minded people. Neither too uptight nor too laid back, there’s a reason L’affare is regularly used by Newmarket’s business clientele. With plenty of different seating areas to make use of, you are sure to find the perfect space for you.
6. The details
Their sparkling water, for one, is arguably the best we’ve ever tried. It’s called Gerolsteiner (L’affare is the sole distributor in New Zealand) and it’s heaven with lemon and ice alongside a piccolo. There’s car parking right outside, there’s always something good to read — it’s the combination of all the above, brought together by the finer details, that sees us continuously impressed by what L’affare Newmarket has to offer.
