1. Formerly an online-only cupcake store, Bondie Designer Cupcakes, made by Chanelle Bond, now sells her designer goodies out of a tiny shop in Takapuna. Its stark white walls and counter allow the colours of the pretty cupcakes to pop; and there are no holds barred on the flavour combinations available, which include chocolate salted caramel, Perky Nana, and Strawberry Fields made with Lewis Road Creamery strawberry milk.
— 45 Hurstmere Rd, Takapuna
2. Sweet treat fans will be relieved to hear that Moustache Milk and Cookie Bar has opened its doors again at its new premises in K Rd's new Food Workshop dining hall. Owner Deanna Yang's freshly baked classic bikkies, available from 10.30am-6pm Sunday to Tuesday, and until 9pm Wednesday to Saturday, are still on the menu alongside milkshakes and coffee, but there are great plans for cookie experimentation with savoury flavours such as eggs benedict and nachos.
— 309 K Rd
3. K Rd is also the new home of Holm, a "hybrid cafe and workspace community" aimed at providing a place for creative minds to gather and work together. You'll find plenty of desks, fast, secure wi-fi, Skype booths, meeting rooms and, of course, coffee and tasty snacks. Sounds like the perfect environment to get the ideas flowing.
— 295 K Rd
4. Morepork BBQ is up and running at Three Lamps, offering American-style barbecued meats smoked slow and low in New Zealand's first custom-built smoker. Chef and owner Clint Davies, who learned his smoking skills while working in kitchens in the southern states of the US, makes his own rubs and sauces, and keeps the American theme running right through his mouth-watering menu: think hush puppies, tater tots, corn bread and much more. Yee-ha!
— 5/1 Jervois Rd, Three Lamps
5. One of the stars of the North Shore cafe scene, Sip Kitchen, now has an outpost city-side of the harbour bridge, serving up healthy, nutritious food in the former space at Martha's Fabrics formerly occupied by Little & Friday in Newmarket. Pop in and check out one of their fresh juices or smoothies, and grab a salad, raw snack, sandwich or maybe even a beetroot latte with ginger, blueberry and housemade nut milk while you're at it.
—12 Melrose St, Newmarket
6. Making a burger these days has developed into an artform, as demonstrated by new Symonds St takeaway joint Burger Geek. Its made-from-scratch patties — the meat options are a blend of angus and wagyu beef or buttermilk fried chicken — are "smash-grilled", or pressed down onto the hot plate to increase the flavour. The sides sound pretty good too — we're intrigued by the mac 'n' cheese balls, taco egg rolls and vege nuggets.
— 175 Symonds St, Eden Tce
