Coffee Club (Wairau, North Shore, New Zealand)
A first-timers review of Coffee Club Wairau: pricey but friendly, with average cafe fare. Is it worth the visit? Find out here. Finally tried Coffee Club after 19 years in NZ—decent coffee, friendly staff, but was the food worth the hype? Here’s our take.
There are cafes you go out of your way to visit, and then there are ones that just… exist. The Coffee Club, for us, always fell in the latter category. It’s one of those chains you see everywhere, with outlets scattered all over Auckland like fast-food joints. In our 19 years living in New Zealand, we had never once set foot inside a Coffee Club. Not once. That says a lot, doesn’t it?
But hey, never say never.
So, what kept us away all these years? For starters, we’re big on breakfast at home, it’s just more convenient, affordable, and satisfying. Also, with so many amazing cafes scattered across Auckland, Coffee Club never stood out as a must-try. From the outside, their branches often looked more functional than inviting, so we kept passing them by. But clearly, something’s working for them, they’ve lasted nearly as long as we’ve been here, and that can’t just be luck.
A Detour from Routine
This visit happened on a Saturday morning, a rarity for us. We usually do our groceries on Thursday evenings to keep our weekends free. But thanks to a schedule reshuffle, Saturday became grocery day, and with no time to prep breakfast at home, we ended up at The Coffee Club in Wairau. I was hesitant, still judging it from the car park, but curiosity won.
Once inside, it was actually quite nice. The space is clean, airy, and vibrant, with big windows and a bright atmosphere. Funny how different it felt compared to the dull grey exterior. The view from the inside is great, perched slightly above road level, it gives a bit of an elevated, open feel.
What We Ordered
We took a quick look at the cabinet and menu, and here’s what we ended up with:
Chicken, Bacon, Cranberry & Brie Flat Grill – NZ$25.00
Toasted tortilla filled with chicken breast, bacon, brie, cranberry jam, spinach, and hollandaise.
Bacon & Egg Bap (Cabinet) – NZ$11.90
My usual go-to when I’m peckish.
Long Black – NZ$6.10, my usual go to coffee.
Chocolate, Banana & Peanut Butter Smoothie – NZ$10.80
Sticker shock? A little. Everything felt overpriced for what it was, especially the drinks. Most of the menu items hovered in the NZ$24–27 range. Even the cabinet food wasn’t exactly cheap. Still, we wanted to give it a fair go.
Service With a Smile
One thing I’ll give them—the staff here are top-notch. Friendly, cheerful, and genuinely happy to serve. It’s a nice way to start your day, and if anything left a good impression, it was definitely the people behind the counter. 5 stars for service.
So, How Was the Food?
In one word: OK. Nothing bad, nothing wow-worthy either. It’s the kind of food that fills the belly, not the heart.
The bacon & egg bap was passable. I’ve had much better versions elsewhere—more flavour, better buns, more balanced textures.
The flat grill reminded me of Pandemonium from Hell Pizza, which isn’t a bad thing, just… familiar. The only real twist here was the brie. It was decent, maybe a touch too sweet from the cranberry jam, and not quite worth NZ$25.
The coffee? Surprisingly good. Smooth and bold—probably the highlight of the meal.
The smoothie was alright. Again, not mind-blowing, but drinkable.
Final Thoughts
Would we go back? Maybe, if we were in the area and short on time. But if we’re being honest, for the price, there are better, more memorable cafes all around Auckland. Still, for a quick no-fuss breakfast with great service and a comfy seat, The Coffee Club holds its own. Maybe that’s why it’s still standing strong after all these years—even if it’s not the most exciting café around, it’s reliably average.
The Coffee Club Wairau Junction
Address: Shop T2/170 Wairau Road, Wairau Valley, Auckland 0627, New Zealand
Phone: +649 444 7601
Website: https://thecoffeeclub.co.nz/
