Tomorrow's Brunch – Homestead, Auckland

Go for the gorgeous heritage building and impressive art collection, stay for the crumpets (or vice versa...).

While we're always excited to stumble upon even the most understated hole-in-the-wall coffee spot, it was a real treat to pay a visit to the refreshed eatery inside Pah Homestead – the gorgeously grandiose heritage building which houses the collection of the James Wallace Arts Trust. Homestead is the latest venture by the team behind Grafton's top sandwich spot Ceremony, a cafe that falls happily into the category of simple caffeine pitstop, exposed bricks and all. Like their new surrounds, Homestead's menu is more expansive than Ceremony's and more thoughtful than you might expect from a typical gallery cafe.

Their crumpets seem to be one of the strongest drawcards to the cafe (and potentially the suburb itself). We went for the Ricotta, Walnut and Nectarine Crumpet with their house-made fig syrup, which was as delicious as it sounds. The other sweet option is topped with lemon curd, labneh and coconut, while the savoury is decorated with smoked kahawai, caper beurre, parsley and a poached egg. Their bruschetta was delightfully simple, with flavoursome tomatoes from Curious Croppers requiring little more than basil and a drizzle of oil.

We also tried the comfortingly autumnal pumpkin and kumara gratin, alongside the broccolini, courgette and edamame salad dressed with seeded mustard, mint, ricotta and lemon which made for a beautifully fresh and tasty side. On a subsequent (and sunnier) visit we went for Sami's Eggs – poached eggs with hummus atop bulghur wheat with cucumber, tomato and mint. With Flight Coffee on offer, a well-noted penchant for friendly service, and a neighbouring lush park perfect for an after-lunch stroll, it's high time you paid a visit to Hillsborough's most impressive hilltop house.

Address
72 Hillsborough Road, Hillsborough, Auckland
Opening Hours
Tuesday to Friday: 8am – 3pm
Saturday and Sunday: 8am – 5pm
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