Review The Botanist Cafe - Auckland Central

I meet here to hand my son back to his mother after weekend with me. It’s a lovely family breakfast. Staff are always super friendly. Food is delicious and top quality. Loving the coffee and the little fellas fluffy. A lovely gathering before we all split and get on with our lives until next Sunday .......

Tasty and yummy. Simple menus are the best and lovely presentation too. Friendly staff and comfortable environment. Service: 4/5 Environment: 5/5 Presentation: 4/5 Food Quality: 4/5 Food Quantity: 5/5 Price per person: $20-$30

I really enjoy their food. Especially the creamy mushrooms and beef cheek. I have a small criticism - the creamy mushrooms have been incosistent in terms of how many pieces of polenta you get. Once it was 2 pieces another time it was 3 pieces. The same with the potato rosti on the beef cheek. I think its important to have this type of thing consistent.

This s a great place for lunch. We had a team of 15 people and they did a great job of accomodating people coming and going and split billing. We sat outside in the sunshine and service was just perfect. They also have a florist inside the business so they are a perfect venue for leaving lunches.

This cafe is an absolute favorite on my breakfast and lunch. love the layout and also the flowers. this place is a 10/10 will come again :D

The food wasn't bad but felt a bit pricey for what you get. Good ambience nonetheless.

My latte and acai bowl were both delicious. Relaxing music and atmosphere as well

Lovely place and very friendly people really. I went today with my wife, and I had great cappuccino, which was just perfect. My wife had orange juice, which was so fresh and refreshing. We ordered a platter for share, and the portion was decent same with the quality and taste. Their WiFi is great, and I suggest it as a great place for meetings, studying or even working.

Loved this Restaurant! Great Service from all the Staff! Lovely food, my Partner was especially partial to the cauliflower bites! and two had plates!!.( I did help a bit!) :) So glad we came here and would definitely be back next time we are in Wellington. Being Vegan I didn't find much full vegan (and vegetarian menus) places in Wellington. Good range on the menu and well presented. Thank You for catering for us and what we see will become the norm! Vegan.

Really nice big breakfast, good coffee, nice location

This Cafe/flower shop has interesting architecture and ambience. Brutalist concrete and concrete block. It looks like a converted car park, which I think it is. Good service, not fast. We sat out on the terrace, which might have been a mistake. The cars driving by looking for parking a couple of meters away, got a bit old. The food was excellent. The avocado smash with salmon was delicious. The carrot,apple and ginger juice was yummy, but didn't enjoy the paper straws. So: sit inside, enjoy the food. Ask for juice without ice and straws. 😄😋

We went for lunch after the previous nights xmas party and it was just perfect. The food was exquisite, the pork and fennel sausages are magnificent. The service is awesome and the ambience on a sunny Saturday afternoon is divine.

Really like the place and it’s city vibe. I ordered a mushroom dish and was very pleasantly impressed. The meals come out quickly, drinks are good, service is nice.

Had a delicious chicken burger. The staff were super friendly and helpful. Nice ambiance and good amount of outdoor seating.

Cute little cafe in city works depot. The Botanist serves your favourite brunch specialties and coffees. We were kindly seated outside and staff were attentive to our table. However the table next to us was left uncleared for almost the entire time we sat there.<br/><br/>We ordered the pastrami Benedict and big breakfast. Portions were good but tasted a bit bland, however well presented. Not sure what was under the eggs benny but it was overly toasted.

Cabinet was a little lacking, but there were a few people inside.... so perhaps the kitchen menu is good.<br/>My coffee want great and it was quite pricy in comparison to the competition in close proximity <br/>I won’t be back for a coffee - but may try my zomato discount for a meal....

Great place to meet friends for brunch. Enjoyed their chicken burger & my friend also liked her creamy mushrooms on polenta.<br/><br/>We both also enjoyed our coffees.<br/><br/>Great value with Zomato Gold.

Ive been here four or five times before, ordered the same items and have never had the additions (salmon) added as extra to the bill. I explained this to the manager who didn't care and said it was policy. After reading through their policy on Zomato gold where it wasn't there, she said it was "their policy" which wasn't on Zomato. She was also rude to my partner when we arrived with a snarky reply when asked if there was an available table. Its a pity as I often have work lunches here, but that won't be happening anymore. I've previously given this place a 5 star rating as the food is great, but it just shows you the impact having crappy staff will have on patronage.

Good food and service! We ordered the eggs Benedict’s and the chicken burger and fries. That chicken burger was pretty freaking awesome and I’m sooo glad I ordered the hot chocolate with the coconut which the waitress suggested. The eggs bene with the salmon came with a salmon fillet which was nice could have done with some more hollandaise sauce though

This is one of my favourite places to brunch in town. The food is done well and the service is lovely. It has a different atmosphere to other cafes with all the lovely greenery. The dishes were large portions and presented nicely. My smoked salmon was divine. Only negative about the dish was the kale became quite stringy to eat. <br/><br/>The other dish is the Big Bot which sure lives up to its name and is filling but also delicious. I came after Xmas and they had a set menu which didn’t include the Big Bot. However, the manager on charge asked the kitchen and three still offered to make the dish so definitely a big tick for their amazing service.

Food was really tasty, love the fried chicken and chips, and I like the smoothie not added too much sugar just right! Will definitely come back again.

Delicious food, great place if you have a dog as you can sit outside in sun or shade. Great coffee.

HOLIDAY MENU IS A ROBBERY.<br/>The botanist lost its quality over holiday by providing a special “Holiday Menu”. The “menu” is just a simplified version of the dishes and charges the same.<br/>For Egg Bene $23, you will get 2 pouched eggs, half of the smoked salmon (compared to the normal menu), three pieces of Spanish, and two toasted white bread.<br/><br/>No skills or effort has been put into the dish.<br/>PLEASE AVOID THE HOLIDAY MENU.

Had the mince toast on gluten free bread - the gluten free toast isnt good at all, but the mince was great.

They could have told that there would be a wait.

Very disappointing - first of all the service was bad, I had to ask the guy twice just to see a menu, then waited so long for someone to take our order that we had to go up to the counter to order, then he ended up forgetting one of our coffees. He was having a bad day! The food was also not great - I got the eggs benny with bacon. The eggs were so over cooked they were essentially hard boiled, the “brioche” toast was so dry it just crumbled when you cut it, and they were VERY stingey with the hollandaise. It sucks as I’d heard good things about this place but I would not recommend it and I would not go here again.

Ordered vegetarian meals and got the meat version, took another half hour for our new meals to come out and the eggs were a bit undercooked. Didn't really get an apology and the waitress seemed annoyed at us. Meals would have been great otherwise.

Went one weekend and was quite busy so decided to come back, man was it worth it. service and food is great, is a nice little set up also with indoor and outdoor seating. It is under Odettes

A little slice of botanical heaven in the city works depot. Great breakfast at the weekend, perfect salads and cabinet food during the week. Their evening sessions in summer are brilliant too! Delicious coffee.

Went here last weekend and was well worth it, food and coffee was great and not a long wait for food

Food is alright, the atmosphere is good, but the service is definitely not up to the standards. The staff don’t really seem to be working there and they make it pretty clear they don’t care. Our waitress even forgot the order and I had to follow up. There’s a room for an improvement but they will first need to change the staff. Not sure if I’d go back even with the Zomato gold 1+1.

Been wanting to try this place for a while but the few times we came its always been quite packed! I see why now - the food is amazing! The creamy mushrooms were the perfect amount of creamy (some places are far too creamy) and the chicken burger had so much flavour! Both meals were decently sized so definitely get your moneys worth.

Today was our second visit. We ordered creamy mushroom and mince on toast. It was a perfect morning today. Because the weather was perfectand the food was delicious. We are going to visit again.

Went here on Saturday morning to have breakfast on zomato gold. The guy there was welcoming. But our wait to be served took to long. Everything was good. I didnt finish my almond and coconut granola bowl as my kiwi fruits were too sour. Maybe use golden kiwi fruits next time. Hubby enjoyed his buttermilk pancakes as he has a sweet tooth. The buttermilk i think took it to the next level. All over experience was ok. If youve been to one cafe youve seen it all basically. Lol

Eggs Benedict was very blend and bread was horrible. New to see they decided to update the menu but the food was definitely not very good.

Came in with a friend last Thursday. Tried the buttermilk pancakes and the corn fritters. Pancakes were not too dense or fluffy, they were the perfect texture. Loved the fruity sauce and the pears paired with the cakes. Corn fritters were quite small but quantity was good. Was a nice and beautiful environment to eat in.

Good service and delicious food that's great value with Zomato gold. Food was fast to the table and all came together which was great. I would have preferred it if my burger patty was a little less cooked, but that's just my personal preference and they had nicely seasoned fries. I look forward to returning.

We really enjoyed the food, service was amazing. Very friendly and quick. We had to rush to another meeting at 10 and we were out of there in 30mins. The food was incredible, especially buttermilk pancakes. Will definitely go back.

Absolutely lovely service, beautiful food and the restaurant was gorgeous

The buttermilk pancakes were amazing - tragically I couldn't quite finish them. Coffee is awesome and easy to get a table last minute. Really nice atmosphere and great staff.

Tried salmon leek bruschetta. It was soooo good. Coffee was pretty nice as well.

The salmon and leek was so beautiful. The portion was good and definitely worth. My friend really liked the mushrooms as well. Some of staff were very friendly. The vibe of the café was very nice and it was pleasantly situated next to a florist.

Oh my gosh, the salmon and leek breakfast has to be one of the best in Auckland. (Even the gluten free option was delicious). Highly recommend.

Came here for brunch on a Saturday morning. Good crowd, not too busy. ordered the Corn Fritters, reasonable portion with good helping of greens. No tomato sauce needed so that was a good sign. Friend had the creamy mushrooms with bacon. Coffee was nice and sweet so again no sugar needed. Only downside for me was that the furniture especially stools were pretty grubby and the decor looked pretty dark and dull. You get nice whiffs of fresh flowers from next door though. Parking was $6.

Love the botanist! Definitely a go-to when I’m in the area. They have the best creamy balsamic mushrooms I’ve ever had. The flavour is so tasty and polenta is cooked perfectly. Can never go wrong with this!

Lovely food, atmosphere which also has an amazing flower shop! Came here for brunch on a Saturday and the staff were friendly and got to enjoy ZG.

This review is for The Botanist Florist, not the cafe. I would put 0/5 stars if I could!<br/><br/>My wife pre-ordered a bouquet 2 weeks in advance for my daughters graduation.<br/>When she arrived at the florist shop on Queen St to pick-up, the bouquet was not ready and the owner Diana had no idea who the flowers were for. Diana rudely thrusted the list of her daily orders at my wife, saying she had no idea who she was talking about. <br/><br/>My wife then did find our order on her list and reminded her that we ordered the flowers two weeks ago and expected them to be ready. There was no apology from her at all. Instead, she was not only aggressive and defensive, she proceeded to rant loudly at my wife about how "everyone makes mistakes!”<br/><br/>Once she had finished ranting, she motioned to several bouquets lying on the dirty floor and said: "pick one!" After my wife had figured out what Diana was meaning as she was so angry and not speaking in full sentences, she chose a bouquet. One of the bouquets had been visibly stood on as it had a shoe imprint on the white paper. This left the only option to be a less dirty and stood on bright pink bouquet (not the bouquet we had specified on the pre-order). Diana insisted that they were of the same value we had prepaid for and she then shooed my wife out the door.<br/><br/>By this point, owner Diana’s actions had made us late for the graduation ceremony. In the daylight, we discovered that the bouquet was actually old and poorly constructed with dying and wilted flowers. <br/><br/>This entire process was incredibly inappropriate and tiresome. Frankly, I am truly disgusted by it all. After such a hassle, the bouquet was not even fit to be in my daughters graduation photos as was their intended purpose and we were denied a refund.

Lovely ambiance, staff and coffee here. However it did take me a while to find it, I thought it was were most of the other shops were but is actually on the level below. Really comfy seating too, good brunch spot, will definitely be coming back

I enjoyed my time at the botanist. The staff were very welcoming and kind. My table all ordered the Big B and it was delicious. A generous amount of food for the price

Terrible service - the lady who served us was rude and cold. Food was yum besides the fact that my salmon was not smoked properly. When kindly mention it to the waitress she didn’t say anything and stormed away. The waitress was rude was the moment we sat down.

A small florist cafe in City Works Depot. Good amount of parking spaces.<br/><br/>The whole place is decorated with greens, cozy and eco friendly. However there wasn’t a great range of selections from the menu.<br/><br/>Ordered the chicken burger with fries. The burger had a nice mixture of ingredients but the fried chicken was pretty dry and the seasoning a bit was uneven. Standard presentation, the cutleries looked a bit worn.<br/><br/>Good service, reasonable delivery speed. Priced at the medium to upper range. <br/><br/>Taste: 6.5/10<br/>Presentation: 7.5/10<br/>Service: 7.5/10<br/>Ambience: 7/10<br/>Value for money: 6/10<br/><br/>Price $25 per person

Great spot for an affordable and delicious brunch using Zomato Gold. <br/>We ordered the big bot and the eggs benedict with bacon. Delicious and generous portions! The service was really good as well. We showed up just before 10am on a Saturday and got seats without a problem.

The Botanist is gorgeous little spot in City Works Depot, with both indoor and outdoor seating (out front). My partner and I visited here on a busy Friday Morning for breakfast. Understandably, the service was subpar - a bit of a let down seeing as it was my first time visiting. <br/><br/>Nevertheless, the food was beautiful, not a single thing to fault! We ordered the beef burger and sautéed sprouts (with salmon). Both dishes were cooked, seasoned and presented so well - I was rather impressed. My partner demolished his burger and fries and I throughly enjoyed my plate also! Coffees were served promptly and hot. <br/><br/>Enjoyed my visit despite the service. Will definitely be returning. Well done. <br/><br/>

Food is not bad. Burger is pretty good and love the presentation. Nice atmosphere and very good location. Staff are very friendly. Would come back again

Nice music. Great coffee. Love the hash bites too. Staff are nice and friendly. Won’t take long for the food which is good. Food are fresh everything is good.

Very bad experience here . The wait for food was one hour which was just bacon and eggs. What was served to me was bad . Bread was burnt , bacon was burnt. Will not recommend this place to anyone<br/>

Really lovely food, beautiful little cafe. The staff were so nice and service was great. The only reason this doesn’t get 5 stars is value for money - even with Zomato Gold. The food was nice though, and I would come back.

The staff 🤔<br/>She made our coffee spill on during serving. But didn’t apologize. She brought the tissue when my friend asked. I don’t understand. <br/><br/>The mood 🌝🌝🌝🌝🌝<br/>It has a good interior and nice smell like botany. <br/>The food 🌝🌝🌝🌜<br/>Not bad, not extremely good.

I’ve been here a few times, great service great coffee, food was ok but it’s a cafe so it’s a decent cafe food, not super a lot of selections but I guess it’s a cafe. All in all it’s great!!!!

This place is actually pretty good!<br/>Food is absolutely divine. Every single one of my colleagues and I enjoyed every bit of our food. Kudos to the chef/cook for doing an amazing job!<br/>We ordered; The Big Bot, Creamy balsamic mushrooms, Roti bread and Super bowl<br/><br/>Will definitely come here again with my work mates. Only issue is the food does take awhile to come out!

I decided to have a brunch date with my boyfriend on a Sunday morning because it offers 1+1 food. The decorations were super pretty and the atmosphere was lively. However, it did took awhile for someone to actually take our order and for my boyfriend’s coffee to be made. I believe there were only two waitresses working and it was during peak hour, which may explain why it took so long. When we did have someone take our order, we were informed the kitchen was running a bit slow so it’d take half an hour for the food to come out, but we decided to stay because we weren’t that hungry. I got the sweet corn and zucchini fritters and he got the creamy balsamic mushrooms with bacon. I really enjoyed my fritters and felt it was a relatively healthy option. My boyfriend’s bacon was a bit burnt and he wasn’t really a fan of the truffle polenta. I think I’d come back to try other items and see what the place is like when they’re not as busy! Maybe today was just a bit slower!

Food is great. Service? Not the best. 🤷🏻‍♀️ <br/>Our go-to brunch spot since it’s so accessible. We’ve been ordering the Big Bot for a few times now. Serving size is pretty good and the food tastes great! I wish they served the Chai Latte iced but they don’t, so had to order the hot option. Food took 30ish minutes to be served Gave it a 4/5 coz staff seem to not be too happy when serving customers. Just took orders, no smile, delivered orders, done. Not even a thank you. I wish they were friendlier and more accommodating. 🙋🏻‍♀️

Came here recently and their food always on point! Their mushroom dish is soo good, my partner ordered their buttermilk pancake which was heavenly, it was soft and the combination between the batter and fruits was so good! <br/><br/>Update 01/02/20 - Ordered mushroom and big bot(both are good) but we are very disappointed at the service - the staff was so rude (no smile or greetings given though it’s ok), she started clean up the table (we’re still sitting there and drinking water) and took the water jug then waiting for us to finish our water and leave. at the end she left the table before i finish my water and dropped the knife (didn’t even pick it up or apologies as it almost hit my dog) will not be coming back 😖

The portion size of the food was exactly half when zomato gold was used ... Extremely unhappy that's how the box size changed with and with out using the Zomato Gold<br/>

Great Food, Friendly staff too, great spot for breakfast. Situated in the city works depot, it has a good atmosphere. Coffee some of the best in Auckland.

If you like typical English style food, this is your place. The food here is delicious and I would definitely recommend you go. The only reason I haven’t rated it 5 stars is just because I would prefer a little more variety.

Fresh, healthy & delicious! We dined there yesterday for a late lunch after a workout session. Service was swift and reliable. Food was absolutely delicious! My partner and I both ordered the super bowl with smoked salmon and every single<br/>ingredient on the plate was cooked to perfection - the charred broccoli, the aromatic-yet-slightly-pink-in-the-middle snapped salmon, the vivid leafy greens, I can go on... we also ordered polenta chips - they were quite nice as well. Ambience was cool inside the cafe but there’s not much of a view really. However you’ll overlook it all once you’ve tried the food here :-)

This place was super busy and we were warned it was a 45 minute wait, so we had high expectations. Unfortunately it did not meet them. I ordered a soy cappuccino with honey (which was an extra .30cents) and couldn’t taste the honey at all. I felt like something light so ordered the zucchini and corn fritters, however they arrived as battered deep fried balls, not what I was expecting at all. Too heavy and oily. It’s a nice place so I’d give it another go but did walk away disappointed.

Cafe was pretty basic just like typical cafes in Auckland. Nothing new, food is decent though. Ordered mushroom and the fried chicken- mushroom was soft, juicy and flavorful, chicken however was dry. Service was quite slow being on a weekday lunch time. However, it was worth it using the zomato gold

Had lunch here today with a colleague from work. I had the creamy mushrooms with a side of bacon and he had the big bot.<br/><br/>Both meals were of a great standard, looked very appealing and tasted even better. The bacon was particularly delicious.<br/><br/>The service was personable and the setting is comfortable with a slightly quirky atmosphere.<br/><br/>Would definitely return and highly recommend a visit to the Botanist for anyone looking for something out of the 'ordinary cafe' experience.

Beautiful food and a great spot for breakfast or brunch. Great coffee to. <br/>Doesn't quite have the wow factor, but still very very good! I will come regularly

Love this place...Food was yum, especially their buttermilk pancakes and sweet corn zucchini fritters . Will go again and the best part is they accept Zomato Gold😍

Food was very fresh and delicious. <br/>The only thing we can say is that due to its popularity, the service was a bit slow taking over 30mins for our order to arrive. However, the flavours definitely made up for the wait!

First time used Gold member deal, had no problem at all. Visited with my daughter, we ordered Creamy balsamic mushroom and Sautéed sprouts with salmon. We enjoyed each ingredients and full. We will back to try other menu soon.

Lovely staff, relaxing vibes, good food. We got the creamy balsamic mushrooms and quinoa bowl. Generous portions and really tasty. The only thing i could fault was that the tofu in the quinoa bowl wasn't fresh. I would definitely be back to try the other dishes!

Amazing! Friendly staffs, Good location, flowers everywhere! Pretty noisy inside tho. But there are heaters outside so it is not cold. Food, amazing! Definitely recommend the one with roti bread and chicken (sorry Can't remember the name). I really enjoyed lunch here. Thank you everyone!

Delicious breakfast, service was a little slow but that was due to the popularity. Outside seating is nice and warm next to the heating! Recommend the sprouts breakfast.

A good place for brunch. Food is really tasty and healthy. If you’re looking for light, green dish, the dish I got from my photo is a good one with Salmon

The food here was just incredible and it was so easy to use Zomato Gold. Nice vibes and overall feel. We would definitely return here to try other dishes!

One of the few places in the CBD that lets you use Zomato Gold, the interesting combination of a café and florists meant that the name of this establishment was well chosen. <br/><br/>It was an odd day for me, as I opted for the supreme salad with egg. This meal is massive and is going to fill you up. Fresh and simple tasting, not bad way to start your weekend. The grilled halloumi being rather helpful in terms of expanding the taste of the meals. The roti chicken, looked rather scrumptious. <br/><br/>Color and spices, my friend complimented on how tasty her meal was. <br/><br/>Not only was the food great, the seating and layout of the Botanist was spacious and comfortable. <br/><br/>I liked how it didn’t feel like we were sardines packed tightly in a can. A good amount of space between tables and enough open space. <br/><br/>Showstopper: Roti Chicken<br/><br/>Overall Grade: A-

The burger was amazing. Beef was on point, cooked to Gordon Ramsey perfection!<br/><br/>Very friendly staff and inviting atmosphere.<br/><br/>Only down point is that you have to pay for parking<br/>

Such a nice brunch! Quuuuite a lengthy wait for food but the staff were really nice about it. The Fried Chicken roti was delish. The Sautéed Sprouts were good the Salmon was really yummy would have been epic with a really nice crunchy sourdough.

Coffee was done perfectly, I’ve enjoyed my big bot, very impress with getting a crunchy piece of toasted bread instead of a soggy one (which usually happens in most cafe). The meat inside the burger was delicious. Generous serving and very helpful staff.

An awesome cafe to come to on a Satdee morning. They have a good selection of fresh juices which go great with your meal. The food is always beautifully presented and comes out quick!

Went there with my family on a Saturday and the place was not very crowded. <br/>Nice ambience and good vibes but food was pretty average !! Staffs were friendly too, no problem with zomato gold! <br/>My favourite dish is the creamy mushroom 🍄

Coffee and hot chocolate were good, served quickly by the friendly staff! We had the veggie bot breakfast and sautéed sprouts with bacon and they were both so filling and yummy! Not a morsel left! Will definitely go back to try some more dishes and their smoothies (which I’ve heard are irresistible as well)!

Such a cute cafe in the heart of Auckland City where the place was clean and comfortable to dine at. With such flexible opening hours, you don't need to stress about getting there on time. The variety of dishes is average however, everything we ordered was made to perfection. <br/><br/>I ordered the Big Bot and it was absolutely amazing. I have never had such creamy scrambled eggs that were soft and milky. The potato rosti was such a creative idea instead of the usual hashbrown. The bacon was good as well as it wasn't burnt and came in big round slices rather strips of fat. The mushroom was a few mini ones instead of one big one. However the only let down was the bread - it was a big hard and stale so my knife couldn't really cut through and had to eat it with my hands. <br/><br/>The burger was also delightful. The beef patty was thick yet juicy and not dry. It was not heavy at all as the flavours inside balanced my palette overall. The thin shoestring fries were also fried to perfection. <br/><br/>Service was good and it's a really calming cafe to dine at - highly recommended! <br/><br/>Food 9/10 <br/>Ambiance 9/10<br/>Service 8.5/10<br/>Price 8/10

Came here for breakfast, was slight disappointed as I read the menu online and it says waffles, but none on the menu. Chose sauted sprout which consist of Chinese cabbage mixed with feta cheese. Egg was cooked just right, salmon a bit overcooked & sourdough too toasted. Coffee was really good though. Nice ambience & staffs were friendly. Cost for carpark but give it a try as it is a nice cafe

Love place that is slightly hidden as it’s beneath the depot. They also sell flowers and such which is quite a nice touch as it makes the place unique. The staff were very nice and friendly. Food presentation was amazing. Food was a mix between good and okay. I don’t exactly remember the names of the items I got but the chicken was rather plain, wished the sauce they served it with had more flavour. The fritters were okay, I liked the garnishes it came with but the actual fritters could do better, perhaps make them crispy. Burger was great, you can never go wrong with a burger haha and the large breakfast was okay. <br/>The only real down side is they it’s a bit more pricey than other cafes.

Delicious. We had the fried chicken which was so good and spicy. Literally the only reason why it’s 4 and not 5 out of 5 is that it could’ve dealt with a little more of the delicious spicy mayo sauce. Otherwise fresh and amazing flavours. The little guy had the pancakes and he loved them. There’s no small version for kids so just bear that in mind as you’ll probably have to finish their meal too!

Gold membership experience, easy to show and get 1+1 on food benefit. Pita bread is yummy with creamy sauce, pickle, salad and crispy chicken. coffee is quite strong. And I love decoration in the restaurant, feeling light and comfortable.

Extremely pleased with the food, quality of service, and ambience of this spot.<br/><br/>The music put this place over the top into the 5 star range - the coffee didn't hurt either.

It's a really nice cafe. Pretty modern decor and lovely helpful staffs. All the ingredients are fresh and flavour just right. I like the fried chicken and wrap best.

Tasty and yummy. <br/><br/>Simple menus are the best and lovely presentation too. Friendly staff and comfortable environment. <br/><br/>Service: 4/5<br/>Environment: 5/5<br/>Presentation: 4/5<br/>Food Quality: 4/5<br/>Food Quantity: 5/5<br/>Price per person: $20-$30

Food was great and they gave us healthy portions. The only problem we had was with the service, we were going to get coffees after we had eaten. But then we were waiting so long for our plates to be cleared that we just paid and left. Can’t fault the food though and will go back for breakfast again.

Modern, cosy inner city cafe with greenery, fresh air, and privacy. We enjoyed our coconut pancakes with passionfruit curd & fresh fruit and smashed avocado with smoked salmon! A delicious, hearty brunch served by friendly staff.

Thanks for the fantastic brunch had here, would recommend for a sunny day, taking a hat and getting one of the sun drenched tables outside. <br/>Coffee was good, food suited my tastes but wouldn’t suit everyone (so look at menu beforehand)<br/>Service could have been slightly faster (why it’s a 4, not 5)

First time here at The Botanist. Our waitress was really nice, the portions were generous, little bit on the expensive side for breakfast food. Will probably be back to try other foods from the menu.

Came here a while ago and first thing when we arrived there was a staff member and possibly a regular? Talking. which by all means is fine but it was to the point where the regular customer was their only priority and we felt very uncomfortable standing at the door waiting. <br/>Overall the service is what let me down. Didn’t feel welcome at all and will probably never go back because of this.<br/>The food was average too. I’m not too sure if this is still on their menu but I ordered the egg on a rotti and the flavour profile was all over the place I didn’t even finish it. Very sad that I didn’t enjoy this place since I had heard good things! <br/>Please remember this is only my opinion and you may have a great time here so just use this as a reference:)

Food was decent. However, was a disppointment that a particular staff was not being friendly at all and it was so obvious she was being racist with her customers . Simply rude.

A very nice chic cafe located at City Works Depot. The ambience is very cool and calming being in CBD. We went in for a brunch and had ordered the grilled cheese and creamy mushrooms. Grilled cheese was super delicious and so were the mushrooms, had some great flavours and textures. I also ordered the apple lime juice which was very refreshing for a hot day. Overall, a very good experience and loved the food, so coming back for my 2nd visit. I guess service could be more friendly and with a bit of smiles. :)<br/><br/>Service - 3.5<br/>Ambience - 4<br/>Food - 4.5<br/>Value for money - 4<br/><br/>We went in for our 2nd visit on a weekend and place was not too packed. The cafe vibe was inviting and great. We’d placed our order and the wait time wasn’t too bad either approx 20mins. We’d ordered the full bf pot and creamy mushrooms. This time the food wasn’t the same as we were expecting like last time. Both the dishes were a bit dry and would’ve loved to be with more sauce such as big pot with hollandaise and balsamic mushrooms with creamy sauce. <br/>Service was very average as we had to find our server to place the order, definitely can be improved.<br/><br/>Service - 2.5<br/>Food - 3<br/>Value for money - 3<br/>Ambience - 3.5<br/>

Not sure if I just had bad luck when I went, but the staff weren’t very friendly or welcoming at all. I stood at the till waiting to pay for something for around 5 minutes with no one serving me but clearly many waiters saw that I was waiting to pay. One waiter even stood in front of me writing stuff down for the whole entire time and talking to another waiter and neither acknowledged me. It was just a very uncomfortable and awkward experience

A hidden gem in Cityworks depot. I've always gone to Odettes and thought it might be good to change it up a bit. I was pleasantly surprised by the spaciousness of the Botanist and there were quite a few interesting items on the menu. I ended up going for the eggs on toast with tomatoes and it came down to $18 which I thought was a bit steep! The portion size was huge but I didn't like the buttery taste (it was quite sloppy and I think there are a LOT of butter in it)as well as the addition of chives...the mushrooms on toast and acai bowl looked amazing though so I would be keen to revisit and order something different!

Great coffee!! Great service!! Never had a bad meal. Highly recommend for brunch or breakfast. Can be a little cold. But staff are great and grab you a blanket. Nice atmosphere with the botanist next door.

Sometimes you wish you could give 6 stars when the food is just that good. I've been here twice now and both experiences were above expectations. The first time was for a salmon dish with miso butter which is probably the best thing I've eaten in Auckland. My most recent visit was the evening burger menu "brooklyn by night". The humble burger was elevated into something I could go back for time and again. The Mac and cheese was also pretty good and I'd get a telling off from my partner of I didn't mention how good the oreo milkshake was. The place itself is industrial and hipster decor and the service was friendly. Definitely worth a visit.

Their Acai Bowl tasted nice and looked pretty. The coffee was good too. However I did not enjoy the place as much as I had thought. The waitress was a bit short and not overly friendly and the place felt very cold which made me not like the atmosphere very much. Having a very cold acai bowl to eat did not help either. Free WiFi though which is good.

I ordered the Braised Beef Cheek, and my friends had the Salmon Bruschetta and the Big BOT. We also had a cup of coffee (soy flat white, soy latte and a flat white). The Braised Beef Cheek was really nice and tender. The texture was soft like corned beef! The potato hash was really crunchy, and not that greasy. There was some veges on my plate as well; cooked perfectly. The only let down was the sauce. It was a tad bit salty for me. On the other hand, their flat white was good and at a hot temperature. A nice brunch spot to add to my list!

Nice ambiance. friendly staff. we had a beef burger and a halloumi sandwich. portion and taste were good. we also had a cup of flat white each and they tasted deep and good.

Good place for lunch, there's a wide variety of options and the food + service is as on standard. A casual cafe / hangout atmosphere but with a few quirks. Easy to find parking outside as well!

I've come here several times now for our work meetings and the food has always been consistently good. Meals are well presented, they use good quality ingredients and decent portion sizes too.

Best establishment for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Highly recommend all meals on the menu! Great owner with awesome service and staff! Chicken sandwich is the ultimate hangover cure. Friendly service and GREAT atmosphere to eat.

I loved my creamed mushrooms with polenta and parmesan. Just the right amount of everything on a plate. My friend had the Roti Eggs which was fresh and she rated it 4/5. Cafe tucked away like walking into a cave with pastel cushions. Very pleasant.

Come here for breakfast every few weeks for a work meeting and food and hot chocolate have always been consistently good. Service is always pretty good, barista seems very on to it. Cool spot...

The Botanist has been on my radar for a while as I have tried every other restaurants in City Works Depot and been very happy so far. I came here with my friends on Wednesday for lunch. <br/><br/>Ambience: Very nice and cosy. I love the set up and the fact that they have a small florist in store. It was not that busy when we got there. <br/><br/>Service: Honestly a let down. Greeted at the door by man who passed us on to another lady who passed us to the manager who then passed us on to a young waitress to be seated. And they seated us on a table with 2 chairs, then as my friend went to another table to grab a chair, the waitress said she thought there were only 2 of us. By this time we were already uncomfortable. The man who took our order kinda scared me... Service did get improved as the young waitress was pretty attentive and friendly. Food took a long time though. <br/><br/>Food: I ordered Braised beef cheek with potato hash and swiss chard. The beef cheek had the right texture but quite bland, i had to add salt and pepper. I don’t like the swiss chard. My friends ordered Egg Roti and Creamy Mushroom with Polenta. The Egg Roti was a No for me, I don’t think anything on the plate would go well together. The Mushroom on the other hand was quite decent.<br/><br/>Overall, 3/5 for food and 1/5 for service. Not coming back.<br/><br/>

We came as a big group of 15 and the place was very accommodating. Everyone seemed to enjoy their food and all the plates looked consistently pretty and delicious.

What a surprise this place is... quiet, sheltered and friendly service. Great coffee and nice juices. Awesome breakfast menu.<br/>We ordered The Big Bot & Salmon Avo bruschetta.<br/>Salmon bruschetta was absolutely delicious <br/>The Big bot was yummy, bacon cooked perfectly the rosti is crunchy and sooo delicious. <br/>Will definitely be back to try the spiced mince.

What a cute little place in City Works Depot. I took my friend here for brunch for her birthday and we really enjoyed it. Great ambience and lovely food, beautifully presented. I had mince on toast, but with a special twist and I was not disappointed. The service could be worked on a little and felt quite rushed out, the waitress asked us three times if we had finished when clearly we were still eating and there was still food on our plates. Overall, I recommend this place for a little brunch or lunch spot.

Loved the ambience of the this place, hot chocolate had a lovely, rich dark chocolate flavour. Really liked the rosti, interesting shape and texture but delicious. Poached eggs were a little over-cooked for my liking but overall enjoyed my experience.

A nice little setup amongst other good quality eateries. My girlfriend and I came here for breakfast today, it was quite crowded with AB & Lions supporters as were all the other surrounding tenants but it was an enjoyable experience nonetheless apart from a minor mishap; after placing our order we grabbed a table, 20 minutes passed and our food still hadn't come - apparently there was some kind of miscommunication amongst the staff or perhaps the ticket was misplaced, whatever the case was, the manager was quick to apologise, our food came out pronto and best of all - it was on the house which more than made up for the wait and that gorgeous pancake did NOT disappoint! Mistakes happen it was an extremely busy morning but nobody died, the house didn't burn down. We weren't about to throw a tantrum over something so trivial. Awesome stuff guys!!

Easy parking, Great Atmosphere, fantastic coffee, well thought out food and sublime (very) friendly service. Heaven in what has become so bland in Auckland. With a group of friends this place has become a regular. Portions are decent, well cooked and presented wonderfully. We all think the Barista has sold his soul such is the quality of his coffee, you can also grab a wine or a beer if brunch stretches into lunch and so on. Decent value this place ought to be more expensive. Definitely worth a visit and no I wasn't paid to write this lol.

The food is really good here and the people are really friendly and takes good care of you. <br/>I find it to be a good place to go with my laptop and get some work down.

City Works Depot hosts a range of amazing cafes with the likes of Best Ugly Bagels and the Food Truck — like duh, everyone knows that.However less known is that, just a spiral staircase below, between shelves of pots and planting, sits a florist slash café bar. Great place for a first date we reckon, particularly if you forgot the flowers. We spent our time ogling at the brightly-painted pipes, Scandinavian furniture and their beautiful range of hipster terrainiums filled with succulents and vines (three egg-shaped planters, please). Their usual clipboard menus seemed to be out-of-action and instead we had to order from the cabinet/blackboard — which boasted a range of creative salads and (unnamed) wraps; t'was a bit of a shame not being able to try out their kitchen, but their friendly service made up for it… sort of.<br/><br/>Check out our individual comments here: husk.co.nz/lunches/the-botanist-5-dec-2014

Below average food and beverages.<br/>Expected a lot more after reading the reviews.<br/>Would certainly not dare to go again.<br/>No wonder the place was not crowded on a public holiday.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this place, very friendly staff, delicious food and coffee. I had the fish of the day (salmon) which I highly recommend people try!

Had lunch with a group of friends and it was a nice little space. Cute looking restaurant and reasonable with ample parking space. Nothing too great about the food but it was nice and decent🙂

Very delicious, had the Egg Benedict, asked if I could have it with mushrooms instead (as I couldn't eat pork) and the request was met with ease. Wonderful service and cute little place. Totally recommend!

Cute cafe under the main area in the City Works Depot. The smell of the flowers when you walk in is absolutely heavenly. Coffee is great & there is a delicious selection of sweet treats....and a wine list too! We enjoyed the Pepperjack Shiraz, but they have a full range of red, white & bubbles too. Great service

Cute cafe in the heart of city depot! <br/>Beautiful flowers I must say<br/>Went at 1pm and their cabinet food was already depleted!!<br/>Their salads looked delicious <br/>Ordered lentil bean curry salad + chicken pizza slice and a soy cappuccino which I shared<br/>One of the best soy cappuccinos ive ever had!<br/>Service was alright ..were not greated in or introduced to a table which was a downside <br/>I'll come back to try more food + your soy coffees!

The waffles and porridge were great. Would eat here again but what let them down was their coffee. I drink my coffee black so it's hard to hide how bad it is even though my partner got a mocha and was still horrible. It was bitter and luke warm. Coffee makes a cafe.

Been here a couple of times for breakfast. First visit was ok, second time was terrible! Service was very, very slow - waited an age to order and for our meals to arrive. We weren't the only ones...the people next to us gave up waiting and left. Coffee was decidedly average - lukewarm and sour tasting. Staff not friendly. When our meals eventually arrived, the food was good but without having decent customer service and coffee(!) we won't be back.

We came here for breakfast one weekend and it was quite lovely. The eggs benedict were cooked perfectly. My sons waffles were delicious. The burger was average but overall a very positive experience.

Had been wanting to try here for a while. No prob getting a table at lunchtime in a monday. Friendly table service. Drinks arrived quickly. we both ordered the crumpet waffle topped with scrambled eggs and house smoked salmon. Was so excited to try a crumpet waffle, who even knows what that is?! Well I feel like I still don't as what we got just seemed like an ordinary waffle. Fortunately this was the only disappointment as the eggs were the lightest, fluffiest pillows of eggs you have ever seen, even better than my mommas, and she does good eggs! Generous amount of salmon and nice smoked flavour. Wasn't so keen on the amount of spinach. Would go back. Pretty atmosphere with the flowers

Food was average for an amazing location with other great eateries around, not terrible but wouldn't return in a hurry. Went to buy some flowers from the florist joint to this cafe, but didn't end up purchasing any due to the staff who treated us like we were inconveniencing her and couldn't be bothered with us, vibe was a little 'too cool for you"! Probably will not return.

Cute cafe in City Works Depot. Came here for a Sunday brunch and it was lovely. Food, coffee and service were all good. Plenty of parking right outside (need to pay though, even on Sunday).

It's been about a year since we last visited this place. It is more buzzing than ever. Food was as good as we remembered. Didn't disappoint. Squid and chorizo salad was fresh and tasty. BOT Sammy with the super moist inside and crunchy of the outside chicken. Coffee got some good. mmmm.

Amazing food, coffee, staff, flowers and vibe! There's a menu as well as cabinet food. There's a lot of vegetarian options, especially the salads. Everything is so fresh and beautiful. Would highly recommend.

This place has been on my hit list for a while and today I finally checked it out. We sat outside as my lunch dates included an adorable pug puppy but even though it was a rainy day we were under cover with outdoor heaters so it was perfect! The cafe includes a florist so there is a lot of greenery around from the flowers for sale to the two plant walls outside.<br/>I had the Reuben sandwich and a coffee and my friend had the goats curd and Beetroot salad. The sandwich was great, super tasty and massive! There were heaps of other things on the menu which looked tempting to I will definitely be back.

Had breakfast here recently and ordered the sausage waffle. <br/><br/>The flavours were interesting (lots of fennel seeds in the waffle)...but it was just far too salty to be enjoyable.<br/><br/>Other reviews seem to be generally good so maybe just avoid this option?

Lovely spot, service was good.  Coffee was hot and strong which I like, got a slice of pizza from the cabinet so wasn't expecting anything to amazing.  The base was quite hard to cut through, however the topping and flavour made up for that.

Absolutely stunning venue, food and staff. I love the fact that half of this cafe is a florist shop, it brings a sense of nature into the experience of eating and compliments the fresh ingredients. I loved how the staff were very knowledgable about the menu and were helpful in making the decisions for us when we needed it. Let's just stop for a moment here, imagine you are on a tropical island eating fresh mango and basking in the sunset ☀️💦🌴 and now imagine a drink tasting exactly like that - that's how the mango smoothie will make you feel at the botanist 💕. The food is great but you do have to be up for a bit of a palate adventure with this place! 100% recommend trying this place out

I stopped in here for a coffee this morning since I was early for an appointment. The guy on the counter that served me and made my coffee was pleasant and welcoming. My coffee was made quickly and I went to sit outside for a few minutes before I had to be on my way. The coffee was really good. I ordered a mocha and it wasn't too sweet and it wasn't at all bitter. I will definitely be back.

We went for breakfast on Saturday morning and sat outside at the table we had reserved. While perusing the menu we sippped on coffees in the beauteful sunshine. The coffee was excellent, mine was a latte, and it was full bodied and flavoursome. The food came out in good time and was very tasty, I had the mushrooms with kale, truffle and egg, I liked the fact that it was a bit exotic with a variety of fancy mushrooms and was a generous size. The others at the table went with the layered potatoe stack, one with bacon and the other with salmon. I will be coming back again for this as it looked really nice. Overall my dining experience was very pleasant, and I will be back again.

The cutest little cafe! I love the idea of a florist within a cafe. The staff were friendly and service was prompt. We both ordered a flat white and an acai bowl. We thought the coffee was a little bitter but the acai bowl was amazing. We will be back again.

Disappointing. To begin with, we waited for over half an hour for our burgers with no communication at all. We wanted to order the 'BOT' burger after being told that it was salmon however when it finally arrived, it was just an ordinary battered fish. Felt this was a misrepresentation of the menu. These factors aside, the most concerning thing was that the battered fish was undercooked and we didn't want to risk food poisoning. <br/><br/>The only redeeming factors (and probably why I gave it more than a 1) were that the (presumably) duty manager was very nice about it and obliged in not charging us for our drinks as well as 10% off the bill and that the smoothies we ordered (the mango and passion fruit, and the blueberry, maple and mint) were delicious - probably the only saving grace of the meal. The eftpos machine also didn't work so we paid by cash but on the bigger scheme of things, was only a minor inconvenience when compared to getting different and undercooked food.

Didn't really live up to the beauty of the name. I expected more than a little florist shop and bits of vegetation hanging from lampshades. The name suggests something more cerebral, thought out, almost scientific, with an emphasis on culinary botanicals - single origin coffees and exotic teas. But no, it was a pleasant enough concrete cafe under a carp park. The pastries were ordinary but the coffees were well made, unburnt and had a good flavour. Service a little slow despite a small number of patrons - Basically an ok cafe with a nicer name.

I had a very pleasant experience here on a sunny morning sitting outside in the glorious sun. Simple seating area with plants around us. <br/><br/>I had plenty of time on my hands so did not care much about the slightly slow service. I ordered from the counter and led myself to a seat. <br/><br/>I ordered a berry smoothie and was delicious and refreshing as it had mint in it. I highly recommend the potato and cheddar waffle with haloumi and mushrooms. So yum! The haloumi was slightly salty but I loved that waffle. Also tried the hash with egg and that was delicious too. <br/><br/>I really enjoyed the food but thought it may have been on the salty side. <br/><br/>Ambience is nice and relaxing tucked away in a corner of the city depot so it's quieter. <br/><br/>Downside is the price as I feel it is on the higher end of the brunch scale.

The Botanist offers over-priced brunch with inattentive service. It's not uncommon to sit at a table for 15 minutes without being attended to. The food is good but no better than at Al Brown's Best Ugly or Odettes both of which have attentive staff.

The Botanist is located in a relatively new (to the food scene) but increasingly popular area to eat on Wellesley, with Odettes and The Food Truck Garage close by. This cafe doubles as an ultra hip florist, so when you walk in you are greeted by a variety of flora tastefully decorating the small store. I always feel however, like the cafe is a little dark and shaded for a botanical cafe. <br/><br/>Wait staff are friendly, they usually have quite a fast turn around, and a seat or two always seems available. I came here with friends and we tried the mushroom omelette, and the potato and cheddar waffles with egg and salmon. Presentation seemed slightly throw-together, but food wasn't a knock out for me, but tasty enough nonetheless. Would recommend the waffles and eggs dish as the waffles are quite tasty.<br/><br/>Overall, a charming little cafe with good food and the obvious botanical point of difference.

Visited the Botanist this morning, cool place but poor service (we were told that staff probably had hangovers making them late), really!!!<br/>Coffee strong but not hot enough, food good but waiter was too busy due to lack of staff and forgot our second coffee order. the Botanist is not good enough to come back.

Beautiful location and very intimate cafe , went in for a coffee, the staff seemed somewhat on their "own mission" , just a bit sluggish off the mark for a place that would be relative busy and would cater to those with not a lot of time on their hands .,

It was a very unpleasant experience for us. No greetings. No napkin. Waitress put cutlery on table without napkin. Sandwich was too salty. Also charged 13$ for just toast and egg. When we finished our meal we went to pay and there was a girl at the counter who suddenly left to clean up our plates while another guy was using his mobile and had to ask someone else to look after us. Even coffee wasn't good.

environment is nice and cozy, sweet treats(little muffin and danish) are surprisingly good. However I do not like my salmon waffle because it's way too salty:(

Have been here a few times for lunch/coffee with friends, as well as for an event in the evening. It is a lovely venue with clean decor and gorgeous flowers everywhere since it doubles as a florist. The food is all very fresh and nutritious, and they also do great juices to go alongside. Friendly staff, great open environment and a nice outdoor area for when the suns out. Perfect place for a coffee catch up over good food, or if you're looking to hire out a venue for an event.

Went for brunch on a Saturday morning. It seemed quite disorganized and it wasn't clear whether to wait to be seated, find a seat, wait for service or order at the counter. Took a long time for drinks and food to arrive. Bacon hash was a little dry, though duck egg on top was cooked perfectly. My partners Japanese omelette was excellent, nice and creamy inside with great flavours. A few tweaks to service to organize and personalize would improve this place.

We found the service rather slow and disorganized and the place was rather quite. The smoothies were rather good however once they arrived. On the menu there is a good selection of breakfast offerings and the presentation is outstanding. On the downside my hash with the duck egg was a little dry. Worth a try.

Came here for brunch this morning after we were unable to get a quick table at Odette's. I ordered the eggs, bacon, rocket, avocado and tomato ragout on sourdough. It was very large and filling but nothing particularly special, the ragout was quite overpowering and made the bread very soggy which I didn't like. Also the eggs were slightly undercooked. <br/><br/>My friend ordered the muesli which I tried and it was really nice, so if I returned I would definitely stick to the sweet side of the menu and probably order the muesli. <br/><br/>The service was fast and friendly, and we got our food super quick. The layout and decor of the cafe was really fresh and modern which I liked. However the food was slightly pricey.

Part florist part cafe. What more could you ask for? Tucked five minutes away from the hustling and bustling of the city centre, there's simply no excuse not to visit.

I went here with a big group for breakfast. This place is beautiful. I loved the greenery and decor. <br/><br/>The menu looked really good too. I opted for the peanut butter sweet waffle and for the price of $19, I expected more. I got just two small waffle triangles with bananas on top with a dollop of peanut butter. The menu stated peanut brittle but I couldn't see it on my plate. It was an okay dish but expensive for what it is.

Another hot spot at city works depot! Half florist, half cafe (or bar at night), this place ticks the box for looking super pretty with bunches flowers on display and ready to purchase. I have only been here for drinks with friends so cannot rate the food but the experiences we have had there are always good. Drink prices are perfect during happy hour! The service is friendly and polite.

We went on a Saturday morning at just the right time around 11 because we were able to get seated straight away (cafe got pretty busy later on). Staff were attentive and quick to take our orders and get coffee out quickly, food took a little while but after I had my waffles in front of me none of it mattered. <br/><br/>Haven't stopped dreaming about the potato waffles at this cafe since my first bite a week ago - the perfect combination of crisp savory waffles, with ample fried haloumi, creamy mushrooms, topped with a faultless poached egg with just the right amount of runniness. It was eyes-rolling-into-back-of-head good. <br/><br/>My brunch date got the poached pear and dark chocolate whiskey waffles which I was offered/stole a bite of. The flavour combo wasn't my thing (could def taste the whiskey in there) but he thoroughly enjoyed it. The Botanist definitely a new fav.

Average, unfriendly service, really cold inside. Had to keep a jacket on the whole time. <br/>Wouldn't come back to eat here.<br/>Have had better eggs and service in a pub.

It's nice that other people have had good experiences here.  The man who took my coffee order would have had to try very hard to show even less interest in my order, and showed no interest at all in finding out what the soup of the day was going to be.  My coffee was sub-par in flavour and lukewarm.  I am not motivated to make a return visit.

Found this cafe on the metro top 50 cafe 2014 so thought we should try this place out. <br/><br/>The botanist cafe is a beautiful place to hang out with friends on a sunny day.<br/><br/>Me and my 4 other friends ordered coffee, cheddar waffle, japanese omelette,salmon omelette and sandwich...... Coffee was nothing special.....there are way better coffee out there! The cheddar waffle was alright, presentation could be better.... My friend ordered a japanese omelette but it was very salty, informed the waitress about it and she took it back to the kitchen, she return from kitchen and said " the chef didn't add any salt in it, the saltiness is from the fish flakes,do you want it back? " ..................i was like.......what.......does it mean the omelette suppose to be very salty ? or the recipe is just wrong? Also, we didn't see any salad on the counter,maybe they don't do salad bar on Saturday? Anyways...overall nothing exciting about this place and the food was just ok, for that price and being one of the metro top 50 cafe in auckland, i expect more than that....

Update: What a difference a day makes... Went for a second brunch, had it been our first visit we wouldn't have returned. Service was poor, we had to ask for salt and pepper, it never came, went and found a pepper grinder only to find it empty.  Meals were luke warm and the coffee was well below par.  Afraid I will be downgrading my rating.<br/><br/>Would have rated this place a 5 had we not had to wait a while for our coffee, otherwise couldn't fault it.  We ordered the potato waffles with bacon,poached egg, kale and hollandaise. Himself doesn't usually like kale but this was done well.  I opted for the salmon omelette, which was perfect and overflowing with baked smoked salmon, just about too much, superb.<br/><br/>The service was great  and on a miserable day the cafe was warm and comfortable.  We will be back.

Had the peanut butter and banana waffle for breakfast. I was very satisfied after my meal, portion was the perfect size for me, just right. I also ordered a long black and they used all press coffee beans, which was well made. Service was good, very quick to take our orders and then getting our food. The cafe had a very relaxing and cozy feel, I didn't feel like leaving after I finished my meal!

Perfect place for lunch with its quiet and modern charm. Plenty of comfortable seating, helpful staff and good selection of salads for those wanting something healthy.. The pulled pork wrap is always amazing, but they usually have a bunch of interesting bits to eat, and also do smoothies! Clientele are all the super trendy and elegant media types that work nearby...

Love the breakfast. My usual place for breakfast meetings. Would love if they would expand the menu a little. Eggs are done well and so is coffee.

A snobbish service with a touch of avarage food results in us not rushing back. Staff is just not very happy to be working here and that is indicator for us to stay far away from it.

It seems you can't really go wrong in the City Works Depot. It is slowly becoming the new 'it' spot in Auckland, so I recommend enjoying it now before it becomes overly busy. <br/><br/>Once a month my friends and I have a day called 'tourist day'. It's a bit silly but proves to be a good way to see your city in a different light. It's one day a month we act like tourists for the whole day (we need hobbies). <br/><br/>This month's 'tourist day' included breakfast up at the Sky Lounge in the Sky Tower, a walk around the Silo Park Markets and a coffee in the afternoon left us at The Botanist. <br/><br/>The interior of this place is clean, fresh and bold. The concrete walls broken by modern glass windows and doors give the whole cafe a spacious and light atmosphere. <br/><br/>The coffee here stands out for me. Well rounded and creamy (cappuccino).<br/><br/>This cafe focuses on healthy food that is simply good. Prices do range a bit so there is actually something to suit everyones budget. <br/><br/>With indoor and outdoor seating available, The Botanist is not a cafe you have to worry about grabbing a table. <br/><br/>I would recommend this place if you find yourself in the city looking for a clean and modern space to relax in.

I am surprised at how they make healthy food look so delicious i particulary enjoy<br/>their mixed berry smoothie with yogurt, they also have a nice selection of salads and wraps<br/>Have only been caught once off guard with a salad i didnt like cant say im a fan of their <br/>beetroot and asparagus salad with sour cream.

The Botanist is a beautiful new cafe hidden in Shed 13 - The City Works Depot. Its a shared cafe with a florist hence the name. <br/><br/>This place I'm a bit unsure of. The decor is warm with soft tones and comfortable seating. Newly opened a month or two ago its set up is a bit confusing. There is no table service so you order up at the counter and can choose from the options on the deli bench. However there are also items on the wall menu which is made from their kitchen that can be ordered. The staff member we spoke to was friendly but unsure on what he was telling us on each question we asked, and when he was confirming with the another staff member she ignored him - Strange or Rude?<br/><br/>Anyway I opted for the pizza of the day which was $8 and had a side salad which was $5. My friend chose the lamb which then you could pick a selection of salads for the sides. BTW we went for lunch, they also do dinner from Weds-Fri.<br/>We both agreed for the price we paid it prob wasn't quite the best value for money. The pizza slice I ordered wasn't really heated up so it was difficult to eat the base which was a shame because the flavours were there! My friends lamb plate all up was $16 and from the pic you can see you should expect a bit more for that price. A great positive were the drinks! Both tasted really good and were $7ea, which seams to be the rough standard price in Auckland now. Also the barista is quick as he whipped the drinks out soon after we sat down to eat.<br/><br/>Tbh I think they just need to tweak bits and pieces which may come in time because there is great potential with such a beautiful setup. <br/><br/>Rating<br/>Food: 6.5/10<br/>Service: 6/10<br/>Value for Money: Average

Had great lunch! Healthy, innovative salad bowl. Like the fact they are going for quality, not huge menu. Friend had beef. &amp; salad..was excellent and good price.Very good staff. They were busy..but always remained polite. Will be back.

This cafe/florist is not in the same place as the other eateries at the City Works Depot, but on a floor below. The plants on shelves give away its location though.<br/><br/>We found the lunch menu confusing. Do the items correspond to the food on the counter (the salads certainly seem to)? Is "chicken smoked paprika mayo" a wrap, a burger, on rice, or on its own?<br/><br/>The salads were pretty good (apart from maybe one that came with an unusual miso sauce), but the cassoulet was concentrated and inedibly salty.<br/><br/>People who picked three random things from the counter (all unlabelled) discovered that they all had basically the same filling of bacon and eggs, despite one being a bap/burger, one looking like a quesadilla, and one being a wrap. Probably leftovers from the breakfast menu. Apart from not being warned of the similar contents, these items were not heated through, so imagine eating cold leftover breakfast for lunch.<br/><br/>Someone who picked the chicken wrap found that the paper had stuck onto the roll, so a fair amount of time was spent picking bits of paper out from the lunch. Someone else found a hair in their meal.<br/><br/>All in all, would not recommend eating here, though the plants sure are beautiful.