Review Soulshine Cafe - Browns Bay

Beautiful cafe. Highly recommend stopping by and giving Soulshine a try. Amongst the countless array of cafes in Browns Bay, Soulshine stands out for sure. From the delicious and beautifully plated food to the friendly, warming staff, I couldn’t be more content with my experience. Great coffee too. You may find that parking is a little easier to find and less scarce than the other cafes around as well which is a plus.

We tried this friendly Cafe on Sunday morning. The food looked very good and was generally recommendable. We did not liked the dirty covers of the chairs inside. Please improve this. Overall we can recommend it. It’s close to the beach and it looks like the whole family is working together to make the customers happy. Price is average for this region If you are interested in further food and travel content, please follow us on Instagram: @hannahundclemens

A true hidden gem. I'm so glad to have discovered them. They exceeded my expectations.

This is quickly becoming our favorite breakfast local, one of the few cafes open from 7.30am in this area and always delivering friendly customer service and yummy food. Love the range of vegan options and the coffee has been spot on too. This mornings mushroom stack with quinoa roastie and beetroot hummus was absolutely delicious. UPDATE: Vegan loaded fries were hot, crispy and tasty with fresh toppings and a good quality vegan cheese. Daughter said the smoked salmon eggs benedict was to die for - generous with the salmon, perfectly poached eggs and sweet and tangy sauce to tie the flavors together. Happy customers once again.

Awesome food, we had the chicken stack and French toast both were well priced and super tasty. One of the best cafes on the shore. Awesome vegan and vege options and offer a discount if you bring your own cup for takeaways. Decor was slightly aged and could do with a bit of a tickle up but had a nice homely feel and staff were friendly. Will definitely be back.

What an absolutely divine breakfast I had at this cafe. The service was great and the food scrumpy. I'm not vegan but I chose the mushroom stack with a quinoa rosti and it was so tasty. I recommend this cafe to anyone who wants something different and absolutely mouthwatering to try this cafe in Browns Bay

They have a separate vegan menu with amazing options. The quesadilla was very tasty, and the mushroom burger was really special. Highly recommended!

Favorite cafe in Auckland ! Great food, friendly staff, and I love the coffee.

I highly recommend Soul Shine. Going again this Saturday it'll be my third visit. The photo is of the big breakfast, everything thing was excellent. Great service. Excellent ambience. Going to try the French Toast next time. Even has a excellent Vegan menu if that's what rocks your boat.

My only disappointment here was I ordered a green salad and, after looking at the menu again, realized I had got a seasonal green salad. The makeup of the salads being quite different. As I had an appointment to get to, and the service wasn't exactly fast, I didn't say anything at the time. I think there should be some renaming of one of the menu items to stop this mix up happening. The food and coffee were good, and would be willing to go again.

Always great food and coffee, I have enjoyed coming here for years. GF, DF and vegan friendly too.

Awesome French toast really liked the addition of seeds and nuts to the dish. Really good portion size. A little bit of a wait but totally worth it

Soulshine has recently changed ownership. The new vegan menu (which is in addition to their non vegan menu) is much more comprehensive and very thoughtful. The food is excellent and the staff are lovely. It's a huge step up on the previous cafe. Definitely check them out if you're in Browns Bay. Pictured are the vegan buckwheat pancakes, and the mushroom stack with quinoa pattie, both were delish!

Food great, atmosphere quaint 70’s, staff nice, lost a star only because coffee wasn’t the best- a bit more emphasis on the Barista side and will be a top place!

Great place to get a quick bite. There is a vegan menu which is awesome! They make an amazing vegan hot chocolate with coconut milk. The staff are friendly and helpful. Highly recommended!

A simple cafe but the meal was delicious and the service was great! I would patronize the Soulshine Cafe again.

The best breakfast ever! I couldn't eat it fast enough! Can't wait to come back.

Nice staff, ordered 6 meals and coffee, service nice and food delicious, and a lot of GF and Vegan options. Small cafe, short walk to beach.

I don’t normally bother to review cafés unless there’s a problem. But Soulshine is consistently good and very worthy of 5 stars. We go there because we like a strong coffee and theirs are always excellent. It’s dog-friendly, with a lovely covered outdoor area that isn’t right on the street front, places to tie up your dog, and a water bowl. It is also the best option in Browns Bay if you have dietary restrictions- one of the few places that offers a variety of gluten-free options with obvious care to avoid cross contamination. Lots of vegan options too. I would heartily recommend this cafe and hope that they continue to thrive in Browns Bay.

Food is amazing. Many vege options, coffee just needs to be improved.

This is a standard size plate. I ordered the pancakes. I thought this was the kids meal when it came out. Three pikelets (not pancakes far too small to be called a pancake). I can’t believe this was nearly $18. What an absolute joke. I expect far more for that price. Iced mocha also just tasted like coffee (couldn’t taste any chocolate). Got two coffees and a couple pikelets for $31, absolute rip off. Wouldn’t go back.

Great coffee. Awesome service and fab food

The service here was very friendly and kind. I ordered the kids eggs benedict because I was not extremely hungry. It was perfect size and for a great price. One of my friends grabbed the Asian Hokkien Noodles which were also extremely tasty and a wonderful portion size. We stayed for 2-3 hours chatting so it was a great atmosphere to have a chat and hang out for a while. The place itself is quite small but the seating is comfortable! Wasn't blown away by anything but no complaints here.

The service was good. The food is a reasonable price for the portion size. I had the paleo stack which I've had a few times here. I love the quinoa patty. The only negative was that my partner ordered the best ugly bagel. What was given was not a best ugly bagel (we've been to best ugly a lot). Shortly after we ordered, we saw a staff member walk back in with packets of Abe's bagels from the supermarket across the road. It's not really a problem but they should have said if they were replacing it with a cheaper product.

Has ownership changed recently? This place used to be nice and served good food however we were very disappointed with whole experience today.<br/>We have ordered coffee, kids pizza, mushroom quinoa stack and quiche. The froth on coffee looked funny and it was not right temperature. The kids pizza costs $12.50 but it just came with two slice of English muffin and sprinkle of cheese and bacon. Even my kid was laughing at it. What a waste of money! <br/>The quinoa patty was really oily and soggy on mushroom stack. I have advised the staff and she said it’s oily because it’s deep fried. <br/>Would not come back to this cafe. Sorry. <br/>Two stars for friendliness of the floor staff.

Service was fantastic and great food options. Coffee was good. Wife loved her burger, paleo stack was nice but a little bland. Maybe my fault for taking out the bacon so no problems here. Miss 3 loved her pancakes. Mr 1 just wriggled everywhere and liked the staff

TLDR - food 4.5/5; service 5/5; atmosphere 3.5/5; value for money 4/5<br/><br/>Dishes:<br/>• Lamb stack on quinoa - generous portion of really tender and well seasoned lamb, sweet caramelised onions and good amount of mint and beetroot sauce. Quinoa was really crispy. Highly recommend! This originally came with feta but as I'm dairy free they swapped it for vegan cheese!<br/><br/>• Ox benny - I didn't try this cos I'm dairy free but I was told it was good :)<br/><br/>I'm not vegan, but I am dairy free, and as someone with these food restrictions, I know how hard it is to find a cafe with dairy free options (other than a salad - boring). This cafe has its own separate vegan menu with about 8 different options, as well as vegan drink options in addition. I'm all for vegan menus, and recommend anyone with dietary requirements to come here as they have a range of v/gf/df options and are really great at accommodating for allergies.<br/><br/>The atmosphere is nice and cool inside, a bit small but today wasn't crowded so it was fine. My only critique is that there was a small fruit fly and a large fly annoying me for most of my mealtime.<br/><br/>Otherwise, very happy with the experience. The staff were very helpful and really lovely. They also let us stick around for two hours while we talked, and then when we paid they told me I was pretty

This place did not make my soul shine. The coconut hot chocolate was undrinkable. Tasted like the milk was off. Mum also got a cheese scone and it just tasted like baking powder. Her English tea was nice though.<br/><br/>Won't be going back

Amazing service and friendly staff. Had The usual breakfast, absolutely divine. Would recommend this cafe highly. Friendliest staff I've ever encountered in my life

One of a kind in this neighborhood. Love this place. Great for sitting down and working, reading, or meeting a friend. The employees are absolutely delightful. Food and coffee are excellent.

Dropped into soulshine on a Sunday morning for breakfast. Great tasting food and great kids menu. My kids ate all their breakfast which is a first. The bread used in the eggs benedict was delicious. Great friendly staff The only negative was we had quite a big table of people and thought our order would be taken by the wattress but was told we had to order at the counter.

Maddy provided great customer service - super friendly and attentive. <br/>Seats were comfortable and the vibe was very chill. <br/>Great food and location, would definitely come again! I ordered the vege eggs benedict on a quinoa pattie. <br/><br/>

Friendly, cosy neighbourhood cafe. Always bumping into people I know here. Menu has heaps of clean options and Sera makes a lot of the treats herself. It’s a dog friendly cafe and there are always many pooches chilling out there.

I live in Queenstown and every time I’m up in Auckland I HAVE to come here and get the buckwheat pancakes and a coconut chai latte. There is a great selection of healthy food that accommodates all types of diets - paleo, allergies and just regular people who love a good eggs bene

Tried Soulshine cafe for the first time and was pleasantly surprised. We had a breakfast; an omelette and their version of a big brekkie and both were delicious and a good portion size. Will definitely visit them again.

The service was great. Very friendly staff. <br/>Both my wife and I loved the food. We got the hash brown and omelette. <br/>The ice coffee was also very tasty.

Cute little cafe in browns bay. Decor very retro. Food was amazing. I had the lamb stack and my mum had the chicken satay sticks. Decent portions for money. My coffee was perfect and hot. Service was efficient and friendly. Would definitely recommend and return to try more on the menu

Amazing food- the buckwheat pancakes were demolished by both my fussy 3 year old and I and my coeliac husband loved his gf quinoa patty eggs benny. Great vibe, friendly helpful staff. We will be back!

looks very popular café, good location, convenience after shopping, so we decided to try. designed well, outdoor area is very good, food price not cheap, but taste average. outdoor chairs not quite comfortable.

Soulshine is an absolute favourite of mine, consistent quality, fresh food thats always cooked with love. Great coffee and delicious cakes too! Crafty touches like the fresh flowers and art work make for a fabulous atmosphere. Highly recommend!

Lovely little cafe. So many cool things to look at around the place. The staff are absoloutly amazing and friendly. The food is also very lovely however portion sizes are very small and quite expensive for what you get.

I have headed this with a mix of the previous reviews which encapsulate this place so well. Not much I can add other than to endorse their comments!<br/><br/>Browns Bay has many and varied places to eat and enjoy coffee or tea and this Cafe is right up in the top 3 ! Always busy and humming with action. <br/><br/>My friend needs Gluten Free food and there is always something tasty on offer.<br/><br/>My Grandson was treated to a delightful fluffy and would go back in a trice. Keep up the good work SoulShine.

This is my go to cafe for breakfast - always yummy food and the kids love the dippy eggs! Friendly staff and food is always prompt. Highly recommended

warm friendly homely atmosphere. service always excellent. they seem to know everyone including dogs on a first name basis. the food is great. good coffee and lots of healthy choices. <br/>

This cafe is very popular so we decided to give it a go. Decor is cute and vintage and the service was very friendly. They had lots of lovely cake/muffins displayed beautifully and menu looked great too. We ordered the big breakfast type meal and although everything was homemade and looked great but it was lacking in taste and/or seasoning. Also the vintage decor seating wasn't that comfortable or great with young children. Wouldn't mind going again to check out some other things on the menu and see if it gets any better.?

The food and service at this stylish little cafe is awesome. There isn't much seating and the seats are quite uncomfortable as they have chosen to go with retro style seats from the ages. This is my ONLY complaint. The food and service is awesome! I highly recommend heading here if you're in the area. <br/><br/>++ also is the Gluten Free and Paleo options on the menu! Very cool which means I can dine with my mum!

Sunday morning breakfast. Was surprised at how busy it was, great vibe when walking through the door and met with an eclectic collection of art works all over.<br/>Staff were extremely friendly and very attentive. Good vibe going between staff.<br/>Food arrived and I was very impressed: chicken bagel doesn't sound like something to exciting but it was magical and a great cup of coffee to go with it.<br/>Great Browns Bay local, experience it for yourself.

Such a hidden gem in browns bay! Located off the busy main road and parking was super easy which is a bonus when you're super hungry :3 their point of difference is adding a healthy and homemade twist to traditional dishes which makes them stand out amongst other nearby generic cafes. Although their menu is not available online, DO NOT HESITATE TO TRY! It was the one thing that put me off because I was slightly scared I wouldn't like anything on the menu but I was not disappointed one bit! Apparently their menu changes so often so it's hard for them to have a set menu online. <br/>Service was amazing and the lady that served us was an absolute babe. Super sweet and helpful when I was asking questions about the dishes. Food was also fantastic.<br/>Top - Eggs Benedict: The twist to this classic dish was that instead of being served on toast, it was served on a homemade quinoa pattie. IT WAS PERFECT. The pattie was crunchy and had the perfect texture and taste. If you do not order this dish, I highly recommend you get one on the side of your dish because it is delicious! <br/>Bottom - Hash Pie: I love my shepherds pies but unfortunately they can be quite unhealthy. This on the other hand was a perfect twist! It was satisfying and filling. I filled mine with vegetables and chicken. However I would say it would be nicer if there was more filling rather than potato but either way it was still delicious! <br/>Coffee - A bit expensive but the boyfriend (who is a coffee enthusiast) loved the coffee and said it was well worth the price. If you love your coffee then I highly recommend trying it out

I absolutely love Soulshine. It's my go to. I always end up coming back here. The service is always amazing and the food is absolutely delicious. It is very reasonably priced with an extensive, different holistic menu. They're gluten and vegan friendly. My absolute favorite is the halloumi and satay bagels and the choc bomb. Definitely recommend!

Become my new favorite cafe to grab a coffee from before walking the dogs along the beach every Sunday. Always packed full of happy looking people and the staff are always incredibly polite and friendly. Sad to say I haven't had time to stop in for any food yet but it all looks delicious and I cant wait to try it!!

Great, quirky café to go to with people with different tastes, since there is something for everyone: lots of traditional breakfast and lunch favorites, combined with amazing food for health conscious Paleo-followers.  My personal favorite remains the eggs Benedict with vegetables on a quinoa pattie!

I felt like if walked into my grandmother's lounge. Macrame mixed with oranges and Brown's. Decor I swore I would never revisit but oddly suited this little building<br/>Super comfy seats similar to those found in nanas kitchen .<br/>Simple holistic menu. I didn't actually have have much other then the kids egg and soilders. A firm favorite of mine.<br/>Service was good but marking down as the chai latte was mediocre maybe next time I'll try a coffee:-)<br/><br/>Update<br/><br/>Just wanted to review the new owners. Great variety as a menu and super friendly service. My dog was treated to fresh water.<br/>Breakfast was great. Loved the sausage and mushrooms. Was pretty quiet but would happily go again.

Great breakfast, was delicious, had the bacon eggs benedict, friend had the muesli and the baby had bananas and oranges was great Sunday outing to the Browns bay market then Soulshine for breakfast!

Surprised by the attitude of the male owner, who turned us away not so graciously half an hour before closing time. We were then made to feel like a nuisance for ordering a takeaway cake and being confused by the flavours. Wouldn't go back because of this despite hearing good reviews.

Visited this new establishment in the busy Browns Bay hub today for brunch and I left with a full belly :p ordered the classic eggs Benny and their Mexican corn cakes with a friend. The EB was very done-egg was cooked perfectly (runny yolk) and their bagel base was also tangy, not too hard and has a light, sweet, wheat taste! <br/><br/>I liked the corn cakes. It's got crispy edges and soft in the middle. However I found the overall dish a bit bland, probably need more flavoring (especially the chicken and guacamole)<br/><br/>Overall, it's a busy cafe with a nice ambience and a range of affordable brunch options. :)

Lovely, accommodating staff and great location not too far from the beach. We came for brunch during the week and it was so busy! I had the buckwheat pancakes with coconut yoghurt and my friend had mushrooms on toast, & we shared a side of hash browns. Food was delicious, as expected, the homey atmosphere was spot on and the girls at the counter were so lovely to talk to about veganism!

Soulshine is one of a number of Cafes that have opened over the last few years that offer a wide range of healthy menu options.  We went for lunch there today and sat inside with the rather eclectic mix of tables and chairs. The cafe was very busy but we did not have to wait long to order our food or receive water.  We ordered the Mexican Arepa and the Sliders.  The Cornbread Arepa came with a spicy tomato-based vegetable sauce, and topped with grilled chicken, avocado, and sour cream.  The pulled pork sliders were light and tasty, with the pulled pork melting in the mouth and the coleslaw providing a contrasting crunch.  There were plenty of other appealing alternatives on the menu and we will certainly return to try them.  A very good place to have a brunch or lunch.

Just popped in for a quick coffee. Its not often that I catch myself a few sips into my coffee to say "Hmmm, this is good coffee". Very cute little nook in Browns Bay. I like the atmosphere of the shop. The owners are really friendly too. Definitely see myself going back there for coffee dates. Maybe even to just sit an 'be'.

I went to Soulshine Cafe with a friend to grab a quick coffee and catch up.  I was quietly stoked when we settled on this cafe because I had walked past several times and was DYING to go inside. We were there on the weekend, so it was busy, but there was enough room for us without having to wait for a free table. The atmosphere of the place was busy, but it's the type of place that feels alive. It's definitely a vibe that I like when visiting a cafe. The staff were very friendly too, which never hurts.<br/><br/>I got my standard flat white and it was damn good. I'd say it was one of the better coffees that I've had whilst living in Auckland...and that's saying something. I've been fixed on bagels for a while now, so I ended up having a cinnamon and raisin bagel with jam. Nothing fancy, but it was good. And popular. <br/><br/>Ultimately, I loved my experience at this cafe and I will be coming back!

Amazing little cafe in the heart of Browns Bay, food amazing and staff really friendly. A great place to grab a healthy bite to eat, coffee and juice after a nice walk to Browns Bay and they are dog friendly, always make a fuss of our staffie, Sophie :)

Happened to just past by it. A quirky and cute cafe with a retro theme. I ordered buckwheat pancakes with berries and yoghurt as I had never tried it before. It was a different experience for me but it was delicious when I figured out to use all the condiments together. Staff were very friendly, always chatting with customers, as many seemed like regulars, which I can totally get with such good vibes

Delicious vegan pancakes! I haven't had pancakes in years so I was very happy. Will come again! Though probably only occasionally as they are a little on the pricey side.

This place is our favourite! Outstanding service, great decor and very comfy seating. The food is amazing and their choc bombs are even better!

A new cafe like Soulshine was desperately needed in Browns Bay! It's a cute cafe with cosy vibes. Yummy, organic food that isn't overpriced and the staff are super lovely. They also have raw slices and bliss balls which I love!

My best friend was raving about this discovery so I gave it a go! My absolute favorite meal for breakfast is a classic eggs Benedict on a bagel. So many others cafes have tried to get all fancy and start replacing bagels with potato hash or boring little English muffins. It's been so long since I've had a proper, hearty eggs benne! Everything here is free range and they offer so many healthy options. The staff were all so lovely there. So many little touches that made this place extra cute such as chocolate pebbles with your loose leaf tea. The inside part felt a bit small and was quite cold. The only other thing was that the bagel was so hard to cut with a butter knife that my hands were sore after and the yolk of the egg was a tad over cooked. Other than that, amazing! I couldn't leave without trying their caramel slice and coconut beetroot bliss ball. Will be going back to try other things on the menu!

What a lovely surprise. Soul shine is a humble hidden gem in beautiful Browns Bay. The best thing about this cafe is the F-O-O-D! Yum! The space is quirky and busy on a Sunday but it doesn't affect the vibe at all. The menu is truly special with a wide range of items that everyone will love. The staff are kind and Soulshine radiates happiness. It is an absolutely beautiful cafe!<br/><br/>The omelette with the hunters special consisted of fluffy eggs with breakfast sausage, pulled pork and chicken inside with a bit of cheese. The salsa on the side was fresh and light, complimenting it perfectly!<br/><br/>My partner ordered the eggs benedict with bacon. It came on two bagels balanced perfectly with a sauce that was just the right amount of creamy. <br/><br/>We demolished our breakfast along with a coffee and a mocha bomb milkshake! Absolutely delicious. The milkshake was soo thick and chocolate-y. I had a 5/5 experience and so did my partner. Definitely coming back to try the Soulshine big breakfast, stuffed breakfast burrito and the quinoa salad with grilled chicken!

Really nice place in the Shore with a lot of character and super friendly staff :)<br/>Nice bagels, menu with different options .. very taste and well done.<br/>It definitely has a 70s look and feels like you are on grandma's livingroom..loved it!<br/>Nice coffee too

Simply the best cafe in the Auckland area. No joke. Perfect coffee, amazing food, the friendliest staff, welcoming retro decor, and prices that reward you for making the trip. Worth every kilometer between your house and Brown's Bay. Unlike most cafes, this one actually lives up to its namesake. Eat, drink, and let your Soulshine!

Cute new little cafe just opened up in Browns bay. They have a great range of fair trade/ organic/ raw food on offer. Love the 70s inspired interior - always brightens my day when I stop by here. Pretty busy during the school holidays though.