PR AGENCY DIARIES: AUCKLAND’S BEST CAFÉS FOR A BUSINESS MEETING
In PR, it’s no secret that we like coffee a latte. The problem is, between media meets, client calls, event prep & more, it’s often difficult to dash out for that much-craved cuppa. Solution? The humble café meeting.
Not only a worthy excuse to escape the office, but the hustle & bustle of a humming café has a contagious effect on productivity – with the ambient background noise helping to boost creative thoughts.
Prerequisites for any location include killer espresso, lightning-fast Wi-Fi & scrumptious sustenance options alongside various congregating configurations.
In the name of your productivity, we’ve (begrudgingly) tried them all to nail down which are suitable for you to catch the worm and eat the frog!
1. Ozone Coffee Roasters – 18 Westmoreland Street West, Grey Lynn, Auckland
Do you make a power move & insist they come to you, or oblige & go to them? Neither is necessary with this trendy Grey Lynn eatery – boasting a loft-style layout full of architectural envy. With comfortable six-seat booths on one side & a long (& we mean long!) dining table positioned down the end, there’s room for solo laptop bandits and conference style meets alike. Or, if you’re meeting with someone for the first time, opt for the bar seating alongside the open kitchen – the spectacle is sure to break the ice.
2. Odettes – City Works Depot 90 Wellesley Street West, Auckland CBD
Nestled in the heart of the CBD’s City Works Depot (& at Bauer Media’s doorstep), Odettes serves relaxing ambience & sophisticated style in spades. It’s mixed clientele of swanky media, corporate suits & casual café hoppers (undoubtedly ticking their way through some Best of Auckland list) is a testament to Odettes’ ability to suit any occasion – business or otherwise. Come for the people watching and stay for the complimentary sparkling water.
3. L’affare Melrose – 22 Melrose Street, Newmarket, Auckland
Sister to Wellington institution Café L’affare, there’s no shortage of space at this eclectic eatery for you to settle in & see where your ideas take you. Tucked away from Newmarket’s main drag, this one is sure to impress clients with your inner-city savvy. Not only that but it has quick, attentive service & equally fast free Wi-Fi alongside easy customer parking.
4. Orphans Kitchen – 118 Ponsonby Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland
Situated within a long, narrow Victorian villa on Auckland’s buzzing Ponsonby Road, Orphans Kitchen has two private rooms upstairs and down that are ideal for larger gatherings. Its pared-down aesthetic & ethical menu provides the neutral backdrop for your creative ideas to shine. The best bit is it’s licensed for when the power lunch turns to the long variety.
5. Mojo Coffee – everywhere
No ‘best café for a business meeting’ list would be complete without an obligatory nod to Mojo. Sure, you won’t score points for originality & it is a chain, but not in the tacky, everything-feels-mass-produced sort of way. No, Mojo is a chain in the best sense of the word: reliably quick, delicious coffee & friendly, attentive service – every time. Top tip – its Fanshawe St outpost offers a contemporary meeting space perfect for groups up to 20 featuring a large whiteboard wall to get busy on.