Lily Eatery Devonport — Restaurant in Devonport-Takapuna

Ready for a little adventure? Take a short detour off Main Street, especially if you’re a day tripper from the Auckland cruise ships! Now, I get it—when on holiday it’s always easier to see pictures of food before ordering, you can never truly trust all that foreign fair especially when you're ordering by the square yard for some of our American cousins. But if you're up for a 102-meter walk from main street (about as far as an American footballer can chuck a Big Mac with a prevailing wind) and tear yourself away from the selection of baseball caps on offer from resellers you clearly hold close to your patriotic hearts you will not be disappointed. This place is frequented by locals, not the tourist crowd from across the pond (Auckland) that is.

What a treat! The goods on offer are clearly homemade. The sourdough toast was brown—a refreshing change from the usual white. When I asked if they had marmalade, I was offered ‘commercial’ or ‘homemade’. Obviously, we went for the homemade, and it was a stellar choice! It was more like a relish than a marmalade, made of pure orange pulp and rind with no added sweetness. It was so unique, it should definitely be mentioned on the menu with the toast option.

I also added a blueberry muffin with cream cheese to my order to appease the day trippers I might have just offended, and I have to say it really hit the spot. The service was friendly, efficient, and fast. Well worth a visit, even if it’s not in the most scenic location. Go on a little adventure, Why not go full Indiana Jones and “The Temple of Spoon"? Picture this: a spoon on a quest to find, stir, rescue, and ultimately fall in love with coffee. (Think of it as a hidden treasure). Seek it out and enjoy! After all, let's Make Coffee Great...

It is my first time visiting New Zealand, and a friend and I decided to take a quick trip to Devonport to have a look around. We happened to come across Lily's by pure luck and I am so glad that we did! The cafe itself is really nice, and was playing a really great selection of music. We were greeted with a warm and friendly welcome, and were very kindly and nicely advised that the kitchen was only open for another 5 minutes so if we wanted something to eat we would need to order soon. I asked for help with what to choose as I am vegetarian and I was offered a selection of items (which all looked/sounded delicious). I ended up choosing something from the cabinet - a roll and a freshly made salad - and it was honestly one of the best meals I have EVER eaten. The bread was so delicious, as were the contents of my roll, and the salad. I also ordered an iced coffee which was perfect. The staff were all very friendly and polite, and were really nice to talk to - especially Lily herself! It was also very good value for money. I can't wait to go...

I first visited Lily right after arriving in New Zealand, and their Turkish eggs completely won me over. The poached egg, tangy yogurt base, and that spoonful of what I can only call a “soul sauce” created an aromatic, layered experience. When the sauce is good, everything is good. The sourdough on the side was just as memorable—crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, “Like bread that has lived seriously” This time, I came back with a friend, hoping to revisit the Turkish eggs. One of the lovely girls working there told us that the menu is updated monthly based on seasonal ingredients, so the dish is currently off the menu—but will return (already looking forward to it). We tried another popular recommendation instead, which was also delicious. And I couldn’t resist ordering the tiramisu. It had the classic structure, with what seemed to be an added layer of chocolate ganache—making it richer, more complex, but still perfectly balanced in sweetness. The overall experience was just as wonderful as the first time. Will definitely...