La Joconde — Restaurant in Hibiscus and Bays

This French pastry shop proved to be a bit of a disappointment for me and definitely overrated.

Let's begin with the positive aspects. The coffee served was actually enjoyable, with an organic taste and a mild flavor that suited my preference. I appreciated that. However, I ordered a large coffee, yet the size felt more like a medium, which was slightly disappointing.

Now, let's discuss the negatives. The pastry, particularly the cakes, they were small and overpriced for the taste, quantity, and quality they offered. It seemed as though the ingredients were simply purchased from a supermarket and assembled without much baking involved. Even the whipped cream had a store-bought taste. I must emphasize that my critique of the taste does not stem from a lack of familiarity with French cuisine; the cakes were simply average and not worth the money. I wouldn't recommend wasting money on them.

Furthermore, the shop's space was quite basic, with uncomfortable chairs and tables. Overall, I found the shop to be overrated and not to my taste. It is not a place I would consider revisiting...

We adore La Joconde. From its tentative beginnings, it has blossomed into a great bakery and eatery. Denis is a delight. We converse with my basic french. The food is the main drawcard. Denis and his pastry chef understand sweet and savoury pastry and their work is sublime. His baguettes will transport you to France, bringing wonderful croissants along with you. He has catered for us with extreme care. It is a delight to see his creations emerging fresh from the oven. Nothing is hidden it is all there to be seen and enjoyed. Don't arrive late, his wares sell out. Highly...

One of the best bakeries in Auckland. Definitely the best French bakery I've been to here! I have been many times and it is consistently great quality. Lots of delicious sweet pastries. My favourite is probably anything with fruit or raisins. The breads are perfect - the fig loaf is one of my favourite things to buy here, I just eat it fresh with a little butter. Their small layer cakes are also very well done and flavourful. You can tell each layer is perfectly made - definitely one to savour. The quality overall is a step or two above other bakeries...