Bambina

«Bambina» happen to do great (Allpress) three shot flat whites — who are ironically located right beside «Allpress» coffee shop on Ponsonby Road! I am a regular here, as I work in the hood therefore experienced many savoury & sweet treats from here: mini/​regular bimbis (Turkish bread with chicken or ham, baby spinach, cheese, relish), toasted brioche, cheese scones, chocolate lamingtons, friands, biscuits & the list goes on ($ 4-​$ 12) You can sit inside on an animated communal table covered in the latest fashion & interior mags or take an intimate seat by the wall mirrors. Outdoor seating available too, child & dog friendly. The staff are all lovely, accommodating and efficient. This is one of my top 5 cafes in Ponsonby. There is also parking at the back of the building!

Bambina served up some of the freshest food I had while in Auckland. The breakfast scene at this place was filled with a lot of people that looked like they weren’t late for work. I think this was a testament to the neighborhood. The restaurant was decorated nicely and had plenty of seating for all of their customers.
The food was the best part of this place. I had the fruit and yoghurt and it was extremely fresh and delicious. I know it’s hard to get fresh fruit on an island but this place delivered on the fresh fruit front. I was very impressed.
Overall, Bambina is a great breakfast stop. Take your time and hang out with the unemployed art types if you want to hear some interesting conversations. If you are lucky, you can come back for lunch. If you want to know more about the food you are eating here, check out the awards and press write-​ups on the wall.

Love the corn fritters here and good coffee with friendly service — good value I think

A Ponsonby café that does it right. Sure, it’s the usual Ponsonby clientele of-​a-​certain-​age, and the usual Ponsonby white on white décor, but the food is super-​fresh, well-​prepared, and well-​presented, the service is professional and not in your face or indifferent, and the cakes are delicious. Coffee is decent — not exceptional, but very drinkable.
Not cheap, but value for money for the quality.

A reliable friend on Ponsonby Road. Light, spacious and with friendly service. Bambina serves a simple menu of breakfast fare including always perfect scrambled and poached eggs, organic sausages, ricotta hotcakes and eggs benny. Alternatively try the fresh and flavoursome selection of lunches and salads (including chicken Caesar and tuna). The coffee’s great and the roadside tables offer a great view of the preppy locals.

A friend and I decided to have lunch near my workplace. Bambina looked interesting with its weird name and a huge table in the centre of the café so we decided to give this place a go. Sadly my coffee was burnt so had to ask for a new one. Also my prawn risotto was a bit bland and watery — I would expect more for a price of $ 28 or so (sorry, it was some time ago!). My friend’s Chicken panini ($ 18) was quite nice I hoped I’d ordered that. At least one of us was happy: p
I loved the Neat and clean environment but food seemed to be very expensive without a wow factor.

Little café on ponsonby. Great for a catch up with friends. But probably not the family, came here with our niece in a baby stroller and we had to sit outside so we don’t get in the way.
The menu is different to the usual café which is great to see, always keen to try something a wee different. Price is slightly high for the portion size but tasty.

Bambina has been around forever– just like ol’ mate Dizengoff down the road — and for good reason; They keep things simple but do them well and are incredibly consistent.
For me, it’s all about the poached eggs ($ 9.50). I don’t know how (but I would like to…) but they nail them every time. The whites are perfectly formed and the bright orange yolks always just runny enough to spread on your toast. Ordinarily, the eggs come on seeded toast but I always ask for them on ciabatta, which is never a problem. You can also choose from an array of sides — avo, bacon, ‘shrooms, fennel sausage — which are generous in size.
Lunch here is also worth checking out. The menu isn’t huge but it’s full of fresh, clean flavours. I’m a fan of their salads, particularly the chicken salad with pecorino and pear ($ 19.50).
However my favourite time to come Bambina, is bright ‘n early in the morning for a cup of Earl Grey tea and a read of the paper. Their rather large communal table is always scattered with copies otherwise their an great selection of magazines. If mornings aren’t your buzz it’s equally good at around 2−3pm — that way you can sample some of their delightful sweet treats too!

One of the old favorites in Ponsonby, ended up here as the café next door we wanted to visit didn’t have any tables and there was the perfect spot outside in the sun. I have never been blown away bambina I find the menu 2 bits and pieces, and it always ends up being expensive once you add all your sides to your eggs, I like a bit of flair with my brekkie outings or I feel I could have just made it myself for half the price. Good place to visit if you are looking for a simple breakfast or lunch. Coffee on the strong side and milk heated 2 long so was 2 thin not nice and creamy in saying that though I’ve had a lot worse coffee!

Bambina is a cute wee café located on Ponsonby Road. The staff are always super friendly and they serve some of the nicest sandwiches around. I recommend the vegetarian panini, it’s really fresh and delicious. Bambina’s muffins are also really good value. I had the berry muffin on my last visit and it was so big I could barely finish it in one sitting!
The atmosphere of Bambina is another reason why it’s such a popular café. Always relaxed and friendly, it’s the perfect place to meet friends for a catch up or your inlaws for lunch. Bambina is also a bit of a celebrity hot-​spot. More often than not you can see local New Zealand celebrities such as the stars off Outrageous Fortune or the Ridges in Bambina grabbing a bite to eat.
Although the food available and the atmosphere of Bambina are great, I wouldn’t recommend their coffees or hot chocolates. They tend to be quite milky and tasteless — not ideal when you want your morning caffeine fix! Better hot drinks can be found elsewhere on Ponsonby Road — it’s not like there’s a shortage of options!
Tip: Opt to have your sandwiches or paninis toasted– you won’t regret it!

There is something about the food at Bambina that makes you feel like you’re being healthy. The menu is seasonal, but the steak turkish is always there — and for good reason. The bruschetta is nice as is the salmon. My mom likes the half and half — toasted ciabatta and fruit salad.
Bambina does a lemon honey ginger drink which is home-​made and excellent. The hot chocolate is also very, very good and uses chocolate buttons (as opposed to powder). Bambina is one of those places that has a tonne of regulars and all the staff know them and what they like to order. I know a guy who goes pretty much every day. He likes the belgium biscuits.

I first discovered this place about 10 years ago. When I was a poor student, and watching the calories, a delicious Bimbi was a fantasic treat at only $ 2.50. For the uninitiated a bimbi is a sliver of ciabatta filled with ham, cheese and tomatoe and toasted.
I popped into Bambina a few weeks ago and saw the same friendly counter staff, the delightful little friands and, yes, they still have Bimbis. Probably a bit more expensive now, but still great coffee, great service and great little treats available at this Ponsonby icon.

I’m always impressed with the speed they bring me my coffee, even when they look busy.
I love the corn fritters on their brunch menu and they always have water available. There is also always plenty of newspapers and magazines for you to look at while you enjoy your coffee.
There are several tables inside, along with a very large square communal table. A few tables are outside on the street, perfect for whiling away the day. On colder days, heaters can be switched on outside (which I still find pretty funny as I grew up in the South Island, where it does actually get cold).
Bambina is a cozy, friendly café and I like visiting them.