Diehl’s Bakery

I can’t really comment on the authenticity of Diehl’s German bakery items, as I don’t really know anything about German breads and sweets. All I can say is that the pretzels are amazing. However, the awkward little parking lot is treacherous, and they sell out of things quickly because they have quite a loyal and plentiful following. Don’t be surprised if your favourites are gone when you get there. But fear not, I’ve seen lots of people there picking up their orders that they called in and had held for them. So try this if you have your heart set on a particular item (or 10!)
Also, their hours are limited, so make sure you check their hours of operator before you show up there to avoid disappointment.

My partner lived in Austria for a couple of years growing up, and misses German and Austrian bread the most. I found out about Diehl’s by accident one day and took him there and he was so happy! Lots of big brown loaves of stodgy rye bread, an array of pastries and sweet things, and my favourite thing, big traditional pretzels with chunks of sea salt on top. Man, there’s nothing quite like an actual German pretzel — they are so much more delicious than the tiny woody things that you get in packets at the supermarket. While the whole staff at Diehl’s isn’t German, you still get a pretty authentic experience going here, and I can tell because of the number of Germans and Austrians who come to the store!

It’s amazing how the smell of hot bread can transport you to a different place in an instant… This is exactly what Diehl’s Bakery does to me. I may be a bit biased admittedly (being half German) but I do think the big range of sour dough breads, pretzels and pastries make even a longer trip worthwhile.
Bread is probably the number 1 thing that Germans abroad winge about and I can guarantee that EVERY German in Auckland knows about Ingo Diehl’s bread heaven. Don’t be fooled by the slightly industrial look of the bakery and give the Black Forest or Pumpkin and Carrot bread a go (my partner keeps on saying that you could kill someone quite easily by hitting them on the head with one of those breads that you do actually need to have teeth for) .
One of my favourites would have to be the poppy seed cake that is nearly as good as my mum’s. I’m praying to God that Ingo has no plans of retiring any time soon.