Penelope

Here once again and still yum.
Had the protein power breakfast and they were very happy to swap out the mushrooms for hashbrowns.
Best coffee around and it is big, as in big in a bowl.
Five stars again!

The coffee and food at Penelope are both great. In particular, the staff and the owner/​manager always provide excellent service. I genuinely appreciate it, and notice, when a café is run by staff/​owners who care about the quality of service and the quality of food they provide. That really shows through at Penelope.
The interior is clean, bright and modern. There is a discrete cubby-​hole play area in the back for children, too.
Coffee and the coffee art is consistent and impressive. The food is always consistent and has good variety on the menu. I have been here many times and will continue to visit again in the future!

Definitely one of my favorite spots. Staff are really friendly.
Coffee is great, and has some nice coffee art as well.
The food is pretty straight forward as it comes for a normal Auckland café, but it is done really well.
Pro tip, if you like spicy/​warm food I highly recommend you ask for a bit of the Fire Dragon Chilli sauce they have stashed away behind the counter. It is a perfect combo with eggs. I normally ask them to add a teaspoon (this sauce is pretty hot) into my eggs when cooking. It isn’t overwhelmingly hot if you’re a fan of spicy food, but has a lot of different flavors that just make things pop. If you’re not sure, maybe ask for a bit of it on the side. ;)

There’s a high standard of cafes in Parnell and Penelope is one of the better ones. One thing I like about Parnell that in a lot of these cool cafes, the flat whites only cost $ 3.50 — that’s cheaper than what they cost out West and you are in a much nicer environment. They do a good breakfast in this place — the last time I was here I had the full breakfast which went down very well as I was hungover at the time. I guess this place is ultimately about the coffee. It’s a big deal in this café and the baristas do their own artwork. Personally, what matters for me is the quality of the café not this frivolous crap, and I have to say the quality of the coffee is very very good in this place. My wife on the other hand loved the bird or whatever it was they put on her flat white. She told me not to be such a grump when the staff are clearly making an effort to liven up your day.

If you’re after some spectacular coffee art, come on down to Penelope to see what they have to offer! Not only are they presented lovely, but the coffee itself is delicious!
Penelope have a large menu to choose from, including a special menu at the back for those who are health conscious. The photo I uploaded is a tofu salad in the top right corner. I decided to be ‘healthy’ but it was certainly a good choice! To finish off I made my way to their cabinet and enjoyed a scrumptious carrot cake! DELICIOUS!
Penelope’s great as they want to give you the ultimate dining experience by allowing you to sit down and relax then pay at the end. Unlike other cafes who rush you through the ordering process.
Definitely make your way to Penelope to be swept of your feet with the amazing coffee art waiting you for.
Check out their facebook page

Regrettably, I left Penelope, if not exactly miffed, then not completely satisfied either. The staff seemed very friendly and eager to be of assistance. We even shared a small chuckle together.
But all the smaller things together culminated in an perfectly blasé mood when I left. No delicious cakes were on offer to tempt me. My espresso was served in tulip cup. It seemed exceptionally short. (Thankfully it wasn’t affected by the droll coffee art that seems to be their selling point.) The outdoor seating looks like it doubles as a bus stop for locals. The entire café has such a clinical look to it I thought I was in an airport.
Unfortunately, there is about as much character here as Lady Penelope in Thunderbirds.

Whenever I am in Parnell, Penelope is one of my favourite places to come for coffee. The owner is usually in and is very friendly, as are all the staff. Penelope is a full table service café and the food and coffee are both fantastic. Usually I have the fruit salad or a salad created specially to cater to my veganism and the kitchen staff are more than happy to cater to specific dietary requirements.
One of the cool things about Penelope is the coffee art. Each time I have come with a flat white drinking friend I would marvel at the fantastic coffee art. This is not your usual hearts and ferns but cute cats, bears and even once an angry bird! The atmosphere is light and breezy too, one of the best cafes in Parnell without a doubt.
They do not have a website but they do have a Facebook page