The Botanist

I like this place, interesting are menu which change often, a little Japanese fusion with café style? Food is good and very lovely seatings indoor and outdoor, I ordered a smoked salmon with cheese waffle, so yum! And my partner had a soba with duck egg. I wouldn’t recommend their smoothies though, not the best.

What better way to sip your warm frothy drink than surrounded by gorgeous flowers everywhere?
I ordered the ginger latte because it piqued my interest. It was definitely a good call! I’ve been craving another ever since. To eat I just had fruit bread with apricot jam. It was tasty, but I mean it’s just toast so no big deal here.
I wish their menu had a few more options, especially in the under $ 18 price range, as I wasn’t in the mood for a pricey breakfast.
The staff was so friendly. As I sat down on the world’s comfiest bench seat, I plugged my charger in, noticed it wasn’t charging, and the food runner caught my eye and turned on the power for that outlet just for me! This place definitely buzzes with people in and out from the surrounding businesses, but it still maintains a quiet atmosphere so you can hold a conversation or read a book. I’d like to go back for another ginger latte and to try one of their larger breakfast options!

The Botanist as its name implies, it’s also a florist. So you can eat and pick up some pretty bunches to take home. It’s part of the City Works Depot, which also houses a few other eateries including Food Truck Garage, Best Ugly Bagels and Odettes.
The menu has sweet offerings such as waffles to inventive savoury options including the breakfast ramen (63 degree duck egg, bacon dashi, soba noodles), smoked fish and herb omelette with caper gremolata) and breakfast salad (bacon, mushrooms, croutons, tomato, onion, rocket and egg). My friend and I both ordered the potato and cheddar waffle with mushrooms and Haloumi which was nice but I found the waffle more like a hash cake and quite dry.
The service was very friendly and quick but then it was not busy when we went. Overall, we love this set-​up especially in Summer as they open it all up.

Great little tapas bar/​florist combo. Facing the afternoon sun, it’s a perfect spot to catch up with friends at the end of the day. There’s no table service, so head inside and order drinks at the bar. Small menu of tapas-​style food including ‘Breville toasties’, which I can only imagine is a toastie sandwich made in a Breville sandwich maker? Never mind, will order one next time. Liked the lush vertical gardens and floral displays. Put this on the list for easy after work drinks or lazy Sunday afternoons.

Although today was just for drinks in the evening sunshine, I’ve been here for brunch and had their pancakes too. A good spot for the former, especially in the summer. The wine list is small but perfectly formed from an array of NZ vineyards. The dinner menu has been replaced with a tapas menu and the brunch pancakes have now morphed into sweet and savory waffles that look worthwhile. The flowers are pretty and all for sale, but like them, the Botanist is changing with the seasons and still trying to figure out exactly what it wants to become.

The Botanist is a beautiful new café hidden in Shed 13 — The City Works Depot. Its a shared café with a florist hence the name.
This place I’m a bit unsure of. The décor is warm with soft tones and comfortable seating. Newly opened a month or two ago its set up is a bit confusing. There is no table service so you order up at the counter and can choose from the options on the deli bench. However there are also items on the wall menu which is made from their kitchen that can be ordered. The staff member we spoke to was friendly but unsure on what he was telling us on each question we asked, and when he was confirming with the another staff member she ignored him — Strange or Rude?
Anyway I opted for the pizza of the day which was $ 8 and had a side salad which was $ 5. My friend chose the lamb which then you could pick a selection of salads for the sides. BTW we went for lunch, they also do dinner from Weds-​Fri.
We both agreed for the price we paid it prob wasn’t quite the best value for money. The pizza slice I ordered wasn’t really heated up so it was difficult to eat the base which was a shame because the flavours were there! My friends lamb plate all up was $ 16 and from the pic you can see you should expect a bit more for that price. A great positive were the drinks! Both tasted really good and were $ 7ea, which seams to be the rough standard price in Auckland now. Also the barista is quick as he whipped the drinks out soon after we sat down to eat.
Tbh I think they just need to tweak bits and pieces which may come in time because there is great potential with such a beautiful setup.
Rating
Food: 6.5÷10
Service: ⁶⁄₁₀
Value for Money: Average
Shed 13, City Works Depot
90 Wellesley St W, Auckland
Opening Hours:
Mon-​Tues 7am-​4pm
Weds-​Fri 7am-​Late
Sat-​Sun 8am-​3pm

Lunched here today for the first time with my son, my daughter-​in-​law and baby granddaughter.
Collectively, we ordered a variety salad at $ 9.50, a pork wrap at $ 10.00, and a chicken coq au vin risotto at $ 16.00.
Everything was quite tasty but at a total cost of around $ 35.00, it just wasn’t good enough value for money imo, for what we received. And the serving sizes weren’t too big either.
I guess it’s ok for a quick lunch time meal for young busy city workers.
But for me, it’s a big «no no»!!

A great addition to the City Works Depot area! The florist part is beautiful and has some interesting arrangements and pre-​made vases and displays that would be a beautiful gift.
The café was super busy at lunch time and they have one big table in their seating area which had a group of 10 at it, which looked like fun for a group dining experience.
We sat along the bar seats which looks out the window, great if it’s sunny — plus they have a few outdoor tables too.
I had the savoury waffles with haloumi and mushrooms, my friend had the waffles with salmon and capers. We both loved our meals! A decent portion and so tasty!
Coffee by Allpress was delicious.
Service was quick, friendly and rather relaxed, in a good way.
We ended with a fresh juice, they have a juicer and several fruit options on offer. The staff recommended pear & mandarin, not something I’d usually try but it was yummy and did the trick after feeling a bit worse for wear from the night before ;)
This place is perfect for brunch or lunch, or even a coffee catch up. I loved the presentation of their sweet treats at the counter, maybe try one of those for me!

Big bowls of delicious & nutritious salad for $ 9 — what a steal! And in City Works Depot… I’m impressed.
The Botanist is part café, part florist. The café serves salads to go or eat in as well as fresh juices and coffee. The space isn’t huge but there are also outdoor tables that get plenty of afternoon sun!
I didn’t go into the florist this time but peered in and it looked delightful. Small but delightful.
All in all a great spot for a healthy lunch at at a reasonable price.