The basis for any great sandwich is great bread, and it’s no wonder many of the eateries on this list bake their own bread in-house, or consider bread their main specialty.
Once the bread has been perfected, an exemplary sandwich needs texture — either through the clever layering of ingredients,
Amano bakery
Amano’s bakery is a favourite with the downtown crowd for its freshly baked bread, pastries, slices, baked goods and takeaway coffee. The sandwiches are worth a visit alone, made from bread crafted in-house daily. If you’re keen to throw caution to the wind, opt for the spicy fried chicken sandwich, made with housemade pide buns, pickled red onion, and heaving with juicy fried chicken. If you want to get some work done after eating your sandwich, a lighter choice is the vegetarian sandwich on a pide bun, with chargrilled capsicum, gem lettuce and the best combination of sauces: vegan aioli, onion jam, hummus and olive tapenade. Did we mention it has provolone cheese too? Enjoy toasted or fresh — but we all know toasted is better.
Coffee: Allpress
Address: 66-68, Tyler St, Britomart Place.
Caffeteria Allpress
Allpress Espresso’s Drake St roastery is where it all began for the coffee brand that launched in 1986 and now has outposts in London, Tokyo, Sydney and Melbourne. At each location, coffee is the heart and soul of the offering, the beans hot-air roasted to create a unique flavour profile that its devoted drinkers love. Freemans Bay’s Caffeteria Allpress is home to the roastery, an art studio and cafe (open Monday to Friday), where you can sample Allpress’ Espresso Blend, Browns Mill Organic and A.R.T Espresso Roast, but it’s also the place for a reliable sandwich. The cabinet is piled high with options, usually foccacia, rye and sourdough styles, that get toasted to perfection and served on a metal plate. The team change up the flavour combinations but always on the menu is the tuna, olive, egg and artichoke sandwich on sourdough — which comes together with a light mayo, and when toasted the filling oozes out the gaps in the bread onto the hot plate, creating little crispy pockets. Another failsafe is the Reuben with corned beef and sauerkraut on fennel seed-infused rye. The little Tramezzini on white bread with provolone, cheddar and chives is a nice snack sandwich and the chicken and fennel on ciabatta has crisp clean flavours when you want to keep it simple.
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Address: 8 Drake St, Freemans Bay
Fort Greene
Fort Greene’s Liam Fox and Andrea Mulhausen are passionate sandwich people, who believe any meal can be made into a sandwich and is probably the better for it. Amen to that. Their Karangahape Rd bakery and cafe specialises in sourdough, Vienesse-style pastries like croissants and pain au chocolate, and sandwiches. “I’ve always loved being in kitchens but I felt I wasn’t going to be doing it forever until I started baking sourdough,” Liam told Viva. “It got under my skin and made me realise this is what I want to be doing for the rest of my life.” As for those sandwiches, it’s a tight edit of tried-and-true favourites like the Grilled Cheese, which mixes four cheeses with pickles on Fort Greene country sourdough. Try it Italian-style with Napolitano source and parmesan, or with homemade kimchi. We’ve always been partial to The Fish One, which nestles kahawai fish fingers, mushy peas and tartare sauce between Fort Green’s New York rye bread.
Coffee: People’s Coffee
Address: 327 Karangahape Rd, central city
Glorias
From Emma Ogilvie and Nick Landsman of Bar Céleste, Gloria’s is a bakery and sandwich shop serving a rotating menu of fresh and toasted sandwiches in what Emma describes as a modern take on the classic Kiwi bakery. It’s moved from its original location on Karangahape Road to a purpose-built spot on the ground floor of Commercial Bay that’s usually flanked by a fast-moving queue. “We’ve taken inspiration from our backgrounds and travels,” says Emma. “It’s a bit New York bodega where you can get a bagel or a Reuben, as well as a bit London caff.” The sandwich menu changes often but includes untoasted sandwiches on freshly made focaccia — like the chicken coronation sando, or the butternut and burrata sandwich, or the tuna salad sandwich — and toasted sandwiches like a mushroom melt, a tuna melt, a chicken and cheese and a salt beef sandwich, plus a rotating special. There’s also pizza by the slice available and a sandwich of the day.
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Address: Commercial Bay Ground Floor/ 7 Queen Street, Central City.
Florets
Known for its organic, nutrient-filled sourdough loaves made with wholegrain flour, Florets is not only a bakery but a great spot for a sandwich, with a light-filled dining space above the Grey Lynn bakery. It gets extra points for its inventive and interesting flavour combinations, like the Fennel Salami ($14) which heroes handmade salami from The Grey Lynn butcher next door, marinated banana blossom, olives and rocket; and the Spiced Cauliflower ($14) which pairs roasted cauli with a date and walnut salsa, radicchio, mizuna and chilli mayo. Florets is owned by Maya Handley, whose love of bread is evident in every loaf — and sandwich. “We use seasonal local produce so that all the raw ingredients have great flavour in their own right and organic where possible,” says Maya. Florets’ sandwiches also benefit from housemade pickles and marinades, fresh herbs and seasonal produce. “We also use fresh organic greens in most sandwiches to add brightness and crunch. Plus we house-make all our own mayonnaise, salsas and relishes for the best flavour and freshness.” The team has introduced toasted sandwiches to the menu including one made with Organic Danbo and mozzarella cheese, pear, onion, and mustard on whole-wheat sandwich sourdough, with a pickle on the side.
Coffee: Flight
Address: 596 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn
Daily Bread
With six outposts in Auckland, Daily Bread is one of our most prolific bakeries and yet the standard has remained high, with a commitment to using fresh ingredients. All its bread is slow-fermented and naturally leavened using organic and spray-free local ingredients (where possible). The core sandwich selection is pleasingly simple and a classic combination we can’t look past is the ham and cheese baguette with a smattering of orange mustard glaze. Also notable is the Bostock chicken bun with crispy chicken skin and gravy. Daily Bread often has sandwich and toastie specials on the menu (the corn and habanero toastie was particularly good) — look out for them in-store. Serving Supreme, we’ve never had a disappointing coffee from Daily Bread.
Coffee: Supreme
Address: Various
Farro
This suggestion might seem a little out of leftfield since it’s a supermarket chain, but there are some decent sandwich options at Farro. A relative newcomer is the vegetarian stack in a brioche bun combining grilled halloumi with smoky eggplant, capsicum and rocket (as a side note: it’d be nice to see more flavour combinations for vegetarians that don’t involve capsicum or eggplant, but here we are). The ham and cheese Ficelle on a fresh baguette with pickles is also a solid option, just make sure it’s properly stacked with ham. The fried chicken sandwich with pickles and slaw on brioche is great, and an underrated hero is the little chicken club on white bread with fresh slices of cucumber and rocket. This paired with coffee is the ideal morning tea. Farro staff can toast any sandwich for you too.
Coffee: Various
Address: Various
Cheese on Toast
Steve Kennedy and Yang Yang opened Cheese on Toast in Three Kings in 2019 with a simple philosophy — to serve great toast, toasties and coffee. Working with housemade sourdough, their toastie menu is simple yet delicious, the Just Cheese combining vintage gouda, Maasdam and parmesan; the Creamed Corn elevating a Kiwi classic with housemade creamed corn and capsicum salsa; and the Bacon Jam a medley of caramelised onion jam and crispy bacon (these last two toasties were even named in Auckland’s 100 Iconic Eats list). Mmmm. The fact they opened a second outpost in Birkenhead on the North Shore shows the formula works. Keep an eye on their Instagram for new specials, everything from eggs Benedict toasties, to pepper steak and cheese.
Coffee: Eight Thirty
Address: 931b Mt Eden Rd, Three Kings. 96 Hinemoa St, Birkenhead
Federal Deli
Think Federal Deli, think the chicken salad sandwich, and we couldn’t not include it in an Auckland sandwich roundup. It’s been a favourite with diners since Al Brown opened this American-style diner 10 years ago. Of course, Federal Deli has a dedicated sandwich and bagel menu, comprising some of its famous sandwiches like the Reuben with pastrami, sauerkraut, mustard and Russian dressing, and the fish hoagie, which is battered fish with slaw and mayo in a soft, white, hot dog-style bun. But that chicken sandwich is a thing of beauty, combining shredded rotisserie chicken (you can watch the chickens roasting behind the kitchen counter) with finely chopped red onion and mayo, iceberg lettuce and delicious crispy chicken skin. The best part? There’s gravy on the side for dipping into. Ask for it toasted with cheese — you’re welcome.
Coffee: Supreme or Good Joe filter coffee (no, there is no espresso machine at Federal Deli)
Address: 86 Federal St, Central City
Dedwood Deli
There aren’t many eateries in Auckland dedicated to sandwiches, so we appreciate the efforts of Dedwood Deli, which is all about the sammy, from hot and toasted, to fresh and breakfast-friendly. This Ponsonby Rd spot bakes its own bread, makes its own sauces and cures its own meats for its sourdough and focaccia sandwiches. Highlights from the ‘hot sandwich’ menu include the Chimi’ Steak, which is slices of medium-rare sirloin with a chimichurri dressing, three cheeses and tomato chipotle relish. The New York Reuben stars Dedwood’s slow-cooked pastrami with cheese, sauerkraut, McClure’s pickles and Russian dressing. If you prefer your sandwiches fresh, there’s a mozzarella and prosciutto number to enjoy. To avoid queues, you can order your sandwich online for pick up.
Coffee: Kokako
Address: 2/106 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby
Coffee Pen
Yas and Fumi Hisai’s much-loved local cafe in Eden Terrace has a cabinet brimming with home-cooked treats like tarts, pies and pastries. They specialise in old-school hot food like lasagne, macaroni and cheese, quiche and pies. It’s the kind of comforting food that makes winter that little bit more bearable. As for the sandwiches, those are excellent too with flavour combinations that change with the mood of the kitchen, their specials often posted on Coffee Pen’s Instagram stories that day. Standout sandwiches of late have been a roast chicken sandwich with smashed peas and pickled onion on soft brown bread. The Reuben is packed with corned beef and red cabbage sauerkraut that are both made in-house, as well as English mustard and cheddar cheese on rye bread. The coffee is very good, with Yas’ extensive experience as a barista, made with Coffee Pen’s own specialty blend.
Coffee: Coffee Pen’s own specialty coffee
Address: 6 Basque Rd, Eden Terrace
Hare and the Turtle
Come for the sandwiches, stay for the cream doughnuts. New Windsor’s dedicated sandwich spot Hare and the Turtle is a sweet neighbourhood cafe with a killer selection of sammies. The Eggplant Parm is a firm favourite with panko-crumbed eggplant fried to perfection and teamed with provolone cheese, basil, mayo and housemade tomato sauce on a toasted bun. This sandwich gets extra points for being easy to eat, with its great ratio of ingredients to bun. You can’t go past the Daisy, with slow-cooked beef, pickled onion and burger sauce brought together with melty Edam cheese on sourdough. As for those doughnuts, they have pride of place in the Hare and the Turtle cabinet, with rotating special editions like banoffee, cinnamon, rhubarb and classic cream-filled with jam.
Coffee: Supreme
Address: 1/63 New Windsor Rd, New Windsor
Bodega Deli & Bistro
Occupying a prime position on the corner of Ponsonby Rd and Williamson Ave, Bodega is a new deli and bistro from the team at Parade burgers — longtime friends Bryan Anderson, Sean Bone and Nick Furry. Bodega is your new home for coffee, sandwiches, pastries and a selection of take-home goods, as well as a made-to-order lunch menu of American-Italian-inspired sandwiches on housemade bread.
The sandwiches (and pastries) were inspired by the trio’s trips overseas with flavour combos you’d find in a NYC deli like the French dip baguette, filled with braised beef and onion jus, provolone and horseradish cream, served with a cup of jus/gravy for dipping; the vodka chicken, which is crumbed chicken with a creamy vodka tomato sauce and mozzarella; and a mortadella sando with olive tapenade, rocket and mozzarella. Bodega is also serving beer and wine into the evening from Wednesday to Sunday in September.
Coffee: Allpress
Address: 86 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby
Beau Deli
Beau Deli opened in May 2024, helmed by the team from Beau wine bar, offering a range of sandwiches, salads, treats and pantry items. The shelves are stocked with The Wild Fermentary sauerkraut, Hands Down corn tortillas, green olives, Allpress coffee, olive oil and cookbooks. In the cabinet there are housemade salads and sandwiches, from tuna melts to Reubens, prepared by Beau’s team of chefs and on the counter you’ll find baked goods like brownies, cinnamon scrolls, cookies and hazelnut croissants. Coffee is a focus too, with Allpress coffee available to take away or enjoy at one of the streetside tables. Beau Deli occupies the space once held by Lord Ponsonby’s Deli in the 90s; a nice 360 moment for Ponsonby’s hospitality history.
Coffee: Allpress Address: 267 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby
Phone: (09) 218 5137
Pastrami & Rye
A deli, coffee shop and takeaway spot in Ellerslie specialising in - you guessed in - pastrami and rye sandwiches, Pastrami & Rye is inspired by a classic New York Deli, where the staff wear a uniform of a white shirt, bow tie, apron and a cheesecutter hat. The sandwiches are “American style” sandos pressed or grilled to order, with 100g of house-cured and smoked pastrami per sandwich guaranteed, plus housemade pickles and preserves. Some standouts include the Reuben, the meatball sub and the bacon and egg breakfast bun. Sweets are focus here too, with the doughnuts, cheesecake and cookies pretty irresistible.
Coffee: Supreme
Address: 112 Main Highway, Ellerslie
Do you have a favourite sandwich spot in Auckland we should know about? Email us at viva@nzherald.co.nz.
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