Florets

Maya Handley learned how to bake bread while living in New York, and founded sourdough delivery service Kōpiko in Auckland in 2020. Kōpiko is no longer running, but it built a loyal following and led to Handley's bakery and cafe Florets, which opened in 2021.

Florets is a homely space in the Grey Lynn shops, with loaves and pastries lining the window and a few small tables out the front. Head up the stairs at the back of the counter to the brown-walled dining room on the first floor. It’s a peaceful space with beautiful light that streams in through the window overlooking Great North Road.

Handley’s philosophy revolves around making tasty, highly nutritious loaves using organic, spray-free, New Zealand-grown grain. Florets’ loaves are all 100 per cent wholegrain, holding onto that good fibre, vitamins and minerals. From seeded rye to focaccia, oat loaves and poppyseed morning buns, it’s all satisfyingly flavoursome.

As well as takeaway bread, you can also order various sandwiches to eat in, with fillings such as fennel fish salad, capers, onion and cabbage; or danbo cheese with house-made green apple relish. There are always a couple of open-faced toasts with toppings, and sweets such as rye, sea salt and dark chocolate cookies, or seasonal teacakes.

Freya de Beer Smith of Pomona Deli creates many of the menu’s fillings and toppings, and you can grab her jars of handmade, organic condiments from the fridge. To drink, there’s Flight coffee, a few boutique teas, and freshly pressed orange juice.