The Pah Café

Located inside Monte Cecilia Park is this beautiful building, The Pah Homestead.  Gorgeous huh?  This building is actually not very far from where I currently live; Simon and I discovered it on our way home one day when I asked if we could head up the driveway for Monte Cecilia Park to take a look. 

Here’s a bit of history about the building for you… the place was built between 1877 and 1879 for Auckland businessman, James Williamson as his ‘gentleman’s residence’.  After he died in 1888, the homestead was leased to the Anglican church and was used as a school.  In 1913, the Sisters of Mercy and The Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, Henry Cleary purchased the homestead.

I took Courtenay here for brunch one day and she had actually been here before when she was younger as her school used it for retreats.  In 2002 the Auckland Council purchased the homestead and began an extensive restoration.  The building was opened to the public in August of 2010 and now houses an art gallery and café.  The café offers a pretty standard menu with nothing out of the ordinary, but does have quite a delicious looking selection of goodies in their cabinet.

If the weather is nice when you visit, take full advantage of the sun and sit out on the large wrap-around veranda out the back.  The homestead has some great views of Auckland and is surrounded by beautiful park grounds (apparently over 15 ha in fact).  It is the perfect setting to enjoy the cafés tea and scones.

The Homestead can also be hired as a venue for functions such as conferences, meetings and weddings.  You can see more pictures and find out more information about the park and homestead on the Auckland Council’s website and check out the café’s menu on The Pah café’s website.

The Pah Café
72 Hillsborough Road, Hillsborough, Auckland, New Zealand
Opening hours: Tuesday – Friday 10am-3pm, Saturday 10am-5pm
www.pahcafe.co.nz