Meet Your Neighbour: La Buvette
A new café has opened its doors on Richmond Road, bringing with it a distinctly local approach to hospitality.
La Buvette is the latest venture from Romain & Bertrand, who together launched Bare Wines located on Brown Street in Ponsonby during the Covid years. What began as importing wine from a Kingsland garage gradually evolved into Brown Street’s much-loved wine space. As that chapter approaches its conclusion in July, the duo saw an opportunity to create something new while staying true to the neighbourhood that had supported them from the beginning.
Enter La Buvette
The name La Buvette references the kind of neighbourhood where people might stop for a morning coffee, read the paper, catch up with friends, enjoy a glass of wine after work, or simply spend time together.
That sense of locality is a recurring theme throughout our conversation. Having moved to Auckland from Lyon in 2014, Romain quickly fell in love with the area’s community spirit. He believes Grey Lynn offers something increasingly rare in a growing city: a genuine neighbourhood feel. “Other suburbs can have high expectations. Grey Lynn is full of families that have been here for generations.” Then, laughing, he offers an analogy: “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and the tree isn’t on top of the hill, so the apple doesn’t fall far.”
In other words, people tend to stay. They grow up here, move a few streets away, raise families of their own and remain connected to the area. “It’s a village in a city.” That local focus has shaped almost every decision at La Buvette. From the operating hours to the atmosphere, the goal is not to become a late-night destination, but a neighbourhood gathering place. “We’re here for early mornings and early dinners. At 10pm, merci and à bientôt.” Romain says with a smile.
Built Around Community
The café is currently operating Wednesday to Saturday from 7am – 2:30pm, with plans to extend into evening service once its liquor licence is approved. Even then, Romain & Bertrand are determined to keep the focus on being a family-friendly local venue that respects the surrounding neighbourhood. “We want to be the new local.”
Inside, visitors will find more than coffee and pastries. Carefully curated throughout the space are works from the personal collection of local artist Chris Corson-Scott, featuring photographs of Grey Lynn and Ponsonby spanning the decades. The artwork, alongside the lighting and interior details, will continue to evolve over time. For the duo, that’s intentional. They want La Buvette to feel alive. “A place of life, a place where people are happy to stay.”
Now in Richmond Road
Already, the venue is beginning to settle into its role within the neighbourhood. Parents stop in for coffee before the school run. Locals linger over croissants. Friends gather around tables to play cards and catch up. It’s these everyday moments that Romain & Bertrand hope will define La Buvette in the years ahead. As for the future? Romain is excited by the opportunity to continue growing alongside the community. His long-term ambition is simple. “To become a Grey Lynner.”
Follow La Buvette
Instagram: @labuvettebybarewine
Photography by: Eugene In and Yuki (@7.30_y)