This New Parnell Opening Specialises in Artisan Yarns and Hearty German Cuisine

Artisan yarns and hearty German stews aren't things that you'd generally throw in the same sentence, but at Parnell's newest opening — the hilariously titled Stitch & Bitch Lounge Cafe — the two come together in perfect harmony.

Named after common social knitting groups that have been operating since at least World War II, the cafe-woolshop hybrid is run by Manu Loths who was born in the baroque city of Ludwigsburg in the southwestern, Swabian region of Germany. It can be found tucked behind the main strip at 225 Parnell Road in a building that was built in the early 1900s as a bakery — the large brick oven remain.

The concise menu offers a taste of the region with a rotating selection of German-style stews and soups, pastries and cakes. Daily specials so far have included: koenigsberger klopse, a hearty dish of meatballs with creamy horseradish sauce and capers; rouladen topf, a beef stew with bacon and gherkins; and a leberkäse meatloaf roll.

Coffee is supplied by German coffee roaster, Hochland Kaffee Hunzelmann, which was founded in 1925 and offers high quality Costa Rican beans. Pulling it all together is a Black Eagle coffee machine from Atomic. They're also in the process of working on a liquor license.

The second part of the opening is the Stitch & Bitch Woolshop which offers hand dyed New Zealand wool, gradient yarns from Bulgaria and Germany, knitting and crochet accessories, and lots of other knitting and crochet goodies. Visitors are welcome to hang around and stitch (and bitch) to their heart's content.

Stitch & Bitch Lounge Cafe is open now at 225 Parnell Road. It operates from 7am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, with a late night every Wednesday until 8pm. For more information, visit stitchandbitch.co.nz.