Wellington offers a bewildering choice from ethnic eateries in Courtenay Place to hot chocolate in Hannah’s Place Chocolate Factory with fine dining options as a delicious alternative. The choice becomes random and eclectic. The best bit is that eating establishments are mostly within walking distance of each other. Exercise is overrated when you simply walk from Te Aro to Thorndon. What’s a few kilometres when there is temptation every step of the way.
TE ARO
HIGH TEA @ GRACE PATISSERIE
A perennial favourite is High Tea at Grace Patisserie. The two tiered floral china platter is crafted for your social feed beautifully with cucumber sandwiches, macarons, light as air lemon meringue tart and layered cakes dusted with sugar and cream. Perfection is accompanied by coffee or a wide selection of teas. Bookings are strongly recommended.
TRY A BURGER @ EAT A DAISY
Shared plates are a great way to enjoy a meal at Daisy’s on Tinakori Rd. The neighbourhood eatery has outstanding burgers for those in rush. Savour the thought of smoked pork with apple and daikon slaw, pineapple jam and … the list goes on. The bistro is very popular with a regularly changing menu.
SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES @ HIGHWAY EATERY
Reduce, recycle and reuse is the motto of Highway Eatery with a menu created in house. The Cuba Street eatery churns butter, smokes their bacon and prepares sausages from organically grown meat. The charcoal oven is the core of the cooking style with an imaginative menu creating a local favourite drop in spot. The venue is licensed.
HANNAHS LANEWAY @ HAUNT OF FOODIE HEAVEN
Lashings located on the edge of the laneway on Dixon Street specialises in baked treats. Doughnuts with a twist, created out of sourdough and dusted with sugar and stuffed with custard are only available on the weekend. This is definitely a deal breaker for a weekend in Wellington. The range of baked biscuits is enough to overload your suitcase. Check out True Brownies, made from Baron Hasselhoff’s single-origin chocolate produced in Wellington. Brownies have other well known locals on their ingredient list including Fix & Fogg peanut butter and Jam It Fine Foods.
COURTENAY PLACE
An eclectic mix of party town with bars, nightclubs and traditional ethnic restaurants where authenticity is a menu hallmark. Nearby is Ghuznee Street with Night Flower suave cocktail staff in 1920’s attire serving classic cocktails or Choice Bros, a brewpub vibrant swirling colours a backdrop to an imaginative fusion menu complimented by an imaginative drinks menu. Think caffeinated consciousness – new release 4.5 10.5 12.5 coffee coconut porter x peoples coffee or naked in the dark x maiden brewing co. 4.5 10.5 12.5 blueberry & blackberry nitro smoothie sour – 5.5% alc./vol. There is an extensive selection to savour. Experimental brews and coffee/beer concoctions, this is the place where it happens.
Golding’s Free Dive
A Wellington gem, Golding’s Free Dive is a dog-friendly bar dedicated to craft beer. Dogs are welcome on a leash and the extensive drinks menu has something for everyone. The innovative pub serves pizza from their neighbour Pizza Pomodoro.
DISTILLERY @ DENIZEN
A world beating distillery experience in the heart of Wellington is unmissable. Taste small batch gin while admiring industrial copper pipes and equipment in plain sight. Located in Lombard Lane you do not have to go far to enjoy the spectacle of gin making.
Havana bar & restaurant
Fall in love with the colonial cottages nestled among the modern highrise buildings and enter Havana bar and restaurant. The tapas and seasonal plates are accompanied by a lively music repertoire of Spanish / Cuban inspired live entertainment. The historic cottages are usually easy to find as there is often a queue outside of those who forgot to book beforehand. Do not forget to try the exotic cocktails.
FILM MAGIC @ CoCo at Roxy’s
A suburban cafe cinema is another reason to make the trek to Wellywood (Miramar). The quirky CoCo at Roxy’s is a cinema where the food rivals the film experience. The contemporary kiwi menu setting is the secret ingredient to a leisurely lunch. Imagine a 1930’s movie theatre with a seasonal menu and award winning cocktails. The cafe is also open at night creating a great option for a romantic escape. Just around the corner is Weta Workshops, a highlight of any visit to New Zealand.
FINE DINING @ HIPPOPOTAMUS
Apart from the high tea, the superb breakfast the Hippopotamus is the perfect destination for a fine dining experience. The special moments start as you enter one of New Zealand’s premier luxury hotels with original artwork adorning the walls and extraordinary toilets decorated to an inch of their lives.
The location opposite Te Papa makes the place unmistakable, especially with an enormous hippo on the roof. The setting for the European inspired menu is flamboyant bright fuschia pink ornate seating. The scene is set for superbly prepared food and a night where you feel like royalty.
WHERE THE CHEFS SHOP @ MOORE WILSONS
Wellington has more restaurants, cafes and eateries per head of population than New York. And where do the chefs hang out. Moore Wilsons, the food wholesaler with ingredients you’ve never heard of. The marvellous wholesaler has a must-go deli where you will find the flavours of the world ready for you to pop into your handy tote. Check out the extraordinary range of homeware, food ingredients, fresh produce … you get the picture, it is an epicurean heaven.
Check out the best Wellington markets to visit.
Read more about places to visit in Wellington in our Wellington travel guide.
For more ideas about things to do in Wellington check out Wellington city guide.
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