cafes
•All cafés, bars, restaurants, and clubs are non-smoking, but some places have outside areas where smoking is allowed.
•Tipping is not expected, but it is welcomed in New Zealand.
•Some restaurants say they are BYO; this means you can “Bring Your Own” wine or beer in for a small surcharge.
•Whilst we have a lively night culture in our city, many kitchens do close by 10 pm.
•We recommend you call ahead or book online to book a table especially from Thurs – Sat.
•There are a couple of completely vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Wellington, but most eateries cater to vegetarians and vegans.
A shared and cosy cafe, frequented by beautiful ladies for the exquisite cakes.
9 abantu bendawo batusa
Tomboy
21 Majoribanks StA shared and cosy cafe, frequented by beautiful ladies for the exquisite cakes.
Lots of great gluten-free and vegetarian food and amazing coffee.
13 abantu bendawo batusa
Deluxe Cafe
10 Kent TerraceLots of great gluten-free and vegetarian food and amazing coffee.
Beachside cafe serving brunch, burgers, elevated mains, tiki cocktails & more in a retro atmosphere.
22 abantu bendawo batusa
Beach Babylon
232 Oriental ParadeBeachside cafe serving brunch, burgers, elevated mains, tiki cocktails & more in a retro atmosphere.
Customs by Coffee Supreme
39 Ghuznee StExcellent coffee
Counter Culture Board Game Cafe & Bar
211 Victoria StBoardgame café and bar; self-explanatory; eat and play games.
Iconic Wellington café with great coffee, vegetarian, and vegan options.
73 abantu bendawo batusa
Fidel's Cafe
234 Cuba StIconic Wellington café with great coffee, vegetarian, and vegan options.
Funky beach cafe offering a menu of New Zealand classics & vegan fare, plus wine & beer.
129 abantu bendawo batusa
Maranui Cafe
7A Lyall ParadeFunky beach cafe offering a menu of New Zealand classics & vegan fare, plus wine & beer.
Restaurants
book ahead
Wellington's tallest and largest rooftop venue serves fresh natural food using greenery and floral note infusions.
18 abantu bendawo batusa
The Arborist Rooftop Bar
166 Willis StWellington's tallest and largest rooftop venue serves fresh natural food using greenery and floral note infusions.
WBC
107 Victoria StYummy shared plates specialising in seafood
Chow Tory
45 Tory StAsian Fusion
The best in innovative & organic plant-based cuisine to the stunning south coast of Wellington
45 abantu bendawo batusa
The Botanist
219 Onepu RdThe best in innovative & organic plant-based cuisine to the stunning south coast of Wellington
El Culo Del Mundo
2 Roxburgh StA Fun Latin American Bar
Thai Chef's Restaurant Wellington
1 Blair StreetExcellent Thai!
Fine dining
reservations essential- Haikai recommends 12 weeks
Hiakai, is one of the most unique dining experiences in Wellington. The Māori-Samoan chef is one of the hottest stars of the New Zealand culinary scene right now, partly thanks to her starring role in the award-winning Netflix cooking show.
Bookings at least 12 weeks in advance.
HIAKAI
40 Wallace StHiakai, is one of the most unique dining experiences in Wellington. The Māori-Samoan chef is one of the hottest stars of the New Zealand culinary scene right now, partly thanks to her starring role in the award-winning Netflix cooking show.
Bookings at least 12 weeks in advance.
Ortega
16 Majoribanks Stis a must-go-to seafood restaurant, simply delicious!
Charley Noble
1 Post Office SquareThey have something delicious for everyone.
Hippopotamus Restaurant & Cocktail Bar
90 Cable StBest French in Wellington
Whitebait
1 Clyde Quay WharfOne of Wellingtons Best Seafood Degustation Restaurants.
Shed 5
Queens Wharf Delicious pacific cuisine.
pubs
Laid-back craft beer bar featuring a dog-friendly grassy area with bean bags & regular live music.
46 abantu bendawo batusa
The Rogue & Vagabond
18 Garrett StLaid-back craft beer bar featuring a dog-friendly grassy area with bean bags & regular live music.
Great garden courtyard- Xena's favorite pub.
51 abantu bendawo batusa
Southern Cross Garden Bar Restaurant
39 Abel Smith StGreat garden courtyard- Xena's favorite pub.
Little Beer Quarter
6 Edward StWellington's beer geek heaven. Our Favorite pub
Takeaway & cheap eats
Lucky
105 Courtenay PlFried chicken, done right. Burgers, poppers, and fries.
Best Chinese Food, Excellent roast duck.- My Favorite cheap eat.
9 abantu bendawo batusa
K C Cafe & Takeaway
39A Courtenay PlBest Chinese Food, Excellent roast duck.- My Favorite cheap eat.
Big Thumb Chinese Restaurant
9 Allen StA weekend lunchtime favorite for Dim Sum/Yum Cha
Nam D
63 Tory StVietnamese lunchtime deliciousness, reigning champs of the city's best bánh mì and salads.
Tommy Millions
103 Courtenay Pl The nicest slice in town
The BEST! Take away wood-fired pizza from Naples-raised chef Massimo, who prides himself on authentic and delicious Italian pizza.
20 abantu bendawo batusa
Pizza Pomodoro
13 Leeds StThe BEST! Take away wood-fired pizza from Naples-raised chef Massimo, who prides himself on authentic and delicious Italian pizza.
Mt Vic Chippery
5 Majoribanks StSeriously moreish Kiwi fush and chups.
Little Penang
179 Victoria StBy far the most authentic lunchtime Malaysian.
Genghis Khan
25 Majoribanks StMongolian BBQ Resturant, All you can eat for $23
The best homemade burgers in town, the sort of fare that warms your body and soul.
21 abantu bendawo batusa
Ekim Burgers
257 Cuba StThe best homemade burgers in town, the sort of fare that warms your body and soul.
Malaysian vegetarian food with lots of vegan options.
21 abantu bendawo batusa
Aunty Mena's Vegetarian Restaurant & Cafe
167 Cuba StMalaysian vegetarian food with lots of vegan options.
Cocktail Bars
More speakeasy than a bar or public library, it's fitting that they haven't skimped on the reading material, let alone the booze.
83 abantu bendawo batusa
The Library
53 Courtenay PlMore speakeasy than a bar or public library, it's fitting that they haven't skimped on the reading material, let alone the booze.
Crumpet on Manners Street is a quaint café / bar and quite possibly Wellington's best-kept secret.
13 abantu bendawo batusa
Crumpet
109 Manners StCrumpet on Manners Street is a quaint café / bar and quite possibly Wellington's best-kept secret.
Colorful, side-by-side cottages with a hip, throwback Latin vibe.
A haven for lovers of great food, drinks, and music.
81 abantu bendawo batusa
Havana Bar
34 Wigan StColorful, side-by-side cottages with a hip, throwback Latin vibe.
A haven for lovers of great food, drinks, and music.
it's a place where you'd expect to find well-dressed individuals congregating to discuss the ...
53 abantu bendawo batusa
Hawthorn Lounge
82 Tory Stit's a place where you'd expect to find well-dressed individuals congregating to discuss the ...
Hip lounge bar that serves craft beers, toasted sandwiches, tasty tacos and damn fine burgers.
41 abantu bendawo batusa
Laundry
240 Cuba StHip lounge bar that serves craft beers, toasted sandwiches, tasty tacos and damn fine burgers.
Supermarkets & Food Markets
Moore Wilson's
College StreetFresh produce market, gourmet deli, and specialist foods
New World Wellington City
279 Wakefield StLarge local supermarket, near Oriental Parade
If you are staying on a Friday or Saturday evening the Wellington Night Market is a weekly celebration of cuisine, culture, and creativity on Cuba Street.
Wellington Saturday Night Market
Cuba StreetIf you are staying on a Friday or Saturday evening the Wellington Night Market is a weekly celebration of cuisine, culture, and creativity on Cuba Street.
Sunday Market - Victoria Street
204 Victoria StLots of fresh fruit and veg.
Harbourside Market Wellington
Cable StreetFood trucks and lots of fresh produce.