Guidebook for Wellington
Shopping
This is just around the corner from our apartment and is kind of like a fresh farmers' market of all the best, locally sourced, fresh goodies of the season. It includes fish, meat, vegetables, baking, coffee, cheeses, etc. It is our "go to" place for ingredients to use in that fabulous kitchen.
The bottle store next door has a wonderful selection of local beer and wine, if you're looking for the perfect tipple to have on the deck.
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Moore Wilson's
College StreetThis is just around the corner from our apartment and is kind of like a fresh farmers' market of all the best, locally sourced, fresh goodies of the season. It includes fish, meat, vegetables, baking, coffee, cheeses, etc. It is our "go to" place for ingredients to use in that fabulous kitchen.
The bottle store next door has a wonderful selection of local beer and wine, if you're looking for the perfect tipple to have on the deck.
Small Acorns stocks amazing home decor, gifts and treats for your home. From unique jewelry, colourful fabrics, beautiful objects, bed linen, cushions, etc. It's a very unique store with a collection of items sourced by its very talented owner.
Small Acorns
Small Acorns stocks amazing home decor, gifts and treats for your home. From unique jewelry, colourful fabrics, beautiful objects, bed linen, cushions, etc. It's a very unique store with a collection of items sourced by its very talented owner.
Quirky, vintage, retro and definitely unique, a browse through this wonderful eclectic array of things will make you feel like you've stumbled across a store from a bygone era.
Brown & Co
253a Wakefield StQuirky, vintage, retro and definitely unique, a browse through this wonderful eclectic array of things will make you feel like you've stumbled across a store from a bygone era.
When you feel like indulging in new shoes, this delightful little shop will surprise you with its unique range and quality. sigh ....
Shoezies
247 Wakefield StWhen you feel like indulging in new shoes, this delightful little shop will surprise you with its unique range and quality. sigh ....
Actually, all along college street are some interesting wee shops with very unique offerings; interiors; design; books; clothes and unusual spots - worth a stroll.
Miss Wong Clothier
14 College StActually, all along college street are some interesting wee shops with very unique offerings; interiors; design; books; clothes and unusual spots - worth a stroll.
Arts & Culture
This national museum is not like a traditional museum, it's noisy and fun and full of people having a great time; and its chocka-block with fascinating stories. A great place to go to learn about NZ..
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Cable Street near Te Papa Museum
This national museum is not like a traditional museum, it's noisy and fun and full of people having a great time; and its chocka-block with fascinating stories. A great place to go to learn about NZ..
This gallery always has something interesting on show - it's generally free, sometimes challenging, and well worth a detour on your exploration. Don't miss out on Nikau cafe next door either - OMG!
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City Gallery Wellington
This gallery always has something interesting on show - it's generally free, sometimes challenging, and well worth a detour on your exploration. Don't miss out on Nikau cafe next door either - OMG!
We may be biased, because we worked on this exhibition, but here you can see the original Treaty of Waitangi and the petition to make NZ women the first in the whole world to get the vote - 25 years ahead of England!
He Tohu
70 Molesworth StWe may be biased, because we worked on this exhibition, but here you can see the original Treaty of Waitangi and the petition to make NZ women the first in the whole world to get the vote - 25 years ahead of England!
Drinks & Nightlife
Here’s a great guide to the coolest little bars, where you can get an early evening or late night cocktail. These are all very hip and worth exploring to see the “off the beaten track” side of Wellington’s night life; which is where the best fun is.
https://www.wellingtonnz.com/discover/eat-and-drink/the-best-of-guide/capital-cocktails/
This bar is a favourite, especially for cocktails made with their array of infused spirits. No matter what the day, they can make you something to make it better. I have a fond memory of a spicy buttery rum one cold winters night ....
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C.G.R. Merchant & Co.
44 Courtenay PlThis bar is a favourite, especially for cocktails made with their array of infused spirits. No matter what the day, they can make you something to make it better. I have a fond memory of a spicy buttery rum one cold winters night ....
Upstairs, and not well sign posted, this "speak easy" style bar is the perfect spot to have a quiet drink, a game of cards, or a secret rendezvous in a dark corner ....
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Hawthorn Lounge
82 Tory StUpstairs, and not well sign posted, this "speak easy" style bar is the perfect spot to have a quiet drink, a game of cards, or a secret rendezvous in a dark corner ....
This is what it says - a bar, but you're surrounded by books, little alcoves to snuggle in, and plenty of hipsters in every direction.
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The Library
53 Courtenay PlThis is what it says - a bar, but you're surrounded by books, little alcoves to snuggle in, and plenty of hipsters in every direction.
Great fun bar, and often the most excellent live jazz ....
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The Rogue & Vagabond
18 Garrett StGreat fun bar, and often the most excellent live jazz ....
Food Scene
Apart from the coffee, this cafe is well respected for its baking and bread and rightly so. A fabulous sunny brunch spot where you can pour over the newspaper or gather a rowdy crowd around a table.
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Prefab
14 Jessie StApart from the coffee, this cafe is well respected for its baking and bread and rightly so. A fabulous sunny brunch spot where you can pour over the newspaper or gather a rowdy crowd around a table.
Not unique to Wellington, but nevertheless a very handy place to get sensational modern Asian food. You can sit at the bar and have sharing plates of deliciousness, or enjoy a full meal.
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Chow Tory
45 Tory StNot unique to Wellington, but nevertheless a very handy place to get sensational modern Asian food. You can sit at the bar and have sharing plates of deliciousness, or enjoy a full meal.
Another iconic Wellington institution, just over the road, guarantees you a perfect coffee, but also great food to go with it - its child friendly and buzzing.
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Caffe L'affare
27 College StAnother iconic Wellington institution, just over the road, guarantees you a perfect coffee, but also great food to go with it - its child friendly and buzzing.
Oh gosh, this is hard, there are so many great places to eat around where we live! Floriditas should be on your list to try, lovely meals and they do brunch/lunch as well as dinner. I've taken many "out of towners" there, and they've been impressed.
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Floriditas
161 Cuba StOh gosh, this is hard, there are so many great places to eat around where we live! Floriditas should be on your list to try, lovely meals and they do brunch/lunch as well as dinner. I've taken many "out of towners" there, and they've been impressed.
Jammed into a wee cubbyhole on Courtenay Place is this wee waffle shop that you really have to try - even if you're not mad on waffles, once bitten ....
The Little Waffle Shop
53 Courtenay PlJammed into a wee cubbyhole on Courtenay Place is this wee waffle shop that you really have to try - even if you're not mad on waffles, once bitten ....
Not open every night - but this is our favourite place for fresh ingredients, highly seasonal, served up in truly interesting ways. They are so clever, and yet simple somehow. You can also get a table overlooking the kitchen if you like to watch the chef in action.
Field & Green
262 Wakefield StNot open every night - but this is our favourite place for fresh ingredients, highly seasonal, served up in truly interesting ways. They are so clever, and yet simple somehow. You can also get a table overlooking the kitchen if you like to watch the chef in action.
For the cost of a meal here, they have surprisingly good food - asian flavours, with a memorable red duck curry and roti. Book to get yourself a table by the window and you can watch Wellingtons at play below in oriental bay - best views!
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Pomelo Kitchen & Bar
232 Oriental ParadeFor the cost of a meal here, they have surprisingly good food - asian flavours, with a memorable red duck curry and roti. Book to get yourself a table by the window and you can watch Wellingtons at play below in oriental bay - best views!
For fabulous "hawker style" asian street food in a hurry, but served with a beverage! They make the best Bao buns in town and plenty of other goodies too - perfect for on your way to or from a show.
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Mr Go's
3 Taranaki StFor fabulous "hawker style" asian street food in a hurry, but served with a beverage! They make the best Bao buns in town and plenty of other goodies too - perfect for on your way to or from a show.
This is a fun, energetic foodies stop with a great bustle - you can watch the kitchen in action and the food is highly recommended!
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Shepherd
5 Eva StThis is a fun, energetic foodies stop with a great bustle - you can watch the kitchen in action and the food is highly recommended!
I love that the menu is based on what produce is available today, including what fish has been caught. Anything that seasonal wins me over. What they do with the food is honest, and flavorful.
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Ortega
16 Majoribanks StI love that the menu is based on what produce is available today, including what fish has been caught. Anything that seasonal wins me over. What they do with the food is honest, and flavorful.
Another highly seasonal spot - we discovered this during Wellington on a Plate, our annual foodies festival, last August where they created a 5 course meal I can still describe in detail!
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Highwater Eatery
54 Cuba StAnother highly seasonal spot - we discovered this during Wellington on a Plate, our annual foodies festival, last August where they created a 5 course meal I can still describe in detail!
I have to admit I wouldn’t normally recommend a vegetarian restaurant for a full degustation menu - but honestly these guys are magicians. They forage in the hills a round them for ingredients and they create spectacular food.
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Hillside Kitchen & Cellar
241 Tinakori RoadI have to admit I wouldn’t normally recommend a vegetarian restaurant for a full degustation menu - but honestly these guys are magicians. They forage in the hills a round them for ingredients and they create spectacular food.
Sister ship to Floriditas, Loretta is another place where we would drop in. There are good sharing dishes, which is always fun, and lovely fresh food and flavors
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Loretta
181 Cuba StSister ship to Floriditas, Loretta is another place where we would drop in. There are good sharing dishes, which is always fun, and lovely fresh food and flavors
There is no better place to taste local wines - they have a great selection and knowledge and will even do you a blind tasting tray to see if you can guess the wine, which is kind of fun. We’ve been to many evenings there where they do a set menu matched with a specific winery, or wine types. Very interesting, and always tasty.
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Noble Rot Wine Bar
6 Swan LnThere is no better place to taste local wines - they have a great selection and knowledge and will even do you a blind tasting tray to see if you can guess the wine, which is kind of fun. We’ve been to many evenings there where they do a set menu matched with a specific winery, or wine types. Very interesting, and always tasty.
There’s a reason this place has been around for a while, if you want a quiet, more formal dinner but delicious local food, then I’d come here.
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Capitol Restaurant
10 Kent TerraceThere’s a reason this place has been around for a while, if you want a quiet, more formal dinner but delicious local food, then I’d come here.
Definitely in the more formal end of the offerings, a special occasion place in a beautiful setting of an old bank. It’s been on the Wellington food scene for ever and just keeps getting great reviews - because it is reliably good. They still serve the Paua ravioli because no one will let them take them off the menu = delicious!
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Logan Brown Restaurant
192 Cuba StDefinitely in the more formal end of the offerings, a special occasion place in a beautiful setting of an old bank. It’s been on the Wellington food scene for ever and just keeps getting great reviews - because it is reliably good. They still serve the Paua ravioli because no one will let them take them off the menu = delicious!
Our favorite thing to do here is to sit at the table/bar overlooking the kitchen and watch service unfolding - great entertainment. If you’re hungry their wood fired porchetta is incredible.
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Charley Noble
1 Post Office SquareOur favorite thing to do here is to sit at the table/bar overlooking the kitchen and watch service unfolding - great entertainment. If you’re hungry their wood fired porchetta is incredible.
Another pre or post show offering - you can eat in the bar - waaaay out the back, or the restaurant, and they do fabulous snacks to share all Asian style and delicious.
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Dragonfly
70 Courtenay PlAnother pre or post show offering - you can eat in the bar - waaaay out the back, or the restaurant, and they do fabulous snacks to share all Asian style and delicious.
TASTE OF HOME
128 Vivian StBest hand pulled noodles EVER!
Entertainment & Activities
I don't think you can go past a walk along the waterfront at any time of the day or night. There's always things to see, people jumping into the sea from the launching spots, sculpture and poetry to find, SUP yoga happening on paddle boards, coffee and buskers and sometimes pop up events, markets and food stalls.
We always walk via the waterfront to get around the city - and keep your eyes out for stingrays etc in the water!
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Wellington Waterfront
I don't think you can go past a walk along the waterfront at any time of the day or night. There's always things to see, people jumping into the sea from the launching spots, sculpture and poetry to find, SUP yoga happening on paddle boards, coffee and buskers and sometimes pop up events, markets and food stalls.
We always walk via the waterfront to get around the city - and keep your eyes out for stingrays etc in the water!
So much to enjoy around here - the salted caramel cookies for the Leeds St Bakery, the various bars tucked away, tasting from the Wellington Chocolate Factory, Pizzas from Pomadoros, the Fix and Fogg peanut butter makers ....
Hannah Factory Laneway
Leeds StreetSo much to enjoy around here - the salted caramel cookies for the Leeds St Bakery, the various bars tucked away, tasting from the Wellington Chocolate Factory, Pizzas from Pomadoros, the Fix and Fogg peanut butter makers ....
Parks & Nature
Stroll out of the apartment and head on up Mount Victoria, where you can make like a goat and scramble up the various tracks, that all range in gradient, and be rewarded by MAGNIFICENT views of the city and harbour at the top. You can't really get lost; heading down any path will find you on your way back to the city. If you're feeling more adventurous follow the sign for a long and excellent trek around the Southern Walkway.
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Mount Victoria
Stroll out of the apartment and head on up Mount Victoria, where you can make like a goat and scramble up the various tracks, that all range in gradient, and be rewarded by MAGNIFICENT views of the city and harbour at the top. You can't really get lost; heading down any path will find you on your way back to the city. If you're feeling more adventurous follow the sign for a long and excellent trek around the Southern Walkway.
This sanctuary has been created to bring back bush and bird life in a predator free area. It’s such a beautiful place to walk ...
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ZEALANDIA Ecosanctuary
53 Waiapu RoadThis sanctuary has been created to bring back bush and bird life in a predator free area. It’s such a beautiful place to walk ...
Essentials
This is a big, busy, supermarket with everything you could need. Moore Wilson's is definitely where I would go for quality, fresh and local ingredients, but everything else grocery can be found here.
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New World Wellington City
279 Wakefield StThis is a big, busy, supermarket with everything you could need. Moore Wilson's is definitely where I would go for quality, fresh and local ingredients, but everything else grocery can be found here.