Restaurants in Wellington
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Fidel’s
A Cuba St institution for caffeine-craving, upbeat left-wing subversives. Eggs any-which-way, pizza and amazing salads are pumped out of the itsy kitchen, along with Welly’s best milkshakes. Revolutionary memorabilia adorn the walls of the funky interior; decent outdoor areas too. A superbusy crew copes with the chaos admirably.
reviewed
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B
Flying Burrito Brothers
Let it all hang out at this lively Tex-Mex cantina. Quesadillas, tortillas, tacos and tostadas laced with avocado and chilli, plus bocaditos (small bites, like tapas) and a kids menu, too. The extensive (and informative) tequila menu and premium margaritas will give you lift-off.
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Chow
Home of the legendary blue cheese and peanut wonton, Chow is a stylish pan-Asian restaurant-cum-bar: a must visit for people who love exciting food, interesting decor, and the odd cocktail. The perfect place to share food and conversation. The hip Motel bar is adjacent.
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D
One Red Dog
A bustling, upmarket brewery pub, popular for late-night weekend drinks. On offer are gourmet pizzas, pastas, calzones and salads. Families take the early dinner sitting and young 20-somethings create a fun, upbeat atmosphere.
reviewed
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Midnight Espresso
The city’s original late-night cafe, with food that’s hearty, tasty and inexpensive – heavy on the wholesome and vegetarian. Sit in the window with Havana coffee and cake, it’s the quintessential Wellington cafe experience.
reviewed
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F
Hell
Demon gourmet pizzas are themed after all things evil for around NZ$9-NZ$17. Try the seven deadly sins range or the vegetarian 'purgatory'. Delivery available.
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G
Espressoholic
A serious supporter of coffee addiction is this grungy café, with chipped black tables and colourful graffiti art. Espressoholic keeps late hours (midnight or later), keeping punters happy with a good veggie selection, cool music and courtyard.
reviewed
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Chocolate Fish
Much is made of this café being a favourite with film stars working in Wellywood, but it's good enough without such validation. It's a colourful, quirky place in Scorching Bay, east of the city (for the scenic route, take Oriental Pde all the way around Evans Bay, a total of 13km). Sit outside right on the beach (good for swimming) and tuck into a bumper breakfast, perfect panini or hunk of cake. Expect to wait for a table on sunny weekends.
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Cafe L’Affare
Cafe L’Affare is the centre of a small empire, from which its own beans are roasted and distributed. Its Professor Brainstorm–emporium interior is a hive of activity, with speedy baristas, crowded communal tables and a disco ball. At weekends, kids aplenty add to the cacophony, but everyone adds their cheery thanks to snappy service and wicked brekkies of eggie excellence.
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Arbitrageur
The hardest thing about the chi-chi Arbitrageur experience is pronouncing the name. Everything else is terribly polished. A clever colour-coding system will help you match your meal with a drop from the extensive wine selection, and there's a menu of well-priced nibbles and meals. Live jazz Friday and Saturday night rounds off a sophisticated experience.
reviewed
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Sweet Mother’s Kitchen
Perpetually full, predominantly with young cool cats, Sweet Mother’s serves dubious takes on the Deep South, such as burritos, nachos, the po’ boys and the New Orleans muffaletta. Key lime pie is about as authentic as it gets. It’s cheap, cute, has great cakes and gets good sun.
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Floriditas
From the outside this is one of Cuba St's prettiest buildings, and the interior is just as lovely, with a charming old-world European feel helped along by white tiles, velvet drapes and leather banquettes. Quality bistro fare is the order of the day.
reviewed
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L
Café Bastille
This charmingly unpretentious French restaurant doesn't take bookings, so it's a good idea to arrive early or expect to wait for a table. There's an emphasis on local produce, an expansive wine list and knowledgeable staff. Try long-standing favourites such as coq au vin before finishing with orange-caramel crepes. If you don't love the French, you will after this meal.
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Miyabi Sushi
A steady stream of customers is testament to the satisfying food served at this low-key Japanese cafe hidden away off the main street. The smiling Mr Chuck prepares superfresh sushi, noodles, soups and set meals including teriyaki (chicken, beef or fish) with miso soup, rice and salad – delicious and great value. The gyoza (pot-sticker dumplings) are hard to pass up.
reviewed
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Logan-Brown
Located in a 1920s banking chamber, Logan-Brown oozes class without being pretentious or overly formal. This is seriously good food brought to you by the 2009 Wellingtonians of the Year, in their award-winning restaurant. Believe the hype, sample the paua ravioli – it’s been on the menu forever and a day – and peruse the epic wine list. Bookings recommended.
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Osteria del Toro
Flamboyantly decorated in a baroque style with influences from all around the Mediterranean. The menu plucks popular classics from the region in a similar fashion. Pastas, pizzas and paella sit happily alongside souvlaki, tagine and tapas. Moreish food in Moorish surrounds; this restaurant, however, doesn’t charge like a wounded bull.
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Scopa
Perfect pizza, proper pasta and other authentic Italian treats. Opened in 2006, this modern cucina is already a Wellington institution. Slick, friendly service and consistently good food make it deservedly so. Watch the groovy ‘Cubans’ from a seat in the window. Lunchtime specials; sexy evenings complete with cocktails.
reviewed
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Q
Le Métropolitain
Prepare to be transported to the heart of France by your charming hosts. Expect unpretentious bistro fare in a suitably Gallic environment. Classics are well covered and include moules, onion soup, steak frites, coq au vin and escargot (yum). Cheese or scrumptious tart and a sticky wine for dessert, anyone?
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Pravda
A classy downtown cafe (more chic restaurant by Wellington standards), scoring well with readers and folks that hand out culinary excellence awards. The opulent split-level space (styled in quasi-USSR mode) is a formal backdrop for enjoying well-assembled duck, chicken, fish and NZ lamb mains. Fantastic desserts and coffee.
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Kopi
Malaysian for 'coffee', Kopi is consistently voted the city's best Malaysian eatery, the crowds attesting to its popularity. Choose from roti chanai (flat, flaky bread dipped in a creamy coconut curry); curries, such as beef rendang; and nasi kandar (coconut rice). For dessert: feijoa ice cream.
reviewed
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Capitol
Simple, seasonal food using premium local ingredients, lovingly prepared with a nod to the classic Italian style. The dining room is elegant and intimate with large windows looking out onto busy Courtenay precinct. No dinner bookings are taken, but it’s well worth waiting with an aperitif at the tiny bar.
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Martin Bosley’s
Swish fish from one of the country’s best chefs, in an elegant restaurant with panoramic harbour views. The degustation menu is an excellent way to sample the skills of the kitchen and is $100 very well spent. For an extra $70, you’ll get wines selected to match each delicious dish. Top notch.
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Lido
Swing into Lido, at the bottom of a funky old office block, for a wide selection of consistent and reasonably priced Med-inspired food. Pancakes and pasta sit happily alongside, fish, burgers, antipasto and salad. Great coffee and sweet treats, too. Live jazz Saturday and Sunday evenings.
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W
Restaurant 88
There's a wonderfully mixed menu of Kiwi and Vietnamese dishes here, served in a tropical-flavoured space filled with wooden screens, plants and lanterns. Traditionalists can enjoy lamb or steak; the more adventurous can choose from fresh, spicy dishes such as lemongrass beef salad.
reviewed
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Tulsi
A big, bright and contemporary Indian place with the best butter chicken in Wellington. Ready for a taste test? Choose your spice level from mild, medium, 'Kiwi hot' or 'Indian hot'. Lunch deals are excellent. For more good-value Indian options, head to Allen St, off Courtenay Pl.
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