When visiting Wellington, eating and drinking is bound to be one of your main activities – if not the primary purpose of your visit. So it’s a good idea to acquaint yourself with the city’s best restaurants.
With so many excellent options, it can be hard to know where to start. Here’s a curated guide to help – from the hottest new openings to try, to the old faves that still deserve a place on every foodie’s itinerary.
READ MORE:
* Feeling peckish? Where to brunch in Wellington
* The best restaurants in Wellington for a special occasion
* Hand-pulled noodles and fried chicken in a converted public toilet: Wellington’s best cheap eats
New spots to try
kisa
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Kisa serves a variety of mezze and large plates, with lots of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options.
This Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant started life as a pop-up – hence the name, which means “short” in Turkish. But it was so popular the owner decided to find it a permanent home, and now Kisa has cemented its place in the capital’s culinary scene with a stylish, 90-seat restaurant on Cuba Street. The menu is made for sharing, featuring moreish dips paired with house-made pita, fresh and flavour-packed mezze, and larger plates like shawarma spiced lamb shoulder.
Chaat Street
Indian street fare served tapas style – that’s the offering from this neat little eatery nestled amid Victoria Street’s boutiques. Chef Vaibhav Vishen ensures every morsel is packed with flavour, from the papri chaat (described as Indian-style nachos), to the Kashmiri kanti (lamb pan-tossed with onions, tomatoes and chillies). The drinks are equally mouth-popping – think chilli margaritas and bubblegum martinis.
Concord
Hospitality heroes Sean Golding and Shepherd Elliot, the duo behind game-changing restaurant Shepherd, have joined forces yet again, gracing the city with what chef Elliot has described as “a luxury European bistro crossed with New York steakhouse”. The menu is all about the classics, from shrimp cocktails, to steak tartare, to the perfect cheeseburger. And – best of all – all mains come with bottomless fries.
Fred’s Sandwiches
This Cuba Street sandwich shop has elevated the humble lunch staple to an art form, coming up with some of the tastiest possible combos between two slices. The chicken sandwich has already achieved iconic status – it consists of an enormous piece of schnitzel flavored with Japanese spices, served in fresh white loaf with shredded iceberg and pickle mayo.
August Eatery
KEVIN STENT/Stuff
August Eatery is housed in a pretty arch-roofed venue on Taranaki Street.
Wellington has no shortage of brilliant brunch spots, but if you’re after something a little different from your usual eggs benny, head to this highly ‘grammable Taranaki Street venue. The Mediterranean-inspired menu features dishes like Istanbul eggs and tsoureki French toast, while the cabinets are stocked with cheese scones and donuts that are right up there with the city’s best.
Casual classics to try
Little Penang
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Little Penang’s roti & curry is a great value meal.
While Wellington is home to several amazing Malaysian restaurants, most locals will point you in the direction of this one on Victoria Street (there’s also an outlet on the Terrace). What sets Little Penang apart is that it specializes in Peranakan (or Nyonya) food, using ingredients imported from Malaysia that give each dish its distinctive taste. The mee goreng is always a crowd pleaser, but you really can’t go wrong – it’s all good.
A Taste of Home
Monique Ford/Stuff
Delicious hand-pulled noodles at A Taste of Home.
On any given lunchtime or dinnertime, this Vivian Street nook is crammed with hungry customers, either waiting for takeaways or hunched over big bowls of noodles on one of the coveted bar stools. Try their signature yo po mian dish, made with hand-pulled noodles, or go for the spicy Sichuan-style dan dan noodles.
1154 Pastaria
WellingtonNZ
1154 Pastaria is on the corner of Cuba Street and Ghuznee Street.
Grab at seat by the window at this lively Cuba Street spot and settle in for some pasta with a side of people-watching. All pasta is made daily in-house, and there are vegan and gluten-free options, too. As well as all your classics like bolognese and carbonara, they have regular specials – Thursday is gnocchi night, and on Sundays they do a hearty pasta bake.
soul shack
Soul Shack/Supplied
Nashville-style buttermilk fried wings are the flagship item at Soul Shack, Wellington.
Fried chicken fans are spoiled for choice in Wellington, but if you like yours with a kick, head straight to this Nashville-style shop on Victoria Street. Have your chicken in a sando, in a bucket, or with one of the tempting sides – the jalapeno mac & cheese alone will have you coming back for more. You choose the spice level, from cayenne to Carolina Reaper.
Maranui Cafe
Celeste Fontein
Lyall Bay’s Maranui Cafe is a Wellington icon.
On a weekend, follow the legions of locals who make their way to Lyall Bay for brunch at this iconic venue atop the local Surf Life Saving Club. Converted from a lifeguard’s lookout, the sea views are hard to beat—you’ll soon see why the queue for a table extends down the stairs. But the food itself is also well worth the wait, whether you’re after a hearty breakfast, a treat from the cabinet, or one of their epic milkshakes.
Fancier favorites to try
Rita
You don’t get to choose what you eat when you sit down inside this tiny century-old workers cottage in Aro Valley – and that’s the fun of it. Instead, you’re presented with a handwritten menu (complete with your name on it) that details the three courses you’ll be enjoying that night, along with some optional add-ons. This approach might make fussy diners nervous, but the folks at Rita are so good at what they do you’ll be well rewarded for taking the gamble.
Shepherd
Jeff McEwen/WellingtonNNZ
Shepherd is known for its playful take on fine dining.
Hannah’s Laneway is packed full of foodie gems, but there’s no doubt this restaurant is the jewel in the crown. Shepherd is tricky to describe – and the menu may similarly leave you scratching your head, with dishes like savory steamed custard and desserts with miso. But you’ll soon find that what might weird sound is in fact wonderful. They’re also open for brunch on weekends, and the menu is just as epic, with everything from truffled mushrooms on toast to fried chicken sandwiches, paired with enormous mimosas and bloody marys.
Highwater Eatery
Johnny Hendrikus
Highwater Eatery is a slick spot at any time of day.
On lower Cuba Street is this stylish all-day eatery that looks like something straight out of Melbourne. It’s the sort of place you can visit for all sorts of occasions, whether it’s a laid-back brunch at the weekend, a mid-week business lunch, or just perching at the bar with a glass of wine from their natural-focused list and some oysters. But for the ultimate foodie experience, go for the chef’s menu, which features a wide selection of shared plates.
Ortega Fish Shack
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Ortega Fish Shack’s famous ceviche.
A bare-chested mermaid and a fish with biceps look down on you as you enter this converted villa on Majoribanks Street, offering a taste of the fishy fun that awaits inside the capital’s top seafood restaurant. Fish is naturally the focus, with the menu changing daily to reflect the latest catch – but some firm favorites include the ceviche and the “teeny-weeny, creamy French toast fish sandwich”. The non-fish options are equally excellent – try the steak and fries.
Salty Pidgin
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Salty Pidgin makes a strong play for the title of Wellington’s cosiest restaurant.
Just up the hill from the CBD, in the suburb of Brooklyn, is a neighborhood bistro you’ll wish was your local. Salty Pidgin serves up food of a quality you’d expect from a swanky, inner-city venue, but in a welcoming, completely unpretentious environment. Mains change up with the seasons, but one constant is the delicious pides, or Turkish pizzas. The wine list is exceptional, too. On a cold night, when the fire’s roaring, there’s no cosier place to be.