Janet's Top Spots Guidebook
Special Restarants
Lovely bright spot with a varied menu which changes daily. Great wine list which you can have by the glass plus a selection of baked treats. On the pricey side for food. Here's an example dinner menu: https://www.floriditas.co.nz/assets/Menus/Dinner-04.10.19-.pdf
42 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Floriditas
161 Cuba StLovely bright spot with a varied menu which changes daily. Great wine list which you can have by the glass plus a selection of baked treats. On the pricey side for food. Here's an example dinner menu: https://www.floriditas.co.nz/assets/Menus/Dinner-04.10.19-.pdf
Our favourite 'treat' restaurant. Small, intimate setting with fabulous local produce. Great service. Dinner menu: https://capitolrestaurant.co.nz/dinner/
34 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Capitol Restaurant
10 Kent TerraceOur favourite 'treat' restaurant. Small, intimate setting with fabulous local produce. Great service. Dinner menu: https://capitolrestaurant.co.nz/dinner/
The fish fish and seafood restaurant in Wellington. Another of our 'treat' restaurants. Excellent food, service and location. Fantastic bar menu also - come early and enjoy a drink (or two) at the bar before dinner.
57 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Ortega
16 Majoribanks StThe fish fish and seafood restaurant in Wellington. Another of our 'treat' restaurants. Excellent food, service and location. Fantastic bar menu also - come early and enjoy a drink (or two) at the bar before dinner.
Stylish spot with excellent European-inspired dishes near Te Papa. More a book a table type place rather than a wander-in.
Field & Green
262 Wakefield StStylish spot with excellent European-inspired dishes near Te Papa. More a book a table type place rather than a wander-in.
Food experiences
I recommend their fabulous (proper) hot chocolate. You can also sample the chocolate variations which are made on site and if really keen, take a tasting tour where you find out about their bean to bar approach.
23 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Wellington Chocolate Factory
5 Eva StI recommend their fabulous (proper) hot chocolate. You can also sample the chocolate variations which are made on site and if really keen, take a tasting tour where you find out about their bean to bar approach.
Favourite bars
The only proper wine bar in Wellington and possible the best in NZ. Wide and varied wine list from all over the world including some unique and unusual wines. Great platters and cheeseboards. I have eaten here but they did win a spot in the Top 100 NZ restaurants which means they must be good!
12 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Noble Rot Wine Bar
6 Swan LnThe only proper wine bar in Wellington and possible the best in NZ. Wide and varied wine list from all over the world including some unique and unusual wines. Great platters and cheeseboards. I have eaten here but they did win a spot in the Top 100 NZ restaurants which means they must be good!
Quirky inner city craft beer bar. You can order an excellent Pomodoro pizza from the bar and it will be delivered fresh from across the courtyard.
48 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Golding's Free Dive
Quirky inner city craft beer bar. You can order an excellent Pomodoro pizza from the bar and it will be delivered fresh from across the courtyard.
Excellent cocktail spot where all the spirit options are suspended from bungee cords attached to the ceiling.
12 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Hanging Ditch
14 Leeds StExcellent cocktail spot where all the spirit options are suspended from bungee cords attached to the ceiling.
Inner city compact craft beer bar with on-site micro brewery. Excellent food menu to accompany your beer tastings. Quirky interior.
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
HUSK
62 Ghuznee StInner city compact craft beer bar with on-site micro brewery. Excellent food menu to accompany your beer tastings. Quirky interior.
Large, bright brewery and bar with on-site charcuterie. Cosy upstairs areas and fabulous ladies bathrooms complete with hair straighteners.
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Whistling Sister Beer Co
100 Taranaki StLarge, bright brewery and bar with on-site charcuterie. Cosy upstairs areas and fabulous ladies bathrooms complete with hair straighteners.
Inner city rooftop bar with a variety of sheltered spots.. Good drinks menu and eclectic decor.
18 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Arborist Rooftop Bar
166 Willis StInner city rooftop bar with a variety of sheltered spots.. Good drinks menu and eclectic decor.
Bright, airy, modern spot with excellent drinks and bar snacks menu. One of the oldest pubs in New Zealand - it has been a licensed premise since 1840. Look out for the photo which shows the fishing boat parked up where a two lane road now exists. Yes that's right, before the 1848 earthquake which uplifted Wellington this was a port-side bar!
15 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Thistle Inn
3 Mulgrave StBright, airy, modern spot with excellent drinks and bar snacks menu. One of the oldest pubs in New Zealand - it has been a licensed premise since 1840. Look out for the photo which shows the fishing boat parked up where a two lane road now exists. Yes that's right, before the 1848 earthquake which uplifted Wellington this was a port-side bar!
Sightseeing
Well worth a visit to see the multi-media exhibition which tells the story of the Treaty of Waitangi - New Zealand's founding document. There is an excellent cafe (HOME) in the National library and a co-working space, with printers, should you need to do some work.
8 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
National Library
65 Victoria StreetWell worth a visit to see the multi-media exhibition which tells the story of the Treaty of Waitangi - New Zealand's founding document. There is an excellent cafe (HOME) in the National library and a co-working space, with printers, should you need to do some work.
National museum of NZ. A number of excellent permanent exhibitions and a revolving collection of NZ art. The cafes on site are pretty average.
65 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Te Papa Tongarewa
National museum of NZ. A number of excellent permanent exhibitions and a revolving collection of NZ art. The cafes on site are pretty average.
Great dining spots
When you are looking for places with great food and not too expensive.
Great spot for coffee, a drink, fabulous pizzas or pasta dinner. If you love proper Italian hot chocolate then this is the place. Run by Wellington hospitality legends Leonardo & Lorenzo Bresolin it's a great spot for for people watching all all times of the day. Check out their menus here: https://www.scopa.co.nz/menus
28 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Scopa
141 Cuba StreetGreat spot for coffee, a drink, fabulous pizzas or pasta dinner. If you love proper Italian hot chocolate then this is the place. Run by Wellington hospitality legends Leonardo & Lorenzo Bresolin it's a great spot for for people watching all all times of the day. Check out their menus here: https://www.scopa.co.nz/menus
Coene's Bar & Eatery
103 Oriental ParadeCraft beer and burger bar. Food always excellent. Can get busy on Friday and Saturday night - leave your name for a table and kill some time at one of the nearby bars.
15 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Grill Meats Beer
227 Cuba StCraft beer and burger bar. Food always excellent. Can get busy on Friday and Saturday night - leave your name for a table and kill some time at one of the nearby bars.
If you love meat, this is must-visit. Their 1kg barbecued rib eye for two to share is a favourite of ours - cooked on the open wood barbeque to perfection. It can be busy on Friday and Saturday night and you may need to wait for a table but it's well worth it. Friendly staff and excellent wine list.
12 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
El Matador
196 Cuba StIf you love meat, this is must-visit. Their 1kg barbecued rib eye for two to share is a favourite of ours - cooked on the open wood barbeque to perfection. It can be busy on Friday and Saturday night and you may need to wait for a table but it's well worth it. Friendly staff and excellent wine list.
KK Malaysian Restaurant
54 Ghuznee StPickle & Pie
2 Lombard StFavourite cafes
Great Cuba St spot for coffee and scones. Personally have not had a good experience with food options here but scones are one of the best in town.
38 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Olive Restaurant
170-172 Cuba StGreat Cuba St spot for coffee and scones. Personally have not had a good experience with food options here but scones are one of the best in town.
Fantastic local cafe out of the main city drag. Excellent breakfast, dinner menus and good cabinet selection.
27 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Aro Cafe
90 Aro StFantastic local cafe out of the main city drag. Excellent breakfast, dinner menus and good cabinet selection.
Excellent upstairs spot with a focus on brownies and milkshakes of all sorts. Bright and airy. Great spot to rest weary legs.
Lashings
31 Dixon StExcellent upstairs spot with a focus on brownies and milkshakes of all sorts. Bright and airy. Great spot to rest weary legs.
Excellent coffee and baked goods cafe near parliament. Their muffins and scones are fabulous and they have a great selection of gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan baked treats.
Cellar-vate Bottle Shop - Espresso
34 Molesworth StExcellent coffee and baked goods cafe near parliament. Their muffins and scones are fabulous and they have a great selection of gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan baked treats.
Local dining options
Excellent selection of pizzas. The best of the three local pizza options
19 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
HELL Pizza
55 Northland RdExcellent selection of pizzas. The best of the three local pizza options
Excellent selection of burgers and various fries. Can get very busy on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights - best to preorder for pick up.
17 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Burger Wisconsin
65 The ParadeExcellent selection of burgers and various fries. Can get very busy on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights - best to preorder for pick up.
Delhi7 Indian Restaurant And Bar
66 Northland RdGreat local fish and chip shop. Even on Friday nights you can order and have your fish and chips within 10 minutes.
Zhou’s kitchen
57 Northland RdGreat local fish and chip shop. Even on Friday nights you can order and have your fish and chips within 10 minutes.