The 5 Best Restaurants
in Wellington

Rob Grieve

Wellington Travel Expert

With its population of just over 200,000 residents, Wellington may not seem like the obvious choice as New Zealand’s capital city.

The harbour city was settled upon as the nation’s capital in 1865 to settle a decade-long argument between Okiato and Auckland for the country’s top spot.

But don’t let its modest size fool you. Found between the North and South Islands in a nook cradled by craggy peaks on one side and the Cook Strait on the other, Wellington has earned its title of ‘the coolest little capital in the world’.

One of the the best ways to discover Wellington is to taste your way through it. Between laneways lined with food vendors, trendy cafés and market stalls brimming with seafood, prepare your taste buds (and stomach) for a feast.

Below I’ve outlined the city’s specialties and a few of my favourite restaurants that will work up your appetite.  

The Craft Beer Capital of NZ

Connoisseurs of all things hops, barley and malt will have a field day scoping out what’s on tap in Wellington.

Garage Project Brewery caught the attention of the craft beer world when it launched over 40 different types of beer in its first year of production. 

Eyebrow-raising brews include a Cereal Milk Stout and Creamy Milk Chocolate beer. You can sample from their 18 rotating draughts at their taproom on Aro Street.

Cafés and Coffee Roasters

If there’s one thing the citizens of Wellington are, it’s well-caffeinated. In 2017, CNN named Wellington one of the 8 of the world’s best cities for coffee, a list that included big contenders in the world of cafés like Vienna and Rome. 

While you’ll be hard-pressed to find your favourite American coffee chain here, what you will discover are tons of independent shops using locally roasted beans headed by masterful baristas.

To order your drink like a New Zealander, ask for a flat white: a smooth, micro-foamed latté and a staple in any Kiwi’s morning routine.

Hannah’s Laneway

This is one seriously delicious street and a great place to head to for regional treats to bring back home and sample local flavours.

Found between Leeds and Eva Streets, Hannah’s Laneway sees boutique shops selling everything from artisanal chocolates, homemade peanut butter, handcrafted sodas, beer, coffee and slices of pizza to grab on the go.

Colourful and lively, it’s a cool spot to pass a leisurely afternoon.