It’s our capital city, a leader in the arts and film, compact, and super friendly. Wellington CBD is a mecca for fabulous food, bars, and cafes, all within walking distance of the city centre. Editor Trudi Brewer says if you’re planning a weekend away, choose this fantastic city to support.
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Where to stay
As far as five-star hotels go, Mövenpick Hotel Wellington offers discreet luxury, superb service, and stylishly contemporary suites. Nestled in the Cuba Quarter within walking distance of some of the best bars, cafes and restaurants, including Te Papa, it’s a place to unwind and indulge in gastronomic offerings. Open for all-day dining with a panoramic city backdrop, Forage Bar is the place to kick off your morning coffee. The rooms and suites have some premium touches, including accents of gold that make for luxe-y dècor, with to-die-for, sink-in, comfy beds and pillows, a swimming pool and a fitness centre with 24-hour reception and room service. Perhaps its finest hour is centred on chocolate. Any guest can experience a Mövenpick moment at 4 pm every day, where the hotel serves up mouth-watering treats that you can drizzle in warm chocolate. This decadent moment coincides with happy hour, so a glass of wine with a sweet afternoon treat is the perfect way to kick off a long weekend in our capital city.
Check-in is from 2 pm, and check-out is at 11 am. Mövenpick Hotel 345 The Terrace, Wellington CBD.
Eat & Drink
Prefab Eatery
This inner-city bakery, coffee spot, and venue hall is a must-visit in Wellington City. Founders Jeff Kennedy and the very glam Bridget Dunn are no strangers to hospitality. They founded L’affare Coffee and Cafe, which kicked off the coffee culture in the capital in the 1990s. Prefab is Acme's flagship cafe and test lab, which offers a range of freshly roasted coffee, bakery products, and delicious bread daily. The menu caters to breakfast and lunch; the avocado and tomato on rye with marinated feta are a must. Famous for their outstanding Acme salads, we agree they are delicious. We added grilled halloumi to ours, which is equally tasty, with a glass of Terra Sancta rose. Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 7 am to 3.00 pm, closed on weekends. Prefab Eatery, Hall and Lane,14 Jessie Street, Wellington.
Fidels Cafe
One of the must-visit coffee spots is at the top of Cuba Street. It references memorabilia and imagery of 1950s Cuba, serving the best Havana coffee and Cuban-inspired cuisine, offering brunch and lunch in a cafe with a brilliant boho vibe. Hands down, the best breakfast is the Spanish eggs fuelled with those smokey, spicy paprika Cuban flavours. Sitting in Cuban beans, smoked bronze cheese, topped with crispy bacon, on a bed of fresh herb salad, sensational chilli oil and organic sourdough. Both gluten-free and vegan options are available from a locally sourced fresh produce menu. Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 3 pm and the weekends, from 9 am to 3 pm. Fidels Cafe, 234 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington.
Kisa
If you like the flavours of Middle Eastern food (we adore it), Kisa is superb. The menu centres around a large Josper Mangal (charcoal BBQ), the only one in New Zealand, hence the delicious smoky flavours of every dish. First, the pita bread is insane; served warm, it’s the perfect accompaniment to every dish. The best part of eating out for us is sharing; this restaurant is ideal for a long lunch or a fun girl’s dinner. We loved the smacked cucumber, Aleppo chilli crunch, with tehina. Cheesy and delicious, the crispy mozzarella böreks with tomato butter and black olive. Our favourite was the Muhammara, roasted red pepper, walnut, pomegranate, and nigella seed oil. Opening hours: Daily lunches, Wednesday to Sunday, from noon to late. Saturday and Sunday,11.30 am until late.
Kisa,195 Cuba Street, Wellington.
Margot
This charming, petite local in Wellington’s hip Newtown is small but perfectly formed. The menu reflects local seasonal produce, with European-inspired dishes that change often, as does the brilliant cocktail list, which would be a pleasant surprise if you are local. “Come as you are,” sets the tone above the blazing red door. Once inside, this cosy wine bar and restaurant (it only seats 26) quickly feels like a bustling destination full of locals and visitors like us. We couldn’t go past the Staccatella with buttercup pumpkin and pine nuts, beetroot, whipped olive, walnut, and bitter leave with Spencer gold fried potatoes with Mt Richmod cheese. Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday from 5 pm until late, Saturday from 3 pm until late.
Margot, 3 Wilson Street, Newtown, Wellington.
The Ram
“Good food, good drinks and good times,” The Ram’s slogan, that lives up to those words. Our first restaurant visit in the capital did not disappoint. Coming from an excellent pedigree, The Ram owners also own and operate Freds, who make epic, wholesome sandwiches (also on Cuba Street); the couple’s grandparents are the namesake for this restaurant. One ran a London pub called The Ram in the early 1900s (and still operates), and the other worked in the wool trade. It ticks every box for good value food; we enjoyed the panko crumbed schnitzel, shaved ham, mozzarella, parmesan with fries and greens, and vegetarian green risotto with zucchini, spinach, lemon, and ricotta salata. It was the comfort food needed for a wet, windy night in Wellington. You can expect good value food, a decent wine list and beautiful decor. Opening hours: Monday to Thursday from 3.30 until late, Friday to Sunday from midday until late.
The Ram, 103 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington.
Puffin Wine Bar
We stumbled across Puffin Bar, searching for a spot for a pre-dinner glass of wine; it’s brilliant. It felt like being in a bar in London or Barcelona; the decor, crowd, and delightful staff made it memorable. You must try the olives and spicy nuts with your glass of wine, which has a great selection of biodynamic and minimal intervention wines and a great cocktail list if that’s your vibe. Filled with taxidermy dotted around the walls (including the fabulous peacock) from plush booths for an intimate evening to tables where you can gather with friends, Puffin Wine Bar also has a great wine shop at the back of the lobby at The Intrepid Hotel. In our humble opinion, it’s Wellington’s best-kept secret - and precisely what Auckland needs, #love.
Opening hours: Monday through Wednesday, 4 pm until late, and Thursday through Sunday, 2 pm until late. Puffin Wine Bar is at 60 Ghuznee Street, Wellington.
Where to shop
The beauty of Wellington City is that everything in the CBD is within walking distance. If fashion is on your radar, head to Coco Wellington; this luxe-y designer boutique stocks the best local and Australian designers, such as Zimmermann, Shjark, ESSK, CC/MEO Collective and Nobody Denim; stunning accessories from Amber Sceats and WOS, it’s a gorgeous store, with super-friendly, helpful staff. Wellington’s Old Bank Arcade is an iconic heritage-listed boutique shopping spot with some of New Zealand’s best fashion stores: Kathryn Wilson, RUBY, Sills & Co, I Love Ugly, Workshop, Standard Issue, Taylor, and the I Love Paris shoe store. When you need sustenance, pop into the charming Smith The Grocer for an all-day breakfast. You will find Old Bank Arcade at 233 Lambton Quay, Wellington Central.
WORLD at 102 Victoria Street is always a great place to shop. The fragrance collection and candles are second to none. If you are looking for a special signature scent that helps you stand out in the crowd, this is where you will find it.
Wilson Trollope is where you will find a beautiful selection of artists’ print dresses and stripes. Our editor can’t go past a Breton T-shirt; she bought two here. Made using sustainable, quality fabrics, the brand collaborates with local artists to create a unique look with each collection. If you like vintage shopping, head to Cuba Street. This town offers excellent vintage shopping if you are a fan. Ziggurat is filled with contemporary pre-loved designer clothing, and Hunters & Collectors has an expertly curated leather collection that includes rare and exotic pre-loved looks. Finally, Spacesuit Clothing has an epic selection of imported vintage T-shirts and jeans from the USA and Japan - you will spend hours here.
Finally, the Mecca Cosmetica at 260 Lambton Quay, Wellington Central, is fantastic. The store is well laid out, well-stocked, and easy to navigate, and the staff are so knowledgeable. You would expect us to make this a quick visit (being regulars), but we browsed and shopped for an hour.
The BeautyEQ team stayed at Mövenpick Hotel courtesy of WellingtonNZ
We visit NZ's capital city.