Wellington has more restaurants, bars and cafes per head than New York. The city has established a well deserved reputation as the culinary capital of the country, so dining out here is a must. Do try the locally grown lamb, ostrich, venison and seafood (green mussels) if you get the opportunity.
The restaurants below have been grouped into four different pricing categories:
$$$$ (over NZ$100)
$$$ (NZ$60 to NZ$100)
$$ (NZ$30 to NZ60)
$ (under NZ$30)
These prices are for a three course meal for one, including tax and tip but not drinks.
Logan Brown Located in a renovated
1920s banking chamber, this restaurant is hailed as the best in the capital. The restaurant itself might be impressive (high ceiling, majestic columns), but it is most definitely the food that is the star of the show here. The chef is regarded as one of the country’s best, go find out why. There is an excellent wine list too. Admittedly not cheap, but there is a good value lunch menu.
192 Cuba Street
Tel: (04) 801 5114.
Website:
www.loganbrown.co.nz Price: $$$$
Il Casino Award-winning Northern Italian cuisine featuring old-world class dishes and new age culinary treats. Impeccable service. Piano bar and open fire. Private rooms available for groups from 4-40.
108 Tory Street
Tel: (04) 385 7496.
Website:
www.ilcasino.co.nz Price: $$$
Shed 5 Restaurant Originally built in 1888 as a woolstore,
Shed 5 is one of the oldest remaining wharf stores in Lambton Harbour. A stunning waterfront location with an emphasis on good food (fresh seafood, fish, New Zealand lamb, venison and poultry dishes) and a selection of both New Zealand and international wines have ensured its success.
Queen’s Wharf
Tel: (04) 499 9069.
Website:
www.shed5.co.nz Price: $$$
Tug Boat on the Bay Wellington’s only floating restaurant, with great view of the harbor. The focus here is very much on New Zealand seafood, as you would expect. Bookings advised.
Freyberg Lagoon, Oriental Parade, Oriental Bay
Tel: (04) 384 8884.
Website:
www.tugboatonthebay.co.nz Price: $$-$$$
Theo’s Greek Taverna A slice of authentic Greek food and atmosphere in a typical taverna setting, complete with warm welcome and live entertainment most nights. In summer, you can eat alfresco in the courtyard. Closed Mondays. Take away menu available.
13 Pirie Street
Tel: (04) 801 8806.
Website:
www.theosgreektaverna.co.nz Price: $$
Caffé L’Affare This place serves the best coffee in town. Period. Food includes all day breakfast (choose from raisin toast, toasted bagels, porridge and berries, fresh fruit salads, eggs any way you like etc) and toasted panini, seafood chowder and tasty salads for lunch. The cakes too are superb. Grab yourself a paper, sit down, relax and enjoy.
27 College Street
Tel: (04) 385 9748.
Website:
www.laffare.co.nz Price: $
Nightlife:Bohemian Cuba Street is a good spot for drinking with laid-back and funky bars while the action centers on Courtenay Place for late night bars and clubs. The free listings papers
Capital Times (website:
www.captimes.co.nz) and
City Voice, are a good place to turn for up-to-date information on nightlife in Wellington.
Bars: Beers aficionados should head for
The Courtenay Arms, 26 Allen Street, a pub with good English and Irish beers, or the
Malthouse, 47 Willis Street, which has a good selection of Kiwi brews.
Molly Malones, Taranaki Street and Courtenay Place, is the biggest and busiest Irish pub in town.
CO2 champagne Bar, 28 Blair Street, has a good cocktail list and plays the occasional live music, while the
Jet Bar, 36 Courtenay Place, is the hip and trendy locale
du jour where the trendy crowd goes to be seen.
Clubs: Tatou, 22 Cambridge Terrace, open Thursday through Saturday, is a good bet to dance the night away, and so is the
Judder Bar, 7-21 Allen Street, if techno is your kind of music. The latter attracts a younger clientele.
Bojangles, 80 Cuba Street is the best gay venue in town.
Live Music: Try the
Wellington Sports Café at 45-58 Courtenay Place (website:
www.wellingtonsportscafe.co.nz), or
Molly Malones (see
Bars above) (website:
www.molly-malones.com), which have bands most nights. In the Cuba Street district, the
Blue Note, 191-195 Cuba Street, is the place to check out for R&B, reggae and funk (and the odd karaoke night too), while
Bodega, 101 Ghuznee Street (website:
www.bodega.co.nz), has loud music and beer on tap and is popular with students.
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