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In Wellington, restaurants, cafés, and sports bars spring up overnight like mushrooms. Although you'll never be without the classic meal of steak, fries, and ale, city eateries have also embraced more adventurous fare. Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Malaysian, Mexican, and Italian cuisines are increasingly common. Indigenous food, too
In Wellington, restaurants, cafés, and sports bars spring up overnight like mushrooms. Although you'll never be without the classic meal of steak, fries, and ale, city eateries have also embraced more adventurous fare. Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Malaysian, Mexican, and It
In Wellington, restaurants, cafés, and sports bars spring up overnight like mushrooms. Although you'll never be without
In Wellington, restaurants, cafés, and sports bars spring up overnight like mushrooms. Although you'll never be without the classic meal of steak, fries, and ale, city eateries have also embraced more adventurous fare. Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Malaysian, Mexican, and Italian cuisines are increasingly common. Indigenous food, too, is appearing in restaurants around the city—native plants might be paired with traditional seafood or made into sauces to accompany meat or sweet-potato dishes.
In rural areas outside Wellington, the wine industry has revolutionized local tables, with excellent dining and wine-tasting spots. In the Wairarapa, restaurants are winning a reputation for creative cuisine.
Generally, lunch runs from noon until 2, and most restaurants close for a few hours before opening for dinner around 6. On Monday, many restaurants are shuttered. Dress codes are still really relaxed; jeans would be frowned on only in the top restaurants.
On the otherwise sleepy Petone Wharf is a vibrant Italian trattoria, where prestigious awards, relics of family history, and shelves of the finest Italian ingredients cover the walls. This spot was awarded the prestigious Ospitalità Italiana quality-approved seal and is recognized as one of the top 70 Restaurants with Pizzeria in the World by Ristorazione Italiana.
10 Nevis St., Wellington, Wellington, 5012, New Zealand
Adorned with its earthy-chic accents and wide wooden tables, Loretta makes a daily, but effortless transformation from a relaxed brunch spot to a bustling candle-lit restaurant. With their famously daily-evolving menu, brunches typically begin with smoothies and spritzers, waffles, and crumpets, each served with seasonal fruits. Lunch and dinner follow a similar seasonal theme with salads, wood-fired pizzas, savory pies, and hearty servings of seasoned meats to share.
Cylindrical orange shades hovering over polished wood tables give this modern Asian eatery a warm, intimate atmosphere. A scattershot approach of ordering multiple small plates ensures the most fun and variety of flavors before finishing with Dragonfly's mini-tasting dessert: four tiny delights that are perfect for sharing.
70 Courtenay Pl., Wellington, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand
A relaxed and fun place to enjoy conversation and good food, the focus here is on the casual beer drinker rather than the aficionado. Each dish has a recommended beer to go with it; if you want to try something out of your comfort zone, staff are trained to help you expand your palate.
227 Cuba St., Wellington, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand
Reveling in the lively waterfront atmosphere, Master Kong has a vibrant, fun, and sometimes spicy personality, both in its cuisine and its decor. The menu covers the most-beloved Asian street foods, ranging from fresh sake-cured salmon bites, to flavorful fusion-style dumplings, to Korean barbecue banquets. The menu is equally complemented by a large list of elaborate cocktails and mocktails. The varied and comprehensive menu, friendly service, and large tables make this an enjoyable spot for families and groups.
33 Customhouse Quay, Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Experience delicious and unique takes on kaimoana (seafood) in this pale blue monument to the sea. The restaurant specializes in home-style cooking and features locally sourced ingredients from the Wairarapa pastures to the coast of Palliser Bay. The Paua (abalone) dumplings and Kohe Kohe oysters are not to be missed. Reservations are essential for dinner.
109a Chapel St., Masterton, Wellington, 5810, New Zealand
Right across the way from the Parliament buildings sits this landmark watering hole where politicians grab a cold beer after a hot debate. The walls have become a gallery of political cartoons and caricature puppets of government characters and well-known sports figures, while menu items are named after notable politicians.
34 Molesworth St., Wellington, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand
Though right at home among the seaside cottages of Lyall Bay, this plant-based haven is anything but traditional. The Botanist offers tasty and innovative takes on traditionally meat-centered meals in a seasonally evolving menu. It opens for brunch and then runs to late-night cocktail hours every day, and the menu is also complemented with appropriately botanical teas, kombuchas, and cocktails.
219 Onepu Rd., Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Set on the waterfront, with crab-pots and ropes hanging from the ceiling and walls bedecked in old-world maps and colorful recycled timber, the Crab Shack is an American-style diner with a Kiwi twist. Strong Cajun flavors and massive crab dishes are the order of the day, but there are plenty of land-based options if you don't feel like seafood.
Queens Wharf, Wellington, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand
At The Farriers, you can watch the chefs in the open kitchen while waiting for your order to arrive. Much of the large menu is devoted to pub fare and wood-fired pizzas, all made from scratch, but interesting main courses tempt those with more ambitious appetites.
4 Queen St. N, Masterton, Wellington, 5810, New Zealand
This former railway administration building was chopped into several pieces and relocated before being transformed into a grand country hotel. The menu changes seasonally and incorporates locally sourced meat and vegetables. A big open fireplace, light modern furniture, and glittering chandeliers create a warm, welcoming dining room where the service is impeccable.
109 Main St., Greytown, Wellington, 5712, New Zealand
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