12 Best Restaurants in Wellington, Wellington and the Wairarapa

This tiny Tinakori icon offers award-winning farm-to-table fine dining, without the fancy fuss or animal products. Even with a meat-free menu, you won't feel like you're missing out on flavor or putting up with tiny portions. The chef creates a new menu every day, depending on what's growing in the garden or what the team has foraged locally. Local and traveling foodies love Hillside, so reservations are essential.

A gastronomic gem in Cuba Street's crown, Kisa fires up New Zealand's only Josper Mangal (charcoal barbecue) daily to create tasty Middle Eastern fare. The menu features dips (perfect with pita), a wide range of meze (sharing) plates with a kiwi influence on the ingredients, and a few larger dishes. Bookings are highly recommended, but don't be discouraged if you don't see an ideal date as they hold half their tables for walk-ins.

Part café, part cakery, Tomboy is a great spot to grab a sandwich, scone, or pastry, or some delicious breakfast fare. For refreshment, try one of the freshly made juices, coffees, or the famous beetroot-based latte.

A well-respected institution on the Wellington dining scene, this old colonial-style house conveys tradition and class. The delightful bistro menu features long-standing dishes like the aged beef fillet with béarnaise sauce. The crème brûlée with poached seasonal fruit is a classic dessert that will satisfy the most discerning palate.

A wood-beam roof and oiled floorboards enhance the nautical vibe at this former warehouse on the wharf, and you can get close to the water on the large harborfront deck. Inside or out, it's a lively spot, particularly on Friday night, and as expected, the menu features a broad range of fresh seafood, though there are ample meat- and plant-based options.

Duck's pink and yellow pastels feel like a warm, cheeky smile between its "cool" Cuba Street counterparts. With 40 ice creams on rotation and 24 on show, you'll struggle to pick between your nostalgic favorites and their experimental flavors. A must-try is Duck's twist on the Australasian party staple, fairy bread (white bread with butter, topped with sprinkles). There's another location on Willis Lane.

The menu at stylish, minimalist, subterranean Egmont is all about celebrating seasonal flavors and New Zealand's unique produce in creative ways, so menus change regularly. Bookings are recommended for weekday dinners, but brunch and weekends are walk-in only.

Salty, spicy, sour, and sweet tastes are equally celebrated on Koji's menu, no matter which delicious combination of Asian-influenced sharing plates you pick. The ultimate mixture of all four flavors comes together in the must-try curry beef doughnut and the restaurant's signature "strange flavor sauce," served with chicken and prawn dumplings. Koji is nestled underneath Wellington's famous Embassy Theatre, making it perfect for a dinner-and-a-movie evening.

The imposing exterior and classical interior of this former bank building showcase the fact that this Wellington stalwart delivers exceptional dining; still, it's unpretentious. New Zealand's produce and exemplary wines are highlighted on the sophisticated fixed-price menu, and the friendly staff talk you through each dish. There’s an early bistro menu or a longer degustation menu if you want to make a night of it.

Adorned with 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. Menus follow a seasonal theme with salads, wood-fired pizzas, savory pies, and hearty servings of seasoned meats to share. With a famously evolving menu, brunches typically begin with smoothies and spritzers, waffles, and crumpets, each served with seasonal fruits.

Tucked away in a nook of suburban Newtown, the deceptive frontage suggests Margot offers little else beyond a trendy wine bar. However, once you look beyond the local and organic wine and beer lists, you'll also find a celebration of New Zealand produce-centered cuisine on a succinct menu of small plates and indulgent desserts. There's also a generous rotation of specials and side plates, all likely to be reordered immediately after you finish the first plate.

In this city of coffee fanatics, Peoples is one of the most beloved coffee brands. Its trademark organic and fair-trade beans are found across the city in a number of outposts, and this bright, airy café on Luke's Lane is one of the best for sampling the range of brews and pairing them with fresh cabinet food (sandwiches, scones, cakes) from local bakeries.