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We've compiled the best of the best in Wellington - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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 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.
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.
