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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, 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.
Famous for its "2-4-1" Thursday burger night and Sunday dessert night, this casual place is often packed to its brightly painted rafters from brunch until dinner. Upstairs, the restaurant offers a great selection of hearty meals, small plates, and quick cabinet food (sandwiches, scones, and cakes) for all dietary needs, along with tasty cocktails and coffee. Downstairs, the cabaret kiosk sells gelato, coffee, and doughnuts for those on the go.
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.
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 some interesting main courses including lamb shanks and meat pies tempt those with more ambitious appetites.
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.
Gathering locals from far and wide, this spot surprisingly is more "glitz" than "gumboot." A big open fireplace, light modern furniture, and glittering chandeliers create a warm, welcoming dining room where service is impeccable, and the seasonal menu incorporates locally sourced meat and vegetables.
