4 Best Restaurants in Wellington and the Wairarapa, New Zealand

Nestled inside a working vineyard, the Runholder is a meeting place for Martinborough's famous trifecta of wine, food, and gin. The venue is open, modern, and loftlike, but the menu is all about warmth and comfort, featuring featuring different-size plates, meat dishes, and wood-fired pizza using local produce. The restaurant's cellar door showcases the local Lighthouse Gin and rare and exclusive wines by Te Kairanga and Martinborough Vineyard. There are 30-minute guided tastings on demand, with no more than 12 guests per session. Bookings are essential.

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.

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 with a welcoming family atmosphere 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.

Located and independently operated within the historic Martinborough Hotel, the decor here is understated yet comfortable. The classic bistro menu offers updated versions of European favorites for lunch and dinner, and creative brunch options are avaiable daily; there's a nice menu for kids, too.