Wellington Wining & Dining
Wellington offers a host of dining options from ethnic cafés and chic eateries to innovative Pacific Rim cuisine.
The Waterfront If you fancy a view as you dine, one of the best places to go is Queens Wharf with its upmarket seafood restaurants and fine sea views. There’s nothing like the fresh smell of the sea and a view of the harbour while you relax over a delicious meal. There is also a food court at the Queens Wharf retail centre (10am-6pm daily) for cheaper meals. Further around the waterfront, scenic Oriental Parade is known for its fine selection of seafood restaurants, some of which offer al fresco dining.
CBDA bustling commercial centre by day, this area forms the hub of New Zealand’s capital, encompassing Parliament Buildings and the towering office blocks that house many of the city’s business enterprises. By night, Wellington’s CBD adopts a more peaceful atmosphere but there are still plenty of wining and dining options including upmarket brasseries, bars and cafés.
Courtenay Place This vibrant quarter is one of the city’s favourite precincts for dining out and entertainment, with a huge range of ethnic and international-style cuisines to tempt the tastebuds including Turkish, Indian, Chinese, Malaysian, Italian, Mexican, Greek and Japanese. Whether you feel like sitting down to a formal dinner in a brasserie setting, or just relaxing over a casual meal at a café or pub, Courtenay Place has all the options covered. The Wellington Market food court (Friday to Sunday, 10am-6pm) is the place to go for good, budget Asian food. While in the area, slip into Blair Street or perhaps Allen Street. Once alive at dawn with auctioneers selling fresh vegetables and flowers, the reverse is now in vogue with bars and restaurants open until late.
Kent Terrace Wellington doesn't slow down when it gets dark and there are plenty of entertainment venues within easy walking distance of the cafés and restaurants. Most of the live venues and pubs are found along Kent Terrace in the Courtenay Place precinct, where entertainment options include rhythm and blues, jazz, comedy and dance.
Cuba Street Wellington's hippest quarter is a great place to eat on a budget, with several vegetarian eateries, a French bakery and a range of smaller cafés with bars. You can opt for Chinese, Mexican or pizza at the food court at James Smith Corner (9am to 8pm weekdays, and until late on Friday and Saturday). The area is one of the city’s oldest thoroughfares and, after a relaxing dinner, it’s just a short walk to the concert halls and theatres for a spot of nightlife.
Lambton Quay This elegant shopping precinct has a plethora of options for wining and dining, from upmarket brasseries to the bars and cafés of the historic Old Bank Shopping Arcade. Wellington’s oldest suburb, Thorndon, is another good place to eat out. Visitors can walk off lunch by exploring the area’s lovely colonial buildings, which include the Prime Minister’s official residence on Tinakori Road.
Willis Street This key shopping quarter covers all options, from ethnic Indian and Indonesian through to Tex-Mex and upmarket French bistros. There is a licensed food court in the BNZ Shopping Centre (open Monday to Saturday). The Manners Mall area has some budget options and is popular with street entertainers. For panoramic views, try the lunchtime buffet at the Skyline restaurant in Kelburn, near the Botanic Gardens.
Tinakori Road
In the heart of historic Thorndon, Tinakori Road is distinguished by its heritage buildings and the tightly packed wooden houses and cottages built by the city’s early settlers. A cluster of speciality shops and restaurants create a village atmosphere down from the main entrance to Wellington Botanic Garden.
Dining Etiquette
- Leaving a tip is not a standard practice, but if you enjoy excellent service (or food) it's perfectly in order to tip.
- Restaurants can be licensed (to sell beer, wine and spirits), BYO (bring your own liquor - some restaurants stipulate wine only) or unlicensed (alcohol is not available). Check first.
Order your free Jasons 'Wellington What's On' guide (published quarterly).