October 26, 2014 • Written by Rich McNabb • Proofread & Edited by Claude AI
A personal guide to Wellington, New Zealand, covering the best places to eat, where to find craft beer and decent coffee, and things to do when you have visitors in town.
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Here’s a list of things I like to do when we have people from overseas come to visit. Everything from great places to eat, where to find a craft beer, a decent coffee and various activities and attractions all over Wellington, New Zealand.
Yoshi Sushi & Bento The only Japanese and Kiwi-run sushi shop in Wellington. Using authentic Japanese ingredients and recipes, this has been a CBD staple since 2010. Now at Press Hall, 80 Willis Street.
Asian Kitchen A solid spot for Asian food right in the city centre.
Sweet Mother’s Kitchen New Orleans-style comfort food on Courtenay Place. Think po’ boys, jambalaya, waffles, homemade pies, and boozy milkshakes in a fun, eclectic setting. Open seven days.
Fidel’s Café A Wellington institution since 1996, currently running as a pop-up at Havana Bar on Wigan Street. Open Tues to Sun from 9am.
Loretta A warm, wood-fired eatery on Cuba Street where the Mediterranean meets New Zealand. Great all-day spot for food, wine, and a relaxed vibe.
Saint John’s Bar A beautiful art deco bar right on the Wellington waterfront. Great craft and international tap beers, solid food, and a sunny outdoor area that’s hard to beat.
Golding’s Free Dive A friendly, unpretentious craft beer bar tucked away on Leeds Street.
D4 on Featherston Wellington’s go-to Irish local with a top craft beer selection, great food, and plenty of good craic.
The Malthouse Wellington’s original craft beer bar, going strong since 1993. Now on Willis Street, with 30 taps and over 150 bottles across six temperature-controlled fridges. A proper institution.
Mojo Wellington’s beloved specialty coffee roasters with cafes dotted across the city. Passionate about quality, great for coffee geeks and everyday drinkers alike.
Extra Extra Cafe A CBD staple tucked into Panama Street with a seriously loyal following. They batch roast high-grade beans in-house and the consistency shows in every cup. Don’t miss Donut Thursday and Friday.
Machete Coffee A Kiwi-Guatemalan operation on Boulcott Street bringing specialty-grade coffee with Central American character. The team are genuinely passionate about origin and flavour, and it comes through.
Sketchbook Coffee A café run by four award-winning competitive baristas on Taranaki Street. They rotate their coffee roastery every two months, so the menu always has something new to try alongside the classics.
Central Ground Cafe A warm all-day spot right in the heart of the city, with seating at both the Victoria Street and Civic Square entrances. Great for a coffee and a bite from early morning through to the afternoon.
The Flight Coffee Hangar Specialty coffee roasters with a flagship café on Willis Street. Known for their single origins, seasonal blends, and genuine love of a good brew.
Fergs Kayaks Kayak tours and rentals on the water. Their website is currently Auckland-focused, so it’s worth checking in directly for Wellington availability.
Real Surf Wellington’s go-to core surf shop, located right at Lyall Bay. Locally owned and stocked with a great range of surfboards, wetsuits, and hardware, with a knowledgeable team on hand seven days a week.
Oriental Bay Wellington’s go-to beach right in the city. Great for a swim, a walk, or just soaking up the view.
Te Papa Museum New Zealand’s national museum and one of the best free attractions in the country. Home to over two million taonga spanning art, natural history, NZ history, and Pacific cultures. Open daily 10am to 6pm.
Wellington Cable Car A five-minute ride from Lambton Quay up to Kelburn, with brilliant views over the city and harbour. Great access to the Botanic Garden and Space Place at the top.
Botanical Garden Beautiful gardens right next to the cable car. Perfect for a wander after the ride up.
Space Place at Carter Observatory A brilliant planetarium tucked up in the Botanic Garden, right near the cable car. Interactive exhibits, live telescope sessions, and dome shows about the southern skies.
East by West Ferries Wellington’s harbour ferry service, running from Queens Wharf to Days Bay and Mātiu/Somes Island. They also run harbour explorer tours on their electric ferry, which is a pretty cool way to see the city.
Cuba Street Wellington’s most iconic street, full of great cafes, shops, and street art. Worth a wander any time of day.
City Gallery Wellington Wellington’s contemporary art gallery, currently running exhibitions at the National Library while its Civic Square home is being earthquake-strengthened. It reopens in October 2026, so keep an eye on their site.
Weta Workshop A must-do for film fans. Go behind the scenes of one of the world’s great special effects studios, with props and costumes from The Lord of the Rings, Avatar, and more. Located in Miramar, about 20 minutes from the city.
The Roxy Cinema A gorgeous restored art deco cinema in Miramar at the heart of Wellington’s film industry. Two screens, a great cocktail bar, and the wonderful CoCo restaurant next door.
Wellington Zoo New Zealand’s oldest zoo with a strong conservation focus. Home to everything from giraffes to tuatara, and great for families.
New Zealand Parliament Free guided tours of the Beehive and Parliament buildings run daily. A surprisingly interesting way to spend an hour.
Staglands Wildlife Reserve A brilliant day out in the Akatarawa Valley, about an hour from Wellington. You get to wander freely among the animals, feed them, and really interact with the wildlife rather than just watching from a distance. There’s also a lovely café on site. A great one for families.
Chaffers Market (Sunday only) A beloved Sunday market on the waterfront beside Te Papa, running every week from 7:30am to 2pm. Fresh produce, food trucks, local vendors, and a great atmosphere right on the harbour.
Mount Victoria Lookout One of the best views in Wellington. A short drive or walk from the city and completely free.
Mount Kaukau A great hike with sweeping views over the city and out to the Kāpiti Coast on a clear day.