Award Winning Coffee
Sketchbook Cafe
Coffee • Wellington
A specialty coffee spot on Taranaki Street and an absolute favourite. The award-winning Japanese couple who run it are always coming up with exciting, seasonal coffee-based beverages.
Visitors Guide
Our favourite ways to eat, drink, and wander in the city we call home.
Our Favorites
Where to eat, drink, and wander.
Coffee
Neo Cafe
Coffee • Willis Street
A busy Willis Street brunch favourite with strong coffee, cabinet food, a solid brunch menu, baking and all-day café classics. Perfect if you’re jetlagged and up early; they don’t take bookings, so be ready to queue.
Glou Glou
Coffee • Allen Street
A sleek espresso and wine bar on Allen Street with some of the tastiest pastries. From Wednesday to Saturday, it also opens late as a relaxed wine bar, making it an easy day-to-night option.
Drinks
Double Vision Brewery
Drinks • Miramar & Island Bay
Inspired by Colorado breweries, this Miramar bar is a good pick for craft beer lovers.
Three Sisters
Drinks • Wellington
This is where we do pub quiz every Tuesday. Great food, great beers and wonderful staff. If you’re in town, put a rival team together and let us know—friendly competition encouraged.
Mean Doses
Drinks • Tory Street
A first-floor Tory Street taproom with local craft beer, arcade games, pinball, pool and shuffleboard. Good for a relaxed group drink where there’s something to do besides just standing around with a pint. Janan has (to date) had two birthday parties and one citizenship celebration here.
Minibar
Drinks • Wellington
Loud, tiny, friendly and fun. Ryan loves their spicy margaritas; ask for Phill’s homemade pickle juice.
Food & drink
Must book
Kazu Izakaya
Food & drink • Te Aro
One of Janan and Ryan's favourite impromptu date night spots. She loves it because it reminds her of Tokyo. He loves it because it's small, cozy, charming, and has good food.
KC Cafe
Food & drink • Courtenay Place
A Wellington classic on Courtenay Place: fast, generous Chinese comfort food with a huge menu, late hours and a loyal local following. This is Janan and Ryan’s go-to for a sneaky takeaway. If you need help choosing, check out the independent KC Review Instagram account, which is documenting the menu one dish at a time.
Oikos
Food & drink • Miramar
Fresh, rustic Greek food out in Miramar, built around sharing plates, warm service and family-style dining. Worth the short trip if you want something outside the city centre. Try the sesame-crusted feta.
Mr Go’s
Food & drink • Hannahs Laneway
Colourful pan-Asian share plates, bao, dumplings and cocktails in Hannahs Laneway. This is also where the bride and her bridesmaids have been meeting up for wedding planning sessions, so it has a bit of pre-wedding lore attached.
MICHELIN-recognised
Michelin Star
Ortega Fish Shack
MICHELIN-recognised • Wellington
A Wellington institution for seafood, excellent service and a lively-but-polished dinner. Recently awarded one Michelin Star, it’s a strong option if you want something special without it feeling stiff.
Koji
MICHELIN-recognised • Wellington
This is where we had our second date—technically meant to be our first, but we got impatient and met a day early. Go for the “Just feed me” nine-course menu: filling, delicious and usually under NZ$100 per person.
Graze
MICHELIN-recognised • Wellington
A thoughtful, fish-forward restaurant with a seasonal approach and a focus on local ingredients.
Things to do
Te Papa Tongarewa
Things to do • Waterfront
New Zealand’s national museum, covering natural history, art, Pacific cultures and Māori taonga. The main museum is free.
Wellington Cable Car & Botanic Garden
Things to do • Kelburn
Catch the cable car for harbour views, then walk down through the Botanic Garden. Janan and Ryan got engaged at the Norwood Rose Garden.
Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne
Things to do • Karori
A predator-fenced ecosanctuary with native birds and bush walks. The guided night tours are especially worth considering.
Mount Victoria Lookout
Things to do • Mount Victoria
One of the easiest big-view stops in the city, with a full panorama over the harbour, city, airport and hills. Wear a jacket.
Cuba Street & Hannahs Laneway
Things to do • Te Aro
Go for coffee, food, vintage shopping, bars and people-watching, then let the afternoon happen.
Further afield
Martinborough
Further afield • Wairarapa
Wine country over the hill, known for Pinot Noir, boutique cellar doors and long vineyard lunches. Consider staying overnight or booking a wine tour.
Greytown
Further afield • Wairarapa
A pretty town of boutiques, cafés, old villas and a gentler pace than the city. Pair it with Martinborough if you have a car.
Kāpiti Coast
Further afield • Kāpiti
Beaches, cafés and a slower coastal day. The Kāpiti Line makes it one of the easier further-afield options without a car.
Paekākāriki Escarpment Track
Further afield • Kāpiti Coast
A dramatic coastal walk with big views, swing bridges and plenty of stairs. Both ends are near train stations.