Goodbye, Wellington (and all your wonderful restaurants)

I spent a few days in Wellington on my way to Auckland to fly back to the States. It was good to see friends and get one last look at the city I love.

I took a friend who had just relocated from Dunedin to Wellington to the Sunday market. It's hard to get much fresher than this...

I went back to my swordfighting class for a night, and a bee decided to take refuge on my arm for a few minutes as I waited for the train back into the city.

There was a Dreamworks exhibition on at Te Papa, so I stopped in to check that out. This made me ridiculously happy.

I do love this city and the people in it.

There was a spectacular full moon, caught from the balcony of my friend's house.

I spent a great deal of time in Wellington exploring its wonderful restaurants. By the end, I had a list of around 100 restaurants (really!) that I loved and had either visited multiple times or would go back if I could. ...and this isn't everywhere. There are also places I didn't make it to and would like to try next time I am back. There are also a few I visited that I am not sure I ever really knew the name of, which are not on this list.


In no particular order:

Pōneke - this was the first restaurant I ate at the first night I was in Wellington, and it remained a favorite of mine the entire time I was there. http://www.mojocoffee.co.nz/location/poneke/

Neo - one of the best brunch spots in Wellington. http://www.neocafe.co.nz/

Cafe L'Affare - one of the other best brunch spots in Wellington. I spent quite a few mornings here. http://www.laffare.co.nz/

Olive - I celebrated my birthday here. It was so good. http://www.oliverestaurant.co.nz/

Zaida's - a fabulous bakery ...where I often ordered a fantastic chicken salad. http://zaidas.co.nz/


Louis Sergeant - do you like pastries OH MY GOODNESS, THE PASTRIES. The rest of the menu is also lovely. But did I mention the pastries? THE PASTRIES. louissergeant.co.nz

Crumpet - home to one of the best hot chocolates in Wellington, also an array of dazzling cocktails, and a variety of, well, crumpets. https://www.facebook.com/boonbrotherscrumpet/

Hawthorn Lounge - a stunning and glamorous cocktail bar, one of my favorite places to spend a night of drinking. http://www.hawthornlounge.co.nz/

Phu Thai Lanna - this was just down the road from my first home in Wellington, one of the best things that could have happened. http://phuthaiesarn.co.nz/

Monsoon Poon - the entire menu is fabulous, but I especially miss the roast duck mee goreng. http://www.monsoonpoon.co.nz/menu-wellington/

Chow - another excellent Asian fusion place. I came here quite often. http://www.chow.co.nz/

Sweet Mother's Kitchen - a good place for when I was feeling homesick - especially glad that they had pumpkin pie around November, the only thing I was missing around Thanksgiving. http://www.sweetmotherskitchen.co.nz/

Zibibbo - I only ate here once, but it was completely fabulous. I need to go back next time I'm in town. http://www.zibibbo.co.nz/

Mama Brown - another good place for comfort food. I liked to stop for their breakfast burrito on my way to the Sunday Market. http://www.mamabrown.co.nz/

Tequila Joe's - fairly decent Mexican food, more than decent margaritas. http://www.tequilajoes.co.nz/

Poquito - a tiny little cafe with very big flavors.  http://poquitobar.com/

Joe's Garage - Kiwi cafe culture at its finest. https://www.joes.co.nz/restaurants/wellington/

Hippopotamus - a very fancy French restaurant at the top of the QT Wellington (formerly the Museum Art Hotel). https://www.qthotelsandresorts.com/wellington/eat-drink/hippopotamus/

Logan Brown - probably the fanciest restaurant on this list. The bar has an aquarium in it! Their lunch menu is lovely (and fairly reasonable). https://www.loganbrown.co.nz/

Charley Noble - most likely the second fanciest restaurant on this list. It's fabulous. https://www.charleynoble.co.nz/

Whitebait - delicious and also a bit on the posh side. https://www.white-bait.nz/

Capitol - the last of the super fancy restaurants. http://capitolrestaurant.co.nz/

Matterhorn - this place is worth it for the decor alone, it feels like stepping back into a swank restaurant in a '60s era James Bond flick. The food and cocktails are superb. http://matterhorn.co.nz/

Chocolate Fish Cafe - it's definitely worth the drive out to Miramar for this one. The view is just as good as the food. http://www.chocolatefishcafe.co.nz/

Basque - the wine here is excellent, as is the food. Another place with many happy memories.  http://basque.co.nz/

The Library - cocktails and desserts in an actual library. Pretty much ticks all of the boxes. http://thelibrary.co.nz/

Cha - I never ended up trying one, but the cake display in the front of this place was stunning. The fried rice was excellent. https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Restaurant_Review-g255115-d722490-Reviews-Cha-Wellington_Greater_Wellington_North_Island.html

Viva Mexico - tucked into a corner of the Left Bank off of Cuba Street, if you want actual Mexican food in Wellington, go here. http://www.vivamexico.co.nz/

El Matador - lovely Argentinian restaurant on Cuba Street. http://www.elmatador.co.nz/

Nam D - Vietnamese street food off of Cable Street. Amazing salads and spring rolls. https://www.facebook.com/restaurant.nam/

D4 - another great place for lunch (dinner, too, I'm assuming, I just never made it there). http://www.d4.co.nz/

Boca Loca - located out in Miramar, this is another fantastic place for Mexican food. https://labocaloca.co.nz/

Pizzeria Napoli - I did quite like their lasagna. https://www.pizzerianapoli.co.nz/

Tatsushi - hands down the best sushi in Wellington. https://www.facebook.com/tatsushi392/

Kazu - also good sushi, though not quite as traditional as Tatsuhi. http://www.kazu.co.nz/

Yakitori - a sister restaurant to Kazu. http://www.kazu.co.nz/yakitori-sakebar/

Scopa - fabulous Italian food, and hot chocolate that can be consumed with a spoon. http://www.scopa.co.nz/menus

Ombra - Cuba Street is full of excellent restaurants, but Ombra is a standout. http://www.ombra.co.nz/

Floriditas - As is Floriditas. http://www.floriditas.co.nz/

Osteria del Toro - Mediterranean food and cocktails. http://www.osteriadeltoro.co.nz/

Mishmosh - aesthetically and palately pleasing. http://www.mishmosh.bar/

Loretta - the interior is minimalist, the food is not. http://www.loretta.net.nz/

Hummingbird - amazing food, in a place that feels a bit old school and glamorous. http://hummingbird.net.nz/

Noah's Ark - an adorable little Taiwanese teahouse. https://www.facebook.com/2012noahsark/

Coco at the Roxy - the Roxy theater out in Miramar is a gorgeously renovated theatre out in Miramar, and the Coco is on the ground floor. It's a fabulous place. http://www.cocoattheroxy.co.nz/

Park Kitchen - another Miramar joint, across the street from the Roxy. http://www.parkkitchen.co.nz/

The Larder - just down the street from Weta Workshop, so if you're in the neighborhood (and my goodness, you should be!), check it out. https://www.thelarder.co.nz/

Fidel's - another spectacular brunch (and other meals) place. http://www.fidelscafe.com/

Sprig and Fern - a brew pub across the street from the botanic garden. Their ciders are excellent, and their adult lemonade is the best I've ever had. http://www.sprigandferntaverns.co.nz/taverns/tinakori-road-wellington

Egmont Street Eatery - I only made it here once, though I intended to go back. The food was amazing. One of my friends made dolphin noises of delight on tasting their burger. http://egmontstreet.co.nz/

Fork and Brewer - another place that makes me wish I was more of a beer person. http://forkandbrewer.co.nz/

Karaka Cafe - hard to beat the location on this one, right on the water in Frank Kitts park. Bean bags on the lawn during the summer. http://www.karakacafe.com/

Southern Cross - one of my favorite garden bars anywhere in the world. https://www.thecross.co.nz/

Goldings Free Dive - around the corner from the Gryphon Theatre, I spent some happy times in this wonderful little dive bar. http://www.goldingsfreedive.co.nz/page/home.aspx

CGR Merchant - It's a rum bar! http://www.cgrmerchant.co.nz/

Pravda Cafe - Pravda's food is fabulous, but my favorite souvenir from here is their recipe for cheese scones, given to me by a friend. The ratio is one to one cheese to flour. They're the best. http://www.pravdacafe.co.nz/

Fringe Bar - they have karaoke and a stage. And excellent drinks. I may or may not fully remember nights spent here, but they were all a blast. http://www.thefringebar.co.nz/

Rahzoo - one of the best places to get a salad in the CBD. The regular menu is also fab. https://www.facebook.com/Rahzoo/

Wholesale Boot Company (WBC) - I never did find out what the story was behind the name, as the only time I made it here was post-wine tasting and I was perhaps a bit fuzzy. I do remember the food as being fantastic. http://www.wbcrestaurant.co.nz/

Dragonfly - amazing Asian fusion, and good cocktails in a lovely courtyard bar. http://www.dragon-fly.co.nz/

Maranui Cafe - overlooking Lyall bay, this is another place where the view is worth the trip, but the food is also fantastic. https://www.maranuicafe.co.nz/

Gotham - a favorite lunch meet-up with friends. Because everyone wants to be Batman. https://gotham.co.nz/

Prefab - one of many wonderful brunch places. https://www.pre-fab.co.nz/

Brooklyn Deli - Pastries and breakfasts with a European slant. https://www.facebook.com/nz.brooklydeli/

Salty Pidgin - I house sat a few times up in the Wellington suburb of Brooklyn, which gave me a chance to get to know this place (which is fabulous). http://saltypidgin.nz/

Penthouse Cafe - ironically, I never made it to see a film at the Penthuse cinema in Brooklyn, but I did eat at the cafe a few times. https://www.penthousecinema.co.nz/page-cafe-menu.php

Khandallah Trading Company - being without a vehicle, I didn't often make it out to the suburb of Khandallah, but I went with a group of friends to see a show and we had dinner here. http://tradingco.co.nz/

Wellington Chocolate Factory - I'm probably stretching a bit to include this on this list, but their hot chocolate is fantastic. http://www.wcf.co.nz/

Schoc Chocolate - every day they have a fresh pot of flavored hot chocolate, and it is fabulous. As are their chocolates and truffles.  https://www.schoc.co.nz/

Bohemein - more amazing chocolates, hot and not. http://www.bohemein.co.nz/

Rogue and Vagabond - an excellent music venue in addition to a great bar, and there are bean bags to lounge on in the summer out on the lawn. http://rogueandvagabond.co.nz/

Laundry - another great place for music and another place with many happy memories of late night chats. http://www.laundry.net.nz/

Martha's Pantry - an absolutely adorable little tea room. http://marthaspantry.co.nz/

Apaché - excellent Vietnamese/French fusion restaurant. http://www.apache.kiwi/


Portlander - just down the road from my longest temp job, I spent a few happy lunches here with friends.  http://www.portlander.co.nz/

Home on Stout - I still miss their halloumi on sourdough. https://www.dustedanddelicious.co.nz/cafe-menus

1815 Cafe - the salted caramel hot chocolate and cheese scone were very hard to resist, especially as the cafe was across the street from my work. http://www.wellesleyboutiquehotel.co.nz/cafe--bar

Verve Cafe - spicy food and Flogging Molly on a day when I needed both of those things. http://www.vervecafe.co.nz/

Avida - delicious tapas! http://www.avidabar.co.nz/

Leuven - a delightful Belgian place, excellent waffles and other treats. http://www.leuven.co.nz/

Thunderbird Cafe - for when I needed a taste of home. http://www.thunderbirdcafe.co.nz/

Shed 5 - fabulous food, right on the waterfront. http://www.shed5.co.nz/

Foxglove - one of the best decks to drink on, wonderful views, good food and drink. www.foxglovebar.co.nz

Docksider - Another great place on the waterfront. http://www.docksidenz.com/page/home.aspx

Ti Kouka - a bit hard to find, this cafe is tucked away up some stairs. http://www.tikouka-cafe.co.nz/

Mekong - great pork buns and pho. http://www.mekongcafenz.com/

Smith the Grocer - lovely little deli in the Old Bank Arcade. http://www.smiththegrocer.co.nz/

The General Practitioner - restaurant and bar in a grand old building that was once a doctor's office. https://www.facebook.com/thegppub/

Bresolin - several happy nights spent here. http://thebresolin.co.nz/

Felix - nice brunch/lunch place near Cuba Street. http://felixcafe.co.nz/


Grill Meats Beer - I'm not much for beer, but the meat part is pretty great. https://www.grillmeatsbeer.co.nz/

Little Penang - My experience with Malaysian food is slight, but if this place is any indication, I love it. https://www.facebook.com/LittlePenang/
Bin 44 - fun little bar near the waterfront. http://bin44.co.nz/

Espressoholic - another great example of New Zealand Cafe culture. http://espressoholic.co.nz/

Midnight Espresso - food, coffee, cake, drooling... https://www.facebook.com/MidnightEspresso/

Havana Coffee - very near to my first home, I could often smell the coffee roasting. http://www.havana.co.nz/

Canteen - A delightful cafe on Bond Street. Sadly, the internet tells me that it has closed down since I left.

Duke Carvell's - another excellent restaurant that unfortunately has also ceased operation.

Strawberry Fare - a wonderful dessert bar in a renovated morgue. Despite the setting, it was lovely. Regrettably, it is also no more.

There were also some great chains in Wellington.

Ka Pai - salads, wraps, and soups. http://www.kapainewzealand.co.nz/

Tank - a great place for smoothies. http://www.tankjuice.co.nz/

Mojo - Pōneke, listed above, is their flagship restaurant, but Mojo has coffee shops around the country, and their food is always good. http://www.mojocoffee.co.nz/locations/wellington/

Kaffee Eis - great place for gelato. I never tried their regular food. http://kaffeeeis.co.nz/

Columbus Coffee - another chain of coffee shops with excellent food. https://www.columbuscoffee.co.nz/