Ben’s guidebook to Wellington

Ben
Ben’s guidebook to Wellington

Food scene

Restaurants and cafes to try - from cafes to fine dining.
Malaysian restaurant about 5 minutes walk from the apartment - please note this place is closed on weekends as it mainly serves the office crowd.
Little Penang on The Terrace
44 The Terrace
Malaysian restaurant about 5 minutes walk from the apartment - please note this place is closed on weekends as it mainly serves the office crowd.
Delicious cafe breakfasts and lunches, right next to the City Gallery.
19 locals recommend
Nikau Cafe
101 Wakefield St
19 locals recommend
Delicious cafe breakfasts and lunches, right next to the City Gallery.
Intimate fine dining restaurant with lovely, unfussy service in Aro Valley.
16 locals recommend
Rita
89 Aro St
16 locals recommend
Intimate fine dining restaurant with lovely, unfussy service in Aro Valley.
Great counter food (salads, cakes and pies, amazing corned beef) in a lovely, bright cafe with outdoor seating in Lombard Street Laneway.
7 locals recommend
Pickle & Pie
2 Lombard St
7 locals recommend
Great counter food (salads, cakes and pies, amazing corned beef) in a lovely, bright cafe with outdoor seating in Lombard Street Laneway.

Neighbourhoods

Walkable inner city suburbs for a taste of local life.
Inner city suburb with a great indie cinema - try the Salty Pidgin for a drink or meal first. Easiest to take an Uber or catch the number 7 bus that goes regularly from outside the ANZ - across the road from James Cook lift on Lambton Quay.
7 locals recommend
Brooklyn
7 locals recommend
Inner city suburb with a great indie cinema - try the Salty Pidgin for a drink or meal first. Easiest to take an Uber or catch the number 7 bus that goes regularly from outside the ANZ - across the road from James Cook lift on Lambton Quay.
Cuba precinct is great for shopping, eating and people watching - if you walk down Boulcott Street, it's about 10 or 15 minutes away. Try Loretta Cafe for brunch or lunch, Scopa for Italian, Ekim Burger or slip down Ghuznee Street to Milk Crate or Customs Brew Bar for great coffee. Close by is Leeds Street, a laneway with handmade chocolate, an amazing bakery and some cool bars and eateries. If you're a craft beer nut, try Hey Day and Third Eye.
171 locals recommend
Cuba Street
151 Cuba St
171 locals recommend
Cuba precinct is great for shopping, eating and people watching - if you walk down Boulcott Street, it's about 10 or 15 minutes away. Try Loretta Cafe for brunch or lunch, Scopa for Italian, Ekim Burger or slip down Ghuznee Street to Milk Crate or Customs Brew Bar for great coffee. Close by is Leeds Street, a laneway with handmade chocolate, an amazing bakery and some cool bars and eateries. If you're a craft beer nut, try Hey Day and Third Eye.
Relaxed inner city suburb about a 15 minute walk from the apartment with a few cafes and a craft beer brewery - not a must-see but a nice place to buy some fish and chips or a cake at Aro Bakery and eat in the park. Rita (see listing above) is here.
8 locals recommend
Aro Valley
8 locals recommend
Relaxed inner city suburb about a 15 minute walk from the apartment with a few cafes and a craft beer brewery - not a must-see but a nice place to buy some fish and chips or a cake at Aro Bakery and eat in the park. Rita (see listing above) is here.

Bar scene

Places to go if you're after a drink, people watching or entertainment.
Hip but friendly wine bar, great for people watching - it's easy to miss so keep your eyes peeled for the wine bottle on the steps. About 15 minutes from the apartment on foot.
Puffin Wine Bar
60 Ghuznee St
Hip but friendly wine bar, great for people watching - it's easy to miss so keep your eyes peeled for the wine bottle on the steps. About 15 minutes from the apartment on foot.
Great for families, plenty of space, and friendly service.
51 locals recommend
Southern Cross Garden Bar Restaurant
39 Abel Smith St
51 locals recommend
Great for families, plenty of space, and friendly service.
They know how to pour a great cocktail.
13 locals recommend
Crumpet
109 Manners St
13 locals recommend
They know how to pour a great cocktail.

Sightseeing

A lovely way to get up high and view the city from above.
142 locals recommend
Wellington Cable Car
280 Lambton Quay
142 locals recommend
A lovely way to get up high and view the city from above.
Beautiful rose gardens, a winter garden and winding walks with sculptures. Perfect for runners, walkers and picnickers. There's a cafe by the rose garden if you don't have a picnic and fancy a snack or coffee.
203 locals recommend
Wellington Botanic Garden
101 Glenmore St
203 locals recommend
Beautiful rose gardens, a winter garden and winding walks with sculptures. Perfect for runners, walkers and picnickers. There's a cafe by the rose garden if you don't have a picnic and fancy a snack or coffee.

City advice

Getting around

Quickest way to get to Lambton Quay from The Terrace

Cross the road and go through James Cook Hotel - if you take the lift back, you'll arrive on Lambton Quay.
What to pack

Bring walking shoes and merino wool

Wellington can get cold in the evenings or turn quickly if the wind comes up and/or goes southerly - take a merino wool or fold up windbreaker with you even if it seems warm in the apartment.
Ways to save

Supermarket at bottom of the James Cook lift

Follow the advice above about getting to Lambton Quay through the James Cook Hotel lift, and turn left - there is a Countdown supermarket and you can get any basics you need.