Among the most (and best) flat whites per corner, beach-side brunch spots and breathtaking walks along the windy hills, Te-Whanganui-a-Tara truly has some of the best restaurants in Aotearoa. I lived in this city for over a decade and then some so I can attest to the fact the local food scene is made up of a wonderful community of passionate and hard-working individuals who send out every plate with that signature Wellington friendliness and banter.
The word ‘restaurant’ encompasses so much in 2025. There’s cheap eats, fine eats, casual eats and on-the-go bites—plus the food pop-up scene is flavoursome and fleeting. Whatever you’re after, you'll find it on this list.
Wellington’s Best Restaurants at a Glance
- Jump to Best New Restaurants in Wellington
- Jump to our Fave Classic Wellington Restaurants
- Jump to Best Casual Dining in Wellington
- Jump to the Best Fine Dining in Wellington
I’ve picked my faves (in no particular order), plus the newest kids on the block who are bringing fresh flavours to our culinary capital. There’s a real mix here of classic and new, places to grab a quick bite or when you’re feeling fancy, to really deep dive and treat yourself to a mind-blowing degustation (with a house-made spritz or two). We’ve got a big melting pot of cuisines here in Wellington too—whether you’re after the ultimate Middle-Eastern, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, Greek or Filipino—Wellington has got it.
I hope you enjoy eating your way through the city and ‘burbs after reading this—and fall in love with Wellington as much as I have done over the years. This isn’t a definitive guide—I’ve had to make some hard choices and limited myself to evening dining only—some winning day eats can be found in my best brunch and coffee spot roundups. Don’t forget to pop into some of the best bars in town for a nightcap too.
While we’ve had a few institutions come and go (R.I.P. Field and Green, Shepherd, Franziska, Amok) keep checking back, because there'll always be something new to stick your fork into.
Here are the best restaurants in Wellington.
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The Best New Restaurants in Wellington
Image credit: Alswaida by Damascus | Vicki Young
It's no secret we love a new opening and if you're reading this, chances are you do, too. As luck would have it, Wellington is packed with tantalizing eats with new restaurants, bars, cafes and bakeries making for one helluva evolving local food scene. Latest openings here.
Our Fave Classic Wellington Restaurants
This is my solid list of go-to eats in Pōneke. These are the classics that you’ve got to go to at least once—and I can promise you that you’ll keep coming back to.
Ombra
199 Cuba Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Ombra | Vicki Young
This Cuba Street corner has been a Wellington institution since opening their doors back in 2013. Inspired by the bacari (wee bars for wine and snacks) of Venice, grab a seat at golden hour with an ombra (a small glass of wine), or aperitif and cicchetti (small bite) in hand, watching Cuba Street go by. I can’t leave without the menu staples: fluffy baccalà (whipped salted cod), jenga-sized polenta chips, venison meatballs and olive oil gelato.
Scopa
141 Cuba Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Scopa | Vicki Young
Have you even been to Wellington if you haven’t had one of these hot chocolates post-dinner? (Well anytime, really). She’s thick, custardy, topped with heavy cream and a generous sprinkle of dark chocolate rubble. The recipe is the same since they opened their doors in 2006, from hospitality O.G’s the Bresolin brothers, Leonardo and Lorenzo (their Dad, Remiro Bresolin opened II Casino on Tory Street back in the 70s). Dessert aside, this spot has always had bangin’ pizza from the woodfire oven and recently rebranded as a pizzeria for the people. Side note: Pop over to their (younger) sister spot, 1154 (Eleven Fifty Four) across the road for the freshest brown butter ricotta ravioli too.
Dragons Restaurant
25 Tory Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Dragons | Vicki Young
Wellington yum cha is a vibe. With the yum cha aunties and their steaming carts of dim sum, you can’t have a weekend without a couple of siu mai (steamed pork dumplings) and har gow (prawn crystal dumplings). Dragons has been here since forever, and I remember going here as a kid for our family outings. Nowadays there are a couple of modern yum cha dishes here—and you can count on a refreshing local Garage Project lager with your truffle dumpling too.
Oikos Hellenic Cuisine
382 Broadway, Miramar
Image credit: Oikos | Vicki Young
Head a little further out to Miramar and make a beeline for Oikos. Chef-owner Theo Papouis has a way with Greek flavours and making you feel at home here. Comforting mousakás, biftekia (grilled lamb meatballs) and my personal fave, imam baildi—a perfectly baked eggplant draped in tahini sauce. Don’t forget to order a coupla pitta sides to mop up the sauce.
Havana Bar
32a/34 Wigan Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Havana | Vicki Young
Opened in 2010, these two colourful cottages sitting side by side on Wigan Street are home to modern tapas, a bangin’ cocktail list and live music. I remember the days of Brockaflower bringing the house (or in this case, the cottage) down with their beats, and sharing a whole fish in saffron butter with friends, with a caipirinha in hand. While we said goodbye to Chef Hoon last year (with that signature octopus dish), Havana’s new head chef Claudio Silva has taken the reins since late October last year and we are excited for his vibrant South American flavours.
K C Cafe & Takeaway
39A Courtenay Place, Te Aro
Image credit: KC Cafe | Vicki Young
When I first moved to Wellington (for uni), I was pretty homesick. The comforting claypot dishes and the sounds of the chefs’ woks and the orders in Cantonese at KC’s made me feel so much at home. I’d grab a late night roast duck saucy noodle, or share eggplant rendered unctuous with salted fish and pops of pork mince (with rice of course). Don’t forget to try their homemade KC tofu—a silky, eggy interior with a crispy tofu exterior made soft by soaking up the glistening savoury sauce (and a side of crispy, nutty, fried squid).
Best Casual Dining in Wellington
The dining scene has moved to a lot of casual dining eateries over the last few years. I’ve divided this category into two types of casual eats: the ones where you can dine-in and enjoy a meal with friends in a casual setting, and the ones where you can grab on the go (for friends or for one). Whatever kind of casual eats you’re after, with this list you can be assured you haven’t skimped on an epic eating experience either dining in or taking out.
Casual Eats In
El Matador
196 Cuba Street, Te Aro
Image credit: El Matador | Vicki Young
El Matador have been slinging Argentinian-style barbecue with wood-fired asadores since 2012. This restaurant is walk-in only, meaning yes, sometimes you will have to queue down Cuba Street, but trust me, the wait is worth it. Get the wood-fired steak plate (for 2-4 people) and a plate of roasted bone marrow to spread on grilled bread.
Graze Wine Bar
95 Upland Road, Kelburn
Image credit: Graze Wine Bar | Vicki Young
Take a walk up to Kelburn and pop in to Graze, where Max Gordy and Stina Persen and their team are serving snacks for days, alongside a great wine list and house-made non-alcs too. A pescatarian and vegetarian restaurant, trust the chef with a small “Snack Attack” option for lighter dinner fare perched up by the chef’s table or trust the chef with “Feed Me,” and make sure you get the pierogi. Keep an eye out for their winemaker pour takeovers and pop-up events with other chefs too.
Koji
12 Majoribanks Street, Mount Victoria
Image credit: Koji | Vicki Young
Take a walk up another hill (it’s Wellington afterall) and work up your appetite because the modern Asian-inspired menu at Koji will make it hard to choose just a few dishes. Chef-owner Johnon MacDonald and his team are slinging yellow curry beef doughnuts, doubanjiang (fermented chilli bean paste) and cumin lamb over coals, and kueh pie tee (crispy tarts) bites to name a few of my go-to picks on the menu to start.
Kisa
195 Cuba Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Kisa (LTD. Pop-up) | Vicki Young
If you’re looking for punchy flavours, Mediterranean-style—look no further. You’ll find me here at the seat by the window (prime people-watching spot), with porcini za’atar dusted Lor cheese and house pita in hand. Grab some flame-kissed kebabs while you’re at it, of the wild tahr variety, plus the crispy, tangy, deep-fried Brussel sprouts (a big fan since their mezze pop-up at LTD. back in 2021).
Tatsushi Japanese Restaurant
19 Edward Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Tatsushi | Vicki Young
A Wellington icon since 2012, chef-owner Tatsushi visits the fish markets at the crack of dawn everyday to hand-pick a selection of fish for the restaurant. I used to pop in for my agedashi fix back in their Victoria Street restaurant: crisp deep-fried tofu, just submerged in a light dashi (broth) for a few seconds and then eaten right away. It warms the soul. Since 2018, they’ve moved further up the road on Edward Street. Go for the fresh sashimi and crispy tempura—perfect with their plum wine trio tasting platter.
Margot
163 Riddiford Street (entrance via Wilson Street), Newtown
Image credit: Margot, Next Door | Vicki Young
When Bar Mason shut their doors (and moved up north to bring Local Talent Taverna in Whangārei), Margot took over this cosy ex-records shop turned bar in 2022. Incredibly talented hospo duo Juno Miers and Thomas Adam are runnin’ this 26 seater spot plus small bites and drinks at Next Door (literally next door with a wee window connecting both parts in the wall). Think of unfussy seasonal plates with expertly paired components to make produce at its peak shine even brighter—vadouvan butter, lime pickle mayo and sweet-sour agrodolce to name a few layers of flavour I’ve been lucky to enjoy so far.
Casual Eats Out
Taste of India
19 Cambridge Terrace, Te Aro
Image credit: Taste of India Cambridge Wellington | Vicki Young
When I first moved to Wellington in 2009, there was a place where I had chicken tikka for the first time—by first time I mean from a tandoor, with that smokey, sweet and Kashmiri chilli-tinged flavour. I was obsessed. I searched far and wide when they closed—eventually stumbling across this place on Cambridge Terrace. A crowd of people were always standing around waiting for their orders, spilling onto the street, while the chef was inside, effortlessly slapping naan, paratha and long sticks of chicken tikka into the tandoor. Phone in to beat the takeaway queue (they’re takeaway only) and get a side of honey-cumin raita with your tikka.
Pho Viet Street Food Newtown
88c Riddiford Street, Newtown
Image credit: Pho Viet Street Food | Vicki Young
I can’t tell you how many times I have been here for my phở bò viên fix. Bouncy meatballs, crunchy beansprouts and aromatic broth that’s like a big hug for your tastebuds, ft. homemade lemongrass-laden chilli sauce. While there’s two spots in Wellington—make the trip to the Newtown one. I don’t know why, but the phở just slaps at this spot. The bowls are huge, and you’ve got all the necessary condiments at the table, to tailor the spicy to your liking. While they have a constant stream of orders out, perch yourself inside for a table for one and slurp to your hearts content.
Taste of Home
128 Vivian Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Taste of Home | Vicki Young
Fresh noodles are hard to beat. Tina Hu and Steve D’Souza are sending noods—slapping noods—yo po mian (hot oil noodle) style. Fresh noodles are slapped to get that bouncy texture and cooked fresh to order. Get extra pork belly and make it spicy (you can choose your level of chilli). Finish it off with fried bao dripping in condensed milk—you can thank me later. The space only seats a few along the window and wall, so takeaway is recommended in advance if you can’t eat in.
Little Penang
179 Victoria Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Little Penang | Instagram
A Wellington institution originally on Dixon Street, moved to a bigger spot on Victoria Street after 8 years in 2020. While everyone goes for the mee goreng which is super popular, I recommend the wok hei flavours of their char koey teow—flat rice noodles with a bite, and pops of fried pork crackling between all the textures of lap cheong (Chinese-style sausage) and prawns. For a comforting soupier dish, the koey teow th’ng has flat rice noodles in a comforting clear chicken broth with all the crackling and fishball trimmings.
Little Manila
18 Willis Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Little Manila | Vicki Young
Tucked away in an unassuming food court on Willis Street is this slice of Filipino flavour. I had my first sisig in 2019 right here—pork and onion textures on a hot plate, with a runny fried egg cracked through the rice, a squeeze of fresh lemon and hot red chillies. I left stunned, content and with a leche flan takeaway for dessert. Heavenly.
Alswaida by Damascus
Kiosk 1/80a Willis Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Damascus (pop-up at Vogelmorn Bowling Club) | Vicki Young
Hasan Alwarhani and Flora Quintana opened up Damascus at the Vogelmorn Bowling Club back in 2022 after having their iconic food truck in 2017 serving delicious food inspired by Hasan’s family recipes from Syria. They moved from the community hub to their brick and mortar restaurant Damascus later that year, fitted out with a custom housemade charcoal grill. Having recently opened up Alswaida for quick Syrian street food bites, I recommend a hot off the charcoal grill lamb b’ajin manakesh (pita bread pizza wrap) filled with fresh herbs and the tang of pomegranate molasses.
Best Fine Dining in Wellington
I personally find this term very hard to digest (excuse the pun) because it sets limits on what fine-dining should be (silver service, for example). While there’s the old-school fine-dining scene that still exists, I’ve included restaurants here with beautiful degustation-style or set menus—places for celebration and experiencing beautiful long dinners with friends and family.
Jano Bistro
270 Willis Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Jano Bistro | Vicki Young
I first dined (and worked here) in 2020. My first dinner at Jano Bistro was (and still is) my most memorable dining experience. Chef-owner Pierre Alain-Fenoux has a way with food. I spent five hours overeating meaningfully—learning about the local ingredients used, and taking my tastebuds on a mind-blowing flavour journey. I still remember the second course: butternut rendered meltingly tender like a piece of steak, dressed in toasted hazelnut crust and with a savoury sauce made with roasted butternut trim poured over tableside (which had me fooled for meat jus).
Logan Brown Restaurant and Bar
192 Cuba Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Logan Brown | Vicki Young
I also dined and worked here (as a server, after culinary school) in 2019. It was my first “fine-dining” experience, you could say. I fell in love with the precision and meticulous systems of fine-dining—the formula of a degustation, the setting of the table, the dance between front of house and kitchen. It was like The Bear before The Bear. Their signature pāua ravioli has been on the menu since 1996—but it’s no ordinary ravioli. Instead, it's topped with crispy kūmara and surrounded by a lime-scented beurre blanc. I love how they pay tribute to classics but with modern culinary touches.
Rita
89 Aro Street, Aro Valley
Image credit: Rita | Vicki Young
Located in a beautiful old worker’s cottage turned 30 seat restaurant in Aro Valley is Rita. From the hospo legends from Nikau (Kelda Haines, Paul Schrader and Matt Hawkes—who later had Mason in Newtown, and now Local Talent Tav in Whangārei), Rita feels like having dinner at a friend’s place. With only two sittings and an ever-changing three course menu with the seasons, you’ll be guaranteed a memorable and cosy dining experience.
Ortega Fish Shack
16 Majoribanks Street, Mount Victoria
Image credit: Ortega | Instagram
Wellington being so close to the sea only means the freshest kaimoana from the boaties up the road. Ortega opened in 2009 by hospo legends Mark Limacher and wife Helen, alongside Davey and Anna McDonald. No fuss, seasonal and delicious ingredients and top tier service—it’s a place created by seasoned foodies for seasoned foodies. I’m eyeing up the French toast fish sando, followed by anchovy-buttery steamed fish.
Hillside Kitchen
241 Tinakori Road, Thorndon
Image credit: Hillside (Downtown pop-up) | Vicki Young
Chef-owner Asher Boote and his team past and present have created a Wellington institution. Since 2015, Hillside Kitchen has moved downtown and back to Tinakori Road (while renovations on the original site were completed), shifted their cuisine from Meatless Mondays to a fully vegetarian, plant-based menu 7 days a week and started their very own garden, Sabai Garden, to supply their own produce. Expect a unique range of vegetables on their menu, with flavours that feel nostalgic and familiar. I remember honey-coated sourdough doughnuts (made from Asher’s gran’s 12 year old sourdough starter?!), and a sorbet made with the most delicious combination of feijoa, tamarillo and passionfruit.
Highwater Eatery
54 Cuba Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Highwater Eatery | Instagram
Nearly everything is made from scratch on the menu at Highwater—the brioche dinner rolls, house made poaka (pork) sausages, fresh spaghetti. The flavours seamlessly blend sweet and savoury together, oysters are served with quince vinegar sorbet and pops of salted kumquat go with ceviche, while sweet slithers of melon go hand in hand with burrata. It’s an absolute treat dining here, watching the open kitchen run smoothly—I honestly don’t get to go here enough.
Honourable mention: 50-50 restaurant
22 MacLean Street, Paraparaumu Beach
Image credit: 50-50 Restaurant | Vicki Young
Chef-owner Helen Turnbull worked in kitchens in Japan before moving back to Aotearoa and setting up her restaurant in the Kāpiti Coast. Technically not in Wellington but in Paraparaumu (about 40 minutes drive away) is 50-50. Utilising unique foraged ingredients found along the Coast from local forager Mike King of Finders Eaters Foraging, alongside beautiful local produce and Japanese culinary techniques, Helen and her team bring a beautiful harmony of Japan meets Aotearoa in her degustation menu.