New Zealand may be most famed for its breathtaking natural landscapes (and of course a certain Peter Jackson franchise), but the Land of the Long White Cloud is also somewhat of a foodie mecca. Wellington in particular claims to have more cafes, bars and restaurants per capita than New York. And whether or not this is true is irrelevant, it’s undeniable that this hipster hub in the North Island has cafes, bars and restaurants in excess. The best part? Wellington is only a three-hour flight from the east coast of Australia. Breakfast Brunch seems not quite as important as coffee to Wellington locals, who rival Melburnians in their dedication to a caffeinated brew. If you are eager for a quality cup of coffee and a light nibble head straight for Customs Brew Bar – the flagship venue of Supreme Coffee. A sleek wood-heavy interior houses the venue’s lengthy list of coffee options, with eight different bean varieties available. Fellow coffee darling Flight Coffee Hangar is down the road and heavy on both brunch and coffee options. Its owner Nick Clarke is a former World Barista Champion – proof the coffee house knows how to whip up a good flat white. Somewhat of a Wellington institution, Fidel’s is renowned for its homestyle meals. Everything on the menu is ethically and sustainably sourced to boot. For those who like to be spoilt for choice, Loretta is the new kid on the block (quite literally). The Cuba Street addition boasts an impressive menu of breakfast and brunch options that put cafe capital Sydney to shame. Lunch For lunch on the run there may be no better option than the clandestine Leeds Street Bakery nestled into Hannah’s Laneway off Eva Street. The bread here is made on site, with a selection of hefty sandwiches and coffee available at the connected cafe. Dessert is also non-negotiable thanks to the venue’s famous salted caramel cookie. For carbo-loading of the boiled variety, there is Best Ugly Bagels just off nearby Cuba Street. The Montreal-style bagels there are hand-rolled and cut before being fired in a custom-made stone oven and laden with toppings that range from the classic (peanut butter and jelly), to decadent (banana, maple mascarpone, chocolate fudge sauce, chopped peanuts). Dinner If innovative food is your forte then Shepherd is for you. Named after owner Shepherd Elliot, the venue is all about the detail, as evidenced in its statement-making interiors, as much as its intriguing menu items (which include a fried pork liver, shark liver ‘foie gras’, pickled daikon, yuzu chutney, dashi and 8 Wired Saison Sauvin glaze at present). Burger cravings can be satisfied at Egmont Street Eatery. The former basement car park has been given a new lease on life as a multi-functional space that serves breakfast through dinner. But it is its burgers that the venue is most famed for as a former winner of the lauded Burger Wellington competition that is a part of WOAP. Anglophiles will find heaven in Field & Green, which conjures up what they call European soul food. The robust fare is largely English-inspired, with a weekly changing menu that includes a line of luscious homemade ice cream intended for adults, with flavours that range from marmalade to Earl Grey. Drinks The craft beer scene in Wellington is second-to-none. And the kings of the city’s craft brewing scene are undoubtedly Garage Project. The innovative craft brewery is housed in a (you guessed it) former garage in the Aro Valley, where you can sample and collect the wares for yourself at the cellar door. If a seat is what you are really after, the brewery also owns a Tap Room down the road where a selection of its creative brews is available alongside a bite to eat. You can enjoy Garage Project’s beers a little more central at Golding’s Free Dive. Nestled in Eva Street, the quirky bar is home to a vast selection of craft brews and can claim to be the city’s only non-smoking venue both inside and out. For something a little heavier on the mood lighting head towards Hawthorn Lounge. The intimate speakeasy has garnered a reputation for its avant-garde cocktail list and the talented mixologists who create behind the bar. Activities Wellington has no shortage of options for outdoorsy types. Grab a cable car from Lambton Quay in the city to the Botanic Garden, and stroll your way back through town. Or make the 30-minute trek up to Mount Victoria lookout where you can glimpse out onto Wellington city, the Hutt Valley and Cook Strait. Foodies will find plenty to forage for at Eva Street. A former shoe factory has been transformed into a hub of eateries and design savvy new apartments, with plenty of petite producers dotted throughout. Must-visits include the Wellington Chocolate Factory, peanut butter connoisseurs Fix and Fogg, and Six Barrel Soda. But if shopping of the clothing variety is more your forte move along to Cuba Street. The shopping district hosts a variety of chain stores, intermingled with a lengthy array of vintage boutiques for which Wellington is famed. Accommodation Sitting centrally in Wellington opposite the city’s waterfront is the Intercontinental. Sleek and with all the amenities you could ever ask for, it’s a welcome home for a short but sweet weekend away. For those more eager to revel in eccentric design, the QT chain has just established itself in town. The QT Museum Wellington upholds the quirky design values of the Australian hotel group’s fellow outlets – while small, the accommodation option bursts with intriguing architecture and design.
