Our Travel Insider Twitter team made a call out for where to find the best steaks in Wellington, and the Wellington Tourism team came back with a bunch of updates/additions for our Wellington city guide.
Art and Design
City Gallery
Civic Square, Wakefield Street.
+64 4 801 3021.
City Gallery Wellington is a dynamic cultural presence in the capital city of Aotearoa New Zealand. Whether it’s the latest exhibition of New Zealand’s avant-garde artists, an international collection visiting the gallery or just the gallery’s café, there are plenty of reasons to put Wellington’s eyes-and-ears-on-the-arts on your schedule. Other attractions include the Michael Hirschfeld Gallery, dedicated to showing Wellington artists, and the popular Nikau café, making some of the city’s best coffee.
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Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand
Cable Street (waterfront).
+64 4 381 7000.
Te Papa is New Zealand's national museum, where you can explore the great stories of this fascinating land and the people who live there. The past, present and future are exhibited in provocative, challenging and entertaining ways.
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Shop
Starfish
128 Willis Street.
+64 4 385 3722.
With a commitment to using natural eco-friendly fibres and recycled buttons and buckles, you can shop knowing the planet is being looked after at Starfish. Designers Laurie Foon and Carleen Schollum create innovative and quality clothing which focuses on the NZ lifestyle and environment, while at the same time being fresh, cool and up to the moment. Wellington-designed and NZ-made. Starfish also stocks a unique selection of national and international labels and accessories.
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Old Bank Arcade
223 - 237 Lambton Quay.
+64 4 922 0600.
Boutique arcade shopping with a difference. Check out an excellent range of fashion in impeccable surroundings. Stores include: Ruby, Andrea Moore, I love Paris, Lush, Luminary, Andrea Moore, BUCKS, Desire, Minnie Cooper, Ricochet, Rixon Groove, Satori, Shalla Jewellers, Tie Rack, Victoire, and Workshop.
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Eat
Osteria del Toro
60 Tory Street.
+64 4 381 2299.
Osteria del Toro presents a culinary snapshot of the Mediterranean's wonderful cuisine, including fragrant Moroccan tagines, Spanish paellas, authentic italian-style pizzas and many other delicious offerings from Italy, Spain, Morocco, Turkey and Greece.
Martin Bosley's Yacht Club Restaurant
103 Oriental Parade.
+64 4 920 8302.
Martin Bosley has gained a serious food following courtesy of his recently launched cookbook, Martin Bosley Cooks. The exquisite menu has a strong focus on fresh produce and seafood. The restaurant has a fantastic waterfront location, with panoramic views of Wellington Harbour, excellent service and exquisite cuisine.
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Sweet Mothers Kitchen
5 Courtenay Place.
+64 4 385 4444.
In the mood for quesadilla? Try Sweet Mothers Kitchen, a funky wee joint specialising in friendly and relaxed home cooking, drawing on influences from New Orleans and Mexico.
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Mighty Mighty
Upstairs 104 Cuba Mall.
+64 4 385 2890.
One of the newer local favourites. Be bedazzled by the gloriously kitsch interior, while knocking back one the many house specialities - try Lion Brown by the jug and a toastie (some of the best in town!). Frequent live acts, a great dance floor and a guaranteed good time - this is the place to go to see Wellington nightlife in its prime.
Havana
32 Wigan Street.
+64 4 384 7039.
Havana Bar is a haven for lovers of world music. The Cuban themed bar is an escape from pretension and the work-a-day world. Havana’s eclectic mix of music and personalities has made it a bit of a local haunt. Experts in the Cuban specialties, Havana has a wide range of beer, wines and spirits, both Cuban and otherwise.
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Cafes
Nikau Gallery Café
Wellington City Art Gallery Building, Civic Square.
+64 4 801 4168.
Nikau Gallery Café is a wonderful place to relax and recharge. The coffee is among the best in Wellington; stop by for a cup and indulge in delicious cakes and pastries made fresh daily. Featuring the best organic produce and an ever changing menu Nikau has something for all tastes. Fully licensed, with relaxed indoor and outdoor dining Nikau is a great place to enjoy a light-meal and a drink with friends before taking in the best in contemporary art that City Gallery has to offer.
Fidel’s
234 Cuba Street.
+64 4 801 6868.
A bastion at the top of Cuba Street, laidback Fidel’s is a popular hang-out where strong Havana coffee comes fresh from the roastery just around the corner. A summer suntrap, the front courtyard is an ideal spot to lose time and the food is always fresh and changing.
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Tours
Zest Food Tours
+64 4 801 9198 or +64 27 276 8209.
Discover Wellington's vibrant food scene with Zest Food Tours. Their experienced guides will introduce you personally to their favourite Wellington gourmet food stores, coffee roasters, cafés and restaurants. A Zest Wellington food tour is for people with an appetite for culinary adventure and discovering new places through food and wine. We explore this city known for its love of great coffee and food, finding culinary treasures visitors often miss. Connect with like-minded local food lovers, meet top Wellington restaurant and food professionals and uncover culinary treasures as you enjoy a Zest food and wine tour. They also offer personally guided tours food and wine tours of Greytown and Martinborough, just an hour’s drive from Wellington in the celebrated Wairarapa wine region.
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ZEALANDIA: The Karori Sanctuary Experience
End of Waiapu Road, Karori, Wellington.
+64 4 920 9209.A haven for endangered native birds and wildlife such as little spotted kiwi, saddleback and tuatara, just minutes from central Wellington. The unique predator-proof fence surrounding the Sanctuary protects the wildlife and ensures that the forest eventually regenerates to its former glory. Offering a range of daily tours.
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Stay
Quality Hotel
223 Cuba Street.
Quality Hotel Wellington is located in the heart of the city on Cuba Street, which is renowned for its restaurants, art, buskers, bucket fountain, and eclectic shopping. Constructed in 2007 beside the Comfort Hotel Wellington, the Quality Hotel Wellington offers a friendly and modern four-star hotel option.
Listings and images courtesy Positively Wellington Tourism