New and notable places in Wellington

A sleek Wellington café is in pursuit of the perfect croissant, and after taking your first bite you’ll find the proof is in the pastry. It takes three days to make something so good you’ll consume it in three minutes.

Just off Courtenay Place, Glou Glou has a relaxed feel. Enjoy a coffee from Supreme or colourful tea, matcha, or ube latte, and a warm atmosphere to match.

The café serves crumpets with sweet and savoury seasonal toppings on weekdays. On Fridays and weekends, it brings out the stars of the show – the pastries. If you’re lucky enough to nab some (they often sell out), take your time enjoying them – it took them six months to get here.

There’s a surprise waiting down Duke’s Arcade. A café aiming to challenge Kiwi taste buds with international flavours. Peckish Jr Café offers enhanced breakfast and lunchtime menus. Classic café items are elevated with some unexpected tastes. If you’re on the go, try the toasties — bulgogi beef, lemongrass chicken, or spicy tofu will hit the spot. If you’ve got more time on your hands the menu also offers some heartier meals worth savouring. There’s terrific barista-made coffee available along with specialty teas and smoothies. 

Here’s where it all happens. The hub where Peoples Coffee roasts, packs, distributes and serves its delicious coffee. The café at the front, with its old wooden floors and two-story high windows, is light and airy. There’s a selection of delicious toasties on offer along with scones, pastries, and cookies. At the back, through a second set of large windows, the roastery is a hive of activity. Here, two tonnes of coffee beans are roasted each week and distributed to scores of cafés and grocery stores around the country. After you’ve had your pick-me-up coffee you can talk to the staff and learn about roasting and the coffee industry.

It’s always cosy at Dee’s Place, a neighbourhood whiskey bar hidden underground on Cuba Street. The capital isn’t known for its subterranean establishments, but this tucked-away bar makes a good case for them. You’ll find one of the city’s biggest selections of American whiskeys, interesting cocktails, and plenty of atmosphere.

Found on the corner of Taranaki and Jessie Streets, West Two is a great morning coffee stop. The menu is designed for on-the-go snacks. Owner Abbie Dorrington provides fresh trays of locally sourced baking. Grab a cheese scone, croissant, Danish, or doughnut to go with your drink of choice.
 
Coffee comes from L’affare, conveniently roasted just up the road. If you’re looking for something different, West Two’s matcha drinks have a fanatic local following. The team makes the syrups for the blueberry and strawberry matchas in-house. They’re not listed on the menu so you have to ask.

Extending up past the Embassy Theatre, Marjoribanks Street has a clutch of intimate eateries offering great food and service. Rosella, housed in a two-storied 1886 house, adds a little bit of exotic charm to the surrounding hospitality businesses. Co-owned by Johnon MacDonald and Kat Strand, Rosella capitalises on big, bold, fresh flavours. Johnon’s food takes its inspiration from the Mediterranean, Middle East, and North Africa. The serving style is modern with a share-style approach.

A fun, low-key, intimate atmosphere was the aim of the creators of Plonk. Sitting on a busy inner-city road and surrounded by office blocks, the bar and eatery fills a gap in the market. “We reckon there was a bit of fun missing from this end of town and wanted to entice people to stay around after work,” says creative director and chef James Pask.

It’s not just the after-work drinks crowd that Plonk attracts. The menu appeals to serious foodies, and the evening sounds encourage live music lovers.

Home to Te Kairanga, Martinborough Vineyard and Lighthouse Gin, The Runholder provides a one-stop shop for great Martinborough fare. The three brands offer a quality hospitality experience with three unique dining areas. Outside, a sun-soaked terrace overlooks Martinborough’s rolling hills and vineyards.

The Ram is a bar that’s happy to mould itself to whatever your evening requires — be it negronis on tap, or a midnight chicken parmigiana (or eggplant, if you’re that way inclined).

With a focus on simple done really, really well, The Ram is an equally good spot for an evening drink as it is for a casual meal. The menu offers easy snacks like fries (arguably some of the best in town), fresh oysters, or lush burrata that’s perfect for sharing. Mains are refined takes on pub classics.

Started by Wellington couple Kerry and Dean, Mean Doses is a local craft brewery. What began in a basement is now a fully-fledged bar and taproom on Tory Street.

A lineup of taps pours Mean Doses’ classic brews, alongside some exclusive house beers. A small selection of wine, gin, and single-malt whisky will tempt non-beer drinkers. Cool and casual, the space is upstairs from Mabel’s restaurant, which provides the bar snacks. A mix of classics and intriguing Burmese dishes are great nibbles. You’ll need to stay fuelled, as there are games galore. Challenge your friends to pinball, pool, shuffleboard, or classic arcade games.