Wellington and the Wairarapa Restaurants

Wellington and the Wairarapa Restaurant Reviews

In Wellington, restaurants, cafés, and sports bars have been springing up overnight like mushrooms. Although we'll never be without the classic meal of steak, fries, and ale, Wellington restaurants have embraced more adventurous fare. Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Malaysian, Mexican, and Italian cuisines are increasingly common. Indigenous food, too, is appearing in restaurants around the city—native plants might be paired with traditional seafood or made into sauces to accompany meat or sweet-potato dishes.

In rural areas outside Wellington, the wine industry has revolutionized local tables, with excellent dining and wine-tasting spots. In the Wairarapa, restaurants are winning a reputation for creative cuisine.

Generally, lunch runs from noon until 2, and most restaurants close for a few hours before opening for dinner around 6. On Monday, many restaurants are shuttered. Dress codes are still really relaxed; jeans would be frowned upon only in the top restaurants.