Best Spots for Lunch in Wellington
Wellington, the vibrant capital of New Zealand, is a city that boasts a rich culinary scene. From its bustling waterfront eateries to its tucked-away bistros, the city is teeming with a variety of lunch spots that cater to every palate. Whether you're a local looking to explore new tastes or a tourist seeking to indulge in the city's gastronomic delights, this article will guide you through the best spots for lunch in Wellington. We've curated a list that includes everything from classic Kiwi dishes to international cuisine, ensuring that your midday meal in the Windy City is nothing short of spectacular.
Shepherd
4.6
(428)
Reviews:
Me and my partner often eat out a lot and chose to see what Shepard was like based on the reviews. I honestly didn’t expect much as we do eat out often and thought it’ll be nice/normal but was actually blown away and really enjoyed my experience.! We were seated right by the kitchen and as we arrived the service was so good and they were very welcoming but not annoying at the same-time. The food was an experience and I actually tried majority of the menu there as it all looked so good as it was coming out.! As the food came out because we were next to the kitchen at the bar the chefs served it out and explained each meal and man was the food good.! I found out after that the owner was actually serving us with his head chef and man what an experience.! Again I do eat out often and there are plenty of good eats out there but I really did enjoy my experience here leaving a tip and the food was so SO Devine.! Thank you Shepard for the experience here will definitely be sure to come back.!
Junior Tupufia
Such an amazing fancy lunch out together. The Turkish eggs and the has browns with eggs were the tastiest things I've eaten in ages, the kids thought the waffles were heaven. Pricey at $20 plus per lunch but worth it! Beers were $13+ so we sampled a Parrot Dog Party and stuck with water. Waiter was so attentive for top ups and even took our bags and jackets etc. Kids thought they were royalty.
Kim Seaward
They didn't change the vibe of the place for brunch. It still had dinner vibes. But whatever. The food was so bombs. We were a group of 5. We ordered the Avocado Toast - best avo toast I've ever had. The Pork and Octopus Mince Toast was just as good. Very unique and flavourful. The Waffle with Lemon Meringue was good too but maybe a tad too tart for my liking. But the kids loved it. Also ordered their Fried Chicken Burger and this was an all-around thumbs up because the chicken was crispy and the burger held well. Had the Japanese Pancake too. Maybe this was the least memorable of all the dishes. Lacked the umami to it. Still... overall an extremely satisfying brunch.
Eileen Lui
Our first time at Shepherd. I have been told that brunch is amazing there by many people. Is it really though? I would say the food was nice, but not amazing. The salad with fried chicken was average. The Waffle with Persimmons was disappointing, I was expecting more flavor to enhance the fruitiness in the dish. The Cashew Truffle Mushroom dish made up for it as it was balanced hitting the right notes. The ambiance was very pleasant, somewhat intimate yet very open. Well done! The access to the restaurant is daunting.. with a pram, as many steps to climb to get our table. The staff is GOLD by all means. Very friendly and helpful. Everyone seemed to get along well. I enjoyed seeing pretty much all of the waiters and cooks smile during our service. The bottomless coffee service reminded me of breakfast and brunch restaurants in North America. Thank you, and we appreciate waiters being proactive with refills without us waving for their attention. Will definitely return for dinner!
Filip S
An absolute delight to eat here. I am glad I researched otherwise would not be able to spot as it is in a bit of a hidden area. The decor, good, service and hospitality is to point and am so glad had the opportunity to experience excellence here. Came for brunch and wish I had time and opportunity to do dinner… next time. Had the fried chicken and waffle with artichoke caramel. Excellent… great thought put into the selection of ingredients and combinations. Love that they embrace locally made and in season produce.
Shilpa Thakker
1/5 Eva Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
The larder
4.7
(595)
Relaxed restaurant serving locally sourced, gourmet New Zealand cuisine & wine in a converted house.
Reviews:
We presented at lunch with 7 people and they accommodated us with a smile at a bit of a smaller table because other tables were reserved. The service is excellent! The food was fresh and delicious - I had the cauliflower and prawn soup, and it was so smooth and yummy, seasoned perfectly. I had the honey parsnips on the side, and I took some home to enjoy the next day. The pasta my family ate looked delicious, and they had every bite. What a lovely lunch 💚
Kirsten S
Went in search of Wellington's best cheese souffle, and we found it. Most delicious meal I've had out for a while. Accompanying salad was perfectly put together too, and the service was above and beyond. Am definitely making The Larder a go to for good food. Thank you Sarah and team!
Holly Robinson
Such a joy to be at The Larder today. The kitchen team excelled - if you haven't been lately- it's worth treating yourself. And if the Confit duck is on the menu it's your lucky day! The parsnips were heaven.... and with such a treat had dessert too. Guess what - that was sensational too. Consistently great food and fabulous service. Can't wait to go again.
Kaz H
Outstanding WOAP 23 burger. Tasty blood orange Kombucha too. Thanks Larder 👍
Nicholas Cooper
We were in the area for the Weta tours and popped in to grab a quick bite prior, and it was so good we went back for lunch. I don’t have photos from brekkie because that was very quickly swallowed, but here were a few from lunch. Would’ve loved to go back for another meal if we could but too bad we were moving on today! Service was friendly and very helpful as well, though they do tend to get pretty crowded during peak times so you may have a bit of a wait. The only thing I didn’t quite like were that the coffees were a little on the sour side, but I just needed a bit of juice to jumpstart the morning engine so it was not trouble to me.
Lily
133 Darlington Road, Miramar, Wellington 6022, New Zealand
Charley noble
4.5
(1807)
Happening restaurant featuring upmarket NZ cooking, wine & cocktails in a retro, industrial space.
Reviews:
Delicious and memorable meal! The lamb and beef were devine. Tasty dessert as well. A well executed dining experience on all fronts - food, cocktails, wines and friendly and helpful service. Would definitely make a return visit.
Alex
First time in a real restaurant for years, forgot how loud they are! Came here because my mate Celine recommended their steaks and we both forgot it was Friday night so even tho there was a 45m wait I enjoyed watching the food get made. I think it was worth it. Got the sirloin and some chips.
Ryan B
Excellent service , head straight from airport and the staff offer to store my luggage. The best lamb dish i ever had and i am not the lamb go to person .
Vincent Ho
Charley Noble is always an exquisite delight to visit, from the beautiful interior to the well informed wait staff. This was the Wild Venison and Kiwismash mocktail. The venison was devine, buttery and the accompaniment of the puree beetroot and chocolate sauce was like a slow perfectly timed waltz in my mouth.
Sasha Hovinga
We had a lovely time at Charley Noble, great food and a nice relaxing vibe. I would definitely come back for another steak! 🥩
Chris Lamb
Ground Huddart Parker Building, 1 Post Office Square, Wellington Central, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Capitol restaurant
4.6
(356)
Relaxed corner restaurant serving brunch, New Zealand entrees & wine in a contemporary space.
Reviews:
We were looking for a place to have an easy stress free European dinner after a long day. The dishes were fantastic, Eye fillet was perfectly cooked with a fantastic gratin and beautiful pesto. Side potatoes were more on a rusty side with roasted to a point of fluffiness inside and crunchy skin on the outside. I also tried my friend's special of the day veal in the bone which was extremely tender and melt in the mouth. The reason I gave 4 stars us that the restaurant was too busy and they really need to have at least 1 more staff. I ordered cranberry juice but got something else, possibly grapefruit as it was pink but citrusy... We were told that someone would tell us the specials, but no-one came to do so and we had to remind the waitress to do so when she was taking the order. We arrived at the restaurant at 8.30 pretty hungry and only got the food at 9.55, which was a very long wait especially for a late sitting. I understand of course that they were super busy, but I believe the management needs to make sure that there is enough stuff available for those nights.
Irina Kapeli
Food is always good there. Impeccable service and tasty menu and always evolving. Being regulars, it always has been consistent good service, food and wine selection. Great boutique restaurant for special occasions or if your just looking for simple tasty food. The wagyu beef fillet is my favourite paired with polenta and adding a spinach sautées side. The toffee pudding and strawberries Pavlova, delicious with a glass of sherry.
Tehaunui
Always a nice dinner with great service. We tried the WOAP cocktail, festival dish and burger. We also shared the calamari which was the best thing we had. Their calamari is so light and soft with wonderful flavor. I don't known what magic they are weaving with their calamari, but it's definitely worth going there to have it. The festival dish was not amazing and has a very strong fishy seafood flavor. The burger was nice, but nothing special.
Lindsay Harn
One of the best beef fillet i've ever had. The place is small, with few tables on the corner of a building. We waited quite a lot for our meal but they offered us a very good squid. Staff very gentle. A really delicious meal.
Giacomo Dusina
Had a fabulous meal catching up with family from out of town. Food was superb - every dish was top quality, beautifully presented and best of all , tasted sublime. You always know when you've picked a great restaurant when you struggle to make choices from the menu. Highlights for us were the entrees of calamari with aoli, sautéed lambs brains and steak tartare. Mains were divine- Wagu steak with pamesan potato gratin, Nduja strozzapetti and lambs liver with spinach sautéed with gorgonzola. Portions were perfect, possibly even too large but there wasn't a heck of a lot left after the three of us eagerly shared a taste of our chosen dishes with each other. There was definitely some food envy going on. We couldn't resist the Pavlova served with blackcurrant coulis which was dessert heaven only to then be gifted one of Capitols delicious chocolate puddings with creme fraiche. Full and replete our night was over. Throughout the evening we were beautifully looked after by Toby who was extremely knowledgeable about the daily blackboard specials and was generous with his time without being intrusive. Overall a fantastic night that restored my faith in Bistro style dining in Wellinton.
Wendy Slieker
10 Kent Terrace, Mount Victoria, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Loretta
4.3
(1422)
Open, contemporary restaurant serving brunch, pizza & global mains, plus wine & beer.
Reviews:
I visited Loretta for dinner with family recently and thoroughly enjoyed a dining experience! I found the food to be absolutely delicious and impeccably prepared. Our waitress was very attentive, friendly and helpful. She couldn't have been any more so! The menu is geared around sharing with the table which was fun. Loretta is very well worth a visit if you're looking for great food and a great dining experience in the central city.
William Patterson
Astonishing development! Loretta is the first restaurant we’ve ever been to (and we’ve asked the question of at least a hundred) which has said “yes” to having a non-alcoholic wine on it’s list… It was a sparking wine, and my partner enjoyed her glass very much. Congratulations to Loretta on their first and I hope they add a zero white and rose to their list (McGuigans are not bad). And if they can find a drinkable red that would be an achievement. Our plate-sized pizzas were just right and the surprising combination of wood-fired peach, pancetta, stracciatella, balsamic, and basil was delicious. Dark chocolate mousse was wonderful. Speaking of wonderful. we were treated really well by the team and in particular Zoe and Lena who gave us a great table in the window. Even on a rainy Sunday evening it was fun watching the world go by.
Hamish & Vivienne Pringle
Ordered several small plates for sharing. My friends and I thoroughly enjoyed the food. So much finesse in the dishes! The fennel and radish salad was refreshing and complemented the lamb (lamb was fork tender btw). One of the best restaurants we have tried in NZ!
Clara
Great mushrooms on toast, lots of tables inside and quite packed as well. Service pretty good.
Peony Yang
Greeted with a smile on arrival, and promptly shown to a table. Friendly staff, with prompt water replacement when bottle nearly finished! Waffles were excellent and almost too big! My wife had the omelet which she liked. I love it when I get great service and great food in the same venue! Highly recommend!
Colin MacPhee
181 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Highwater eatery
4.5
(305)
Reviews:
The food was delicious love the little side of pickled cucumber but one third of the pork chops was fat which I didn’t like so much. The oysters were great super juicy with the bit of lemon juice and the butter was salty though it went perfectly great together. I usually don’t eat raw oysters. But this was an interesting try.
Alice
Modern restaurant with great food. Came early on a Tuesday night and it was almost full by the time we had our mains. Most of us enjoyed the smaller dishes more than the mains, but that is not to say that the mains weren’t great. Highwater Eatery is our first stop at wellington (and nz) and needless to say it has set the bar high! Notified restaurant prior that we’re bringing a one year old, were allocated a good spot with ample space for the pram but no highchair. The little one grizzled here and there but the restaurant was loud enough to cover her cries.
Jacquelin Tsui
This was the best food I've had in Wellington! We had suuuuuuch an incredibly soft and juicy lamb dish 🐑 the staff were all lovely and the vibe was great, really relaxed and cosy. We booked our next visit before we even left the restaurant cause we wanted to take other people here that much
Chris Lamb
For me this is by far the best restaurant in Wellington. Amazing food, with impecable sourcing of ingredients and cooking, one of the best natural wine selections and friendly, helpful (and handsome) service. My only wish is they'd change up the menu a bit more frequently, as I'm there with friends and clients almost every week!
Benny Schwartzman
Devine. I wish the Yuzu foam on the oysters came as a cocktail! Burratta & permission delicious. Every mouthful of the flounder was scrumptious! But I'd skip the cheese platter.
Bree Gray
54 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
The old quarter
4.6
(1110)
Reviews:
Delicious. They ran out of mango for my salad and dessert but they used replacement fruits and the food was still a vibe. It gets busy early but I was dining solo and they popped me on the bar. Echoing advice below: book in advance for a group.
Julia Broughton
The food was good, but nothing special. Nice to try, but I wouldn’t go back here (except for the desert🤤). We had the salmon in banana leaf and the chicken curry, both with coconut rice. The salmon was tasty, but the portion was very small in my opinion. The chicken curry was good, but a bit too sweet in my opinion. The desert (sticky rice pudding) was amazing! Although I am a bit biased probably because it reminded me of the mango sticky rice which was my favorite desert in Thailand. But if you are a fan of this kind of deserts, I strongly recommend you try it😁 Note: the restaurant is pretty full (at least for dinner) so booking in advance is probably better.
Cristina Meirosu
Cracking food! We had some really fresh Vietnamese food which we loved and super speedy and friendly service. Not to mention the Welly on a plate cocktail was very impressive.
Chris Lamb
We ordered many items on the list and shared-as it is intended - SO good! Ribs, Bao Buns, Curry, Dumplings,.. Cannot recommend more. Delicious and people are friendly, atmo is right - price is defo worth!
Merve Yildiz
A busy place with a great vibe. The staff are very friendly & accommodating. The food was good but I wasn’t demanding the recipes. I’d recommend 3 small dishes would probably feed two people. The cocktails are ok but I’d probably stick with beer or wine next time. I would go back though.
Luke
39 Dixon Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand