Luzie L.'s
Best eat-as-much-as-you-want restaurants in Wellington
- 14Hare Krishna Higher Taste RestaurantWellington CentralHigher Taste has an extensive array of always delicious vegan and vegetarian foods. The buffet selection means you can eat as much rice and curry as you care for. You are guaranteed to leave feeling nourished.
- 21Jasmin Licensed Chinese RestaurantWellington CentralTucked away in the James Cook arcade, off Lambton quay, is this cute little Chinese restaurant. The buffet style lunches are always fantastic, there is generally a vast selection available, from dumplings to fried rice. Jasmin serves up great, traditional Chinese food, however, there are only a limited number of Vege options.
- 33The Grill is definitely a little fancier, but they definitely do it well. Well known for their annual chocolate buffet, which is as amazing as it sounds, the Grill definitely lives up to it’s great reputation. They also do a breakfast buffet, which is always popular, and for good reason. The staff are also extremely well trained, and deserve a mention here.
- 45Wasabi SushiWellington CentralThere are few things in life that I enjoy more than sushi conveyor belts. Wasabi Sushi is super central (cuba street), and provide great service. The aforementioned conveyor belt delivers the sushi right to your lap, and you pay by the plate when you are finished. Highly recommend the Takoyaki.
- 53Majestic CuisineTe AroWidely regarded as the best Yum Cha in Wellington, Majestic cuisine on Courteney place live well up to their reputation. Some options are definitely not for the squeamish, with chicken feet and Durian on offer. Yum Cha is always a novel and enjoyable experience, fun for everyone involved!
Luzie L.'s
Free things to do during Wellington's winter
- 134I mean, this wouldn’t be a Wellington list without Te Papa….Whether you’ve been living in the city for years, or if you’re just passing through, it's never not worth a visit, really. Highly educational I’m sure.
- 22Polhill ReserveWellington CentralThere is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing. The bush walks in Polhill reserve are all amazing, whether you go for 20 mins, or a whole day. Its a neat way to see the different little niches and communities within Wellington. You can walk right up to the Zealandia ridge fence, and definitely see some native birds.
- 321Kirkcaldie & Stains LimitedWellington CentralBrowsing department stores is the best form of non-committal shopping. You try some luxurious skincare, check out some Armani china wear, then return to your daily life.
- 433There is really amazing water at Moore Wilson’s. Officially it’s by donation, but basically free though, you can take however much you want. Good water is a luxury item in Wellington because god knows our tap water sucks.
- 51Kai o Te Aro Community GardenAro ValleyKai o Te Aro is the community garden you walk past all the time if you live in Aro Valley. The campus services at VUW have a link where you can volunteer to go plant stuff, and reap the benefits. This is such an easy and fun way to get out and do something for, and with the community.
Luzie L.'s
School Holiday Activities in Wellington
- 110Zealandia is an awesome place for kids to learn all about our little country’s precious biodiversity. The night tours are super cool, and are a chance to see some rare species (like spotted kiwi and tuatara) in their prime.
- 214Wellington Central LibraryWellington CentralThere are heaps of events on offer for your little ones at the Wellington Library. From ukeleles to live illustration demonstrations. Pop down for one of the events, or just go explore the book collection! There is no better way to escape the cold than rugged up with a good book!
- 31The Mind LabWellington CentralThe day camps at the mind lab are an awesome opportunity for kids to learn about all aspects of technology, innovation and creativity. From 3D printing, to robots, to film making, kids will be sure to be blown away!
- 43Wellington Chocolate FactoryWellington CentralTouring a real life chocolate factory sounds like something right out of a story book. Undoubtedly a memorable holiday activity, and very educational too. Book-in only tours are operating every Saturday during these school holidays at WCF. Get in quick!
- 521Wellington ZooNewtownThe Wellington Zoo’s school holiday problems are never amiss. These holidays they have several day programs available, all of which have different themes, such as ‘Animal ambulance’ and ‘Fantastic Felines’. These will no doubt be very special experiences for kids of all ages. Book quickly though, spots are limited.
Luzie L.'s
Best Takeaways in Wellington
- 115Pizza PomodoroTe AroThe Pizzas at Pomodoro are heaven on a thin crust. Authentic italian style, with fresh tomato bases and stretchy mozzarella. They also do free delivery on Mondays, to kill the start-of-week-blues.
- 24RamsTe AroRam’s is probably the best Asian takeaway in wellington, always super tasty, and the wait is never too long. The menu is super extensive, so all tastes are undoubtedly catered for. The chilli oil dumplings are always a favourite, as is the Ma Po tofu.
- 39Sushi BiWellington CentralSushi Bi sushi is so incredibly delicious that it is hard for me to even walk past. They do half priced sushi from 4pm, but be quick because there is always a line. The best part is, they don’t have pre-made trays, you choose your own pieces and make up your own tray, which is especially exciting. Love the tempura options, they are always excellent.
- 425Mt Vic ChipperyMount VictoriaRustic style, hand cut Fish n’ chips. While a little on the pricey side, the extra few dollars are definitely worth it. You can choose the fish you’d like, and everything is made to order. The kumara chips are out of this world amazing, and the staff are super friendly. Highly recommned.
- 520Aunty Mena’s provides solid Vegan Malaysian and Chinese takeaways at a reasonable price. Everything on the menu is super delicious, and you get extra bonus points for not harming any animals for your dinner! The Tom yum soups are my favourite, with or without dumplings or noodles, and I wouldn’t say no to the wontons either.
Luzie L.'s
Wellington's Best Bakeries
- 14Le Moulin BakeryWellington CentralProbably one of Wellington’s best kept secrets, Le Moulin looks suspiciously inconspicuous from the outside. The tiny upper Willis street store is home to what are undoubtedly the best pasties in town. The danishes and croissants taste right out of paris, possibly even better, who am I to say?
- 21Leeds Street BakeryWellington CentralTucked away down an alley way, right next to Red Rabbit roastery, who I have previously expressed my love for, the two co-exist in a beautiful symbiosis. Leeds street bakery produce a delish array of rustic style sourdough loaves, and some amazing (an understatement) salted caramel cookies, as well as sandwiches and nibbles served on fresh bread.
- 38Pandoro are an Italian artesian bakery through and through. Setting the bar high for Wellington’s bakeries for over twenty years, Pandoro serve up an impressive array of organic bread products from three different stores within the CBD. While the ciabatta and sourdough are both superb, I highly recommend the sweeter options, such as the Brioche and vegan chocolate cake.
- 49ArobakeAro ValleyTucked away in Aro Valley, any list of Wellington bakeries would be incomplete without a mention of Arobake. While the scope of the products is so vast I can’t attest to all of them, I have tried a pretty extensive array of Arobake products, and haven’t been disappointed yet, and that says a lot. The sunflower seed sourdough is particularly delicious, as is the traditional Weggli bread.
Luzie L.'s
Wellington Winter Hot Spots
- 120MatterhornTe AroMatterhorn’s sexy vibe and toasty heated courtyard/smoking area make it a perfect destination for a winter night out. On top of an amazing full menu, they have a delish selection of nibbles to go with wines or cocktails. The staff are also super knowledgable and friendly.
- 24LorettaWellington CentralLoretta is (relatively) new to wellington, and has brought with it the trendy, minimalist vibe that other local dining destinations are decidedly lacking. The menu layouts are creative and interesting, the food is superb, and the aesthetic only adds to the dining experience. Love that green juice too! Perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner!
- 311Garage ProjectAro ValleyBeards and beer, need I say more? Well, I will. Garage project’s friendly crew put together an array of some of the tastiest craft beer Wellington has to offer. They have a solid ‘try before you buy’ policy, which the staff are always more than happy to indulge you in while explaining the intricacies of the brewing process. I highly recommend li’l red rye, but if thats not up your alley, they more than likely have something to suit your specific palette.
- 420Customs make, in my humble opinion, the best coffee in Wellington. There are always a carefully curated array of origins and varietals available, and the baristas are more than happy to brew your choice of bean to your liking, using whichever brewing method you prefer. Especially neat are the information cards that come with each coffee, giving you insight into the process behind the scenes. The staff are also super friendly, and remember orders and faces, which is always nice!
- 521Havana BarTe AroHavana bar is that place you go to one night, then never find again because you went there when it was dark and forgot exactly which turn you took to get there. But thats part of it’s charm. Havana is one of a kind, tucked away in a side street within two (albeit re-decorated) historic cottages. The tapas-style menu is amazing, and the atmosphere is always buzzing with energy. Highly reccomend.