Alice H.'s
Best burgs
- 117Ekim BurgersWellington CentralEkim Burgers are well worth the trip out to Lyall Bay, as the queues on the weekend go to show. There are heaps of options for both meat lovers, vegetarian and vegans; all are enormous, and many feature special touches like onion jam, blue cheese sauce and corn fritters. Most are about $8, and so they’re excellent value; the cheapest, a classic beef burger, is a steal at $5. The caravan is parked beach-side on Lyall Bay from about 11am ‘til 8.30pm most days, but check their Facebook page for updates on stormy days.
- 228MontereyNewtownStyled like a Californian diner, Monterey is an effortlessly cool destination for catching up with friends over a meal. The tables are covered with paper, on which patrons are encouraged to doodle; books are on offer for those dining solo, and board games for those in a group; and the music selections are consistently excellent. It’s famous in and outside of Newtown for its burgers, which go from $17 to $10 on Tuesdays (though it’s best to get in line before 6.30pm if you’ve got a big group, or are not willing to wait!).
- 37The PortlanderPipiteaThe Portlander introduced its Moolander burger for this year’s Wellington On A Plate’s Burger Wellington competition. With its Wagyu patty with mushroom sauce, gruyere, caramelised onions, roasted tomato and parmesan crisp on sweet brioche bun, it was such a hit during Wellington On A Plate it’s been added to the restaurant’s standard menu. At $25, it’s on the pricy side, but my dining companions and I were not disappointed.
- 410It’s not fine dining, but in terms of cheap, tasty takeaway joints that don’t ask you to check your dignity at the door, Burger Fuel delivers. (Not literally, but how good would that be?) The Hamburgini with cheese makes a great light meal if you’ve got only a fiver to spare, but my go-to is the Third Pounder with cheese. And their three outlets – the new premises at Countdown in Mt Cook, the Cuba St store opposite Midnight Espresso, and the recently renovated Courtenay Place original – mean you’re never far away from a cheap burg.
Alice H.'s
The perfect day of pampering
- 15Haight Ashbury Boutique SalonWellington CentralI’ve been going to Haight Ashbury Boutique Salon for five years now, and am always impressed by the care, thoughtfulness and good humour with which the stylists approach their work. The range of skills to be found in this salon are incredible (my personal picks are Damask for colour and Sheldon for cut) and I never leave dissatisfied. Damask does a great hair and make-up combo for $135, which saves you from faffing about with bobby pins and hair spray in the lead-up to your big night out or special occasion.
- 213Pearl Hair Design & Day SpaWellington CentralYou can’t turn a corner in Wellington without coming across a beauty therapist or three, but, of all of them, Pearl Hair Design & Day Spa is my pick. Janine and Zoe are friendly, thorough and professional, and are adept at distracting you from your sometimes painful waxing experience, while delivering a result you’ll be delighted with. Pearl also allows you to book and manage your own appointments through their online booking service, which makes it extra convenient for busy professionals working to 25-minute windows. They also offer a very affordable Brazilian and eyebrow shape combo.
- 39East Day Spa - WellingtonPipiteaNothing pushes the "reset" button like a couple of hours at East Day Spa, an unlikely oasis on Thorndon Quay, a couple of minutes’ walk from Lambton Quay and Parliament. East Day Spa, which has premises in Auckland and Melbourne, offers facials, massages, manicures and pedicures at a range of different price points, and all are available as gifts. Turn up to your appointment 15 minutes early to enjoy a cup of green tea in the relaxation room.
- 420Logan BrownTe AroA favourite haunt of politicians, foodies and influencers, Logan Brown is out of many diners’ price range for anything other than a special occasion. But at just $35 per person for two courses, its lunchtime bistro menu is a delicious and affordable indulgence. Check loganbrown.co.nz for an up-to-date menu.
- 510Martha's PantryTe AroStepping into Martha’s Pantry is like stepping back in time, or visiting your grandma’s house. Everything is pink and/or covered in lace. Food is served on old mismatched china; teapots are covered with knitted tea cosies; and beverages come with dinky commemorative teaspoons. It’s most popular for its High Tea, where a variety of bite-sized sweet treats are served on a three-tier cake stand. Bookings are essential.
Alice H.'s
Best places to shop for people who are hard to shop for
- 130Unity Books WellingtonWellington CentralWhile it’s obviously more expensive than the many secondhand bookstores in Wellington, you can’t go past Unity Books on Willis St for its selection. It’s so beautifully curated that you’re bound to find something to add to your wishlist, no matter where your interests lie, and it’s a great first-stop for the friend or relative who’s impossible to shop for. Moreover, the staff are fantastically knowledgeable, and can help you track down even the most obscure tomes.
- 223IKO IKO Gift ShopTe AroThere’s something for everyone at Iko Iko, even if they don’t know it yet. Its wide range of homewares, books, knick-knacks, toys, artwork, jewellery, and novelty items means there’s bound to be something that reminds you of that friend or relative who’s difficult to shop for. There are always some gems in the sale section hidden away at the back of the store, too.
- 316Good As GoldTe AroGood As Gold is best known as a hipster fashion store, featuring labels like PAM, Twenty-Seven Names and Cheap Monday. But if you’re struggling with gift ideas, pop into its Victoria St store and check out its range of accessories, homewares, skincare and jewellery. It stocks hats, socks, watches, coffee mugs, collectible toys and other desirable trinkets that would make perfect stocking fillers.
- 45Rex RoyaleTe AroRex Royale stocks a limited selection of homewares, jewellery, art and accessories as well as designer clothes, much of which is handmade here in Wellington. Something’s bound to remind you of someone, but there’s always the option of a gift certificate if that hard-to-buy-for person proves just too hard to buy for.
Alice H.'s
Best bookshops
- 12Book HavenNewtownBook Haven is one of the best second-hand book stores in Wellington, let alone Newtown. It’s not the largest shop, but it’s well-curated and well-organised – and the proprietor is knowledgeable, helpful and down for a chat. The prices, too, are reasonable.
- 230Unity Books WellingtonWellington CentralWhile it’s obviously more expensive than the many secondhand bookstores in Wellington, you can’t go past Unity Books on Willis St for its selection. It’s so beautifully curated that you’re bound to find something to add to your wishlist, no matter where your interests lie, and it’s a great first-stop for the friend or relative who’s impossible to shop for. Moreover, the staff are fantastically knowledgeable, and can help you track down even the most obscure tomes.
- 34Quilters BookshopTe AroQuilters Bookshop can be a bit intimidating because of its considerable size and somewhat haphazard organisation, but the proprietor is always willing and able to help you navigate the shelves. In particular, it’s got a great range of rare, old and hard-to-find books and even prints. Its adjoining Milk Crate Cafe is an excellent place to break from browsing.
- 47Ferret Bookshop LimitedTe AroFerret Bookshop has something of everything: there’s bound to be something that piques your interest if you put the time into looking for it. Like Quilters Bookshop on Ghuznee St, it has a great range of old, rare and hard-to-find books.
Alice H.'s
Cheap & cheerful dining
- 113Pranah Vegetarian CafeNewtownPranah is the go-to cafe in Newtown for vegetarian and vegan fare. Its counter food is excellent and very reasonably priced, and its portions are ample, while its eggs menu, only available on the weekends, is very popular. It serves Peoples Coffee.
- 23Cinta Malaysian KitchenTe AroIt seems if you’re not a fan of Malaysian or Indian food, your options for BYO restaurants in Wellington are lacking. But if you can’t go past a good mee goreng, Cinta – on the Courtenay Place end of Manners St – is a great choice, especially for parties of up to eight. Its smaller size means it’s less likely to attract big groups of uni students on the weekend, too.
- 35Oriental Kingdom CafeTe AroOn the weekend, Oriental Kingdom is a popular choice for big groups of university students looking to booze before a big night on the town – which, for the other diners, means that dinner often comes with a show. If you’re prepared for that, you can’t beat Oriental Kingdom for convenience and price, even if the atmosphere (read: wide-screen TVs on silent and fluorescent lights) is nothing to write home about.
- 424Six Barrel Soda FactoryTe AroOverlooking Dixon St, Six Barrel Soda is a great spot for people-watching and solo dining. It’s best-known for its sliders and titular sodas, but it recently expanded its offerings of chips and alcoholic drinks. You can get a slider and a soda for $11, which is not a huge meal, but great value – and for brunch on the weekend, it’s hard to go past $15 for bottomless filter coffee, a soda, and scramble.
- 55Satay KajangWellington CentralSatay Kajang is a great spot for a cheap, delicious Malaysian meal before a night on the town. The mains are enormous and mostly around the $12 to $17 mark, while the staff are friendly, competent and unflinching in the face of bookings of 20+. A word to the wise: while it’s not as popular with university students as Oriental Kingdom on Left Bank, it does attract big groups of boozy first-years on Friday and Saturday nights.
Alice H.'s
Cafes worth the car trip
- 113Pranah Vegetarian CafeNewtownPranah is the go-to cafe in Newtown for vegetarian and vegan fare. Its counter food is excellent and very reasonably priced, and its portions are ample, while its eggs menu, only available on the weekends, is very popular. It serves Peoples Coffee.
- 22La ClocheKaiwharawharaA few doors down from Spotlight and backing out onto a pet shop, La Cloche isn’t in the most scenic of locations, but it’s worth putting up with an outlook of traffic along Hutt Rd for its fantastic selection of mouth-watering French fare. Its cabinets are teeming with tarts, pastries, macarons, mousses and cheeses that are as delicious as they look, and there’s also a selection of cheese, sauces and retailed goods to take home and enjoy later.
- 313Chocolate Fish CafeMiramarChocolate Fish Cafe isn’t the easy to access without a car, but it’s worth the trip for the view of Wellington harbour alone. The cafe itself is styled like a bach, with bean bags, blankets, and a great range of reading material, and the menu reads like a celebration of honest Kiwi fare: toasted sandwiches, seafood dishes, and ice blocks. For those who can’t pick between a caffeine hit and a refreshing ice cream, there’s affogato on offer, too – served with the cafe’s namesake, a chocolate fish, on the side.
- 449Maranui Surf Lifesaving Club CafeLyall BayMaranui’s a great place to go for coffee or brunch, until you get there and realise that all of Wellington had the same idea. Maranui is obscenely popular on the weekends, with the queue sometimes extending down the stairs and out the front door, and, in a city with so many great eateries (and many half-empty), this can be a test of resolve. But once you’re in, it’s always worth the wait: picturesque views, great decor, and fantastic food. And the Tradesman Tuesdays deal – a big breakfast and coffee for just $16, from 7am till 3pm – is a great reason to wake up early (or call in sick).
- 57Queen Sally's Diamond DeliLyall BayQueen Sally’s Diamond Deli is a great back-up if you’re in Lyall Bay but can’t face the queue for Maranui Surf Lifesaving Club Cafe. It’s a shame it’s seen as a handy back-up to the immensely popular Maranui, because it’s a great place in its own right: great coffee, gelato, and a select range of cabinet food and delicious retail goods. It is small, though, and seating is limited.