Cole B.'s
Japanese for all occassions
- 14Wabi Sabi Japanese CuisinePalmerston North CentralWhen I'm on a lunch break in Palmy and just want to sit in the park in the sun then I grab my box of fresh sushi from Wabi Sabi. I always feel like a regular even though I only come a couple of times a year on business trips. Tasty, addictive and always fresh.
- 23Hana Mizu Ki Japanese RestaurantPalmerston North CentralThis is where we used to come when I was at Uni and wanted an awesome feed with a couple of bottles of BYO to share. Always plenty of fun, lots of laughs and a full belly for the night ahead.
- 32Yatai Japanese IzakayaPalmerston North CentralYatai is the pick of the Palmerston North Japanese restaurants when you are wanting to go out on date night. That's if you don't mind sharing your food of course. Grab a bunch of plates, stick em' in the middle and laugh at each others attempts to master the chop sticks.
Cole B.'s
Reignite the passion on a date weekend away
- 12The Vineyard Cafe at Margrain VineyardMartinboroughCame here because we had heard that they did a pretty good breakfast. Had worked up an appetite on a wine tour yesterday so wanted to get a decent feed in and chose the big breakfast. DAMN! Seriously nothing could be faulted. Lots of local produce like the bacon and eggs which packed a tasty punch. Wish it was located in Wellinton rather than in the Wairarapa!
- 23Tirohana Estate / Tirohana VineyardMartinboroughI admit that I can be a bit of a tight wad when it comes to money. However, I do know that there are a few occasions when it's best to splash out, especially if afterwards it's all been worth it. Dinner at Tirohana Vineyard sure made it worthwhile. I had the lamb which was perfectly cooked and I would count it as being one of top meals I have ever had. The pinot noir I had was also so good I took a bottle home with me afterwards.
- 33Circus CinemaMartinboroughDidn’t realise they did dinner until we showed up just before the movie started otherwise we might have just come here before the flick. Nice cinema with super comfortable seats and we could even take our glass of wine in with us.
Cole B.'s
The best Korean in Wellington
- 18Seoul House RestaurantTe AroOne dish you want to try at Seoul is the bulgogi. You really can’t go wrong with their marinated beef which is briefly seared before being served over steaming piles of rice and veges.
- 23Taste Of KoreaTe AroAfter thoroughly stuffing yourself on the Korean BBQ, which you cook at your own table, you can try and work it off by belting out some tunes in their Karaoke rooms. Guaranteed good fun with a few mates.
- 36Arirang Korean Restaurant WellingtonWellington CentralArirang is one of the newer restaurants in Wellington and it’s been a welcome addition. Especially as they have perfected the Dakgangjung. It’s a delicate dish made up of crispy morsels of deep-fried chicken dripping in a juicy sauce. Just be prepared that some of the items on the menu can be super spicy so ask for them to be made fresh on the milder side.
- 43NewkorWellington CentralYou want to go to NewKor when you are hungry and a little bit skint. Their main dishes are really cheap (starting at a measly $12) and will fill you up. Highly recommend getting the spicy chicken with some fiery kimchi on the side. It’s a lip-smacker!
Cole B.'s
Killing time while waiting for the ferry
- 11Le CafePictonWe stopped in looking for a small snack and a coffee before jumping onboard the Interislander back home to Wellington. The only problem is that we wish we hadn’t just eaten lunch because the food looked delicious! Although we did manage to fit in a couple of slices of homemade cake and a coffee that rivals those in Wellington. Definitely making time in our schedule for our next South Island jaunt.
- 21The Diversion GalleryPictonThis is an little boutique art gallery that features some of New Zealand’s best artists. Really enjoyed seeing the exhibition called "The Tipping Point" by Graham Bennett. Still not sure how the delicate pieces didn’t fall apart!
- 31Seamonkeez Jetski HirePictonThis. was. so. much. fun! Nothing compares to opening up the throttle on a jetski and blasting around the bays at the tip of the South Island. We took a couple of sandwiches and snacks with us and stopped off at a secluded beach for our morning tea. Brilliant way to end a couple of days around the region.
- 43Stone Arrow JewelleryTakakaWe were driving back to Picton and spotted the sign at the Eco-Show in Nelson. It wasn’t my choice to pop into Stone Arrow but my significant other insisted. I’m actually glad we did because the handmade jewellery was awesome and Nick was super friendly. And in the end I actually didn’t mind pulling out my credit card for a pair of "recycled" earrings made out of glass either plus it made the gf happy!
Cole B.'s
Breakfast, Brunch, Elevenses. Call it what you will, it's my favourite meal.
- 16Chocolate Frog CafeMiramarYou wouldn’t realise there is an awesome cafe in the Palmers Garden Centre when driving past but trust me, there is. And you know it’s popular when there is a queue winding its way out the door waiting for tables. If you grab the eggs benny and a gourmet milkshake then you will need to waddle out the door.
- 29Spruce GooseLyall BayThe new kid in town has become an instant hit. Located opposite the surf break in Lyall Bay, it is packed to it's open-aired rafters throughout the day. The massive amounts of seating indoors, upstairs and outside barely provides enough room for all the brunch-goers on a weekend morning. The food is worth it though and I can highly recommend the chunky eggs benny.
- 314PrefabTe AroOpen, airy and packed to its wooden rafters. Great coffee and while it’s busy, you should be able to get a seat.
- 417Scorch O RamaKaraka BaysAfter a hard training session on Saturday morning at Scorching Bay, this is my go-to spot for brunch. Sitting next to the seaside refuelling on their coffee and eggs benny means I am good to go again.
- 59Caffe L'affareTe AroMid-week brunch is the best time to visit L’affare as this place is always heaving during the weekend due to it’s popularity. You know their coffee is always going to be lip-smackingly strong and the all-day breakfast is guaranteed to hit the spot with the favourites all in good order. Perhaps I’m just the eggs benedict master but I can never say no.
Cole B.'s
Get on yer' bike for 2-wheel lovers
- 12What’s not to love? iRide combines two of my most favourite things in the world; coffee and bicycles. When I’m not drooling over the latest TT bikes out of my price range or buying some new triathlon kit, then I’m usually filling my mouth with a flat white and some chocolatey goodness after a long ride on a Sunday morning.
- 25Bike Barn WellingtonTe AroBike Barn is the place to go in Wellington when you just want to get something for your two wheeled machine (or a new two wheeled machine) at a bargain price. They always seem to have specials on and stock some seriously nice Merida carbon bikes. Plus they can do a good tune up too.
- 34Capital CyclesTe AroFor the higher end gear that I need to set up my bike I chat to the boys at Capital Cycles. The only problem is that I end up browsing for way to long and losing track of the time!
- 41Burkes CyclesKilbirnieBurkes stocks the biggest range of clothing, bikes and accessories in Wellington. Located in Kilbirnie, it’s hard not to stop in when I’m cycling round the bays. At least they always give me a good deal and know their stuff when it comes to riding in Wellington.