Joe S.'s
Healthy Lunches
- 13Seize CafeWellington CentralOn the lower end of Lambton Quay Seize serves up seasonal fresh food for your lunches. With a focus on fresh, clean food you can’t go amiss at Seize for your healthy lunch option, another great spot in the CBD, especially if your looking for some great innovative healthy lunches.
- 24RahzooWellington CentralJust of Lambton Quay, Rahzoo serve up an array of salads every day, which you can buy in varying sizes, the cabinet is also delicious and ‘mostly’ healthy. The price is good, though it is crazy busy during lunch hours but service is just as fast. Definitely a good option for a healthy lunch if you’re in the CBD
- 313Pranah Vegetarian CafeNewtownIf in Newtown go find Pranah, serving up delicious vegetarian food, with salads great savory cabinet food and a killer little menu as well. I usually go for the vege samosa here, otherwise there are always great other bits as well. All made on site and all delicious. If you’re near or around Newtown I would totally recommend for a healthy meal.
- 415Deluxe Espresso BarMount VictoriaDeluxe serves up a large array of food items everyday, with baking made in house everyday and sandwiches brought in as well. It has a range of options and nearly all are vegetarian, and also healthy for you. With great food on offer and in a handy location right next to the embassy, if you find yourself at this end of town for lunch you should find what you need here.
- 56Kapai Cuba MallTe AroKapai serves up a great selection of salads and classic salads for you to grab quickly for your lunch, sure to fill you up with a variety of options. All freshly grown, and made in front of you for you to decide what you want! A perfect, healthy lunch.
Joe S.'s
Op Shops
- 12Trash PalacePoriruaFor all your needs, with everything you could ever want. That pretty much almost sums up trash palace with an array of electrical items, whiteware, furniture and more. Run as a way of recycling goods that were destined for landfill, you can find bargains on lots of great things. With any money spent here helping the Mana recovery trust provide support for those with mental health needs.
- 22SaveMart Upper HuttWallacevilleSavemarts are all across New Zealand, stocking a massive amount of nearly everything. The finding of items can sometimes be a bit tricky but the finds here have always been impressive for those that are adept at hunting for them. A trip out to Upper Hutt is something that could go a long way to helping find new things for your wardrobe.
- 31Another of the ‘Mega’ Op-shops, this one in Petone has a large array of pretty much everything clothes wise, with a wide variety of stock from formal to casual. There are definitely some gems hidden in here for you to find and everything is at a reasonable price as well!
- 47David N White GalleryTe AroAnother bric-a-brac store, with a large array of goods strewn throughout the store on Abel Smith street. Rummage through and find gems for upcycling among other great pieces that need no restoration. With pretty much all bases covered go and have a wander through and see if you can find anything that’s worthwhile, I’m sure you can!
- 52Opportunity For Animals - KilbirnieKilbirnieSlightly of the beaten path, this Opportunity for Animals shop has lots of great items for sale. With less foot traffic meaning that not every thrift savvy uni student has come in and taken a wander and picked off all the great finds. Definitely worth a journey up to if you’re on the lookout for some new items to bring in the change of season.
Joe S.'s
Chocolate Spots
- 13Wellington Chocolate FactoryWellington CentralThis is the place to go if you’re after some great local made chocolate, down the ever-giving Leeds Street. They create organic, ethically sourced chocolate. With single origin chocolates and specialty creations plentiful you’re sure to find a flavor you love in amongst it all. Their easter eggs also look pretty awesome.
- 26Bohemein Featherston StreetWellington CentralAfter starting out in Hataitai, Bohemian has just gone from strength to strength serving great pieces of chocolate and fantastic hot chocolates as well! With some award winning creations, Bohemian is definitely a place to go check out if you crave a delectable chocolate kick.
- 332Scopa Caffe CucinaTe AroTheir hot chocolate is something else, made from imported Italian chocolate it’s definitely a treat. It’s common to see people going in just to get one, meaning it must be pretty good if you’re going to avoid all the great food on offer. Definitely the fix if you’re after warm chocolate goodness and around the Cuba Street area.
- 410Pandoro Panetteria Woodward StreetWellington CentralIf you ever have a party and need some great vegan treats, this is the one, from Pandoro, the vegan raspberry chocolate cake. It’s rich and moist, and tastes amazing! Highly advised especially considering it’s not even that pricey
- 512Nic Nac'sTe AroFor you’re more ‘traditional’ American imported chocolates, Nic Nacs is the place. With seemingly everything on the shops shelves, you’ll probably find something that looks tasty, or old favourites you haven’t had in a while. Best confectionary store in Wellington.
Joe S.'s
Cafes with Wifi
- 118Ti Kouka CafeWellington CentralA fantastic lunch spot, with some of the best food you’re likely to come across in the CBD at that time. Killer spot, great food, great service and again a good atmosphere for you to go and relax and utilise the wifi available!
- 212Milk CrateTe AroAnother of the Cuba St section that provides wifi, the bookstore has just disappeared which is sad, but something cool is on the way. Customer wifi is now available as well, with the big share table and generally quieter atmosphere, Milk Crate makes a good stop for those that like to relax in a good environment.
- 320Great coffee and a really great environment for you to sit down and go over your emails and have a relaxing start to your day, space is at a premium, but in quieter moments this place is the best to just relax and have some fantastic soft brew.
- 42Crafters & Co.Wellington CentralAnother gem with great food at great prices for you, wifi available so you can sit down and take in the emails with ease, over a coffee or a pint of great beer! A fantastic spot, there to be drunk and eaten in. 2 for 1 waffle’s on Wednesdays seem like a great option.
- 549Fidel's CafeTe AroAffordable food, with speedy service and even though its always busy its possible to get lost in the rush and just do what you need to do using the wifi. With meals for the whole day, whenever you’re around the far end of Cuba Street, Fidels is a great option.
Joe S.'s
Hot Spots
- 13Five BoroughsWellington CentralNew York style dining-meet-deli vibe, solid fried chicken, awesome burgers and sandwich/sub game. Its all hype and has been since it opened. Just of Courtney Place up in Mt. Victoria, it’s definitely a place that deserves a stop of to try its food. Go check it!
- 26The BresolinWellington CentralOpen up the top end of Willis Street, this is a great restaurant & bar that’s well worth a stop off. Go check it for the large cuts of meat or the well put together drinks list. It also comes with one of Wellingtons best outside drinking areas, so if you’re ever feeling like some drinks with sunshine, this is the place to go.
- 32Burger LiquorWellington CentralTaking over from a steakhouse, this place does as its name states, burgers and liquor, it wins in its simplicity, doing the right things right. With a pretty healthy price point it’s a place that’s not going to break the bank and with its central location a good stop for mid week dinners.
- 44EarnestTe AroUnassumingly lying down Garret Street, with a great new fit out and the ability to see your juices being pressed right in front of you, a stop that will leave you nourished with some fantastic sounding juices, and some killer coffee to boot.
- 51LambanjoSeatounDoes as the title says, Lamb, that’s it. Out in Seatoun offering dine in and take away options, with its simple menu of lamb shoulder with sides… it looks great and is well worth a trip to Seatoun to try it.
Joe S.'s
Best Places to get Fresh Fish
- 16Wellington Sea MarketTe AroWellington Sea Markets deliver a good selection of fresh fish for you, with their locations on the top of Cuba Street with a store down on Lambton Quay as well. It’s a simple stop of for your fresh fish buying, with a wide variety on offer. Meaning you can be assured of getting something that will taste great!
- 217Harbourside Market WellingtonWellington CentralNow called the harbourside markets, go check it for all your fresh produce needs, with a fresh fish stall most weekends offering up good deals on some really good products. Great location and in the middle of an awesome market, go down and check it out every Sunday on the waterfront.
- 325Mt Vic ChipperyMount VictoriaWellingtons coolest fish and chip shop now stocks fresh fish filets to sell, go and ask the staff there what’s good and get out and home to cook it however you like. With its super central location it’s a key spot for those over in the Oriental Bay, Mt Victoria area.
- 42John's Fish MarketPetoneIf your out in the Hutt Valley a good stopping point is Johns Fish Market, with some of the freshest catches you will find in the valley. On the esplanade rolling in, a great place to stop in on your way home for your night’s dinner.
- 56Fish FinsNewtownWith a range of fresh fish to collect, Newtown’s fish fins offer up a great place to go and get the nights dinner from, right in the heart of Newtown’s shopping area, go and check it out if you live out that way, well worth a stop!