Wellington is firmly established as the cuisine capital of New Zealand. Home to the country's top restaurants and bars, and one of the best wine growing areas, the region's food and wine scene is sophisticated, stylish and innovative.
The hallmark of Wellington's cuisine is contemporary food using local, seasonal produce with an Asia-Pacific inspired twist. New Zealand's highest restaurant honour, the Cuisine Restaurant of the Year has gone to a Wellington restaurant in the last five years. Our bars and clubs rival the best in the world for style and atmosphere with city favourite The Matterhorn voted one of the world's coolest bars.
Find out more about some of the 300 restuarants and bars in the capital.
The celebrated vineyards of Martinborough region and Kapiti Coast’s horticulture and market garden industry are just an hour from the city of Wellington. Read more about the food and wine grown and produced in the region here.
Weekend Markets are held throughout the region.
Cafe Culture
Exciting conversations are fuelled by caffeine in the Capital region. Renowned for its amazing cafe culture, Wellington serves up some of the best coffee in the world. The culture is diverse, confident and sophisticated, from tiny 'holes in the wall' pumping out takeaways to grand Parisian Style salons and industrial chic cafes. Check out the cafes.
Shopping
Wellington was listed in a 2009 issue of the Australian Way, Qantas airline magazine, as one of the world's nine shopping destinations alongside Paris, Berlin and New York. For boutique shopping, you can't go past Lambton Quay, Wellington's golden mile and the iconic Old Bank Shopping Arcade. For a more individual look, head to Cuba Street where local designer boutiques, vintage clothing stores, good cafes and new art galleries can be found
Check out the great variety of shopping in Wellington region.