The House of Good Fortune is full of surprises. Home to the Good Fortune Coffee Co., this is where the fair trade coffee beans are roasted, ground, bagged up and distributed around New Zealand. The charming villa doubles as a busy and inviting café. Enjoy a cup of coffee brewed from the beans roasted just metres away. And choose from a selection of fresh and vibrant cabinet food made fresh daily.
Gear Street Union is a fun and vibrant diner-style bar. In the old Wellington Motorcycles building, it’s full of character. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks, the diner theme continues throughout the menu. There’s a mix of American-influenced and Kiwi fare, a long list of craft beers on tap, a selection of themed cocktails, and lots of local wines to choose from. Bright, bold and full of character, the interior is a mix of neon signs and retro Americana. This popular drinking spot is always bustling on Friday and Saturday nights.
Twenty Eight has earned a reputation for its different and delicious food. Locally-sourced ingredients make up modern brunch and lunch dishes, often served with an interesting twist. The team makes everything from scratch. The crisp focaccia bread, cheese scones, and delicate cakes are all testament to this. The minimalist interior creates a feeling of respite from the bustle outside.
Brewtown is a one-stop for lovers of craft beer, hearty food, and entertainment. Spread across 6,000 sqm of Upper Hutt’s former Dunlop Tyres site, Brewtown brings together some of the region’s top breweries. Along with great eateries, there’s a 4,500 sqm entertainment centre offering mini golf, ice skating, paintball, ten-pin bowling, cart racing, and a trampoline park.
Dough Bakery has perfected the craft of artisan bread making using the best local and seasonal ingredients. The bins are full of crusty sourdough, soft focaccia, and aromatic rye bread. The bagels, milk buns and brioche have all been lovingly kneaded and proved overnight. Take a loaf home, or linger in the café with a coffee and something from the cabinet. There are doughnuts, fresh sandwiches, and crispy house-made pies to choose from, along with decadent sweet treats. The menu champions bread, with eggs on sourdough, toasted sandwiches, and more. Set inside Whirinaki Whare Taonga, the huge light and bright gallery space is one of community and connection.
Seashore Cabaret is big on personality. A visit to this eclectic and casual café is the perfect pick-me-up on your seaside stroll. Pinball machines and amusements line the back wall and merry-go-round horses swing from the ceiling. It’s a jumble of carnival objects but in the best possible way.
The menu is filled with food that’s fun to eat. Crisp curly fries, ice cream and soda floats, and extra thick thick-shakes. Housed in the historic Petone Rowing Club, the café overlooks the Petone foreshore with views across the Cook Strait.
Comes & Goes serves up beautiful Kiwi-Korean-influenced brunch and lunch dishes. From the cups of coffee to the eggs on toast, everything looks like a work of art. The waffles come garnished with flowers, and wafer-thin circles of radish garnish the soba noodle salad.
Despite the artistic flourishes, the menu is simple and uncluttered. This same sense of design applies to the modern minimalist interior. The white walls and blonde wood furniture creates a sense of calm and allows the colour palate of the food to shine.
Bellbird’s food pays homage to beautiful New Zealand art. Housed in The Dowse Art Museum, this busy Lower Hutt café showcases local produce. Each dish draws influence from New Zealand and around the globe, with timeless staples like a Vietnamese chicken salad and buttermilk chicken sandwich.
The cosy atmosphere makes for a great place to sit with a coffee and book in hand. Or, find a spot outside on the large deck when the sun is shining and watch a hum of activity unfold on the forecourt.
A piece of Italy in the heart of Petone, La Bella Italia is part restaurant, part deli, and a place to learn more about Italian food and culture.
Owner Antonio Cacace and his wife Luisa opened La Bella Italia in 2000. The menu covers Italian classics, and award-winning pizza. Finish with a tiramisu or affogato for a night straight out of Italy.
As well as serving authentic Italian cuisine, the café sits alongside an extensive retail space. Antonio and Luisa import exclusive, premium Italian products and pantry staples to take home.