Get a cup of Wellington's best coffee
Wellington is the coffee capital with over 15 coffee roasteries and cafés so there's no surprise there are still plenty of options in Level 2
Evil Twins
3 Vivian Street , Te Aro , Wellington
Starting your own business isn’t an easy ride. These university students are giving it a go by opening the next place to fuel your caffeine addiction. Meet Stephanie and Natalie Chin, the twins behind Evil Twins, the newest hole-in-the-wall coffee shop on Vivian Street.
Squeezed into the space is a simple offering of coffee and jar drinks. You can't leave without grabbing a jar drink for later. They have created a triple shot latte, matcha love, double trouble choc, and cheeky peachy iced tea jars.
Evil Twins was born from a brotherly nudge asking them every student’s worst fear “What do you want to do?”. As art and design students, they were drawn to the art of coffee. This space has given them a place to be creative and they have released merchandise such as beanies and tote bags that you'll see their loyal following flaunting.
Pour & Twist
13 Garrett Street, Te Aro, Wellington
Enter Aotearoa's first fully manual coffee brew bar where there is no espresso machine in sight. Rejecting the typically fast pace of your morning coffee run, Pour & Twist invites its customers to slow down, connect and consider their drink, tasting the coffee and appreciating the art of how it was made.
They have your staple black or white coffees covered, but if you venture further on the menu you'll find options such as a grey marble—activated charcoal powder, coffee, cream, maple, and milk, or indulge in a Kopi — traditional Malaysian style coffee with condensed milk.
Squirrel
4 Blair Street, Te Aro, Wellington
A sleek and simple café showcasing a small but perfectly curated collection of Wellington’s best counter food from favourite bakers and producers around town including vibrant salads by Queen Sally’s Diamond Deli and a seasonal toast menu starring Wellington Sourdough. After an Acme coffee and a Tomboy doughnut, take a walk through to Small Acorns for a browse around one of Wellington’s top home interior stores.
Peoples Coffee
12 Constable Street, Newtown, Wellington
Toast and coffee are an age-old pairing given new life at Peoples Coffee on Riddiford Street and Lukes Lane.
Serving their 100% organic and fair trade coffee which is roasted locally at their Newtown roastery, along with toast made from locally made Shelly Bay Baker bread, makes for a very local breakfast, indeed.
Their toast menu features one sweet toast, one savoury toast and one special toast for good measure – perfect paired with an espresso or a mug of filter coffee for a breakfast of champions.
Swimsuit
38 Dixon Street, Te Aro, Wellington
Dive into this breezy minimalist coffee joint on the corner of Te Aro Park. Owned by well-known Wellington barista Tait Burge, this is the place to get an expertly brewed cup of coffee and unpretentious, friendly service.
Swimsuit uses organic fair trade beans from local roastery Peoples Coffee, organic milk from local producer Zany Zeus and plus there’s a range of alternative milks. There's a light offering of food available including the popular house-made scones and simple counter food like sandwiches. The light and airy minimalist interior makes the perfect spot for people watching or take a seat at one of the outdoor tables.
Milk Crate
35 Ghuznee Street, Te Aro, Wellington
Milk Crate is a favourite with Wellington locals - on any given day you'll find a mixture of Wellington artists, cool kids, corporates, and everyone in between.
The café has a small but perfectly formed menu of simple, fresh and delicious salads, sandwiches, soup and delicious sweet baked treats - the matcha Oreos (chocolate cookies sandwiched with green matcha icing) are a must-try. There's always a good range of gluten-free and vegan options available in the mix.
There's espresso and filter coffee from local Rich Coffee Roasters, cold-pressed juice from local Earnest and smoothies made to order. You'll want to make like a local and return here again.
L’affare
27 College Street, Te Aro, Wellington
Visit the café and coffee roastery that was a pioneer of Wellington’s now celebrated and world-famous café and coffee culture.
With its pared back industrial look, L’affare is one of those cafés that appeals to everyone. Their all-day menu features all-time classic café favourites like creamy mushrooms on organic sourdough toast and their cabinet is always stocked with delicious sweet treats and savoury snacks. And the coffee, of course, is always fresh, expertly-made and delicious. Go and see why the L’affare remains a firm local favourite.
Staple Espresso
175 Victoria Street, Te Aro, Wellington
Staple Espresso is the home of good coffee, great banter and dad jokes (be sure to read the sign out front as you walk in). Co-owner and award-winning barista Nik O’Connell is your guy when it comes to great coffee making - he'll make sure your coffee is served up just the way you like it. In a handy location on Victoria Street, Staple is the spot for a catch up with mates or colleagues during the workweek or for a quick pick-me-up to break up your day.
Gipsy Kitchen
37 Jessie Street, Te Aro & 4 Glamis Avenue, Strathmore, Wellington
A long-time hidden gem in Strathmore, Gipsy Kitchen has expanded into the CBD with two locations – a café on Jessie Street and a coffee kiosk on Left Bank.
Their original location in Strathmore is a café and deli, where you can buy prepared meals to takeaway, or stay and enjoy food and coffee from the cabinet. At all locations you can get a taste of their fantastic coffee, which is locally roasted by Coffee Supreme and some of their famous baking – their rhubarb and caramel scones are particularly sought after. With friendly service that’s full of character and good cheer, Gipsy Kitchen is a Wellington favourite.
The Raumati Social Club
34 Poplar Ave, Raumati South, Paraparaumu
Musician Hugo Drummond always wanted to have his own bar. In 2017, he and his wife Manna got to do just that when they took over this popular beachside café/bar. Sadly, Drummond died a few months later but Manna is continuing his vision. The menu focuses on fresh, local ingredients as well as local beer and wine. Unsurprisingly, music is the mainstay of this community café/bar, with live bands every weekend.
Lamason Brew Bar
Lombard Lane, Te Aro, Wellington
Tucked away down Lombard Lane, Lamason Brew Bar serves up siphon-brewed coffee and top-shelf espresso to satisfy all caffeine cravings.
Lamason was one of the first brew bars in Wellington to serve up siphon-brewed style coffee and the team continues to stay up-to-date with coffee-world trends and brewing techniques.
Miss Fortune's
105 Hutt Park Road, Gracefield, Lower Hutt
A little jewel in the rough that serves up seriously great counter food and locally-roasted Good Fortune Coffee.
The little sister café to the popular Seashore Cabaret on the Petone Foreshore, Miss Fortune’s has a playful retro fit-out. The café has indoor seating, plus a sunny courtyard out back. Now back to that seriously great counter food - expect delicious freshly baked cakes, pies and doughnuts and bowls of tasty seasonal salads to have in or takeaway.
The Hangar
119 Dixon Street, Te Aro, Wellington
What was once a car park on Dixon Street is now a bustling brunch spot by one of Wellington’s third-wave coffee roasters, Flight Coffee. Serving up their freshly-roasted coffee in whatever format you take it - from espresso to pour-over and filter alongside a seasonal brunch menu that covers all of the modern classics from granola to eggs to breakfast tacos. For coffee lovers, you won't want to miss the tasting flight of coffee. It's made up of three different coffees, or blends of your choice so you can walk out know what coffee you like best.
Black Coffee
133 Riddiford Street, Newtown, Wellington
Don't let the name fool you - Black Coffee has more than one drink for people needing their caffeine fix.
A Newtown institution, Black Coffee is a café and creative hub in the heart of Wellington's quirkiest suburb. Take your pick from either side of their coffee menu, depending on whether you take your drink with or without your milk of choice. Once you're fully caffeinated, enjoy the art in their changing gallery walls, or browse their sweet collection of vintage and modern vinyl.
It's a good idea to go with an empty stomach, too. They've got an impressive line-up of toasted sandwich flavours on offer - Yeeha Grandma is their next-level version of the ham and cheese classic that will put your at-home version to shame.
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