New local eats
Treat your tastebuds at one of these new cafés, restaurants, and bars in Wellington
Flint Social
205 Jackson Street, Petone, Lower Hutt
The old 1935 Post Office building in Petone has delivered a fresh face to the café scene. Flint Social provides a very spacious eatery with plush booths and casual seating for up to 60 people.
Opened by friends and fellow chefs Kirran Buckland and Chris Stebbings, Flint Social offers plenty of gluten-free and vegan options in their cabinet. The menu features plenty of locally sourced food and is made on-site. The pair have nearly 30 years of cooking experience between them, including stints in Michelin-starred venues across England, Ireland, Scotland, and France. They are relishing the chance to offer a hearty lunch and dining experience in Petone – and the 2.5-tonne Italian-made woodfire pizza oven in the kitchen is helping achieve that.
There’s a liquor license, dog-friendly staff, and delectable homemade doughnuts, too.
Gear Street Union
18 Gear Street, Petone, Lower Hutt
Rev those engines and get down to Petone's Gear Street Union. Housed in the former Wellington Motorcycles Building, an extensive renovation has converted the space into a large restaurant kitted out with sports memorabilia, neon signs, and even an old Bedford truck parked up inside. The décor has plenty of references to the American motorcycles that used to be sold there.
Gear Street Union has a menu spanning brunch, casual snacks, and dinner. There are plenty of hearty options including a standout Wagyu Chucky Cheeseburger with chimichurri sauce, truffle mayonnaise, and sweet spicy pickles.
The bar has Fortune Favours on tap, craft cocktails, a healthy wine list, and taptails – cocktails on tap. Bring your pooch, they are always welcome.
The Malthouse
76 Willis Street, Te Aro, Wellington
An iconic Wellington hospitality destination, The Malthouse has been pivotal to the craft brewing movement in New Zealand. Since opening in 1993 it has established itself as a thriving hub for craft beer. Now in its Willis Street location, it's a hub for after-work drinks or a weekend catch-up in the outdoor seating area, or cosy indoor space.
There's an impressive rotation of 30 beers on tap, and an additional 85 different beers in the fridge - so even your fussiest friend will be catered to. In addition to the outstanding range of beer, Malthouse also boasts one of the best selections of malt whisky and gin in the city.
With their midtown location and its surrounding high-rises, Malthouse's chefs have been inspired to create a New York-style menu to accompany your draught. Check out the bagels, pizza, and tacos on offer to accompany your brew of choice.
Taproom Baylands Brewery
22 Victoria Street, Petone
The taproom at Baylands Brewery long ago outgrew its humble 2012 beginnings in a Newlands double garage. Now based in central Petone, it boasts a tasting room, cellar door, function room, and fully licensed taproom, producing 150,000 litres of boutique beer a year.
Pair your beer with wholesome pub food – burgers, tacos, and some delectable loaded fries. After your meal, head to the cellar door and buy one of the 31 beers Baylands produces.
Owners Aidan and Louise Styles are proud of their independent brewery and like to give back to the community that supports them. Karma Kegs are run on Saturday afternoons in the taproom – you can come in and grab a beer in exchange for a donation to a local charity.
Remarkably Excellent – Humdinger and Turnspit
89 Ghuznee Street, Te Aro, Wellington
On an inconspicuous corner of Ghuznee and Victoria Street, you'll find a bar with a twist.
With the perfect mix of high and low, Humdinger will turn everything you think you know about cocktail bars on its head. Wood paneling and skull-lined walls would lead you to believe this is your typical dive bar, but the cocktail-centric drinks menu will make you think again. All the classics are on offer, and you can browse the jukebox's curated music selection while you wait for your drink to be mixed up.
Brought to you by the same people behind the likes of Puffin, Concord, Golding's, and Shepherd, you can bet the food (and drinks) are top-notch. Focused on kebabs and Middle-Eastern bites, this is late-night eats at top restaurant quality. Make sure you order the felafel bites, or if you're feeling adventurous, the spam nuggets.
Auntie Social Lounge
4 Rintoul Street, Newtown, Wellington
Take a trip to Auntie Social Lounge where it's all groovy, baby.
Newtown's 70s-themed bar is all about furry walls, red velvet booths, lava lamps, and retro furniture. Nostalgia is on the menu in spades, with gourmet popcorn, crudites, and delicious sharing platters. Pop in on a cheesy Tuesday for a melting pot of three cheese fondue served out of retro fondue pots.
The colourful cocktail menu is as fun to look at as it is to drink, with a rotating margarita flavour and regular cocktail specials on tap.
Auntie Social Lounge often has live music on Thursday nights, and on a clear evening you can sit outside in their tucked-away courtyard and soak up the Newtown atmosphere.
The Champagneria
8 Courtenay Place, Te Aro, Wellington
Wellington's first champagne bar, The Champagneria, is fun and un-fussy, allowing punters to enjoy a glass of fizz without having to crack open your special bottle from the shelf (but they have bottles too). Mix it up with a champagne cocktail, champagne beer, a regular beer, or still wine.
They've got every way to enjoy champagne covered. Head in for a champagne breakfast, high tea, flights of champagne, champagne yum cha, and even a dog menu – chardognay, anyone?
Grab some tapas or a platter that's matched to your wine's region, and enjoy on the rooftop bar.
Be in the KNOW
Subscribe to get fortnightly updates on what’s fresh, new and happening in Wellington
You may unsubscribe in the footer of all emails from WellingtonNZ. For more info, read our enews terms