Wellington's best hot cross buns
Chewy, crunchy, spicy, and slathered in butter. This Easter, get your hands on Wellington's tastiest and hottest buns
Graze Wine Bar
95 Upland Road, Kelburn
Baked fresh every day with housemade feijoa raisins and a bay leaf glaze. And the topping? New Zealand-grown banana custard crosses. You'll definitely want to graze on more than one
August Eatery
75 Taranaki Street, Te Aro
Jam-packed with raisins and cranberries with a hint of citrus and spice that requires a three-day fermentation process, August's handmade buns are guaranteed to tick the tasty box
Dough Bakery
Three Wellington locations
Dough Bakery on Lombard Lane and Lambton Quay is a grab-and-go for all things doughy and yummy. Think baked bread, fluffy brioche, and delicious sandwiches. Their bakery in Upper Hutt was the original shop and now also supplies its two Wellington CBD cousins. For a few weeks a year, it also produces some outstanding hot cross buns. Fruity and delicious - they're worth the trip.
Sixes & Sevens
51 Taranaki Street, Te Aro
Sixes & Sevens are known for presenting a spread of delectable baked goods. While doughnuts are their trademark, they widen their menu leading up to Easter to include traditional hot cross buns. Spicy, sweet, and with just the right combination of crunchy and fluffy - they've got all the components for a winning Easter breakfast.
While you're there, grab some of their famous doughnuts too. It would be rude not to right?
Pandoro Panetteria
Three Wellington locations
Pandoro's hot cross bun recipe has been winning Kiwis over for the past 26 years. They only use natural ingredients for their baked goods, and their hot cross buns are no exception.
Grab a coffee to pair with your butter-covered hot cross bun to have the Pandoro experience, or pick up a pack from Moore Wilson's Fresh on your way home from work.
Aro Bake
83 Aro Street, Aro Valley
One of Wellington's favourite bakeries doesn't disappoint at Easter time, baking up spicy, fluffy, and delicious hot cross buns.
Aro Bake is a family-run business that's been in Aro Valley since 1989. Aro’s buns are made using an interrupted fermentation process that combines rich flavours into the dough, then loaded with fruit, spiced, baked, and finished with a rum glaze. Somewhat controversially, co-owner Ollie recommends eating the hot cross buns with peanut butter and much less controversially, enjoying them in the company of whānau.
Shelly Bay Baker
14 Leeds Street, Te Aro
Tucked down Hannahs Laneway is a hidden gem bakery, and makers of excellent hot cross buns.
Shelly Bay Baker makes its buns with a range of excellent dried fruit (including figs and apricots), and are glazed with apricot jam. Order for click and collect via the website and grab from their Park Road or Leeds St locations.
Nada Bakery and Café
4/72 Main Road, Tawa, Wellington
Established in 1975, Nada Bakeries in Johnsonville and Tawa have a long history of producing exquisite freshly baked goods. Their attention to detail has been recognised with second place in The Great NZ Hot Cross Bun Competition 2023. Their traditional hot cross buns are spiced with cassia, ginger, nutmeg, pimento, coriander, cloves, and cardamom. Finished with yuzu and apricot glaze, they are simply delectable. Available at Moore Wilsons if you can't get out to Tawa.
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