Wellington's top 10 must-try dishes

Popular with locals and visitors alike, these dishes offer a true taste of Wellington. Add them to your culinary bucket list and don't leave town without ticking them off!

Eat & drink

Paua ravioli at Logan Brown

Paua (abalone), one of New Zealand’s most prized seafood delicacies, is taken to the next level at this award-winning Wellington restaurant. Ground paua is wrapped in fresh pasta to create a unique Italian-Kiwi fusion dish

Discover Logan Brown

Chilli oil dumplings at Rams Crazy Dumpling Restaurant

171 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington

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Name-checked by many of Wellington’s top chefs as their favourite thing to eat on a night off, Rams' chilli oil dumplings are an affordable Wellington classic.

Freshly-made, plump dumplings float in a deliciously spicy, sour broth and sprinkled liberally with chilli oil. You'll find Rams' Crazy Dumpling Restaurant on Cuba Street

Word from the wise: don’t wear your favourite white shirt and get ready for chilli hit!

ramsrestaurant.co.nz

Eat & drink

Ceviche at Ortega Fish Shack

Their menu changes each day, but there's always ceviche on the menu at Ortega. Topped with Asian herbs and crispy shallots - this is a dish that would cause a riot among regulars if it were ever taken off the menu.

Read more about Ortega

Hot chocolate at Scopa

141 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington

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So thick you can stand a spoon up in it, Scopa’s hot chocolate is part comfort, part dessert, and 100% delicious. It’s the perfect thing on a chilly afternoon or to round out an Italian feast at this favourite Wellington restaurant on Cuba Street.

Made with melted chocolate and cream, this hot chocolate is pure indulgence and will not disappoint sweet-toothed chocolate lovers. 

scopa.co.nz

Eat & drink

Char koay teow at Little Penang

A traditional Penang rice noodle dish with prawns, Chinese pork sausages, chives and beansprouts, Little Penang's delicious version of the dish has a cult following in the city.

Read more about Little Penang

Salted caramel cookie at Leeds Street Bakery

14 Leeds Street, Te Aro, Wellington

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If Wellington was a cookie, it would be a salted caramel cookie from Leeds Street Bakery.

Originally made at Ti Kouka Café on Willis Street, these cookies were so popular the owners opened a bakery on Leeds Street dedicated to baking these and artisan sourdough breads to supply cafés around town.

Perfect with a hot espresso to cut through the sweet, these cookies are large but we doubt you'll want to share. 

leedsstbakery.co.nz

Eat & drink

Prawn and chive dumplings at Dragons

Weekend yum cha at Dragons is a Wellington ritual. Dragon's perfectly steamed prawn and chive dumplings just need a quick dunk in the chilli oil soy dipping sauce before you pop them into your mouth.

Find out more about Dragons

Eat & drink

Cheese and wine at Poppies

If you want to try Poppies' famous rosé you'll have to head to Martinborough - it's only sold at their cellar door. Lunch at Poppies is a must-do in the region, and sitting amongst the vines enjoying local wine it's easy to see why.

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Taste the pillow doughnuts at Tomboy

21 Majoribanks Street, Mount Victoria, Wellington

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Why is this doughnut named after a soft furnishing? When you eat one, you’ll know why.

Tomboy’s buttery brioche doughnuts are like giant fluffy pillows – that you can eat. To get your hands on a pillow, you’ll need to get to Tomboy’s Majoribanks Street café early – they sell out quickly.

tomboy.nz

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