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 trying them!
Chilli oil dumplings at Rams Crazy Dumpling Restaurant
171 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington
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 delicious 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!
Hot chocolate at Scopa
141 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington
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 winter’s afternoon or to round out an Italian feast at this favourite Wellington Italian eatery on Cuba Street.
Made with melted chocolate and cream, this hot chocolate will not disappoint sweet-toothed chocolate lovers.
Halloumi sandwich at Zany Zeus
149 Randwick Road, Moera, Lower Hutt
Local organic dairy gods Zany Zeus produce award-winning cows’ milk products from their Moera factory and store.
Their simple halloumi sandwiches have a cult following – and a queue to match. Made to order using fresh baguette, freshly-cooked 'squeaky' cheese and a squeeze of lemon, this sandwich is a reminder that simple is often best.
Pair your sandwich with a thick shake and you’ll be in lactose heaven.
Salted caramel cookie at Leeds Street Bakery
14 Leeds Street, Te Aro, Wellington
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Originally made at Ti Kouka Café on Willis Street, these cookies were so popular the owners opened a bakery on Leeds Street dedicated to baking these and artisan sourdough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 an espresso cut through the sweet, these cookies are large but we doubt you'll want to share.
Platter at Poppies
91 Puruatanga Road, Martinborough
Perfect on a winter’s afternoon paired with a glass of Poppies pinot noir or in the middle of summer with a glass of their rosé, a platter at Poppies in Martinborough is a year-round must.
Enjoy an array of delicious morsels and be looked after by Poppies’ incredibly warm and welcoming team led by wine-making couple Poppy and Shane.
Pillow doughnuts at Tomboy
21 Majoribanks Street, Mount Victoria, Wellington
Why a doughnut named after a soft furnishing? When you eat one, you’ll know.
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.