New and notable places in Wellington

To music lovers, Octo is the holy trinity. The Aro Valley business serves music, food, and drink. By day, it operates as a record store selling great sounds, toasties and snacks. After 5pm, it transforms into a hybrid Yakitori/cocktail bar. Octo is inspired by Japan’s jazz listening bars, which emerged in the 1950s. There’s a lineup of live DJs who play every other day during the week. Food is cooked over a charcoal grill and served on skewers. You’ll see edamame, karaage, yakitori chicken, vegetables — even dessert (s’mores). Drinks include Kirin on tap, wine, beer, and a rotating selection of cocktails.

Whether you’re making a flying visit, having a quick lunch or a leisurely dinner, Spizzico is a great pizza destination. The chefs have meticulously crafted recipes to capture the essence of traditional Roman cuisine while offering a modern twist. You’ll find light and crispy Roman-style pizza baked in Teglia (trays). Among the dozen or so options are Pumpkin & Pancetta, Potato & Rosemary, and Mushroom & Sausage. You’ll also discover deep-fried risotto balls and focaccia. Being on Manners Street, Spizzico is central and well-positioned to accommodate the hungry crowds passing by.

Head to the corner of Ghuznee and Victoria Streets when you next want a trip to Mexico. Apapacho serves as your neighbourhood fondita (Spanish for a small, relaxed inn). Open during the day, it gives you an authentic slice of Mexico. Grab a fresh cup of cafecito de olla (pot coffee) with traditional additions like real cinnamon sticks and piloncillo. Other menu highlights include tasty Mexican versions of eggs your way and French toast. Quilted booth seating and wooden tables create a warm setting while dried corn cobs hang amongst light fittings in the centre of the café.

A full brunch menu by day slides into a tapas-style small plates for dinner at Superfina. Sitting near the top of Cuba Street (furthest from the harbour), the restaurant and bar is housed in a couple of turn-of-the-century shops. Original wooden floors are complemented by terracotta and green walls. Superfina’s specialty is mezcal - a smoky liquor made from agave — and margaritas. This fits the general Latin theme. You’ll find Cuban and Mexican wall art, burrito, quesadilla, and empanada on the menu, and even sand outside in the courtyard. 

The coffee beans are always freshly ground, and it’s on the ground floor of the Central Library. With décor to match the library’s light and modern aesthetic, Central Ground Café is a great way to bookend your reading trip. Grab a table near the shaded Victoria Street entrance or head to the spacious and sunny Te Ngakau Civic Square entrance, where booth seating centres around large planters. Russet brown paint and blonde wood furnishings give a sense of warmth to the space. The menu offering ranges from beautifully presented slices to sandwiches and hot food. 

Open from early morning until the sun goes down, Hotel Catalina gives you a relaxed beachfront dining option in Lyall Bay. The menu is designed for all-day enjoyment, with simple but well-executed food options and great coffee, beer, and wine. Everything is suited to casual brunch and evening drinks by the beach. Upstairs, the top-floor balcony offers front-row views of Lyall Bay and the Airport. The building is steeped in history - originally built in the 1930s as the first terminal at Wellington Airport it was moved across the runway to its current position in 2011.

At the harbour-end of Cuba Street you’ll find an authentic New Mexican Craft Beer Taproom. Teddy’s Tacos serves up the perfect mix of Mexican street cuisine and ice-cold craft beer. Choose from burritos, quesadillas, burgers, and of course — tacos. At the end of the long, narrow room, you’ll find a bar with over 20 shiny beer taps. Eddyline Brewery in Nelson supplies the brews with room for some guest Wellington craft beers. Dark brown booths line one wall while small tables line the other. Above you hang large light shades inspired by hops and Hatch red chiles.

Crust is a hole-in-the-wall sandwich and coffee shop found in Eastbourne’s beachfront RSA. With stunning harbour views, it is in strong contention for the most scenic sandwich shop in the country. Don’t let the vista take away from the sammies at hand though. Crust serves up some seriously delicious combinations. Try the chicken salad sub served on fresh, pillowy-soft bread, or the toasted kimchi melt. Their sweet treats alone are worth a visit. With Coffee Supreme in the grinders and plenty more sandwich flavours to try, you’ll be back for the crust and all.  

This Blair Street brewery serves up an award-winning pint with delicious food to match. Winner of the Small International Brewery 2023 and 2024, Three Sisters Brewery approaches brewing with a healthy dose of creativity. With beers like the Banana Smoothie Sour or the Blueberry Fruitquake, their beer will take your taste buds on a journey. Behind the turquoise frontage, you’ll find cosy booths, an open kitchen and an open keg room. Flooded with afternoon sun, Three Sisters Brewery is perfect for an after-work beer. 

The number eight is considered lucky in Chinese culture. It’s lucky for the customers who order food at the Courtenay Place bar. The majority of the tapas options are priced at $8.88, and the cocktail menu also starts at that price. Described by owner Paul Wong as a “cross-breed” between a high-end restaurant and an edgy late-night lounge, Lucky 8 is inspired by the roadside beer stalls and street food culture of Asia. The new multi-area venue has four distinct experiences: the Side Bar, the Main Lounge, a Private Dining Room, and a Terrace overlooking the street.