Shalimar has the most character of any Dairy I have ever set foot in, it's no wonder the residents of Aro Valley hold it in such fondness. The staff are lovely, and there is constantly foreign karaoke, or a Bollywood film playing on a TV above the door. Shalimar is stocked with all the regular necessities, as well as a decent selection of wine and beer, and fresh flowers.

Shalimar, the dairy that barely sleeps, is the top and tail of every Wellington experience. What other dairys have karaoke? Bizarre and enthralling - its odd that so often a trip down the road for some milk can be so invigorating.

The craziest selection. The maddest staff. The oddest in-store experiences, and yet a strange compulsion to always return. Shalimar should really be an essential Wellington right of passage for all new residents or even tourists.