Jackson W.'s
On yer bike
- 11Bicycle JunctionNewtownIf you have dreams of cruising the streets of Amsterdam on a fixie, then this is where that dream starts. Beautiful bikes, custom designs and paint jobs. And while you’re perusing the pedals you can also order yourself a delicious flight coffee.
- 22Wellington MotorcyclesMount VictoriaI may be closer to 30 than to 60 but I’m already on the look out for my mid life crisis wheels. I love seeing all the motorcycles lined up outside and also checking out the latest Harley’s inside.
- 34Capital CyclesTe AroI used to get a lot of stuff for my bike online, but calling into Capital Cycles by chance and the wonderful customer service I received I’ll never go online again. What a bunch of dudes.
- 44Dirt Merchants NZAro ValleyWhether your bike needs a fine tune or you need a tour guide for Wellington’s excellent mountain biking tracks, James and his crew will steer you in the right direction.
Jackson W.'s
Best Indian
- 18Little India Cuba MallTe AroPick any given lunch time and you’ll probably find me and my pal Daniel in the front window of Little India. The ‘little special’ for lunch is tired and true and the garlic naan is always so darn garlicky (in a good way). They’re not afraid to turn up the spice-o-meter either so be careful if you ask for hot!
- 25Tulsi is a Welington institution and you cannot claim to be a Wellingtonian if you haven’t eaten here. Allegedly their curry even lured Brad Pitt to give it a try. Good for birthdays and large groups their spice-filled Indian deliciousness is guaranteed to please.
- 33The Balti HouseWellington CentralSecreted away on Victoria Street, this delicious little Indian restaurant is one of Wellington’s hidden gems. While they do all the regular, westernised Indian food, they do traditional dishes too. These are definitely worth a try for the more adventurous.
Jackson W.'s
Best sharing plates
- 114OmbraTe AroOmbra is a great place to kick off a night on the town. The tapas style food is always amazing — try the grilled sardines with lemon and parsley — and the dink selection is good for those who are sober too. The place is always packed, which is a testement to how amazing the food and service is. Be prepared to wait for a table, it is worth it.
- 212El MatadorTe AroThe thick aroma of wood-fire cooked meat is rich and delicious and will fire up your taste buds from the moment you walk into El Matador. Another great place to line your stomach in preperation for a night out on the town, this Argentinian style steak house is truely a wonder.
- 34WBCTe AroNestled in the old Wellington Boot Company building overlooking Victoria street, WBC definitely doesn’t serve up old boots. The food here is a sort of tapas sorta mains sorta amazing kinda place. Doesn’t’ matter if you get mains because you’ll be so jealous of your compatriots meals that you’ll end up sharing anways. The sardines are to die for!
- 47Phoenician FalafelMount VictoriaWhile the Phoenicians may be long gone, their cuisine lives on right here in the Capital. Not just kebabs and falafel this delightful eatery of Cuba, run by the awesome Elie, is serving up tapas. The baklava is always fresh and the shawarma are the best in Wellington.
Jackson W.'s
An hour on Cuba
- 12As Colour WellingtonWellington CentralFresh New Zealand threads to get into the Wellington fashion vibe, this store always has something that I want to buy. Whether it’s a dope as hoody or a swish cotton shirt the staff will help you pick something. And it’s reasonably and a kiwi company. Get ya hoody on, yo!
- 27Ferret Bookshop LimitedTe AroIf you’re looking for a rare New Zealand classic novel, or something about spoons made in Vienna during the reign of Franz Joseph I you’re in luck. Ferret has it all. This eclectic but impressive range of secondhand books will drive any book nut wild.
- 349Fidel's CafeTe AroFidels on Cuba are a haven for vegans especially in terms of baking. The blackberry, peach and chocolate muffins are amazing and animal product free. Wooo whoo!
- 46Rag Mama Rag VintageTe AroStop. Look around you. Look at the people on Cuba Street. You should notice something: they’re well dressed(and perhaps a bit quaint). They probably got their clothes from Rag Mama Rag. This sweet little shop down Cuba is a good little spot with heaps of vintage clothes which sets it apart from the other opshops along the street. Also the do alterations, handy for those of us who cannot wrangle a sewing machine.
Jackson W.'s
American-themed eateries
- 112Thunderbird CafeWellington CentralPossibly the coolest cafe down the "business" end of town, Thunderbird has the Cuba Street vibe just with a few more suits at lunch time. The food is hearty and delicious with a range of cabinet food available for you to grab if you’re in a hurry.
- 245Sweet Mother's KitchenTe AroOn a lazy Sunday morning, I love stuffing my face with Sweet Mother’s enormous breakfast burrito.
- 34We’re not in Wellington anymore, Toto. KC BBQ is a real slice of America in New Zealand! Uncle Mike’s specialty is slow-smoked, barbecued meats. Must try the Obama burger and the beef ribs. It’s a meat-eater’s heaven decked out in cowboy style décor.
- 43Drexels Breakfast Restaurant WellingtonWellington CentralIt’s like an American diner and a chic Welly restaurant had a baby — delicious cheap and filling food meets good service at a place tidy enough to take your snobby grandma. Can’t decide what to eat? Have the waffles! Quick service even when busy.
- 50Mama BrownWellington CentralNew kid on the block sure to be popular with the cool kids. Offers a fusion of American and Mexican food including sliders, tacos and hamburgers with a flavoursome home-made twist. It’s a got a relaxed fast food/diner feel and gives you the chance to pick and choose sliders and mains so you can build your meal. If you’re not hungry Mamas is worth the trip just for the milkshakes (psst, peanut-butter-chocolate-caramel is my favourite).
Jackson W.'s
Supermaché mania
- 14Known colloquially as "chaffers" New World, this supermarket is a trusty emporium of all your food needs. It is also home to some of the coolest checkout operators you’ve ever had the pleasure of being served by.
- 233The freshest lettuces and the freshest loaves of bread, everything is fresh at Moore Wilsons
- 32Pak'n Save PetonePetoneOne of the cool things that sets PAK ‘n SAVE Petone apart from the many other supermarkets in the greater Wellington region is the fact that the staff are obviously proud to work there. This make such a difference to me, the pride they have in their store shines through and the atmposphere is always so positive. Oh and it’s clean and tidy and all that other stuff.
- 46Yan's SupermarketMount CookTucked away up Torrens Terrace, there is always something to find in Yan’s. It’s huge range of Asian cooking supplies means that you can spend countless hours just looking, and then trying new and exotic foods.