Martyn P.'s
Gluten Free Friendly Cafes and Restaurants
- 13AfrikaTe AroGluten free African food, halal as well for those who need it. Need I say more?
- 25Panama Bakery Gluten FreeWaterlooWhat if I told you gluten free afghans, caramel slices, chocolate biscuits and all the rest of the bakery goods you crave can be found in the Lambton Quarter? You’d be impressed right? It’s all a true story. No lie.
- 318Ti Kouka CafeWellington CentralTi Kouka Cafe is one of the best breakfast/brunch spots in the capital. Even better, if you have gluten issues, they got you completely covered.
- 414Baobab CafeNewtownGluten free pasta, gluten free sausages, Gluten Free Brownies and Gluten Free Macaroons; need I say more?!
- 549Maranui Surf Lifesaving Club CafeLyall BayExcellent salads amongst other gluten free options. Maranui does it well.
Martyn P.'s
Best Hot Chocolates
- 14Aeroshop: Creative AlliesMt CookMilk substitute enthusiasts (or those who are allergic to dairy) take note! Aeroshop stocks hemp milk and almond milk as well as regular cow milk. Their almond milk and hemp milk hot chocolates are spectacular.
- 232Scopa Caffe CucinaTe AroScopa has the deadliest, thickest, most opulent hot chocolate in Wellington. Approach with caution however, addiction occurs quicker than one might expect, and something which tastes that good is best enjoyed in moderation, and as with many things, after an appropriate anticipation building wait!
- 333If Scopa is too full, and it’s their hot chocolate you crave - head around the corner to Duke Cavell’s!. The same product, but just as deadly. Enjoy every sip like it’s your last.
- 41Zico Cucina & BarTe AroZico Cucina’s Gusto Cioccolato hot chocolate is wildly good. It was actually voted Wellington best hot chocolate in 2010 voted by the now defunct Capital Times newspaper.
- 528MontereyNewtownWhen it comes to hot chocolate in Newtown, Monterey has got this covered. As opposed to marshmallows, they give you a piece of Whittakers chocolate on the side - which is how it should be really.
Martyn P.'s
The Best Fish & Chips Spots
- 125Mt Vic ChipperyMount VictoriaThis is the best fish & chips shop in the greater Wellington region. The range of fish and crumbing/battering techniques is outstanding, as is the selection of different types of potato chips. Finally, the fish & chip shop we deserve as a city.
- 26Wellington Sea MarketTe AroAside from being a stand-up Fish & Chip shop (with all of the bells and whistles), Trawling Sea Market has an excellent selection of fresh seafood for you to purchase, take home, and cook. Whether you want takeaways or something to prepare at home, they won't let you down here.
- 36Te Aro Fish Supplies Ltd.Aro ValleyTe Aro Fish Supply is one of the treasures of the Aro Valley, an old school fish and chip shop which handles fish and chips just the way we like them. Believe the hype.
- 46Fish FinsNewtownLook past the faded exterior, Fish Fins is an essential Newtown experience. You can't look past those wedge sized chips, and the lightly battered fish with lemon pepper seasoning; my gosh.
- 55Starfish Fish & ChipsThorndonThis place was frying up a great packet of fish and chips when I was a seventeen year old supermarket worker. Close to a decade and a half later, they still got it like that. Fresh, crisp and crunchy seafood and potatoes. This place is the jump-off.
Martyn P.'s
The Best Cinemas
- 122The Embassy TheatreWellington CentralI think it is easy to forget how lucky we are to have such a world class cinema complex in the capital. When a good release, or a big release, comes to town, Embassy Theatre is the place you want to see it. The whole complex keeps getting better and better as well, it feels like every time I go there they're added a new bell, whistle, cafe or bar section. Fantastic!
- 212Light House CubaWellington CentralWigan Street just gets better and better. Between Havana Bar & Restaurant and Light House Cinema, you can have a pretty great night out, all contained within a side street alleyway. Who saw that coming?! Drop past Havana Restaurant for dinner, head over to Light House for a movie, then head back to Havana Bar for some drinks and music. Too good alright, too good.
- 317Roxy CinemaMiramarRoxy Cinema is an audaciously good cinema experience. Between the retro environment and their choice of films, Roxy makes the trip to Miramar well worthwhile. I recommend grabbing a meal at La Boca Loca beforehand for the full Neo Miramar experience.
- 40Empire CinemaIsland BayThe first time I visited Empire Cinema was for the Wellington premier of the Biggie biopic, 'Notorious'. They didn't quite get their PR right, so a small number of dedicated hip-hop fans got to lounge on plush couches while watching the story of one of the greatest rappers of all time. When it comes to a plush, comfortable film watching environment, Empire Cinema utterly nails it. On a warm evening, I'd pair this up with fish and chips at the beach - it would be a lovely time.
- 54Penthouse Cinema & CafeBrooklynPenthouse is a marvelous little cultural hub. They always have an immaculately curated selection of movies showing, the cafe section is top notch, and if you don't live in Brooklyn, it's an excuse to visit Brooklyn, which is a pretty nice suburb. I kinda feel like heading there right now.
Martyn P.'s
The best dining specials
- 132Scopa Caffe CucinaTe AroBetween 11am and 3pm on Tuesdays, Scopa offer up $8 Margherita pizzas, which are amazing. The rest of the weekdays they have $10 pasta dishes on deck during the lunch rush. This place is oh-so-delicious.
- 232Chow ToryTe AroChow's modernist Asian cuisine and fresh cocktail menu is to die for, and on Monday's thanks to their two for one food deal, you actually can! You'd be hard pressed to leave here feeling unhappy. Vegans, vegetarians and those who are gluten free are exceptionally well looked after here.
- 328MontereyNewtownOut in Newtown, the $10 burger and fries night is religion. Every Tuesday half the suburb pass through for some affordable food, drink and general social banter. While the Haloumi burger is a big hitter, they got a bunch of different options on deck. Meat eaters and vegetarians alike will find temporary happiness here.
- 411BebemosNewtownBebemos is a lovely Melbourne style cafe, bar and restaurant (think Brunswick Street). With a wonderful outdoor courtyard and a great Brazilian themed dining and extensive drinks menu, they also offer $10 weekday brunches from Wednesday to Friday (11.30am to 3pm).Quesadillas, coconut cream pancakes, eggs benedict, BLT and beyond, Bebemos got something for (almost) everyone.
- 549Maranui Surf Lifesaving Club CafeLyall BayEvery Tuesday Maranui Cafe offer a $16 big breakfast and coffee deal for tradesmen and tradeswomen. You'll be full and wide awake in no-time-flat! To boot, Maranui has some of the most amazing cafe views in Wellington.
Martyn P.'s
A night on the town
- 121Havana BarTe AroOn a Friday or Saturday night, Havana is one of the nicest bars in Wellington. Lovely staff, exceptional drinks, great live music and DJs. Even better, you can get an excellent bite to eat next door in the restaurant - and if you really wanted to make an evening of it, Lighthouse Cinema is just across the road.
- 23Every Wednesday night Bettys hosts a club night called TNC. At TNC a dizzying array of up and coming bands, DJs, electronic music performers and experimental musicians, from not just Wellington, but the whole of New Zealand (and sometimes overseas) perform for, drum roll please; free entry! If you want to get hip to what is coming next, Bettys on Wednesdays is the spot.
- 36PuppiesTe AroAt a capacity of somewhere around one hundred and fifty, Puppies isn't the biggest live music venue. It is however, one of the best spots in Wellington to check out great bands and electronic acts with smaller followings. The sound system is immaculate, drinks are affordable, and the entertainment is always colourful and engaging. All round good times.
- 440Quality up and coming live music most weeknights, complimentary hot water bottles and blankets during winter, an amazing outdoor garden bar, free sausage sizzles, and a great dinner menu. This place is pretty special. It's been amazing watching it evolve into the community hub it now is.
- 56CrumpetTe AroCrumpet is one of those spots that is easy to miss, but once you’ve been there, hard to walk past. If you’re into your cocktails and drinks, the skilled, friendly and entertaining bartenders have definitely got you covered. The background soundtrack is always nice, and if you’re hungry, they have an amazing gourmet crumpet menu in the mix.