Martyn P.'s
Best brunch spots
- 149Maranui Surf Lifesaving Club CafeLyall BayWhile weekend mornings at Maranui aren't for the faint hearted or the impatient, stopping through for breakfast on a weekday morning is something else. The best cafe views in the capital, super nice staff, amazing food and instantly awakening coffee. I love stopping past here after flying back in the capital from a trip out of town.
- 214PrefabTe AroPrefab is a class act. Affordable menu items, amazing coffee, super attentive and friendly (but not too attentive staff), off the hook counter food and delicious bakery takeaway items. On a Saturday morning, no matter how busy they are, Prefab never dissapoints.
- 332OliveTe AroPerfectly prepared roast tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, poached eggs, toast, hollandaise and amazing hash browns. Paired up with a cup of Supreme coffee and beautiful architecture, it's hard to not find cafe oriented happiness at Olive.
- 417Cafe PoloMiramarCan we talk about how good the hash browns are at Cafe Polo? Can we also talk about how regularly zany Zeus feta cheese finds it's way into the breakfast/brunch menu? The presentation and taste of the food here is top tier. Essential dining really.
- 528MontereyNewtownMonterey is one of the most comfortable weekend brunch locales in the wider Wellington region. If you haven't had the Savoury French toast with haloumi and roasted red pepper, you haven't lived. Should you pass through hungover, I suggest a side of fries and a cup of bottomless black coffee. Bring your drawing skills as well. If you haven't been there before, they cover the tables in blank paper and leave pencils and rubbers next to the salt and pepper. Fill your stomach and get creative, at the very same time.
Martyn P.'s
Best Record Stores
- 13RPM - Rough Peel MusicTe AroFriendly knowledgeable staff, a fantastic selection of vinyl, cds, dvds and even cassette tapes. If you love music, you can't get past Rough Peel Music.
- 213Slow Boat Records ShopTe AroYou "could" describe Slow Boat as one of the best record stores in New Zealand, but comparatively speaking, it might be one of the best record stores in the world. For early 20th century music, classic jazz, country, rock, soul, folk and beyond, Slow Boat has an amazing selection of both vinyl and CDs. The staff are extremely sharp and knowledgeable as well. This is one of those places where taking a recommendation is well recommended.
- 32Death Ray RecordsNewtownLocated on Wilson Street in Newtown, Death Ray Records used to be located in Berhampore and called Evil Genius. For surf, space jazz, psychobilly, garage rock and a bunch of other amazing yet niche late 20th century styles of music, this shop is remarkable. You won't experience anywhere else like this in Wellington.
- 47David N White GalleryTe AroOn first glance, The David N White Gallery just looks like a junk store. Look a little closer and you'll release you came this close to drifting past a treasure trove of curios from the past. Of particular interest is the bins of vinyl records. I have no idea where they keep finding this stuff, but if you're interested in rare or obscure albums and singles, you might just find a few here. Remarkable!
- 50Wonderland RecordsWainuiomataThe selection and service here is A+. The potential for nostalgia, or nostalgia for an era of time you never experienced (they probably have a word for this in German) is A++. You'll be amazed by what you'll find here.
Martyn P.'s
The Best book, magazine and comic stores
- 115Arty Bee's BooksWellington CentralI've been coming to this store for a very long time. Over that very long time, a few things haven't changed. Out the gate, the science fiction and fantasy section has always been incredibly diverse, and the staff have always been knowledgeable and friendly. It's also always been pretty amazing what turns up in the secondhand section, and how cheap said titles usually are. Arty Bee's Books was crucial in the development of my love affair with the writing of Octavia E Butler, William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, Ian McDonald and H.P Lovecraft. I can't recommend this two story complex of awesome enough.
- 27Graphic ComicsTe AroI've been a regular at Graphic Comics for a few years now. I originally ended up there after backtracking from AMC's The Walking Dead television show to the graphic novel series of the same name it's based on. Graphic Comics just have the most remarkable collection of stock, and crucially for me, a whole bunch of amazing stuff that doesn't involve men in tights fighting other men in tights and masks (ie: superhero comics). Graphic Comics introduced me to incredible graphic novels like Scalped, Love and Rockets, DMZ, The Boys, and the remarkable Humanoids, Pantheon and Cinebooks publishing lines. Incredible storylines and incredible art, what's not to love? The staff are fantastic as well; considered and knowledgeable.
- 33Magnetix MagazinesWellington CentralWithin the local magazine store game, Magnetix Magazines is one of the last real shops standing. A well assembled magazine is a true joy to have, hold, read through and learn from. Magnetix understand this, and stock a dizzying array of titles across a dizzying array of interests. I generally pick up a few arts and music publications a month here. I just can't get by without a new copy of The Wire or Frieze.
- 430Unity Books WellingtonWellington CentralUnity Books is a truly world class bookstore. Between their amazingly curated specialist sections, the impressively well read staff, and the regularity with which they throw important local literature events in-store, it's pretty easy to fall in love with the place. Unity Book's fiction and music book sections have always been a go-to for me. I got familiar with the works of Murakami, Lauren Beukes, Paolo Bacigalupi and plenty of other crucial authors here. I look forward to discovering more on my next visit.
- 513Pegasus BooksTe AroSpecialising in fields like Poetry, Philosophy, Mythology Literary Fiction, Modern Classics, Spiritual Paths, Art, Music, Classics (Greek and Roman), Architecture and Design, Pegasus Books is this close to being that enchanted bookstore from that movie you used to always watch as a child, the one you loved dearly, but just can't remember the title of. The space is well organised and maintained, the prices are reasonable, and regardless of your focus, you'll pretty much always find something worth focusing some attention on.
Martyn P.'s
Best Mexican Restaurants
- 13Centro MexicanoWellington CentralLocated inside the BNZ Foodcourt, Don Taco (formerly known as Centro Mexicano) is one of those takeaway outlets with a lot more going on than meets the eye. Run by some very lovely staff, while they offer cheap and cheerful standard Mexican dishes like nachos, quesadillas and tacos, they also have a secret weapon of sorts on their menu, the Mexican roti wrap. I'm a big fan of the mushroom version. Fried mushrooms, salad, spicy sauce, guacamole and sour cream, all wrapped up in super tasty roti. Don Taco also stock the Jarrito's cola and soda drink range, which is well impressive and delicious to say the least.
- 28Viva Mexico NewtownNewtownViva Mexico's Leftbank outlet has long been a haven for simple and traditional Mexican food. With their recent Newtown outlet, they've finally found an environment that matches up perfectly with their delicious cuisine. While Mexican music (of a variety of styles) plays in the background, you can enjoy tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas and various other scrumptious dishes, as well as the all important Jarrito's Mexican cola, seated either outdoors on the picnic tables or inside their very own two story taco truck. On a warm evening, this is one of the better places to dine in the southern ward.
- 38Mad MexLambtonAs much as I love burritos, tacos, nachos, quesadillas and Mexican salads, I never thought I'd be very enthusiastic about chainstore Mexican. However, since arriving in the Lambton Square complex, Max Mex has completely turned my thoughts on the above around. Quick friendly service, healthy filling food and audaciously delicious churros with warmed dark dipping chocolate makes for some very stomach and taste-bud friendly times. Topping things off, Mad Mex is licensed, and aside from beers and the like, has some pretty great margaritas going on in the mix as well.
- 415La Boca LocaMiramarMiramar was never a destination suburb for me, but with the arrival of businesses like Cafe Polo and La Boca Loca, I'm really warming up to the place, and find myself out there more often than I expect. Earlier this year I attended a family birthday dinner at La Boca Loca and had an amazing time. The restaurant environment was aesthetically pleasing, but had a low key vibe. You could really kick back and enjoy yourself. Their fish tacos were mouthwatering, as were their small plates, starters and sides. We had some pretty delicious cocktails with our meal, and some superbly opulent dessert cakes at the end. I'm trying to figure out an excuse to head out there again. Maybe even tonight?
- 520While Customs Brew Bar seems pretty obviously the spot for coffee, and in all actuality definitely is, they also do something else really well - Mexican food! Their mushroom and bean burritos and chicken quesadillas (created and supplied by Gypsy Kitchen in Strathmore) are outrageously good. Once they even made a friend of mine with a chronic Sweet Mother's Kitchen addiction seriously rethink her choice of lunchtime dining spot. I can't get enough of the food and coffee at this place.
Martyn P.'s
Top coffee spots
- 124Six Barrel Soda FactoryTe AroSix Barrel Soda Factory might be a boutique soda factory and bar, but they're no slouches in the coffee department either. With experienced staff pumping delicious People's Coffee blends out of the machine, you're guaranteed a tasty wake-up when you when caffeinated inside Six Barrel. Perhaps the true coffee highlight of the locality however is their bottomless cups of brewed coffee, drink as many as you want, or dare! Airy, spacious and clean, Six Barrel is always an excellent spot for a catch-up or general chinwag.
- 233Flight Coffee HangarTe AroLocated on the corner of Willis and Dixon Street, Flight Coffee's HQ, also known as The Hangar is one of those spots coffee lovers just can't get past. Whether you're interested in sampling award winning blends or rare specialty coffees, The Hangar as definitely got you. Coupled with niche brewing methods like cold drip, Chemex, V60 and Aeropress, well, there is a lot to get involved with flavour wise. As an added bonus, you can actually watch their coffee roasters prepare the beans near the back of The Hangar's expansive airy environment.
- 320Coffee Supreme's Customs Brew Bar came swinging out the gate in 2010 and hasn't looked back since. Offering a rotating menu of no less than nine single origin coffees from around the world, they present these defined flavours through fantastic brewing devices like the Chemex, V60, and the SwissGold filter. If you're getting serious about your coffee, the place is a treat, and as a close as you're going to come to a boutique wine-shop style affair for coffee. And if you want a cuppa that much more conventional, their espresso through the Slayer machine is to die for.
- 45SuperfinoTe AroSuperfino is one of those slightly off the beaten road coffee spots, tucked across from Glover park on Ghuznee Street. At first glace you might not think much of it, but head inside and get to know the incredible and seemingly always on duty barista named Jono. A Cheshire cat of a man, Jono is incredible with his technique, turnaround time and general memory. Head their just once, and you'll probably never have to even utter a word to order again. The space is super relaxing as well. Definitely an excellent spot for an off-the-grid cuppa or two.
- 512Milk CrateTe AroMilk Crate is just a really nice cafe. Excellent minimalistic decor, fantastic espresso machine coffee, tasty counter food and super lovely staff. Even better, Milk Crate is right next door to a lovely old vintage bookstore, making it a perfect spot for both sipping and browsing. I'd recommend a short black or a long black with some of their baked goods; very good indeed.