The unassuming appearance of this restaurant is hiding one of Wellington’s more underrated dining experiences. Order your takeaways (no dining in) and pass the 10-minute wait by watching the skilled naan maker work the tandoor. The curries are flavoursome and perfectly-spiced, and the prices ridiculously cheap.

The best thing about Great India is the super cheap lunch deal which gives you curry, rice and naan for $12. The paneer is my menu favourite, but I have sampled my dining companion’s meals on several occasions and can deem them all delicious.

The title of best Indian restaurant in Newtown is hotly contested, but the zany space-themed murals inside Planet Spice definitely push it into the top spot. This place is perfect for a BYO with friends and is reasonably priced for a student budget.

There are Little India restaurants peppered across Wellington City, and this dining institution has earned its excellent reputation over many years of serving Wellingtonians. The service is always flawless and the food consistently good over the five years I’ve been dining there. The chana masala is a must-have.

Aro Valley’s cast offs can be your new clothes at this excellent quality store. Don’t be put off by the ‘opshop’ aspect - this one often boasts designer brands and vintage homewares. Aro is always great for a good rummage.

It’s well worth jumping on the bus to Miramar to explore Mary Potter. Their selection of furniture and homewares is perfect for outfitting your flat, and there is plenty of quality vintage to be found amongst the racks of clothing. Also the staff are really, really cute.

Savemart’s prices are a little higher than those in your standard opshop, but there are often incredible bargains to be found amongst the racks. This place is essentially a huge second-hand clothing warehouse, so make sure you have time to browse its massive selection. Well worth the trip into the Hutt.

Newtown’s Opportunity for Animals shop is a sprawling and disorganised second hand haunt with a lot of decent bargains to be found. I’ve found the homewares section particularly good for kitchen equipment, but the clothing selection is also extensive and reasonably priced.

Taking the bus out to Johnsonville can be a bit of an effort, but this wee peripheral town does have a number of good opshops. The St Vincent de Paul shop is staffed by possibly the most friendly volunteers you will ever encounter, and is priced well for its selection. The furniture section is especially good, and if you ask very kindly they’ll deliver into the city for a small fee.

The curly fries at Sweet Mother’s Kitchen are, in a word, incredible. The spicy flavour of these spiral joys renders the shape irrelevant. Enjoy with a peanut butter milkshake.

Ti Kouka is located in central Willis Street, upstairs almost above New World Metro, but its corporate location belies a succinct but wonderful menu. The huge hand-cut fries are served with a trio of house-made sauces, and are big enough for sharing. Don’t be scared to order them for breakfast.

Go up to the counter in Mount Vic Chippery to have an up-close look at their chip varieties, with real life samples of each displayed on a cute little board for your perusal. I would recommend the hand-cut agrias, but there are no weak contenders in this battle of the fries. The burgers aren’t bad either.

This cult Wellington cafe might be best known for its cakes, but its take on fries is pretty impressive too. This huge serving of roasted chunks of potato and kumara is best shared between two.

Not to be confused with everyone’s favourite harbour blight, Fisherman’s Table, Fisherman’s Plate is a central city fish and chippery that also makes delicious Vietnamese cuisine. Ask for ‘all sauces’ and prepare for your mind to be blown.

Recycle Boutique is a second-hand lover’s dream, with rack upon rack of contemporary, designer and vintage clothing to be perused. With a huge quantity of clothing and accessories available, it’s hard to walk out empty handed.

Aro Valley’s cast offs can be your new clothes at this excellent quality store. Don’t be put off by the ‘opshop’ aspect - this one often boasts designer brands and vintage homewares. Aro is always great for a good rummage.

It’s well worth jumping on the bus to Miramar to explore Mary Potter. Their selection of furniture and homewares is perfect for outfitting your flat, and there is plenty of quality vintage to be found amongst the racks of clothing. Also the staff are really, really cute.

Although Ziggurat’s prices are a big higher than your average second hand store, you pay for the quality you find here. Boasting a huge selection of ’40s and ’50s dresses, as well as dapper menswear, Ziggurat is ideal for finding a special occasion outfit with a difference. They also have a range of upmarket modern labels.

Emporium Wellington, a Christchurch quake refugee, is run by vintage enthusiasts who hand-pick their stock from the US of A. Dedicated to making vintage accessible and fun, Emporium make loving alterations to clothing to make it more wearable and contemporary.