Joe S.'s
Favourite local spots
- 14RamsTe AroA standard go to for eating out or getting takeaways when I lived on Cuba Street. A really great option of BYOs, the menu here is incredibly tasty with options to please everyone. The salt and pepper squid or pork spare ribs are great, as is the spicy sliced duck salad with the chilli oil dumplings being a must have as a starter.
- 220Since taking the plunge and becoming vegetarian a while ago, rediscovering Aunty Mena’s was a fantastic thing, the mee goring here is my total favourite and in my opinion gunning for the best there is in town. Everything is cooked fresh and its always busy, a good sign and a great place to go for dinner during the week!
- 313Pranah Vegetarian CafeNewtownIn the heart of Newtown, Pranah supplies some great vegetarian and vegan options. A homely vibe will greet you and the cabinet food and menu are great. A good spot for lunch and one that I visit on the regular. Lunch here is something that can please everyone, I usually go for the vege samosa its cheap and really filling but all the cabinet food looks amazing and its usually a well thought out decision on what to get!
- 432Scopa Caffe CucinaTe AroSitting on the corner of Cuba Street and Ghuznee Street, Scopa caters for all your pizza needs. With a great selection and a fantastic margherita, it’s a simple and good spot for dinner or lunch. Speedy and friendly service with a well constructed wine list, also always check the pizza special, as its usually something incredible. As I mentioned before, I usually get a simple margherita and its never let me down, with some chili oil on top as well, its great midweek or even weekend dinner.
- 517Ekim BurgersWellington CentralBest burgers in town, simple as that. Not much more needs to be said, but they cover a wide range and with the expansion that took place on their upper Cuba Street site, it’s a must visit. Last time I went I got the refried beans burger, but all of their classics are great quality in both ingredients as well a value for money. Try anything and you will be impressed, I guarantee it. Though make sure you give yourself time as popularity means sometimes waiting a bit longer, but that can sometimes just make the burger taste that much better.
Joe S.'s
Craft Beer Spots
- 125Hashigo ZakeWellington CentralWellingtons great craft beer bar, constant rotating taps and a fantastic staffing unit with all the knowledge to let you make the right decision. Down in a basement of Taranaki Street, it’s a bastion of the craft beer scene and a place that any craft beer loving geek should put on the regular places to drink list.
- 219Golding's Free DiveWellington CentralDown the ever popular Leeds Street, Goldings Free Dive is a craft beer bar in the model of an American style dive. A partnership with Pizza Pomodoro for your food needs with an excellent selection of craft beers on tap and in bottles from the world over. Smoke-free outside area for those that care and a great vibe to the place making it a great place to go have a few while catching up with all your pals.
- 38Rogue & VagabondTe AroBoasting one of the better outside areas, access to the council park outside Rogue and Vagabond make it a great summer spot. With a wide range of craft beers on ever rotating list sure to have something that strikes you. A great spot for your weekday or weekend drinks with live music on frequently as well.
- 411Garage ProjectAro ValleyIn the entrance to Aro Valley, garage project have a cellar door for you to come and try and buy some of Wellingtons best craft beer. You can even see them brewing it if you look next door. A wide selection of what Garage Project offer greets you with the ability to bring your on flagons and take them home, with some fish & chips from the great chip shop just up the road.
- 52Crafters & Co.Wellington CentralUp the far end of Victoria Street, Crafters & Co provide another great spot to fill your craft beer needs, with local beers on tap, notably those from Panhead (brewed in Upper Hutt). It’s a great place to go drink some tasty beers and have a solid feed as well. Definitely advised!
Joe S.'s
Top Florists
- 17Flowers ManuelaTe AroIn the top half of Cuba street, we have Flowers Manuela my personal favourite florist in Wellington, the staff here are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, helping pick out the right flowers every time. My go to whenever flowers are needed, catering to everyone and customising to suit, it’s pretty much just the best!
- 21Twig and ArrowWellington CentralAnother top florist in Wellington, Twig and Arrow bring great style and arrangements to suit everyone. Custom design from concept for whatever your desire needs. Mindy the florist here has 16 or more years of experience so execution is always fantastic and knowledge is not something that’s short on offer. Check out the website and make contact, it’s definitely a floristry that should be sought out!
- 31Scent Floral BoutiqueTe AroOffering up the ability to provide a wide variety of different pieces, ranging from custom small pieces to full events. They say they can offer up “refined, lush and luxurious, romantic, feminine, tropical and architectural” pieces of work, the arrangements look great and are put together with extremely high standards.
- 44Woodstock FloristTe AroGreat service and a wide range of products outside of the usual floral arrangements with some great homewares. They have the ability to create a fantastic bouquet and provide excellent service for weddings and events, helpful and friendly service are to be expected with customization for personal preferences.
Joe S.'s
Best Coffee
- 19Red Rabbit Coffee CoTe AroBest coffee in Wellington is a very contentious issue, full of opinions, these are mine. Full disclaimers would read that I work at peoples coffee in Newtown currently on a part time basis. But as coffee is something I’m pretty serious about, objectivity is always maintained.This list is in no particular order. One of my personal favourites is Red Rabbit Coffee Co down Leeds Street. With Steve putting out some incredibly great roasts and utilising all the coffee knowledge he has acquired over years of work. Their espresso machine looks like a space ship in a good way and produces some incredible shots, the food here from the attached bakery is fantastic and the filter coffee is super tasty as well. All their staff have in depth knowledge of the coffees they serve and it’s truly a place to go and geek out.
- 220Sitting pretty for me as well is Coffee Supremes flagship, with a fantastic fit out a commitment to excellence and some incredibly great filter coffee. Buying your beans from here is great, as they will give you exactly the amount you want. The espresso is usually really great and they will often have some great origins going through. The new fetco here is incredible and obviously incredibly quick, it’s my personal go to at the moment for coffee if I’m in town. One of the finer cafes Wellington has on offer.
- 314In the heart of Newtown, long time local staple for its surrounding residents. This is a place that tries to push the new wave of coffee but has retained its 100% fair trade organic status. Pushing third wave coffee while retaining ethics is no easy task but one done incredibly well. The roasts here are all well developed and they offer a bean to suit everyone for home and also provide excellent espresso and filter options.
- 412Milk CrateTe AroFor your no frills excellent flat white served with excellence, look no further. Don’t expect anything crazy, but if your after a wonderful example of the simple espresso this is a place you should visit. With tasty treats baked daily and cold pressed juice from sister café earnest, you can’t really go wrong.
- 533Flight Coffee HangarTe AroNo coffee article about Wellington would be right without mentioning these guys. The ‘cool’ kids on the block. Always busy, always pushing their coffee forward and trying to keep up with international standards and advancements. Definitely worth a visit even if just to admire the sweet fit-out of the café.
Joe S.'s
Best Manicures
- 19East Day Spa - WellingtonPipiteaDown in Thorndon East Day Spa provide a high level of service with prices reflecting that but not going beyond reason, your looking at around $60 here for your basic ‘express’ service with slightly more expensive options providing greater options for you.
- 24Forme Spa WellingtonWellington CentralSlightly more expensive than East Day or Beauté for the basic service this ‘architecturally’ designed spa offers a high level of service and range of more basic options as a luxury option for a little more. Basic Manicure here will set you back $79
- 33Beaute' on TaranakiTe AroOn Taranaki Street, Beauté lies originally starting in Dunedin they expanded into Wellington. Offering manicures at a high level with $50 for their basic treatment, they offer a range of different choices to suit what you need.
- 41The Finishing Touch Nail SpaWellington CentralOn Lambton Quay, one of the cheaper options with the express manicure costing $40. With a wide range of options and slight discounts when you combine the express manicure with the express pedicure. Definitely a place worth a visit.
- 52On the mezzanine floor of the Amora hotel, Bodyhaven have created a great place to go get your manicure, its also on the cheaper side with the basic option costing around $40 and the deluxe option only setting you back $65. A great choice if it convenient for you
Joe S.'s
Super Value Salads
- 14RahzooWellington CentralIn the middle of town lies one of my favourite cafes in Wellington, it’s mental busy, for a reason. The salads here are excellent and can cater for a large array of diets. They can cater to most wallets and are always nice and fresh. But be sure to get in quick as the selection of salads can sell out before lunch is over.
- 27Kapai Courtenay PlaceTe AroIn it for the sweet salads and healthy snacks, all at a reasonable price, these guys can be spotted around Wellington serving fine, cheap salads to health heads. It’s a place were you know what you’re going to get, and its all super tasty and super affordable. Its something well worth trying out!
- 31Siem Reap ExpressTe AroIn the CBD Siam Reaps lunch spot does some killer Asian style salads, with a selection you can choose from all at reasonable prices, be sure to check out the spot if you’re down that end of town and looking for a quick lunch.
- 43Vic BooksKelburnUp at the university spots to eat at are a little less plentiful, and a lot more populated. However for those that are in the need, the daily salad here is usually well worth it, and with a new menu in the works and a new chef on board, we might see great things coming out of these in the coming year.
- 54RamsTe AroMore in the vein of dinner salads, but Rams on cuba street do some killer, cheap, tasty salads. The selection may not be large but its worth a try, if you end up in here get in on the spicy sliced duck and bean thread salad, it’s a total hit (though if you’re not a fan spice it would pay to avoid).