Dining out is a way of life for Wellingtonians. Home to hundreds of gastronomic delights and home to Cuisine Magazine’s Supreme Restaurant of the Year four out of five years, you’ll find quirky cafes, innovative menus showcasing the best in local produce and award-winning establishments, all within walking distance of your hotel. It’s fair to say we like our food in Wellington and we like it good.
If you’re a passionate foodie or just love to eat, take a fun food tour and experience the best of delicious cuisines and gourmet foods in Wellington. Get behind the scenes on a walking food tour, visit local markets or experience a boutique beer tour with a local beer expert.
You can meet Wellington’s best artisan producers and sample their products at the City Market, on Sundays 8.30am till 12.30pm, at Chaffers Dock on the waterfront. Coffee is big business in this little city, and Wellington is New Zealand’s coffee headquarters. Try Mojo, Havana, Caffe L’affare and Fuel for a superb local brew. Just a short drive and a jump over the hill from the capital you’ll find the Wairarapa wine region, well-known for its pinot noir.
Martinborough made its name as a one of the world’s premium pinot noir and sauvignon blanc regions, though other top wines including chardonnay, riesling pinot gris, merlot and cabernet sauvignon are also produced here. The long hot summers, dry autumn and gravelly soil from an ancient riverbed all add up to perfect conditions for growing cool climate grapes.
First plantings of vines were made around Martinborough in the 1970s, spreading north to Masterton and Gladstone in the 1980s. There are now more than 50 vineyards, all within a short drive of Wairarapa’s main towns.
Where there’s great wine there’s great food, and the Wairarapa’s developed a reputation for first class cafés and restaurants serving delicious local produce. Some vineyards also have cafés, each with menus built around their wine list. Do phone ahead, though, as some are only open over summer.
You’ll also be at the heart of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail, a sign-posted 380km (240 mile) self-drive touring route that leads you off the beaten track. Travel through five of New Zealand’s most interesting and scenic regions, including three major wine growing areas that account for more than 70% of the New Zealand’s total annual wine production. As the name suggests, this trail promises fantastic wine and food. It also serves up all kinds of cultural and adventure experiences.