Wellington is a city that takes pride in its dining culture, boasting a wide range of restaurants spanning across a full range of budget. The award winning eateries cover a wide array of cuisines prepared from raw ingredients by some renowned chefs in the country. We take a brief look at some of the dining hotspots in Wellington that you can conveniently access by choosing Wellington bus hire.
Istana Malaysia
For over 2 decades, this Malaysian restaurant has been a staple of the city’s dining scene, with no compromise on the overall quality. The food here is highly underrated, being fresh, genuine and wholesome cuisine. With the use of unique spices for their cuisine, the restaurant offers a wide selection of food types for all sorts of dietary requirements. Dishes that are staples of Malaysia such as Udang Sambal and Lamb Varuval can be adjusted to appropriate level of spice, along with tasty compliments.
Talking about the interiors, the restaurant is beautifully decorated with themed items without being stereotypical or gaudy, boasting a kitchen that makes for a lovely spectacle. The restaurant also offers an extensive beer and wine list at the most reasonable prices! You can get the best value eats rights here in a great atmosphere!
Cobar
Apart from food, there are plenty of other factors that make up a good restaurant. Location, ambiance, presentation and service, all play an important role, and you will find everything in Cobar. Perched nicely in the marine drive of Wellington overlooking the scenic harbour, Cobar enjoys a pristine location. It’s a classic restaurant with magnificent views from the outside deck.
Cobar delivers exceptionally well in terms of food as well, with reasonably priced meals combining overall quality, presentation and class with each of the dishes. The changing menu allows for experiments, with a number of interesting combinations, including standouts like twice-cooked pork belly, duck parfait and venison starters. The stylish, modern décor extends through to the bathroom, in addition to an exceptional panorama that you won’t find anywhere else.
Havana Bar
If you are looking for a laid-back lunch in Wellington, this Cuban-style restaurant is where exactly you need to go. You will be literally blown away with the architecture of this place, which is a bit rustic and historic, with an inviting wooden façade and high-rise style surroundings. Complete with Cuban-themed décor, the restaurant is partitioned into a couple of sections, including a proper restaurant and a bar. This is much more than fine dining, something like a pompous high-end offerings with a bohemian-flavoured dine out.
The restaurant specialises in tapas meals with immense variety in combinations and flavours of tapas, and the likes of pork belly, beetroot, haloumi and prawns. Presentation is also top-notch, with a degustation menu covering a wide range of tastes. Live music is another plus point, along with a wide range of cocktails on offer, making for a pleasant venue to dine and drink.
Boulcott Street Bistro
One of the most consistent restaurants in Wellington, the Boulcott Street Bistro is housed in an elegant, Victorian style timber venue with a cosy interior radiating warmth and character. It is a classy, yet refined restaurant tucked away from the central downtown of the city centre. Equipped with lovely décor and unobtrusive lighting, the bistro offers a limited menu, with some outstanding cuisines on offer. You can find a good range of sea foods, including marine grown offerings, prepared fish of the day and fresh oysters.
The Bistro also offers an extensive list of wines with a wide spectrum of selection that you will hardly find anywhere else. Special mention should be given to the desserts here, apart from the food which is faultless from aroma to taste to texture and everything.
Restaurant 88
You will find French, Italian and Chinese restaurants anywhere you go, but it is rare to get hands on Vietnamese dishes. Restaurant 88 is one such place featuring fresh and original Vietnamese food prepared from fresh herbs that are important for producing unique taste. With a more swanky appearance, this restaurant in a tucked-away location stands out from some of its nearby competitors. The place offers a nice décor with a minimalistic approach and a modern theme for a refreshing break from the typical Asian restaurant.
The menu is fairly wide ranging with items such as prawn sticks, duck rolls and back ribs. The mains are quite firmly portioned, with chicken wings and use of basic ingredients. You should definitely try the Vietnamese coffee with a strong aromatic presence, setting it apart from typical flavours. The friendly staff offer attentive service, and discounts are also available on select dishes.
Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus in Wellington is on the topmost floor of the Museum Hotel offering French cuisine mostly in high-tea style. This award-winning spot for dinner features a blend of brilliant staff, atmosphere and food, all rolled into a French-style dining experience. With a chic atmosphere, the place is posh in many ways. The venue will certainly not disappoint you if you like to dine out on weekends. With panoramic harbour views, the surrounding is just perfect, with the overall décor, furniture, cutlery and everything.
Talking about food, you will find everything French here with exceptional presentation. Cheese, butter milks, leeks, venison and other staple French ingredients combining smooth array of dishes that showcase great craftsmanship. For pre or post dinner drinking, the restaurant has a fancy cocktail bar as well.
Dragonfly
Known to be the best Asian restaurant in Wellington, Dragonfly is a venue producing distinctive and defined tastes, with some of the dishes that might sound familiar to you. As you enter the space, you will find a blend of eastern fragrances permeating through the air, making for a relaxed dining ambiance. You will find even simple items such as lemongrass chicken or dumplings to be both light and filling. The salmon is also brilliantly cooked to perfection. There are also hints of multiple cuisines blended here, with elements of Indian, Vietnamese, Indonesian and Japanese making the menu diverse.