Best Brunch and Breakfast Wellington

The 11 best brunch and breakfast places in Wellington

If there is one thing Kiwis like to do its go out for breakfast and brunch. I have put together my favourite places to go for brekky (kiwi slang for breakfast) in Wellington. If you want to know where to eat in Wellington, ask a Kiwi – eating out in Wellington is what we specialize in.

Places to eat in Wellington

Wellingtonians know good brunch spots so if you are going on the weekend my tip is to make a reservation or show up before 10am. These places to eat in Wellington are my favorite and have the best food in Wellington.

There are a huge array of cafes in Wellington and a lot of choice but these are the best brunch places in Wellington New Zealand (and I’ve even thrown in a few places to go for the best breakfast in Wellington before work).

Best Brunch Wellington – Brunch Places Wellington – Best Breakfast Wellington

Fidel’s Café – 234 Cuba Street

Fidel’s is a Wellington institution and one of the best cafes in Wellington on Cuba Street. This place is bohemian and a hangout for uni students but on the weekends its full of people who like to brunch. The coffee is Cuban (of course!) and they have been around since 1992.

All the usual breakfast menu items and also a cabinet full of baked goods. If you’re also looking for a place to take a break after exploring Cuba Street you can try out their milkshakes.

Loretta Café Wellington – 181 Cuba Street

Loretta’s Café is a light, bright space on Cuba Street that serves up some of my favorite dishes for breakfast. Loretta’s was named one of the cool spots in Wellington by Vogue Magazine. Don’t let the pretentious title put you off – this place is good. I have held many brunches here because its not only good but its right in the middle of town.

I love everything on the menu but I have to call out a few of my favourites. Green eggs on toast with a tarragon chimichurri sauce is amazing. They also make homemade crumpets with a strawberry curd or sometimes even a passionfruit curd which is the best. I’ve also had the croquet madame which always hits the spot.

They also have a huge selection of fresh made breads and baked goods to purchase. Hands down a top choice for breakfast or brunch.

Olive Café – 170 Cuba Street

Olive Café is a hidden oasis. Unassuming from the outside, this café opens up onto a courtyard in the back. The café serves contemporary New Zealand cuisine and the menu includes brunch essentials like eggs benedict and poached eggs on toast but I really like the corn fritters.

They use seasonal produce so the menu is always changing. I recommend starting your brunch with a bloody mary.

Prefab Café – 14 Jessie Street

Prefab Café is a cool spot to have breakfast. The hall where you eat is open and the place is buzzing with activity. Maybe that is because everyone is drinking Prefab coffee which is their own blend. They also have a bakery here and I make a special trip to this side of town just to pick up my baguettes.

 

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When I am working down this end of town I love to pop in for a fresh cheese scone with chili jam – you have to try it! Just make sure you pronounce scone properly as I got laughed at once for saying scone with a long O instead of SCON with a short O. I love these so much I will take getting laughed at to have them.

I can also recommend the grilled haloumi with avocado and beetroot puree on their fresh baguette. Delicious.

Nikau Café – located behind the library in Civic Square

Oh how I love Nikau for brunch on the weekends. I really like Nikau because when I order here it feels like something special.

Yes, they have eggs on toast with all the fixings but sometimes I don’t want eggs and that is where Nikau shines. Their Kedgeree with smoked fish is delicious but I actually prefer to order their salads. Whether it is the watermelon salad or haloumi salad they are both delicious. They also have unique things like fried chicken with maple yogart fennel, apple, celery salad. Its delicious!

Beach Babylon – 232 Oriental Parade

Located along Oriental Parade this waterfront café is right across from the beach. It’s a retro beachside café serving up the famous rosti. A rosti is a handmade grated agria potato fried topped with poached eggs, hollandaise & one topping of your choice.

This café also caters for vegans with their vegan burrito bowl and the vegan vegan.

I love to come here in the summer and sit outside and brunch while looking at the Wellington harbour.

Leuven Belgian Café – 135 Featherston Street

I have been going to Leuven for breakfast for as long as I have lived in Wellington – 15 years! On weekdays, you can choose between two breakfast specials for $7.50 each. The first is a poached egg on toast with hollandaise and bacon. The other is the sugar waffles with fruit and maple syrup.

Leuven - breakfast wellington

I go here so often during the week and swap back and forth with my order. Both are really good and this is a huge bargain for breakfast in New Zealand.

Old Bailey – corner of Lambton Quay and Balance Street

Another great value breakfast in Wellington. You can build your own breakfast starting from $4 for eggs on toast. Then you can add any sides you want for an extra cost. Eggs on toast with bacon comes in at $8.50.

best brunch wellington

A great value from this pub in the CBD. You can also choose porridge for $9 and they have a great selection for breakfast.

Maranui Café – 7 Lyall Bay Parade

This iconic café is right on the beach in Lyall Bay. Prince Harry and Megan Markle even went there! Now Maranui is just a short walk down to the beach for me but I rarely get to go here because it is so popular and the line is usually out the door on the weekends.

This is where you want to go during the week for a nice brunch where you can sit and look out at the ocean and read the paper. I love the beach décor of this place.

Botanist – 219 Onepu Road

The Botanist Café is a vegetarian and vegan café in Wellington. I have to admit it took me awhile to try this place but once I did I was hooked. I’m all for eating more vegetables and that is what I like about the menu but sometimes its hard to convince other people to come here.

I usually go for the potato and kumara (sweet potato) hash with organic greens and a poached eggs. I love this dish as it is full of flavour. And even better once you add on haloumi. They serve Peoples coffee which is delicious and they even have fake bacon or fakon.  I love the pancakes featured here too.  Its all just too good!

Seashore Cabaret – 160 The Esplanade, Petone outside Wellington but still close

Seashore Cabaret is the sister café to Maranui and can be found on the waterfront in Petone. This is a large café with an American Diner theme. Every time I have been out here to meet up with friends I’ve found it a bit much. Last time they lost our order and after waiting 45 minutes they did rush our order. I had the haloumi bagel with avocado and beetroot relish which was really good.

I like to mention this café because a lot of people do enjoy it and it is very kid friendly. I like to call them out because they are doing good things such as paying all of their staff a living wage which is more than the minimum wage and I like to support them.

Conclusion – the best breakfast and brunches in Wellington and places to eat in Wellington

If I could only choose one I would choose – no, that’s never going to happen. In Wellington we are spoiled for choice with it comes to coffee, cafes, and restaurants and places to eat in Wellington.

I hope I’ve given you a good list to choose from with a lot of the places based right in town, a few out towards the airport and one in Petone but there are so many more to choose from. You can check out my other recommendations for places to eat in Wellington below.

I’ve been living in Wellington, New Zealand for 15 years now and I never get bored with eating out in Wellington.  My friends and I have scoped out the best food in Wellington so I can share it with you.  Expect a lot more Wellington content while I am home from my travels.

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Nicole

Nicole LaBarge is a travel expert who has been traveling internationally for over 25 years and she has visited over 115 countries all while working a 9-5. She has lived in England, Scotland, Japan and New Zealand. Check out her detailed destination guides and travel product guides.

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