Cafe in Wellington

“We’ve always enjoyed the high-quality, convenient daytime meals at Sushil’s Musclechef, but our first evening dining experience was something genuinely special. The evening service offers a more intimate and refined atmosphere, paired with a thoughtful menu that highlights Sushil’s unique culinary identity—blending cultural heritage and modern flavour in a way that feels deeply personal and original. We started with the pumpkin soup with coconut, rich and comforting, and the smoked chicken Caesar salad, fresh, vibrant, and beautifully presented. The mains were outstanding: the braised lamb shank was melt-in-your-mouth tender, infused with bold, soulful flavour, while the market fish was perfectly cooked and delicately seasoned. Dessert was a highlight—the chocolate fondant, with its warm molten centre and vanilla bean ice cream, was pure indulgence. We ended the night with extra hot oat flat whites, smooth and perfectly made. While the daytime menu brings quality and convenience, the evening experience feels crafted, personal, and elevated—a reflection of Sushil’s passion for food and hospitality. His presence and care make all the difference. A special experience worth repeating. We’ll definitely be back. A true local gem. Lalo Fiso”

“I mean, warm, tasty empanadas, sweet, endulging homemade alfajores, classic kiwi chippies, beach side, in wellington on a nice sunny day... What more could you ask for. Need to stop here and get yourself a sweet (or two!) And a savoury if you're passing by. Highly recommend. She was lovely too.”

“Mushroom quesadilla on a Sunday afternoon - glorious. We ordered then waited on the balcony of Goldings bar with a drink. Whilst it took a bit longer than expected it was well worth the wait! Highly recommend if you're after a Mexi-fix.”

“We had a lovely time dining at Rita. The service was very friendly, professional, and attentive. The restaurant is set in a cute narrow building and they make good use of the space. The design is minimalist. We enjoyed all our dishes. Portion sizes are on the smaller side, but you’re not coming here for quantity. It’s about the quality and pairing of the ingredients. You’ll still leave feeling full. Would easily recommend to anyone looking for something new and different. Note the menu changes regularly, I think even daily. Whatever is on the menu that day is what you’ll get. Great if you struggle to make decisions!”

“Great selection of GF and V food along with regular food. The sausage roll removed pastry so I could savor it! Have visited a few times in the last month. They change up the food offerings and always delights. Coffee is fabulous as expected.”

“Great place with great coffee options. Staff is extremely friendly.”

“Another local favourite, with plenty of great ways to enjoy your fresh coffee - Steampunk and Nitro among the 'must try' options - and a knowledgeable staff happy to help find your favourites!”

“Popped in for a coffee just before closing and left with free muffins. Super friendly service and a very kind gesture. Thanks!”

“Absolutely fantastic! Coffee is great. Atmosphere really easy and rustic (just as I love it. Something that I really loved is that they promote the use of your own cup instead of paper goblets (go green!) They also make their own pizzas. So far, the cheapest café I had in New Zealand”

“Great spot. Rooms are dark and cozy. Comfy beds. Great in-room amenities incl free drinks and snacks. Ice machine and laundry facilities available for guests on level 3. Friendly service. Location is handy to vibrant Cuba Street with plenty of eateries near the hotel.”

“The meals are delicious and the lasagna name is the best I've had ! Trust me, I'm a foodie. Gotta say, love the customer service and everything about the guys who run this place! "Wellingtons best kept secret"”

“Absolutely love this place!! The staff are so lovely, coffee is a 10/10 and the food is delicious! Karen and Tegan are always super hospitable and you can really tell they care about their customers. Will definitely be back!”

“I am working on the same building and this is not only a very convenient place to go, but best stop for cheese scone and coffee! Yummy Prestigios and delish Empañadas. We went to try the WOP burger and it is a success! Rodrigo is lovely, always have a nice word! Well done”

“Cute little neighbourhood Argentinian run cafe on Oriental Bay. With a seaside view this place offers a simple modern interior decor, funky contemporary music that serves coffee and Argentinian treats and pastry. The empanadas are delicious but my favourites are the egg and bacon pastry/tart and they serve the best cheese scones I’ve ever had- I taste test cheese scones wherever I go! The egg and bacon pastry/tart is served with this special Argentinian sauce that’s unique and delicious that I highly recommend trying- Chimichurra sauce. Service is courteous, polite and friendly.”

“This cafe deserves all the positive reviews it gets. The coffee was the best one I’d had on this visit to Wellington - great flavour, and nice and hot. The toasted cheese scone was amazing and we’ll definitely go back for another on our next visit. The staff were respectful and friendly too.”

“On a cold Wellington morning, we ducked into this cafe for a couple of coffees. Warm, friendly service and tasty coffee. Cute little courtyard out the back sheltered from the wind.”

“Not one to google reviews often, but I highly recommend this place! Great beer, chilled out atmosphere and the staff were super friendly. The food was great and had a great time. So a well deserved 5 star review which don't come often from me. Oh and it’s dog friendly! Huge bonus points!”

“Always a good cuppa from Aloha. We usually like getting either a cappucino or hot choccy or both. This place consistently does a beautiful hot choccy - the best I’ve had in Porirua. Also recommend trying the salted caramel donut in their cabinet - its divine! They also allow you to byo cups and have their own mugs for you to use to help with waste. To top it off, the cafe doubles as a small gallery that sells beautiful jewellery snd homeware.”

“I was early to take the ferry to the South Island and had a coffee there. The vibe was amazing. The staff was so friendly and helpful and joking around with each other and the customers. On top of that the coffee was also fab. I had a savory scone that which was very JUM as well.”

“#burgerporirua Mucho Crunch Birria WOAP So good. Hubby & I came to an agreement on 8.25/10. The Smashed Burger pattie was Very generous. Yum beefy consume. Bens Buns were really lovely. Great customer service. Serviettes needed! Thx. Highly recommend! Very generous here I felt having 4 heaters on. I loved the feel of the place”

“Fantastic beers and amazing food! Clean and easygoing environment and super helpful staff. Loved all the dogs - made the whole time there feel super relaxed!”

“Mainly visit as my daughter is fond of bubble tea! But the place is generally very neat and it has a nice white relaxing decoration if you enjoy to sip your drink on site. The packaging of the drink is very attractive and it comes in a sealed disposable cup with a straw.”

“Love the sister cafe in Petone and this is no different. Service with a smile, great coffee, loads of keto and veg options available and most of all, brilliant indoor and outdoor seating available. There is also a couple of 15min parks right in front for a quick turnaround. Lots of free street parking available too if you plan to eat in.”

“Espresso Rescue not only make the most delicious coffees, but they have a brilliant selection of teas too. There's even Trade Aid GF hot chocolates on offer. The coffee's even organic and fair trade! There's a selection of flavours shots too. If you've not been before you must!!! The team are delightfully friendly and they remember your coffee!”

“Hands down the best coffee I’ve had!”

“This little gem is hidden away but is well known for its Sri Lankan delights. They also serve the classic Kiwi brekkie and full meals with great coffee. Open on the weekends too which is an added bonus plus lots of parking available. Very friendly service as always and staff are happy to chat whenever we drop in.”

“We visited as a Playcentre trip. Michaela was really easy to communicate and plan with. Our children had a great time helping put mulch around the plants and planting some new plants. Michaela was realistic about how long the children’s attention would last and we moved inside to enjoy coffees and the children played in the play area.”

“Its great to have this place in the community. Great coffee and a nice selection of cabinet food at reasonable prices. There can be a wait if there are a few people in front of you.”

“Amazing experience for our Valentine's Day date! The set menu was excellent value and a stunning range of flavours. Good service and cozy atmosphere. Our only minor constructive feedback is we weren't aware of the set menu until we arrived. It wasn't an issue for us, however being proactively informed beforehand would have been appreciated :-). Thanks for an excellent meal - we'll be back!”

“Beautiful villa restaurant tucked in between two high rise buildings. Came for WoW and absolutely loved the service, the staff were interesting in talking to us and very friendly. The food was exceptional - one of us had the set menu for WoW and two ordered off the menu (love that option).”