The cafes in Wellington scream of the city's authenticity in the coffee business. While some cafes have their own in-house roasted beans, some are tied to external links preserving the originality of the source and what they promise to offer. Keeping in mind the dietary options of the general public, almost every cafe here has options to customize their order for vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free on demand.
1. Fidel’s Cafe
Known as the Bohemian Baston on Cuba street, Fidel’s is the perfect location whether to grab a morning espresso, midday brunch, or a chilling beer in the afternoon. The cafe has a wide menu for sweet tooths ranging from waffles to thick shakes to smoothies and muffins. If your diet is gluten-free or vegan, do not miss their freshly baked signature brownie and choco chip cookie. Their eggs and meat are finely cooked, leaving you with a lip-smacking taste!
Location - 234 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Timings - Monday - Thursday: 8 AM - 3 PM
Friday - 8 AM - late
Saturday - 9 AM - late
Sunday - 9 AM - 3 PM
2. Caffe L’affare
Originally known for its coffee business, L’affare is a daytime eatery, especially for espresso lovers, to indulge in the strong flavours of organic and single-origin coffee beans. They also have a wide breakfast menu serving patatas, house baked beans, bacon butty, salmon crumpets, and more. If you visit them during lunch hours, chicken wings, steak burgers, ravioli, and salmon salad are a few of their delicious offerings. Enjoy a scrumptious meal with alcohol on the side with friends and family!
Location - 27 College Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Timings - Monday - Friday: 7 AM - 3 PM (kitchen closes at 2 PM)
Saturday - 8 AM - 3:30 PM (kitchen closes at 2:30 PM)
Sunday - 9 AM - 3:30 PM (kitchen closes at 2:30 PM)
3. Neo Cafe & Eatery
From locally roasted coffee to single-origin bottomless coffee, Neo boasts its supremacy in coffee. Their menu specializes in brunch, fresh cabinet salads, and in-house bakings that include chilli scrambled eggs, avocado on toast, fish butty, burgers, and bacon. The cafe allows customization on a wide range of offerings, from gluten-free to vegan on demand. Beverages, both hot and cold, are available with a separately curated menu for the kids to enjoy.
Location - 132 Willis Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Timings - Monday - Friday: 7.30 AM - 3 PM
Saturday - Sunday: 8 AM - 3 PM
No Table Bookings
4. Nikau Cafe
Nikau’s menu and availability follow a seasonal rotation. Items on their menu are all made from organic ingredients that are locally sourced, including their own rooftop garden! Pancakes, avocado toast, and scrambled eggs are a few to name from their range of dishes. Delectables like freshly baked sweets and muffins decorate their cabinet for a fulfilling dessert. Their ‘Asado’ dining experience, an Argentinian style open fire cooking serving BBQ bites, meats, sides, desserts, and a complimentary drink, is a ‘must’.
Location - City Gallery Wellington, Te Ngākau Civic Square, 101 Wakefield Street, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Timings - Tuesday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday - Sunday: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
(closed on Mondays)
Pre-Bookings for ‘Asado’ dining between 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM. Advised to arrive on time.
5. Aro Cafe
Renowned for their Aro coffee, their coffee beans are a medium roast, six-origin blend with a touch of citrus and chocolate flavours that is house-roasted. The cafe is excellent for a light midday brunch and a drink on the side! Milk products they use are organic, and eggs are free-range poultry. If you are vegetarian, vegan, or follow a gluten-free diet, this cafe has got your needs covered!
Location - 90 Aro Street, Aro Valley, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
Timings - Monday - Friday: 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday - Sunday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
6. Baobab Cafe
Baobab serves breakfast and lunch seven days a week that follows a seasonal menu while all ingredients are locally sourced products. Enjoy an Ethiopian espresso or an in-house brewed pint of beer with quality food. Their milk products are organically produced, and the coffee beans are sourced from Ethiopia, adding to their authenticity. For all the sweet tooths, try from their cabinet of freshly baked confectionery that is also gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian. Friday evenings here get musical and extra relaxing, don’t miss it out!
Location - 152 Riddiford Street, Newtown, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
Timings - Monday - Friday: 7:00 AM to late
Saturday - Sunday: 8:00 AM to late
7. Smith the Grocer Cafe
Like the many cafes in New Zealand, The Grocer also serves breakfast and lunch. Their menu ranges from having everything from porridge to poached on sourdough to fries and wraps. Their confectionery cabinet has scones, muffins, cakes, sweet treats, and croissants; they have it all! You can choose from vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, or even refined sugar-free plates. Supporting local businesses, their menu includes Whittaker’s silky chocolate and Zany Zeus’ halloumi.
Location - The Old Bank Arcade 233-237 Lambton Quay, Wellington Central, Lambton 6011, New Zealand
Timings - Monday - Friday: 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday: 9 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday: 10 AM - 3:30 PM
8. Greta Point Cafe
Greta is your go-to cafe for a relaxed afternoon. The place is great to enjoy breakfast, lunch, or a light brunch during midday, along with some calming jazz music. From mushroom salads to Thai chicken curry to muesli and cakes for dessert, Greta has the greatest of all!
Location - 326 Evans Bay Parade, Hataitai, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
Timings - Tuesday - Sunday: 8 AM - 5:00 PM
9. Gemini Cafe & Eatery
If you want to relish authentic Asian-style food in Wellington, look no further and visit the Gemini cafe. Everything on their menu is made from locally procured ingredients, therefore, freshly served. Gemini signatures include Churros, French Toast, Crusty Crab Croissants, and Crab Chicken Burgers, and for sides, they have Salt & Pepper Calamari, Pork Ribs, and more. Cocktails and mocktails are available too, along with its own line of in-house seasonal wine.
Location - Shop3/100 Tory Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Timings - Wednesday - Sunday: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
(Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
10. Midnight Espresso
With a lively ambience, Midnight Espresso is a coffee shop specialising in Havana roasted coffee. Their menu offers a wide range of breakfast, brunch, and dinner options ranging from pancakes, toast, eggs, sandwiches, bagels, fries, and burgers. You can customise them according to your dietary style, while some are vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free. The cafe also has some of the best hot and cold beverages, like Macchiato, Chai, Smoothies, Thick shakes, and bottled drinks.
Location - 178 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Timings - Monday - Friday: 7:00 AM - 1:00 AM
Saturday - Sunday: 8:00 AM - 1:00 AM
The cafes in Wellington are some of the best coffee shops in the country. Their authenticity and dedication to serving refreshing coffee is an experience in itself. While you’re visiting, be sure to grab an espresso or a light and healthy brunch for an appetizing meal!