The Best High Tea In Wellington In 2026

Unofficially known as the “culinary capital” of  Aotearoa, Te Whanganui-a-Tara has often been said to have more eateries per capita than New York City, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that the city has more than your fair share of high teas too. From high teas with stunning waterfront views, to bespoke high tea pop-ups around town—this culinary city has a high tea setting and menu for every kind of occasion. 

Here are the best high teas in Wellington in 2026. 

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April Patisserie

Unit 4/160 Victoria Street, Te Aro

Image credit: April Patisserie | Supplied

Having honed their craft in the former-Wellington patisserie space Grace Patisserie (now moved to Ōtautahi), Joceyln and Eddy (a.k.a. April Patisserie) are passionate about bringing beautiful pastries to the people of Pōneke. From build-your-own high tea kits when they opened up shop last year (after a series of sell-out patisserie pop-ups), they’re back with monthly high teas at The Lab down the road. At the time of writing, their upcoming high tea in July will have specially curated sweets and savouries (like their beautiful Asian-flavour inspired petit gâteau, as well as their popular salt buns with various fillings), the essential scones with jam and cream, plus your choice of a pot of tea. Bookings essential—email them directly to secure your spot.

Pricing: $70 per person.

Availability: Seasonal basis for high tea events, check their socials for updates.

Hippo Bar & Restaurant

Located in QT Wellington, 90 Cable Street, Te Aro

Image credit: Hippo Bar & Restaurant at QT Wellington | Supplied

Le Cordon Bleu New Zealand

52 Cuba Street, Te Aro

Image credit: Le Cordon Bleu New Zealand | Instagram

What better way to experience high tea than with a high tea at a patisserie school itself—where Le Cordon Bleu New Zealand Patisserie students showcase their work through rare seasonal high tea sittings offered to the public. Not only are you supporting their work, but you get to taste some of Aotearoa’s upcoming talent and help them practice their skills in a high tea setting, preparing them for the patisserie industry. Admire their hard work in perfecting macaron, petit gâteau adorned with tempered chocolate, and classic choux at their training brasserie, located right next to their kitchen classrooms on Cuba Street.

Pricing: From $45 per person.

Availability: Seasonal showcase of patisserie students’ work. Keep an eye out for high tea events here. 

Jardin Grill

Located in Sofitel Wellington, 11 Bolton Street, Wellington Central

Image credit: Sofitel Wellington | Supplied 

Curated by Executive Chef Joe Costelloe and his talented team of chefs, Jardin Grill high teas are a work of art. Having worked alongside some incredibly talented chefs here, their creativity and drive is really something. Their current high tea offerings include the classic opera cake—reimagined with lime and mango flavours, as well as matcha and strawberry choux, plus the classic macaron to name a few of the sweets. You can’t go past their savoury offerings too, with traditional bites like an egg sandwich, alongside revised classics—think cheese scones with coronation chicken and salmon tartare on a seaweed crisp. 

Pricing: From $70 per person.

Availability: Friday to Sundays by bookings only (book directly via email or phone reservation)

Artisan at Bolton Hotel

Located in Bolton Hotel Level 1/12 Bolton Street

Image credit: Artisan at Bolton Hotel | Instagram 

Head across the road to Artisan at Bolton Hotel, for a modern nod to Kiwi classics with their latest high tea offering from Chef Amey. From fairybread macaron, L&P delice, strawberry lamingtons, to steak and cheese pie, and kawakawa-dusted ‘fush & chips’ to name a few treats on the menu. They also offer gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options, as well as a kids (under-12s) menu too. Their high teas come with bottomless T.W.G. Teas too. 

Pricing: Artisan High Tea from $65 per person (Kids from $30).

Availability: Friday to Sunday, from 12pm-3pm. Book here. 

Origami 

158 Cuba Street, Te Aro

Image credit: Origami | Website

With delicate, Japanese-fusion flavours and their beautiful blossoming teas, Origami delivers an exquisite high tea experience. Having expanded to Napier and Rolleston after several years building their reputation on Cuba Street in Wellington (their dine-in curry and ramen offerings, along with a stunning array of petit gâteau in the cabinet also draws the crowds in), their high tea experience is only offered at their original Wellington store and Napier and by pre-booking only. With Chef’s Selection of five sweet and four savoury bites, along with an in-house tea (cue: handwoven jasmine tea that slowly unfurls in hot water pairs really well with each bite—and beautiful to look at). With favourites like their matcha tiramisu, tuna tataki, as well as seasonal offerings in the form of multi-layered, cream-filled Swiss roll cakes by the slice—make this your next weekend high tea afternoon out.

Pricing: From $59 per person.

Availability: Every Saturday and Sunday, from 12.30pm-2.30pm. Book here.

Martha’s Pantry

276 Cuba Street, Karo Drive, Te Aro

Image credit: Martha’s Pantry | Instagram

A high tea institution of Wellington. Serving up the tea in fine china, along with all the scones and club sandwiches since 2007, Martha’s Pantry is the kind of high tea you must visit if you love the art of high tea (they have 20 kinds of local T Leaf Tea you can choose from). When I first moved to Wellington in 2008, I remember my first Martha’s high tea (and the lovely array of high tea hats to choose from to complete that high tea outfit). With a number of owners over the years since, the ethos of the place remains the same—consistently good, classic high tea offerings, and friendly service. Along with the macaron they are known for, check out all the incredible cakes in the cabinet on offer too (a little sweet treat to take home for afterwards). Grab a table in their cosy sun-lit space, surrounded by comfy cushions and fine china for a memorable high tea experience—they’re one of the few spots that offer high tea during the week too.

Pricing: From $48 per person with kids from $35 per person (they also offer vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free sets at additional cost)

Availability: Wednesdays to Sundays from 9.30am-3pm. Book here.

t-Lounge by Dilmah

22 Willeston Street, Wellington Central

Image credit: t-Lounge by Dilmah | Instagram

Opened by Dilmah in 2020, t-Lounge by Dilmah in Wellington is the first in Aotearoa—dedicated to the enjoyment and appreciation of Dilmah Teas with curated food pairings. From tea and cheese pairings, to fusion Sri Lankan bites, and limited-edition themed high teas, this is one for the serious high tea aficionados—or for those looking for something a bit different than a traditional high tea menu (with high tea staples like their Sri Lankan love cake and buffalo milk panna cotta). Keep an eye on their socials for the next high tea theme (they just wrapped on a limited edition Bridgerton-themed high tea at the time of writing).

Pricing: From $69 per person.

Availability: Seasonal, themed or special occasion high tea offerings. Book here. 

Zephyr Café & Bar

Located in Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, 217 Wakefield Street, Wellington Central

Image credit: Zephyr Cafe and Bar | Instagram

When the opportunity to open a café at the newly-opened Tākina Convention Centre came up, catering legends SSC Hospitality Experience brought their hospitality experience into an exciting new chapter as Zephyr Café and Bar. With decades of hospitality experience, their high teas definitely deliver, with fun themes, delicious twists on classics and a showcase of local produce. From themed high teas in line with Tākina exhibitions (a dreamy Disney menu in fact), and ones to match local theatre shows (like their Queen-inspired number, a.k.a. “I Want To Drink Tea!”), plus their latest high tea offering (as of last month): The Staycation High Tea, showcasing the best of local produce. The menu has savoury bites like goats cheese tart with Apostle lavender hot honey, Woody’s pork katsu scotch egg, and sweets including a cherry-cola scone with Fix & Fogg almond butter cream, and a very Wellington tiramisu to finish—featuring Whittaker’s chocolate, L’affare coffee and Zany Zeus mascarpone. 

Pricing: From $62 per adult (they also have a children’s menu at $30 per person).

Availability: Limited dates, see website for booking dates (usually weekend dates). 

Special Mention: La Cloche

134 Hutt Road, Kaiwharawhara

Image credit: La Cloche Wellington | Instagram

Head to La Cloche HQ in Kaiwharawhara for French patisserie. A Wellington institution opened 20 years ago by François Febvre, La Cloche has since expanded to various locations across the capital. I remember coming here as a necessary research trip for patisserie studies, and trying their popular mille-feuille—biting through a vanilla fondant icing feathered with chocolate and into a thousand layers of crispy, buttery, flaky puff pastry to reveal a fragrant vanilla custard interior. Give me this over a custard square anyday—along with their beautiful cabinet of petit gâteau created by their talented pastry team. While they don’t do high tea, they offer catering services (with minimum order of 10), so you could definitely order for your own high tea at home—or just make the trip out for an afternoon tea treat. 

Special Mention: Sugar Flour

7a Stewart Drive, Newlands

Image credit: Sugar Flour | Instagram 

Pastry chef Maxine and owner of Sugar Flour Pastry School creates the most beautiful patisserie creations—and with her bigger space in Newlands, she now runs a series of patisserie classes where you can learn the art of patisserie and then recreate it at home too. From chocolate tarts, edible candles, shortbread, to laminated pastry, doughnuts and mallowpuffs—jump online to get your bake on with one of the best in the biz. She also releases limited-run pastry boxes from time to time—keep an eye on her socials for all the sweet treats. 

Hungry for more? Check out:

• Best Japanese Restaurants in Pōneke
• Our Fave Cafés in the Capital
• The Wellington Restaurants You Need To Dine At 

Urban List Best Of: has our highest stamp of approval—curated lists of the very best recommendations for you to eat, do, see, buy or book, carefully chosen by our Editors.

Main Image Credit: April Patisserie | Supplied