Wellington’s breakfast game is strong, just like their coffee. From seaside scram to shakshouka and strawberry waffles (and yes, in that particular order), we’ve eaten more free-range eggs and homemade bread than you can shake a coffee cup at which just so happens to put us in the perfect position to bring you all the best spots to cure those morning rumbles.
Here are the best breakfasts in Wellington.
Fidel’s Cafe
234 Cuba Street, Te Aro
We’re starting our day on Cuba Street with Fidel’s Cuban Breakfast Burrito, complete with scrambled egg, crispy jalapeños and sofrito beans (tip: add the chorizo). Finish with their famous Snickers thick shake. For a lighter start, we recommend avo on toast—but not as you know it. With all the textural toppings of pico de gallo, smoked brinza, crunchy dukkah and a dousing of chilli oil to really kick start your day. Don’t forget to add an extra runny egg to complete your breakfast.
Midnight Espresso
178 Cuba Street, Te Aro
Midnight counts as breakfast time right? Luckily this iconic spot is open practically all hours, with a huge selection of vegetarian and vegan options that won’t break the bank (including their nachos, IYKYK). Eggs Midnight has been on the menu since day dot, with poached eggs on a chickpea and veggie patty, complete with spinach, pesto and vegan mayo (and it’s gluten free). Their breakfast menu runs until mid-afternoon, so you can get your brekky fix ‘til late.
Loretta
181 Cuba Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Loretta | Anna Briggs
Loretta has the perfect slow breakfast vibe—with their sunny back tables by the wall, or the shared long table with the paper and a pastry, come for a coffee and stay for the treats (of the breakfast variety). We’re talking breakfast pizza with eggs sunny side up, lentil shakshouka with oven-fired flatbread, and freshly pressed waffles. Their waffles are currently being topped with black peppered strawberries, a dollop of cream, and a drizzle of strawberry-basil syrup. Swoon.
Floriditas
161 Cuba Street, Te Aro
The iconic tornado egg scramble at Flo’s is what makes a top tier breakfast, on a slab of local Shelly Bay sourdough bread (you can build your own breakfast with selected sides). Or let the breakfast gods give you Green Eggs ‘n Ham—a slab of grilled ham under a blanket of parsley-green hollandaise. Don’t forget to finish with fluffy brioche French toast and a sweet treat from the counter.
The Oatery
14 Left Bank, Te Aro
For a hearty and comforting bowl of porridge, head into left bank and step into The Oatery. Anna who started the Oatery has an affinity with porridge and we can relate to her breakfast (or porridge for anytime of the day) obsession. With an ever-changing seasonal porridge menu and toppings like roasted rhubarb, dairy-free lemon curd and Greek yoghurt, this is the classic breakfast bar of dreams. You can buy their house-made granola to take home, too.
Neo Cafe & Eatery
132 Willis Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Neo Cafe & Eatery | InstagramThis central spot does breakfast, and does it well. Perch up by the window and watch the world go by with a breakfast bagel in hand (complete with hashbrowns and hollandaise sauce). Pancake lovers can opt for a stack of their fluffy buttermilk finest. With rotating flavours like the latest caramelised banana and blueberry, with cinnamon dust, maple-tahini sauce, and whipped muscovado butter, you can’t start the day wrong.
Chaat Street by Vaibhav Vishen
171 Willis Street, Te Aro
Head to Chaat Street over the weekend for breakfast, neo-Indian style. Enjoy your eggs benny on idly (savoury rice cakes) with curry leaf hollandaise, mustard potatoes and chilli oil. We’re also salivating over Parsi must-have lamb mince on masala toast, with fried eggs and crispy potato straws. Finish with a mint lassi smoothie or steaming cup of chai.
The Hangar
119 Dixon Street, Te Aro
The Hangar started as a place for Flight Coffee to geek out on coffee roasting with friends, and eventually expanded to a fully-fledged eatery when coffee operations expanded to Garrett Street. Build your own ciabatta sandwich of brekky dreams (ft. Eastbourne Butcher’s local thick-cut bacon) or set yourself up for the day with a Moroccan lamb shoulder eggs benny.
Prefab
14 Jessie Street, Te Aro
Every work meeting in the morning should start here. With coffee roasted in house, and their bread baked fresh daily, start the day with a fresh-outta-the-oven oli roll and house spreads, or opt for a bacon and egg butty. Breakfast purists can choose the ACME granola or poached eggs with all the add-ons you desire (did someone say grilled halloumi and balsamic roasted tomatoes?).
Best Ugly Bagels
5 Swan Lane, Te Aro | Wellington International Airport, Rongotai | 153 Featherston Street, Wellington Central
Image credit: Best Ugly Bagels | Instagram
The original hole food (get it). We love a brekky bagel and Al’s got us covered at B.U.B. Our pick is the T.A.B.—tomato, avocado and basil, with a healthy drizzle of lemon and fennel olive oil. Add an extra side of poached eggs, because well, breakfast.
August Eatery
75 Taranaki Street, Te Aro
Two words: Istanbul Eggs. Think of perfect poached eggs swimming in Aleppo chilli butter and slices of housemade sourdough for dunking. Don’t forget to save room for tsoureki French toast, a Greek-style brioche on a bed of labneh and poached tamarillo. Top tip: Add bacon.
Sweet Mother’s Kitchen
5 Courtenay Place, Te Aro
This is a sign to have fried chicken for breakfast. Sweet Mother’s do laid-back, New Orleans style breakfasts with breakfast Po-boys, fried eggs on cheesy tortillas, eggy French toast, and last but not least, waffles. Of the fried chicken variety, complete with a hefty dust of icing and maple syrup drench.
Sixes And Sevens
51 Taranaki Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Sixes & Sevens Deli | Instagram
We love the loaded cabinet at Sixes And Sevens. Grab their Bacon Breakky Wrap with scrambled eggs, bacon, potato wedges, cheese and relish and enjoy the melty goodness straight from the sandwich press. Don’t forget a doughie for the road—their in-demand doughnuts are snapped up like hotcakes here.
Coene's Bar & Eatery
103 Oriental Parade, Oriental Bay
Head to Coene’s for a brunch eggs benny over their iconic smoked fish, and stay for the limoncello panna cotta granola. Yep, you’ve read that right, this is breakfast with a side of dessert. Who wouldn’t want to start the day with granola and fresh fruits next to a jiggly panna cotta.
Seashore Cabaret
160 The Esplanade, Petone, Lower Hutt
From loaded veggie bowls to steaks for breakfast, Seashore Cabaret has breakfast options for every member of the family (including a dedicated kids breakfast section). Grab a Goodness Bowl with roasted kūmara, chickpea and spinach in a quinoa salad, or go full Trucker Breakfast with their 220g sirloin steak and creamy mushroom sauce, complete with fried eggs and chips.
Baobab Cafe
152 Riddiford Street, Newtown
Image credit: Baobab Cafe | Instagram
We love this breakfast gem in Newtown. Pop in and escape the city in the chill courtyard space, and get your zen on with their Buddha Bowl. Other standout breakfast offerings include Eggs Baobab on their crispy housemade potato rosti and a Baobab Big Breakfast which includes lamb sausages, bacon and smoked salmon.
The Botanist
219 Onepu Road, Lyall Bay
This dedicated vegetarian and vegan cafe has egg-free and dairy-free buckwheat pancakes, scrambled tofu burrito rolls, Bot Bennies on herbed potato rosti and brunch burgers (we’re looking at the fried halloumi cheese melt). You’ll find us here with a brunch cocktail, beachside.
Maranui
Lvl1, 7A Lyall Parade, Lyall Bay
Pop into the old surf life-saving club and you’ll feel like you’ve been whisked away to the set of Home and Away. We love the big hearty breakfasts and sourdough crumpets, but stay until mid-morning and get their signature super-steamed mussels. Use the side of toasted Maranui spelt bread to mop up the juices from the dozen mussels while watching the surf. Bliss.
Twenty Eight
28 Cornwall Street, Hutt Central, Lower Hutt
Image credit: Twenty Eight | Instagram
If you love your avo on toast (you do), head to Twenty Eight for their Avocado and Green Pea Smash, complete with horseradish crème fraiche, rocket and mint on seeded sourdough. Brunch classics are given a flavour hit—hash potatoes elevated with masala spice mix, lime pickle, pickled onions and a tamarind-mint chutney to get all your tastebuds dancing.
Spruce Goose
30 Cochrane Street, Rongotai
Visiting Wellington? You can literally get off the plane and head straight here for breakfast to start your Wellington day. We’re pushing the breakfast boat out and having our eggs benny via the Breakfast Burger—think of all the breakfast trimmings but in a totally smashable burger form.
Scorch-a-Rama
497 Karaka Bay Road, Karaka Bays
You can get all the breakfast benny options at this spot right by the water (literally across the road from Karaka Bay). With breakfast names like Scorch-o-Rama Lama Ding Dong, The Black Hole, and Spudnik, we’ll guarantee you’ll have a fun time at this retro spot. Pop next door for a massive (and we mean massive) scoop of ice cream afterwards.
Chocolate Fish Cafe
100 Shelly Bay Road, Miramar
Image credit: Chocoolate Fish Cafe | Instagram
Seafood lovers, get to this O.G Wellington cafe in Shelly Bay for a kaimoana breakfast fix. There’s no eggs on toast on this menu, but paua patties sandwiches (a.k.a. Flash Sammies), as well as crayfish, whitebait and mussel fritters. Sit out in the sun and enjoy your morning kai seaside.
Cafe Polo
84 Rotherham Terrace, Miramar
This is a rare suburban gem, and worth every bus trip or bike ride to get to. Everything at Cafe Polo is made in-house and to order, and the team are super accommodating with dietaries. Aside from their doughnut days (legendary), this is the only breakfast spot offering the full English Omelette experience complete with black pudding, and a very comforting Welsh rarebit (we’re here for the cheese pull).
The Larder
133 Darlington Road, Miramar
We’re eyeing up the buttermilk crepes at this Wellington institution. Don’t leave without nabbing their pastries from their sister bakery, Myrtle and a Croque Madame for the road.
Plans after breakfast? Check out:
Main Image credit: Neo Cafe & Eatery | Instagram