Wellington prides itself on its cafe culture and we’ll be the first to say it’s justified. This city truly runs on great coffee, as well as great snacks. We’ve sipped and snacked our way across the capital (it's a hard life) to bring you the best local spots for a caffeine hit.
Here are the best cafes in Wellington for great coffee and equally worthy snacks.
Customs
39 Ghuznee Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Customs | Instagram
One of our favourite coffee spots in Wellington is Coffee Supreme’s small but bustling flagship joint on Ghuznee (check out their retail and tasting space at Midland Park too). With coffee roasted down the road at Hopper Street, and expert barista Toru and the team slinging the brews, there’s no wonder Customs spills with regulars out the street most mornings. Priding themselves as an “informal toast restaurant,” their signature chilli cheese melt needs no introduction. For the summer, we can’t wait for the heirloom tomato toast, and we’re also suckers for Wellington Sourdough’s almond croissant—with a naughty milk cold brew in hand (think: condensed milk).
The Hangar
119 Dixon Street, Te Aro
The Hangar started as a place for the folks at 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. Their dedicated coffee menu includes coffee tasting flights and daily specials like the Flight Fix & Fogg Mocha and Strawberry Matcha Iced Oat Latte.
Swimsuit Coffee
38 Dixon Street, Te Aro | 91B Park Road, Miramar | 5 Lombard Street, Te Aro
Swimsuit are a staple for good weekend vibes. Now with three locations, we love that we can get our coffee and snack in the ‘burbs and inner-city Pōneke. Their $10 baguette sandwiches are perfect with their custom Supreme coffee blend.
Goods Manufactory And Cafe
342a Tinakori Road, Thorndon
Image credit: Goods Cafe | Instagram
The pastries at Goods are a hidden gem (literally off the main road and through a wee alleyway) that sell out with queues out the road. Our go-to pastry classics are the cinnamon morning buns and chocolate swirls. We’re also impartial to lemon ricotta filled crispy pastries (so crispy that you will undoubtedly be covered in pastry)—and the black sesame kouign amann is a must (you can also get these at their inner-city cafe, Little Grump). Beat the queues and pre-order the chocolate babka (by the loaf) for Fridays to treat yourself for the weekend.
Franks
116 The Terrace, Wellington | 5 Riddiford Street, Newtown
Home to last year’s NZ Barista Champion (and coming fourth place at this year’s International Barista Championship) is barista Honoka Kawashima of Frank’s. Go for the vegan donuts (available Thursdays to Sundays) and an award-winning brew.
The Beanery By Mojo
44 The Terrace, Wellington Central
Coffee geeks, head to the home of 2024 coffee champ Max Cui right here in Wellington. With light brekky options on offer, The Beanery is a top spot for coffee education while you start the day—attend tasting talks and learn about brewing methods such as nitro, cold brew and steampunk. They also have a hot-air coffee roaster in store where you can watch your takeaway bag of beans being roasted right before your eyes.
Super Deli
139 Featherston Street, Wellington Central
Image credit: Super Deli | Instagram
Opened this year, Super Deli are slinging takeaway coffees and Welly cubes—a.k.a. a croissant in a cube form, filled to the brim with oozing salted caramel. You can thank us later.
Black Coffee
6021/133 Riddiford Street, Newtown
This is one of Newtown’s hidden gems. A place for coffee and a snack (with lots of vegan and gluten-free treats to choose from), plus a beautiful space for local artists to showcase their work—check out their current exhibition here. We are here for the creative vibes at Black Coffee, and a strawberry smash sourdough crumpet.
Shelly Bay Baker On Leeds St
Unit 6G/14 Leeds Street, Te Aro
When Leeds St Bakery closed their doors, Wellington residents were heartbroken that the signature salted caramel cookie would be gone. Not to worry, the recipe has been passed onto ex-chef and local bread wizard Sam, from Shelly Bay Baker and the team. Since taking over premises last year, they’re slinging not only cookies—but their iconic loaves using fresh, stone-ground organic flour with grains grown right here in Aotearoa.
Pour And Twist
13 Garrett Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Pour and Twist | Supplied
Home to the first fully manual coffee bar in New Zealand, Pour and Twist is the ultimate sun-soaked spot to sip and chill. Owners (photography creatives and coffee connoisseurs) Zuyi and Elaine have brought their love for all things analogue. Sit by the brew bar and watch the process of how your coffee is hand-poured low and slow, for a peaceful, relaxing start to the day. P.S Get their purple-green ombré iced matcha taro (made with Thea matcha), their pretty pink matcha, or their every changing drink of the month to sip on something new (lemon cola inspired cold brew with cola foam anyone?).
Raglan Roast
40 Abel Smith Street, Te Aro | 90 The Terrace, Wellington Central | 156 Willis Street, Te Aro | Chaffers Dock 22 Herd Street Shops 8/9, Te Aro | Holland Street, 12 Holland Street, Te Aro
So good they’re around every corner in Pōneke. Wander down Abel Smith and stop in for a $3.50 flattie in a cute mug. Stay for a game of scrabble and a snack. When the caramel slice is in the cabinet, make sure to get that sticky corner piece. Yasss.
Orange Coffee Shop
268 Cuba Street, Te Aro
This is the ultimate cozy sunny reading nook and the perfect place to catch up with friends or fur-friends. Doggos are welcome while you pop in for your Supreme brew — you may even spot Ai’s resident pup (and local pet celeb) Ringo, hanging out at the café. Don’t forget to nab a cheese scone or citrus loaf while you’re there, baked by local John from Jojo’s Pastries (they’ve got the softest gluten-free salted caramel choc brownies too).
Aurora Argentinian Bakery
44 Manners Street, Te Aro | 43C The Terrace, Wellington Central
Image credit: Aurora Argentinian Bakery | Instagram
Empanadas with our coffee, yes please. Mariana and Facundo are from Argentina and met here while in Wellington (how sweet) and decided to bring a taste of their culture to our coolest little capital. Their latest empanada is a Wagyu brisket with provolone (like a steak and cheese pie, but better). We’re also eyeing up the dulce de leche Valentina cake—aaaand chocolate-dipped, dulce de leche-filled alfajores.
Evil Twins Coffee
161B Willis Street, Te Aro
Nat and Steph a.k.a. Evil Twins make a mean iced matcha latte, and their coffee shop has the coolest fit-out in town. With custom graffiti walls and cute decor, make sure you pop in and check out their in-store merch (snack for the eyes). They’ve recently come back from Japan, and have the cutest onigiri snacks to have with your brew.
Half Baked Catering Co.
75 Abel Smith Street, Te Aro
Zara and Shinee have recently moved to their new digs on Abel Smith, offering raw (and half-baked) treats to nibble on with your iced coffee. Look out for the cute white house, and pop in for their raw slice goodies, and baked goodies like their strawberry-matcha cookie sammies.
Glou Glou
17a Allen Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Glou Glou | Supplied
Brought to you by award-winning hospitality group Food Envy, is their latest venue Glou Glou. An espresso and wine bar (hosting some pretty epic events, might we add), this central city getaway is famous for their loaded housemade crumpets thanks to chef-owner Taz. Pop in for a bright purple ube latte and banoffee crumpet. Did we mention they also do brunch too?
People’s Coffee
12 Constable Street, Newtown | 40 Taranaki Street, Te Aro | 275 Mansfield Street, Newtown
Founded by Matt Lamason back in 2004 (a.k.a coffee royalty), People’s Coffee is such a vibe. Whether it’s in town or Newtown—pop in for a cuppa knowing that it’s sourced ethically and mindful about the environment as well as being tasty. We love the cherry-cola vibes of Honduras, with the vegan hazelnut choc bars from She Universe (dunk it in your coffee).
Pravda Cafe And Grill
107 Customhouse Quay, Wellington Central
It’s no secret that Pravda has one of the best cheese scones in Wellington (there’s a running competition in Wellington) and what better way to start the day than a coffee and a scone from Pravda’s ray-of-sunshine smiley head barista Isla Harrison. Pro tip: Get extra lashings of butter for your freshly baked scone.
Cafe Polo
84 Rotherham Terrace, Miramar
Image credit: Cafe Polo | Instagram
Saturdays = Doughnut day. We are drooling over their changing doughnut flavours, stuffed to the brim with cream and drool-worthy toppings like strawberry shortcake, Vietnamese coffee and milk chocolate custard cream. These are announced on their socials every weekend so make sure you get in quick before they’re snatched up. Cafe Polo are consistently good with their food offerings and we only wished they were closer to the city centre (we’ll be driving there every weekend anyway).
Myrtle
23 Kent Terrace, Mount Victoria
Owned by the O.G. Wellington hospo team behind The Larder, the pastries at Myrtle Bakery are top-tier. Their rotating flavours of bomboloni have our tastebuds reeling. Go for the three milk bomboloni with silky milk custard, condensed milk jelly and crunch milk crumb, or their latest flavour in time for summer—strawberry and basil.
Belén Plant Bakery
104 Lambton Quay, Wellington Central | 105 Courtenay Place, Te Aro | Wellington Airport, Stewart Duff Drive, Rongotai
What began at a farmers market, is now at three brick and mortar shops in Pōneke. Staples include cinnamon scrolls lathered in frosting (Mondays only) and vegan mince and cheese pies. They also have up to ten (yes, ten) donut flavours that change monthly—and all vegan. Mind-blown.
Wellington Sourdough
Left Bank Lane, 175 Victoria Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Wellington Sourdough | Instagram
We are so glad the pastries cabinet is back open at Wellington Sourdough, because if you haven’t tried Catherine’s iconic baking, then you are in for a treat. Pop into their bakery and retail space on Left Bank, and stay for a coffee and a treat (we suggest the chicken sandwich, and any pastry of custardy-filled brioche goodness).
Coolsville Cartel
3A Moxham Avenue, Hataitai
Hataitai locals knows what’s up. This is the go-to spot and made of gluten-free dreams (all their cabinet offerings are gf friendly). Owner Lindsay makes a delicious gluten-free banoffee slice. Don’t forget to ask for a drizzle of pure Canadian maple syrup in your iced coffee—a.k.a. her Canadian touch to coffee. You can grab a puppacino for your pup too.
Nicoletta’s
12 Park Road, Miramar
Initially a cake shop, Nicoletta’s is now an artisan Italian-style bakery offering pastries and baked goods with vegan and gluten-free options. Pre-order a box of the tiramisu doughnuts, or pop in for a slice of cream pie and espresso. With different flavours in the cabinet each day, you’ll be making this a daily thing.
Volco
92 Upland Road, Kelburn
Image credit: Volco | Website
Worth the hike up the hill for. Volco are slinging all types of dough, and we are here for a piping hot, blistered hot pizza with our coffee. Smash back some Black Magic with your long black—confit potato, black garlic, onion and taleggio cheese.
Tomboy
21 Majoribanks Street, Mount Victoria
Kate’s Tomboy cakes are iconic in Wellington, and you can pre-order a beautiful floral cake (with a platter of cinnamon-sugar rolled doughnuts) for your next celebration. Pick it up from the shop and make it an excuse to pop in for a treat and check out the cabinet (psst, coffee custard-filled cinnamon brioche please).
La Cloche
134 Hutt Road, Kaiwharawhara | Corner of Featherston and, Ballance Street, Wellington Central | 26 The Terrace, Wellington Central
If you want classic French-inspired patisserie, this is the place. From eclairs to opera cake, to a thousand shatteringly crispy layers of Mille feuille. Bon appetit.
Honourable Mention: Homewood Storeroom
2730 Homewood Road, R.D.12. Masterton
Johnty Tatham, owner and head chocoatier at Lucid Chocolatier in Masterton has teamed up with his brother Paddy Tatham (co-owner/head chef) and Alex McKenzie (co-owner/maître d) at newly opened Homewood Storeroom. Sourcing his cacao specifically from South America for their unique flavour profiles, he creates unique (and award-winning) single origin bars that highlight the wonderful essence of each origin. Get your hands on the Lucid Chocolatier chocolate range, as well as latest patisserie creations created by Jonty himself (as a trained patisserie chef also) at the newly renovated ex-church turned cafe.
Honourable Mention: The Clareville Bakery
3340 State Highway 2, Clareville
Image credit: Clareville Bakery | Instagram
No trip over the hill is complete without a trip to Clareville Bakery. This is Wairarapa’s best kept secret, and we’re even tempted to drive over just for the strawberries and cream doughnut.
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Main Image credit: Goods Cafe | Instagram