Wind might be Wellington’s trademark, but let's be real—those gusty mornings are powered by coffee and a cracking good breaky. 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 a hobbit at second breakfast. They call us the coffee capital—but I’m sure after checking out our picks in Wellington the world will be keen to ad breaky to that claim…after all, it is the most important meal of the day.
Here are the best breakfasts in Wellington:
Amuse Snack Bar
178 Willis Street, Te Aro
From espresso and breakfast rolls (with a cheeky 10am coffee negroni if that's your vibe) to mouthwatering aperitivo as the day rolls on, Amuse Snack Bar is a must visit for locals and travelers alike. Straight from the mind of Dori Raphael, this hotspot brings restaurant-quality to the snack bar experience—think European aperitivo with an Australasian coffee culture twist. Breaky menu highlights to check out right now include the seasonal fruit porridge bowl and the croque madame slice—trust us, they’re to die for— and after 4pm the menu expands even further, introducing the likes of pork and duck rillettes with pickled cherries to the mix for more adventurous eaters. Amuse’s house-made bread along with their expansive vegan and gluten free options mean we can’t see any reason why this couldn’t become your new fav—we'd hit their green eggs over and over again.
Fidel’s Pop-up Cafe
234 Cuba Street, Te Aro
Looking for the hottest breakfast place in town? Well, we’re starting our day on Wigan Street where local favourite Fidel’s is running a pop-up at their sister joint, Havana Bar. Dig into their Peruvian Baked Eggs, complete with fresh sourdough, earthy aji panca and fruity aji amarillo (tip: the patatas bravas are truly lifechanging, grab a bowl on the side to share). Feeling indulgent? Treat yourself by finishing up with a cold drink or a breaky cocktail. If you’re looking for a lighter start to your morning, we recommend avo on toast, but this is far from the stock standard version.—Boasting confit tomato, goats cheese and pistachios it’s a gourmet way to really kick start your day. The pop-up is open Wednesday to Sunday from 9am, so find some time in your schedule to pop down for a bite.
Midnight Espresso
178 Cuba Street, Te Aro
Who says the coffees gotta stop at 2pm? Midnight Espresso is the café that never sleeps, dishing out legendary vego and vegan feeds and your caffeine fix long after the rest of Cuba Street has called it a night. If you’re not an early riser, Midnight Espresso will quickly become your favourite, serving up cult breakfast classics like the Eggs Midnight (poached eggs on a chickpea and a gluten free veggie patty, complete with spinach, pesto and vegan mayo) all the way through until 3:30pm when the lunch and dinner menu takes over to get you through to 1am. They’re cosy, they’re quirky AND—they won't break the bank.
Loretta
181 Cuba Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Loretta | Anna Briggs
At Loretta, breakfast is less a meal and more a ritual—take a second to slow down this weekend with their sunny tables by the back wall, or on the shared long table with a brunch pizza and a pastry. You’ll come for the caffeine pick-me-up, and stay for the divine breakfast offerings. We’re talking grilled lamb skewers on flatbread, with pickled onions, tahini yoghurt and pomegranate, or even wood fired potatoes and freshly pressed waffles. Loretta runs their brunch menu from 9am on Saturdays and Sundays, and we can’t think of a better place to close out the week.
Floriditas
161 Cuba Street, Te Aro
Breakfast at Flo’s is a rite of passage on Cuba Street. The star of the show? Their brioche french toast, topped with mandarins poached in stonefruit caramel, toasted almonds, lime & matcha chantilly—like seriously, what in the decadent is going on? You can build your own plate with sides, or hand over control to the kitchen gods and order the Green Eggs ‘n Ham: a slab of grilled ham under a blanket of parsley-green hollandaise. Don’t forget to finish with the Shelly Bay sourdough toast, or a sweet treat from the counter. This is the kind of breakfast that lingers with you all day in the BEST possible way.
The Oatery
14 Left Bank, Te Aro
If porridge had a fan club, The Oatery would be its headquarters. What started as a humble food truck and market stall run by founder Anna Campbell, has blossomed into a light-filled breakfast haven on Left Bank. Their menu switches it up seasonally, and right now you can get your hands on pear porridge with almond butter. Definitely don’t sleep on the coffee—local roast, expert-made, and served to perfectly compliment your warm bowl. A word from the wise: get your hands on their take-home bags of spiced granola (or order it delivered) so you can try to recreate the magic in your own kitchen.
Neo Cafe & Eatery
132 Willis Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Neo Cafe & Eatery | InstagramThis central café doesn’t just serve breakfast—it absolutely nails it. Their breakfast bagel is a thing of beauty: stacked with hashbrowns, dripping in hollandaise, and built to power you through the morning. If you're more of a sweet tooth, their gluten free Rhubarb Crème Brûlée Pancakes are pure indulgence—imagine roasted rhubarb with crème anglaise, delicate caramel shards, freeze dried raspberries and a generous drizzle of rhubarb syrup and pistachios. Trust us, no matter what your go-to is, there’s no wrong turn on this menu.
Chaat Street by Vaibhav Vishen
171 Willis Street, Te Aro
Ever had dinner at Chaat Street? Did you know they open over the weekend for breakfast? Pop on over to enjoy your eggs benny neo-Indian style, served on idly (savoury rice cakes) with curry leaf hollandaise, mustard potatoes and chilli oil—it’ll make your standard benny treat seem boring. 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 Flight Coffee Hangar
119 Dixon Street, Te Aro
The Flight Coffee Hangar started as a place for Flight Coffee to geek out on coffee roasting with friends, and eventually expanded to a full-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. It's a place where specialty coffee meets modern brunch.
Prefab
14 Jessie Street, Te Aro
When business starts over breakfast, Prefab is where you want to book your table. The light-filled space was built for meetings that matter—buzzing with energy, yet quiet enough for that important conversation. Founders Jeff and Bridgette say “our dream was to have an area we could control socially and musically, with eating [and] art”. Coffee is roasted on-site, and the bakery turns out warm oli rolls and daily bread before most offices have switched on their lights. There's something on the menu for everyone, get your hands on a classic bacon-and-egg butty or even a must-try blueberry bran brick. Efficient, consistent, and quietly stylish—Prefab sets the standard for Wellington’s breakfast scene.
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 good brekky bagel and Al’s got us covered at B.U.B. These Montreal-style bagels are “like no other bagel you’ve had before … lighter and chewier than their NYC cousins”. Our pick from the menu is the White Rabbit—Zany Zeus cream cheese, tomato and basil, with a healthy drizzle of lemon and fennel olive oil. Treat yourself to an extra side of poached eggs, because well, breakfast. See the full menu here.
August Eatery
75 Taranaki Street, Te Aro
Breakfast at August Eatery is anything but ordinary. A standout on the menu is their cult dish, Istanbul Eggs, is a must: poached eggs lounging in smoky Aleppo chilli butter with thick slices of house-baked sourdough ready for dunking—it’s lavish. Don’t forget to save room for the tsoureki French toast, a Greek-style brioche on tangy labneh and poached tamarillo. Insider tip: add bacon and thank us later.
Sweet Mother’s Kitchen
5 Courtenay Place, Te Aro
Fried chicken for breakfast? We think yes. Sweet Mother’s Kitchen brings a taste of New Orleans to Welly with a line-up that’s equal parts soulful and vibey. Sit yourself down for breakfast Po Boy sandwiches, gluten free Huevos Rancheros, and French toast done the proper “eggy” way. The real showstopper is the waffles (of the fried chicken variety) showered in icing sugar, and drowned in maple syrup. Laid-back, a little messy, and absolutely worth it.
Sixes And Sevens
51 Taranaki Street, Te Aro
Image credit: Sixes & Sevens Deli | Instagram
This is the kind of café where the cabinet draws you in off the street. At Sixes and Sevens, morning means grabbing a Bacon Breaky Wrap and one of their in-demand doughnuts before they get snapped up by the masses. Their assorted baked goods includes savoury scones, sausage rolls and pies, and their main-character-energy sweets selection is packed with cookies, cakes, slices, doughnuts and even fresh brioche au chocolat. Paired with a coffee or matcha, Sixes and Sevens are waiting to become your favourite guilty pleasure.
Coene's Bar & Eatery
103 Oriental Parade, Oriental Bay
Brunch by the water doesn’t get much better than this. Coene’s Bar and Eatery serves up a refined take on your favourites—like their signature Turkish Eggs with Labneh, chilli oil, confit garlic and dukkha. If you’re feeling fruity and reckon life’s too short to skip dessert at breakfast, then you can also get your fix with their waffles, generously covered with caramelised banana, chocolate sauce, vanilla and ice-cream. They serve their brunch menu until 3pm, so consider it your excuse to linger just a little longer on Oriental Parade after your morning walk.
Seashore Cabaret
160 The Esplanade, Petone, Lower Hutt
We can’t get enough of the retro style booth table vibes at Seashore Cabaret. Harbour views, a quirky fit-out and a menu that covers all bases—this is the kind of spot that you’ll find yourself coming back to time and time again. Looking for a health kick? Order the Goodness Bowl, loaded with roasted kūmara, chickpeas, spinach, and quinoa salad. If a hearty feed is more up your alley, The Trucker Breakfast serves up a 220g sirloin steak with creamy mushroom sauce, fried eggs, and chips. They’ve even got a dedicated kids’ menu, making it the ultimate family-friendly brunch stop.
The Botanist
219 Onepu Road, Lyall Bay
Beachside brunch, but make it plant-based. The Botanist in Lyall Bay is a vegetarian and vegan favourite. Get around their fluffy buckwheat pancakes (egg- and dairy-free), winter salad with roast kumara, pomegranate and cucumber, and their signature Bot Bennies on crisp herbed potato rosti. Craving something heartier? The brunch burger lineup includes a delectable vegan breakfast burger. Pair it with a brunch cocktail, soak up the sea breeze, and you’ve achieved breaky perfection.
Maranui
Lvl1, 7A Lyall Parade, Lyall Bay
Housed in the old surf life-saving club, Maranui feels like brunch with a side of nostalgia—think retro surf vibes, ocean views, and plates as wholesome as the locals. Start with towering burgers or loaded veggie bowls (with one of their truly indulgent milkshakes), and then explore the cabinets full of home baking for a little sweet treat after. Grab a window seat if you can—breakfast here comes with the best view in town.
Twenty Eight
28 Cornwall Street, Hutt Central, Lower Hutt
Image credit: Twenty Eight | Instagram
Twenty Eight is Central Lower Hutt’s go-to independent eatery that proves familiar breakfast staples can still shock the palate. Their Garlic & Thyme Roasted Portobello Mushrooms is a twisty, fresh take—with feta whip, beetroot relish, balsamic, crispy shallots all on seeded sourdough. Their flavour-game doesn’t stop there, the Masala Hash Potatoes come with greek yoghurt, lime pickle, fried eggs, pickled onion, tamarind & mint chutney to turn the classic “side dish” into a full performance. It’s authentically local, bold, and unapologetically creative—but still comforting enough to satisfy your morning breaky itch.
Spruce Goose
30 Cochrane Street, Rongotai
Fresh off the plane? Spruce Goose has got to be your very first Wellington stop. The vibe is laid-back but the breakfasts mean business…We’re pushing the new vegetarian bagel, packing rocket, avocado, mushrooms, roasted capsicum and beetroot hummus in a totally smashable bagel form—or if you’re a lover of the good old breaky menu staples… their Eggs Bene is a game-changer.
Scorch-a-Rama
497 Karaka Bay Road, Karaka Bays
You can get every breakfast option you’ve ever dreamed of at Scorch-a-Rama, 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
As iconic as New Zealand’s favourite marshmallow treat, Chocolate Fish Café is a seaside classic. Eggs on toast done the boring way is a far cry from what you’ll see on this menu, this is the place to get your kaimoana breakfast fix. Dig into paua patties (a.k.a. Flash Sammies), as well as crayfish, whitebait and mussel fritters. It’s the kind of food that's best enjoyed outdoors with the salt air on your skin and the harbour right at your feet.
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
The Larder is one of those Wellington staples that feels like home the moment you walk in. Morning light, good coffee, and an unmissable “this is how everyone should start their day” vibe. The space balances neighbourhood charm with polished service, making it just as suited to a leisurely weekend brunch as a mid-week business catch-up. Our tip, we’re forever eyeing up the buttermilk crepes, and—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