Where to Eat in Wellington: Our Staff Picks Near Cuba Street

Wellington has a well-earned reputation for great coffee, cafes and restaurants, and being based in the heart of Cuba Street means the Wellington Eye Centre team is spoilt for choice.

Whether you’re looking for a great coffee before an appointment, a quick takeaway after laser eye surgery, somewhere casual for dinner, or you’re visiting Wellington for a few days and want to make the most of the local food scene, these are some of our team’s current favourites.

This isn’t intended to be a definitive list of the best places to eat in Wellington. These are the places our team actually goes, the dishes we order, and the spots we regularly recommend to patients, friends and family.

Coffee, breakfast and bakeries near Cuba Street

You can’t really visit Wellington without finding yourself in a conversation about coffee. Luckily, there are plenty of good options within an easy walk of Wellington Eye Centre.

Pour and Twist

If you’re serious about coffee, or matcha, Pour and Twist is worth a visit for the experience as much as the drink itself.

Emily rates the Taro Matcha, while their kopi is a good option if matcha isn’t your thing. You’ll also find cold brews and a changing monthly special, which is always worth checking out.

Floriditas

Floriditas is a Wellington classic and one of those places that works at almost any time of day.

They’re open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but we particularly like it for breakfast or brunch. Their scrambled eggs and scones are both well known, making it an easy choice when you want to sit down and take your time over a classic Wellington café breakfast.

Customs

A long-standing Wellington favourite, Customs serves great coffee and excellent toast.

Their egg toast on Wellington Sourdough is our standout recommendation and makes for a proper breakfast or brunch. If you’re after something quicker, they also have pastries and sandwiches that are easy to grab and take away with your coffee.

Cafe Orange

Cafe Orange is a quirky little coffee spot close to Cuba Street, with a relaxed atmosphere and plenty of personality.

It’s a good option when you want somewhere a bit different from the standard Wellington café, and worth trying one of their orange-inspired options while you’re there.

Kaffee Eis

Sitting just across from the Centre, Kaffee Eis is one of the team’s regular stops.

It’s our go-to for a mocha, but they also have breakfast and food options alongside their coffee. And, of course, there’s the gelato. More on that later.

Also worth checking out: The Hangar for Flight Coffee and a sit-down breakfast, The Oatery on Left Bank for oat-based breakfasts and toast on the go, and neighbouring Wellington Sourdough for fresh sourdough and baked treats. For pastries, try Shelly Bay Baker on Leeds Street, especially if you can get your hands on a salted caramel cookie, or Le Ciel on Tory Street for French-inspired handmade pastries. Creamy & Crunchy is another good option for vegan pastries and savoury treats.

Quick bites and takeaway near Cuba Street

After laser eye surgery, you may not feel like heading out for a long meal. Sometimes the best option is to pick up something easy and head back to your accommodation to rest.

Fortunately, there are plenty of great takeaway and casual lunch options near Wellington Eye Centre.

Fred’s Sandwiches

Shannon is a Fred’s regular, whether she’s ordering her usual chicken panko sandwich or trying one of their weekly specials. Emily is also a fan of the same chicken sandwich, so this one has more than one vote from the team.

Fred’s Sandwiches is an easy choice when you want a really good sandwich without turning lunch into a whole event. They also have ready-to-go options if you’re in a hurry.

Dilly Dally

Maisie’s personal favourite, Dilly Dally is a great takeaway option when you want something quick but still hearty and filling.

Their salad bowls come with different base flavours, then you choose your protein to go with it. Maisie’s picks are the garden salad with chicken or marinated tofu, or the tahina with braised beef.

And if you want the full monte, get the Dally Deal, which comes with a coffee and the miso caramel cookie. It makes for a pretty good little pick-me-up.

Taste of Home

Taste of Home has a few devoted fans in the team.

Maddi and Maisie recommend the hand-pulled noodles in chicken broth, particularly when you want something warm and comforting. Emily’s pick is the Dan Dan noodles because she likes things spicy and is a fan of peanuts.

If you like plenty of flavour and a little heat, put this one on the list.

Midnight Espresso

Philippa rates Midnight Espresso as a great all-rounder.

It’s open late, serves good coffee and has a great array of cabinet food alongside more substantial meals, including plenty of vegan and gluten-free options. It works just as well for a coffee as it does when you need something more filling, or even a late-night sweet treat.

Wellington Seamarket

For classic fresh fish and chips, Wellington Seamarket is another team recommendation and has been a familiar fixture on Cuba Street for years.

Rather than being limited to a standard fish and chip menu, you can choose your fish from the fresh seafood counter and have it cooked how you like. There are plenty of other fresh seafood options available too, whether you’re after a quick takeaway or feel like trying something a little different.

Also worth checking out: Cafe Laz, tucked away at the end of Left Bank, for quick kebabs and iskenders; Aroy for an easy Thai takeaway; Mimosa Kitchen for fresh sushi; or Spizzico for Roman-style pizza by the slice and sandwiches.

Casual restaurants in Wellington

If you’ve got a little more time and want to sit down for lunch or dinner without going anywhere too formal, these are some of our picks.

Rams

Not to be confused with The Ram further down this list.

Rams is a casual Asian restaurant best known for its dumplings, with plenty of flavours to choose from. Megan is enough of a regular that they know her order when she walks in.

Aunty Mena’s

Aunty Mena’s is a long-standing Cuba Street favourite with an entirely vegan menu.

The laksa deserves a special mention. Both Maisie and Shannon rate it as one of the best in Wellington, and it’s particularly good on a cold Wellington day.

Hei

Shannon rates Hei for an evening meal, particularly if you like sharing dishes and trying a few things from the menu.

The menu changes frequently, but her verdict is that it’s consistently fresh and delicious. Their cocktails get a mention too, with fun, interesting flavours that are nicely balanced.

Mother of Coffee

Emily recommends Mother of Coffee for both the food and the atmosphere.

Her pick is the vegan combo, which is a generous option if you’re hungry, alongside a Birzz, an Ethiopian fermented honey and water drink.

Pho Viet

Tasj loves Pho Viet on Dixon Street and says they always deliver. It’s a great option when you feel like a warming bowl of pho or something fresh and full of flavour.

Also worth checking out: Satay Malaysia for relaxed, no-frills Malaysian food and excellent flaky roti; Nolita for plant-based pizza and pasta; or 1154 Pastaria for fresh pasta on Cuba Street.

Dinner and drinks in Wellington

If you’re staying in Wellington for a night or two, there are plenty of good reasons to head back out once your appointments are finished.

Kisa

Kisa is a great dinner option if you like ordering a few different dishes and trying a bit of everything.

The Middle Eastern-inspired menu includes house-made pitas and dips, and the böreks, essentially very delicious cheese-filled pastries, are a team favourite.

Ombra

Inspired by the neighbourhood restaurants of Venice, Ombra serves Italian small plates in a bustling but relaxed Cuba Street setting.

It’s a good option when you feel like taking your time over dinner and trying a few different dishes.

Cuba Street Tavern

Cuba Street Tavern is a good choice when you’re after something a little nicer while still keeping the relaxed feel you’d expect around Cuba Street.

With a courtyard, bar and kitchen, it’s an easy option for anything from a casual drink through to a proper meal.

The Ram

The Ram is one of Shannon’s favourites for the atmosphere alone.

She rates the fun, friendly staff and the small but perfectly formed evening menu. It’s also a good choice if you’re interested in wine or gin and want staff who know what they’re talking about.

Somewhere a little special

If you’ve travelled to Wellington for treatment and decided to turn the trip into a mini-break, you might as well fit in a really good meal while you’re here.

Liberty

Liberty is one of our picks when you’re after something a little more special.

With a creative, ever-changing menu, it’s a great option for a celebration, date night, or simply making the most of a night away in Wellington. We’ve also had one of our best team meals here, which gives it an extra vote from us.

Havana

Another Wellington favourite, Havana is a great option when you want dinner to feel a little more like an occasion.

Tucked away behind Cuba Street in a colourful old villa, it has plenty of personality, with a lively atmosphere, great cocktails and a menu designed for trying a few different flavours.

Highwater Eatery

At the lower end of Cuba Street, Highwater Eatery is a modern New Zealand restaurant and wine bar with a focus on seasonal produce and local ingredients.

It’s relaxed but polished, making it a great option when you want somewhere a little more special for a meal while you’re in Wellington.

Three great ice cream and gelato spots within a block

If you’re in the mood for something sweet, you’re particularly well covered around Wellington Eye Centre.

We have three great frozen dessert options within about a block of us, and each has something a little different going for it.

Kaffee Eis

As well as being one of our regular coffee stops, Kaffee Eis has a huge variety of gelato and sorbet flavours to choose from.

If you can’t decide, ask the staff for a taste or for their favourite flavour combinations.

Duck Island

Duck Island is a regular team sweet-treat stop, whether it’s after a team lunch or at the end of a long day when we decide we need a little pick-me-up.

If you want to try as many flavours as possible, the flight with eight mini scoops is a great way to sample a few. Maisie’s pick is the lolly cake ice cream. It’s pure Kiwi nostalgia in ice cream form.

Zelati

Megan’s recommendation at Zelati is the ice cream sandwiches.

Think homemade cookies with a very generous amount of ice cream sandwiched between them. They’re almost a meal in themselves, and we won’t judge you if they become one. Who doesn’t want dessert for dinner sometimes?

And for the chocolate lovers, Wellington Chocolate Factory is another great local stop for something sweet. Their hot chocolates are particularly decadent, and it’s an easy place to pick up a treat to take home.

Make the most of your time in Wellington

One of the things we love about being based on Cuba Street is just how much there is within walking distance of the Centre.

Our Staff Picks guides are designed to give locals and out-of-town patients some of the team’s favourite places to try while they’re in the neighbourhood, not just the obvious tourist recommendations.

If you’re travelling to Wellington for laser eye surgery, you may also want to read our Staff Picks: What to Do in Wellington for ideas on making a little holiday out of your visit.

And if you’re not sure where to go, ask us while you’re here. There’s usually someone in the team who’s very happy to recommend their current favourite coffee, lunch, dinner or sweet treat.

Visiting Wellington for laser eye surgery?

If you’re travelling from out of town, make sure you’ve planned some time to rest after your procedure and follow the post-operative instructions provided by your clinical team.

You can also find more information about laser eye surgery at Wellington Eye Centre, including what to expect before and after treatment, in the other articles on our website.

Ready to see Wellington a little more clearly?
If you’re considering laser eye surgery, book a free laser suitability assessment with Wellington Eye Centre to find out which treatment options may be right for you.

You can also call us on 0800 733 327, or email info@wefixeyes.co.nz to chat with our team.