Crack into seafood at The Crab Shack in Wellington

The charm and flavour of Cape Cod come to Wellington in this prime waterfront location. The Crab Shack combines a fun and energetic environment with food to match. Get a little messy and take on one of the king crabs or Cajun-style boil-up. For those less nautically inclined, there’s plenty on the menu to make you smile, like a sirloin steak stack, burgers loaded with goodies, and a drinks menu longer than a ship’s anchor chain.

Most of the seafood is locally sourced, with the larger crabs coming from Australia and as far as Madagascar. The kitchen is open and the staff are lively. In the restaurant, cray-pot chandeliers hang from the ceiling and nautical-chart wallpaper covers the walls. “It’s a really special place,” says head chef Geoff Ngan. “I really love that feeling when everyone’s got a glass of crisp white, beautiful fresh seafood, seagulls flying around.”

For Geoff, growing up on the Kāpiti Coast meant seafood was his bread and butter. “I used to catch paddle crabs in my net while I was fishing for flounder,” he says. Now, he dishes up kaimoana for a living. Also, the head chef at neighbouring Shed 5, Geoff, gets to express his creativity through two distinct restaurants and menus.

When The Crab Shack opened its doors in 2013, “it went gangbusters,” says Geoff. It introduced Wellington to Cape Cod charm, creole flavours, and that fun and messy way of eating. The casual feel of the restaurant makes it perfect for families and large groups.

Kisa

Inspired by Middle Eastern cuisine with a large Turkish influence, Kisa’s food is jam-packed with flavour.

An open doorway connects a garden courtyard to a busy tavern.

Cuba Street Tavern

Part bar, part café, and part community hub — this tavern with a secret garden is an oasis in the city.

A chef from Scopa making pizzas with their back turned, wearing a yellow Scopa shirt.

Get a taste of Italy at Scopa

Owned a run by a pair of brothers, this Cuba Street institution serves up wood-fired pizzas and old-school charm.

A person hands a dish to their friend across a small table during a meal.

Hei

In the heart of Cuba Street, this calm and stylish restaurant serves up a curiously rare cuisine in Wellington; modern Chinese.

Close-up of a plate and side from Oikos Greek restaurant.

Oikos Hellenic Cuisine

You’ll feel like you’re part of the family at this Greek restaurant in the suburbs, where old recipes are given modern twists.

1154 Pastaria

Pasta pioneers 1154 merge modern flavours with traditional techniques in delicious plates of carby goodness.

Little Penang

There’s a good reason Little Penang is always full. The restaurant has made ex-pat Malaysians cry at their tables, from the joy of eating such good, and authentic, food.