These are the restaurants in Wellington that the major lists rate, plus the local institutions the press keeps returning to, on one map. Filter by list, tap a pin for the details, and follow the links on each card to the award or article behind it.
Key takeaways
- Strongest list standing: Logan Brown, Margot and Ortega Fish Shack.
- 12 places: 12 from other guides.
- Every award and article is linked on its card, so you can check it yourself before booking.
Places are ordered by list standing, then press coverage. This is not a ranking of our own. Last checked October 26, 2026.
Screenshot of loganbrown.co.nz Logan Brown
$$$Te Aro · Contemporary European
A Wellington fine-dining institution in a historic vaulted space, cooking contemporary European dishes from carefully sourced proteins and seasonal produce. Cuisine awarded it two hats in 2026.
192 Cuba Street (corner Cuba and Vivian Streets), Wellington 6011
Screenshot of margotnewtown.co.nz Margot
$$Newtown · European small plates
One hat · Cuisine Good Food Guide 2026Casual Restaurant of the Year 2026 · Cuisine Good Food Awards 2026A 26-seat Newtown neighbourhood restaurant serving modern European-inspired small plates. Cuisine named it Casual Restaurant of the Year 2026.
3 Wilson Street, Newtown, Wellington 6021
Screenshot of ortega.co.nz Mount Victoria · Seafood
A relaxed, seafood-led restaurant in Mount Victoria serving seasonal dishes such as steamed moki. Cuisine gave it two hats and its Long-Term Player award in 2026.
16 Majoribanks Street, Mount Victoria, Wellington 6011
Screenshot of boulcottstreetbistro.co.nz Wellington Central · Classic bistro
Open since 1991 in a villa on Boulcott Street, this bistro serves classics such as beef fillet with béarnaise and hand-cut fries. It holds one hat in the 2026 Cuisine guide.
99 Boulcott Street, Wellington 6011
Screenshot of capitolrestaurant.co.nz Capitol
$$Mount Victoria · Ingredient-led European
Run by chef Tom Hutchison and Kate Hutchison on Kent Terrace since 2002, Capitol serves simple, ingredient-led dishes such as linguine alle vongole. Cuisine gave it two hats in 2026.
10 Kent Terrace, Mount Victoria, Wellington 6011
Screenshot of charleynoble.co.nz Wellington Central · Wood-fired grill
Set in the historic Huddart Parker Building near the waterfront, Charley Noble cooks over wood fire in an open kitchen. Cuisine notes it won Drinks List of the Year 2025 and gave it one hat in 2026.
Huddart Parker Building, 1 Post Office Square, Wellington 6011
Screenshot of floriditas.co.nz Te Aro · Classic bistro
A long-running Cuba Street bistro whose fish pie has stayed on the menu for years. It holds one hat in the 2026 Cuisine guide.
161 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011
Screenshot of grazewinebar.co.nz Graze
$$Kelburn · Wine bar, sharing plates
Max Gordy and Stina Persen's suburban wine bar serves a changing seasonal sharing menu with US influences such as grits, pretzels and cornbread. It holds two hats in the 2026 Cuisine guide.
95 Upland Road, Kelburn, Wellington 6012
Screenshot of highwatereatery.co.nz Highwater
$$$Te Aro · Modern comfort food
Chef and co-owner Alric Hansen's Cuba Street eatery offers a seasonal chef's menu and a long-standing lamb shoulder dish. Cuisine gave it one hat in 2026.
54 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011
Screenshot of hillsidekitchen.co.nz Hillside
$$$Thorndon · Vegetarian set menu
Owner and head chef Asher Boote runs a vegetarian restaurant with a multi-course set menu that changes daily and focuses on reducing waste. Cuisine gave it two hats in 2026.
241 Tinakori Road, Thorndon, Wellington 6011
Screenshot of janobistro.co.nz Jano Bistro
$$$Te Aro · French fine dining
Chef-owner Pierre-Alain Fenoux, who trained in Michelin-starred kitchens in Europe, runs this bistro in a cottage on Willis Street with Diana Goh. It holds two hats in the 2026 Cuisine guide.
270 Willis Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011
Screenshot of kojirestaurant.co.nz Koji
$$Mount Victoria · Modern pan-Asian
Chef Jonon MacDonald and co-owner Kat Strand serve modern pan-Asian sharing plates, smoking, fermenting and pickling in house. It holds one hat in the 2026 Cuisine guide.
12 Majoribanks Street, Mount Victoria, Wellington 6011
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Get the New Zealand eSIMHow we chose these restaurants
A place gets in one of two ways. It holds an award in a 2024, 2025 or 2026 edition of a recognised list, or it is a local institution that at least two established outlets have covered. We do not rank, and nothing here is paid for. The order on the page follows list standing first, then press coverage. The full method is in the note at the end.
More food guides
- Best restaurants in New Zealand, every city on one map
- Best restaurants in Auckland
- Best restaurants in Queenstown & Central Otago
- Best restaurants in Christchurch & Canterbury
- The best restaurants around the world, every country in this series
Frequently asked questions
What is the best restaurant in Wellington?+
Where can I eat well in Wellington without paying for a tasting menu?+
Is this a ranking?+
Methodology
How we did this comparison
This guide aggregates; it does not rank. A restaurant in Wellington is included if it holds a place on a recognised list in a 2024, 2025 or 2026 edition (Cuisine Good Food Awards 2026, La Liste 2026 and Cuisine Good Food Guide 2026), linked to the list publisher's own page, or if it is a local institution covered by at least two established outlets, each linked on its card. A single blog post or a review-site rating is not enough.
Places are ordered by list standing (MICHELIN stars, 50 Best, Tabelog Gold and Black Pearl three diamonds first, then other awards and Bib Gourmand), then by how much press they have. Summaries paraphrase the cited sources. Map positions come from OpenStreetMap. Price bands run from $ (casual) to $$$$ (tasting-menu fine dining) and are our reading of each place's menus and sources; places without one had no price source.
Every entry was checked against its sources on 26 October 2026. Lists change every year and restaurants close, so check opening days and book directly before you travel.
Sources & references
We verify carrier and regulator pricing directly from primary sources before publishing. Pricing is current as of the article's last update — always confirm rates on the carrier's site before you travel.
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About the author
Lotsotravel Team
The Lotsotravel editorial team writes hands-on guides for international travelers. We test eSIMs on real devices in real destinations, monitor Canadian and U.S. carrier pricing weekly, and compare coverage across local network partners before we recommend a plan. Every comparison post is updated when carriers change their rates so the numbers you read here match what you would pay today.
Last updated: October 26, 2026