Looking for a Wellington eatery that offers organic, gluten free, vegetarian/vegan, free range or local food?
For many of us, food restrictions can make eating out a bit of a challenge. Whether for ethical or health reasons, we get loads of customers asking for recommendations for cafes and restaurants that will fit their specific dietary needs. That's why we've created (and updated!) the following list of suggestions from our staff, customers and wider community.
Organic, local & vegan: Boquita is one of our favourites!
ORGANIC
These establishments take pride in offering one or more organic ingredients in their food and/or drinks. We may be biased, but we think this is some of the tastiest nosh in the Windy City, hands down:
- Loretta
- Boquita
- Rata Café
- House of Dumplings
- Nikau Cafe
- Deluxe
- Maranui Cafe
- Monterey
- La Boca Loca
- Ti Kouka
- Meow Cafe
- Raw Planet Juice Bar
- Capitol
- French Kiss Cafe
- Logan Brown
- Sweet Release Cakes & Treats
- Field & Green
- Commonsense lunchbars
- Apache
Gluten Free
Gluten free food is becoming increasingly popular, but we think these eateries do a stand-out job of offering tasty alternatives to wheat, rye, oats and barley:
- Café Neo
- Mr Go's
- Comes & Goes, Petone
- Meow Cafe
- Beach Babylon
- La Boca Loca
- Midnight Espresso
- Monterey
- Sweet Mother's Kitchen
- Go Bang Espresso
- Raw Planet Juice Bar
- Deluxe
- Maranui Cafe
- Arashi Kushiyaki
- Southern Cross
- Logan Brown (on request)
- Dunshea's Deli
- HOME
- Charley Noble
- Mexico Wellington
- Ti Kouka
- Queen Sally's Diamond Deli
- Spirit House
- Five Boroughs
- Coolsville
- Commonsense lunchbars
- Milk Crate
- Apache
Vegetarian & Vegan
Wellington is one of the easiest locations in the country for plant-based people to dine out. From wholeheartedly herbivorous to very vege-friendly, here are some of our absolute favourite eateries that offer good vege and vegan options:
- Seize
- Commonsense lunchbars
- Egmont St Eatery
- Boquita
- Midnight Espresso
- House of Dumplings
- La Boca Loca
- Deluxe
- Maranui Cafe
- Monterey
- Higher Taste
- Baobab
- Meow Cafe
- Raw Planet Juice Bar
- Pranah Cafe
- Southern Cross
- Aunty Mena's Vegetarian Café
- Mexico Wellington
- Loretta
- Sweet Release Cakes & Treats
- Ekim Burgers
- Queen Sally's Diamond Deli
- Fidel’s Café
- Cin Cin
- Olive
- HOME
- Dunshea's Deli
- Rahzoo Café
- Pizza Pomodoro
- Café Formula
- Raw Café, Petone
- Five Boroughs
- Nature Vegetarian, Lower Hutt
- Comes & Goes, Petone
- Coolsville
- Milk Crate
- Mr Go's
Free-range
Wellington has some excellent eating spots for ethical omnivores. The following eateries offer one or more type of free range animal products, such as eggs, pork or chicken.
- Ti Kouka
- Five Boroughs
- La Boca Loca
- Nikau Cafe
- Monterey
- Sweet Mother's Kitchen
- Logan Brown
- House of Dumplings
- Dunshea's Deli
- Southern Cross
- Taylors on Jackson
- Mexico Wellington
- Elements Cafe
- Loretta
- Seize
- The Ramen Shop
- Rata Café
- Tuatua
- Coolsville
- Milk Crate
- Apache
- Mr Go's
Local Food
Eating local is all about increased wellbeing, less carbon emissions and enhanced community. It also tastes incredible. Need proof? Look no further than the following cafes and restaurants that offer local products and ingredients on their menus:
- Shepherd
- Rata Café
- The Larder
- Seize
- The Ramen Shop
- Coco at the Roxy
- Ti Kouka
- Nikau Cafe
- Elements Cafe
- Baobab
- La Boca Loca
- Taylors on Jackson
- House of Dumplings
- Husk
- Queen Sally's Diamond Deli
- Commonsense lunchbars
Have we left out your favourite restaurant, or have details changed for one of our existing favourites? We’d love to include it: head over to Facebook or send us a quick email. Happy eating!
Please note: While this info is correct at the time of publishing, menus and supply of ingredients can change rapidly. Before your visit please do confirm that the eatery in question can meet your needs.