Salut Pies

What do you do when you can’t find a decent pie and coffee for your 5am commute? You make them yourself, of course and in the process, create a Wellingtonian cult hero, Salut Pies.

That was the dilemma faced by Joe and Carey Player, who first opened their pie shop in Ōtaki before surging demand meant a move to Wellington’s CBD. They like to think of their shop as unfussy, laid-back, and even a little rough around the edges and you’ll find them tucked away up a little alleyway off Victoria Street. Perhaps surprisingly given their huge social media presence and following, it’s fairly low-key inside the shop, with minimalist furniture and white walls that are blank, save for a plethora of post-it notes displaying all manner of pie flavours. It’s just as well, though, as this is a place where the pies do the talking.

Salut Pies is all about crafting pies that are anything but ‘standard’, and you’ll find plenty of that here. These thick, chunky, and irresistible creations look fairly uniform lined up next to each other in the cabinet, but expect to see some pretty wild flavours. Favourites include the Beef Brisket & Cheese with Jalapeño Bacon Relish and the Eggs Montreal (egg, smoked salmon, spinach, and hollandaise), and if that’s not enough, try tucking into a Korean Gochujang Pork Belly or Duck and Chorizo Gumbo.

With each pie crafted individually (no bakers’ trays here) and baked fresh on the daily, Salut Pies takes a Kiwi culinary icon and gives it the love and attention it truly deserves. Stop by for a fresh, flaky, and filling celebration of this humble staple.