Swimsuit

Cafes key icon.
Cafes key icon.

Monday7:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Tuesday7:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Wednesday7:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Thursday7:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Friday7:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Saturday9:00 am – 3:00 pm.

Sunday9:30 am – 3:00 pm.

38 Dixon St, Te Aro, Wellington

04 260 0045

Renovated in just 19 days from its previous life as Memphis Belle, owner/operator Tait Burge had plenty of help from talented mates to turn Swimsuit into the soft, fresh, young hang-out café it is now, and describes it as a bit of a ‘community project’ at the time. Community is definitely the feel you get here too - expect to see people reading books, catching up on university goss, deep in newspapers in the outside area and all with impeccable coffee in hand. There’s a hint of retro about the place too, a polaroid camera sits on the front counter and customers are encouraged to add to the wall of snaps growing behind the baristas at work.

The name Swimsuit came from a poster the young entrepreneur saw on a poster near his South Coast home and works in with his ethos of moving away from any flashy stereotypes about premium coffee and instead making this café all about welcoming whoever walks through the door, whether they’re a coffee guru or not. But in saying that, if you are a guru, the Peoples Coffee that’s filling cups here is seriously good, and beans are also available to take home. For the hungry visitors there’s four types of scone, two versions of house-made baguettes and a meat or vegan toastie option to see you through the day.

Words by Rosie Morrison & Photography by Anna Briggs

Information not correct? Report an error

Location

38 Dixon St, Te Aro, Wellington

Nearby Places

Te Papa

The interior of the museum.
Place Wellington Wellington City
Galleries and museum key icon.

Te Papa is one of New Zealand’s most prized museums.

Hummingbird

Exterior view of Hummingbird's corner location in Wellington.
Place Wellington Wellington City
Bars key icon. Restaurants key icon.

Occupying a prominent corner spot on Courtenay Place, there’s something magnetic about Hummingbird, a perennial energy that hums beneath the surface, pulling you into...

Taste of Home

Woman eating noodle bowl.
Place Wellington Wellington City Editor's Pick
Restaurants key icon.

This place has a cult following simply due to word of mouth - proof that the flavours here are something Wellingtonians just can’t get enough of.

Supra

Entrance way to Supra.
Place Wellington Wellington City
Restaurants key icon.

As far as hidden gems go, Supra is about as hidden as they get.

Similar Places

Montfoort

A Dutch Pancakes caravan.
Place Kāpiti Coast Kāpiti Coast
Cafes key icon.

Montfoort has a simple yet exciting mission: to showcase the very best of sweet Dutch street food.

Empire Cinema & Eatery

White tiled front counter.
Place Wellington Wellington City
Cafes key icon. Theatre and performance key icon.

Empire is fitting for a cinema that pre-dated ‘talkies’ when it played its first reel in 1925, but as far as movie theatres go, this one is more for those who’d pick pinot over popcorn.

Monsoon Poon Wellington

Light blue building exterior of Monsoon Poon.
Place Wellington Wellington City
Restaurants key icon.

Providing nourishment in abundance (as the name would suggest), Wellington’s Monsoon Poon has been a Blair Street fixture for a quarter of a century and counting.

Salty Pidgin

Inside the restaurant.
Place Wellington Wellington City
Restaurants key icon.

A suburban eatery with city sophistication.