Brewed, Roasted & Distilled: Porirua's Craft Beverage Scene

Tucked away in Moonshine Valley, which straddles the boundary of Porirua and Upper Hutt, family-owned small-batch coffee roastery Elemental Coffee has been roasting, brewing, and pouring since 2016. Starting life as a means to supply the Elemental Food Truck, which itself has evolved into a beloved café in Kenepuru (Elemental Eats), CEO and Head Roaster Rob prioritises fair-trade beans from top coffee-producing nations and roasts to a specific profile years in the making. This profile is a favourite of the region, and with Elemental Coffee roasting-to-order, delivering promptly, and even helping arrange maintenance and repair, it's no wonder they've established a name synonymous with quality, service, and a satisfying sip.

Mana Coffee is the new go-to for a brew at the Kiosks in Cobham Court. After 12 years operating off Mana Esplanade at what was Marina Espresso, Craig and his experienced team now fill the cups of those mingling around another thriving part of town. Their beans are proudly roasted in Porirua and available by the bag at the counter. Just look out for the chic red shop with clean white tiling and natural wooden accents lining its facade.

For a brand that's all about minimising its impact on the environment, Little City Kombucha is certainly making a splash in the region. Surrounded by warehouses on Kenepuru Drive, Little City brews and pours its signature kombucha range from a minimalist industrial space right next door to the aforementioned Elemental Eats. Featuring a fill-your-own wall fitted out in lacquer black, visitors can pour the kombucha flavour of the month themselves, with all brews made using naturally fermented real ingredients. What's more, the bottled variety comes in recycled glass and is delivered in a hybrid vehicle, meaning even if you're not down Kenepuru ways, you can enjoy their fizzy goodness with a clear conscience.

One of the many standout operators in beautiful Tītahi Bay, and one of those responsible for revitalising Tītahi Bay mall into a lively social hub, The Beer Engine is another craft star that prides itself on prioritising local. In addition to top drops from some of the best breweries around Aotearoa, here you'll find outstanding wines from smaller producers along with crafted spirits from Wellington through to Kāpiti. It's a great place to grab a bite too, with a compact menu offering tempting food like classic hot dogs or hearty curry, all of which you can enjoy at tables and a bar made with recycled floor timber from Kenepuru Hospital, further imbuing that Porirua feel.

A microbrewery with a "never-say-die” attitude is exactly what you'd expect from this exciting region. Rising from the ashes of an abandoned brewery in Lower Hutt, the aptly named Abandoned Brewery is a place of happy chaos. They too have sourced from the community, with recycled materials making up fixtures from the bar top to the lights and the bike frame fence outside. Here, where everyone is welcome (there's even a living mural where children are invited to add to the hallway and bathroom walls), it's fitting they have just about something for everyone. From old-school favourites to fresh new names on tap, local picks to those from further afield, take your pick from a variety of tipples, and thanks to neighbours The Karaage Kid, you can enjoy wicked Japanese-style fried chicken on the side.

If you thought a popular Polish bistro buried deep within Porirua suburbia sounds appealing (and like a bit of a tongue-twister), then wait until you hear they make their own vodka. Establishing a cosy neighbourhood feel with a touch of elegance, owners Steven and Valerie Askew have transformed Topor Bistro into a true hidden gem of Plimmerton and one of the Wellington region's very best ethnic restaurants. When shipping issues made sourcing flavoured vodka from Poland inconsistent, they decided to create their own infusions, and in doing so have made Topor the talk of the town. Pioneering vodka matching with meals rather than your traditional glass of red or white, here you can enjoy an array of exquisite Polish classics with expertly matched Topor's Own vodka, or if you want to go all out, ask for the vodka tasting paddle. Their small-batch craft vodkas and liqueurs are also available to take home, so you can continue the experience beyond the bistro. Just make sure you say cheers: Na zdrowie!