Discover Te Ngākau: A Day in Wellington’s Civic Precinct

Wellington’s very own New York-style deli, Pickle & Pie, is a great place to grab breakfast before starting your day exploring Te Ngākau Civic Precinct. The menu is exactly what you’re thinking of—picture thick Reuben sandwiches, lox salmon, bagels and matzo ball soup. The signature pies (served with garlic confit mash and fries or—you guessed it—salad and pickles) are a must-try. 

Ease into your day with a bit of retail therapy and perhaps a stylish cut thrown in for good measure. That Was Then, This Is Now is a one-stop shop for the sartorially savvy man, stocking hard-to-find pieces from brands around the world. The store has a utilitarian aesthetic, with simple, high-quality garments that are easy to weave into any outfit. To top it all off, there’s an in-store barber on hand to help complete your look. 

If pampering your lashes and brows is more your thing, head on over to Iris Store + Studio for the ultimate beauty experience. Half the shop comprises a carefully curated collection of some of the best beauty brands from around the world—think Sana Jardin, Lanshin, and Kjaer Weis. Head upstairs to Iris’ beauty cabins and pick from a menu of treatments, from facials and lash and brow services to makeup lessons, to get you looking and feeling your best.

It’s time to treat your home as well and pick up a statement piece or two for your abode. Located barely a few steps from each other, you’re guaranteed to find something unique at Vessel or The Axe (or why not both!). Head to Vessel for some of the finest ceramic pieces you’ll find in Wellington, from bowls and plates to mugs and jugs, or head to The Axe to check out some bold furniture that’s sure to get your visitors talking.

All that shopping will have worked up an appetite by now, and it’s time to head to Apache for a long, delicious lunch. Apache serves up sublime Vietnamese hawker-inspired dishes with a touch of French class, and you’ll definitely want to bring a crew to try as much of the menu as you can. The Bang Bang chicken salad is a perennial favourite, as is the jungle curry, and you can’t skip the popcorn chicken as a starter.

Wash down your lunch - and top up your caffeine levels - with a coffee at Swimsuit just around the corner. Sporting the same effortlessly chill vibes as the other two Swimsuit cafes around town, it’s the perfect spot for a post-lunch pick-me-up before you tackle the rest of the day. If you have enough space, throw in a cheeky cheese scone as well - you’ll find out why these have a bit of a reputation.

Art aficionados, this one’s for you. Te Ngākau Civic Precinct has its very own line-up of art galleries, meaning you can do a mini gallery hop to break up the day as you peruse works from up-and-coming Kiwi talent. Page Galleries and Jhana Millers Gallery both live on Victoria Street, both rock the white-walls-and-exposed-concrete look, and both house a fantastic selection of pieces from established New Zealand names and emerging artists. Whatever time of year you go, you’ll be treated to an exhibition to get the creative juices flowing. 

Did we mention there’s plenty of shopping to be done in Te Ngākau Civic Precinct? If you’re keen to continue on from your morning spree, keep exploring and have a wander through the many boutique shops dotted around the precinct. Wilson Trollope is a household name in Wellington, stocking everything from streetwear to quirky collectables. And speaking of local household names, Victoria Street is home to Yu Mei, the iconic leather goods brand. 

Tucked down Edward Street, you'll discover authentic Japanese at Tatsushi. They've been in the neighbourhood for over 12 years, and it's no wonder why, with daily fresh fish from the market and seasonal ingredients resulting in some of the best sashimi in the capital. Local picks also include the katsu curry and age dashi tofu.

What better way to round out the day than with that quintessential Wellingtonian pairing: craft beer and a gig. One of the best places in town to indulge in the former is Little Beer Quarter, neatly hidden away on Edward Street, which boasts 12 rotating taps. Then, head just across the road to renowned gig venue Meow and finish the day to the sounds of some quality live music.