A Guide to Calm & Wellness in the Heart of Wellington

A go-to gallery housed inside a heritage-listed icon should be the best place to start. Jhana Millers Gallery on the first floor of the Mibar building is a quiet oasis from the hustle of downtown Welly. This gallery is where the outside world takes a step back, and contemporary art takes the spotlight, with emerging talent from throughout Aotearoa proudly showcased. Step inside the calm, light-filled space and immediately feel at peace.

Next stop on the art crawl, so to speak, is Page Galleries, another contemporary gem within the Central City. A vibrant art dealership representing some of New Zealand’s very best (the likes of Dick Frizzell, Sarah Munro, and Ngataiharuru Taepa, no less), this is a must-visit for any serious connoisseur. And in another stroke of aesthetic joy, Page Galleries happens to be housed in a modernist masterpiece designed in 1958 by architect Stanley Fearn.

Ora Gallery on Allen Street fits into the increasingly eclectic and creative Courtenay Precinct like the proverbial pea. Also a contemporary-focused standout, behold their ever-changing mix of original works across various media, championing that which is New Zealand-made and one-of-a-kind. Ora fabulously complements the previous two recommendations to round out a trio of iconic Wellington spots.

Of course, a little bit of retail therapy never hurt anybody, and that’s particularly the case when you're patronising Vessel. At their unassuming shop on Victoria Street, you’ll find quality, locally made homeware, with an emphasis on pottery. Each item is artisanally made, and serves as a vessel carrying its own story (hence the name). The space itself is a welcome shelter from the busy city surroundings, and a place where you can spend the day perusing, and feel good knowing you're supporting talented Wellingtonians.

A truly worthy bookstore should be one that, well, is plucked straight from a book. Pegasus Books is just that, a bookshop which you can pop into during a stroll down Cuba Street. Inside is a labyrinthine series of nooks and crannies, books stacked floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall. Pegasus is known as the home for books that are otherwise difficult to find, and what’s more wellness-positive than a good book in hand?

Pilates is going through a purple patch, and it’s because of studios like Reform Fitness. They have a bunch of locations around the country, and their Wellington studio is an excellent example of what this quality studio provides. Reform do things a little differently from standard pilates: more body-enhancing, muscle-trembling than slow soul searching (not that there’s anything wrong with the latter of the two). They're changing how pilates is perceived with workouts that are as challenging as they are rewarding, intense and full body focused. Book a session, and you’ll be buzzing for days to come.

About as iconic as a visit to Wellington gets, make your way through town one morning to tackle the Mount Victoria Lookout. Although the walkway can be steep, it’s well-formed and maintained, and the promise of that iconic panoramic view of the city and harbour is all the motivation you’ll need to make it to the top. Start from either Courtenay Place (up Majoribanks Street), Oriental Bay (Moeller Street), Roseneath, or Hataitai, to get the endorphins flowing. Enjoy some well-earned dopamine at the summit.

Starting with what has become a Wellington dining institution, Everybody Eats is all about making a difference through food. Here, community is first and foremost. Their three-course set menu is built entirely around rescued food: ingredients donated or saved from waste, then transformed into something extraordinary, and their koha model (pay what you can, if you can) removes the barriers that often come with dining out. Book a table to experience this unique community experience, or better yet, volunteer your services for kitchen prep or front of house. Take note, shifts are often posted one month in advance, but all the deets, plus last-minute shift openings can be found on their website. If you don’t have the luxury of time, donations are warmly welcomed.

Another community staple of Wellington’s inner city, beloved by locals and frequented by visitors alike, is the Harbourside Markets. A true O.G. of the weekend market scene, pop down on a Sunday from 7.30am (the earlier the better to get the best pick of the freshest produce) for a haul of foods that will no doubt amplify your wellbeing, and witness some live entertainment to cap it all off. Doubling down on the community goodness, you’ll be stoked to learn that market stallholders partner with Kaibosh, New Zealand’s first food rescue charity. Each week stallholders donate their unsold fresh produce to the organisation, which then sorts and distributes it to local charities.

A well-regarded social enterprise tucked down Forresters Lane (just off Courtenay Place), Sustainability Trust is home to dozens of good folk who spend their days helping locals to be warmer, drier, and more sustainable. Working for a greener city, they also have a showroom of home products that help do the same (more warmth, less carbon footprint) and have an expert team on-site ready to help you make practical changes in your own life. All revenue goes straight back into the community, too.

Another premise that will bring you relaxation and serenity from its fit-out alone, Iris Store + Studio exists within an especially creative precinct of Wellington Central. Iris serves as your comprehensive beauty boutique and then some, with half of their space featuring a selection of beauty cabins ready for your pampering. The other half is a store offering a curated selection of some of the most elusive beauty brands in the country. all of which must have a clear sustainability strategy to grace the pretty shelves of Iris.

The marriage between wellness and apothecary is a tale as old as time, and Wellington Apothecary is filled to the brim with herbal remedies and botanical tonics, all crafted for good, healthy living. Like Pegasus Books, this spot is a reprieve from the, at times, chaotic nature of Cuba Street. Boasting qualified herbalists on hand to guide you toward your perfect natural remedy, holistic therapy or herbal medicine: fill your tote with tonics, teas, and skincare, or sign up for a workshop within the space where you can create oils, spirits and aromatic hydrosols. Here, it’s all about feeling good both inside and out.

A one-way ticket to stress relief and relaxation, you ask? Try float tanks. Or more specifically, try Float Well on Cuba Street. These nifty wee inventions are exactly what the names suggest, tanks filled with heavily salinated water to float your person. This sensation, combined with the precise temperature, light and sound, elicits, what can only be described as, maximum relaxation. Or, more scientifically, as sensory deprivation that helps quiet the mind and provides both neurological and physical benefits.

O-Studio is kind of the new kid on the block, having opened in mid-2025, but they’ve already become one of the city’s go-to wellness spots. Offering “science-backed services and state-of-the-art facilities”, over at The O, they’ve got everything from the increasingly popular sauna and ice bath combo, to breathwork classes, and both wet and dry float. The latter, an experience known as Zerobody, is designed to regenerate both body and mind without the need to get wet or undressed. Instead, lie on a heated membrane floating above 400 litres of warm water, where you’ll experience a zero-gravity sensation.

The first of its kind in Wellington and named loosely after the Greek translation for “breath of life”, NUMA is a membership-based skin and body clinic that also offers one-off treatments. A perfect wellness pit-stop, they’re set up for a “harmonious blend of infrared saunas, contrast therapy, and massage to support your body, mind, and spirit”, and are kind enough to offer a complementary skin consultation if you’re not quite sure what you want or need. Owner Kristen Teo toured the world for beauty experiences and came back to found this innovative ‘skin gym’ based on principles she borrowed from South Korea, Japan and Australia. At NUMA, the sensorial experience begins as early as reception, and they're all about “nurturing the entire body to achieve true, holistic wellness”.

Combining sustainability with stunningly good times, Highwater Eatery (sitting right where the water level used to be on Cuba Street in the early days) is a place where you can indulge yourself with the knowledge that you’re supporting the use of local produce, ethically raised meat and an organically focused wine list. Here you’ll enjoy top quality ingredients, only the very best products, with everything made in-house, and delivered by friendly, knowledgeable waitstaff. Half the space is occupied by happy eaters and drinkers, the other half by the hard-working chefs bent over their creations in the open-plan kitchen: Highwater is all about elegant, laid-back charm.

A love letter to Syrian cooking, Damascus is full of soul and a place that punctuates bold flavours, spices, generous plates and generous hospitality. All are warmly invited to delight in food from this part of the world, and the restaurant is a working celebration of fused cultures and recipes passed down through generations. Relaxed and welcoming, rustic, but with a touch of contemporary class, this is one of the many charming spots in Wellington’s central city that feels more like dining in someone's home than a restaurant. Damascus prioritises conscious cooking, where everything is made from scratch and the word ‘wastage’ isn’t part of their vocabulary. Just what the doctor ordered.

The title of ‘hidden gem’ gets tossed around a lot these days, but rounding out our eating options is a true hidden gem of the Wellington dining scene. With its jet-black entrance tucked away from Eva Street, Supra is well worth stumbling upon. Positioning itself as fun dining, rather than fine dining, this iconic eatery pairs its elevated atmosphere with a thoughtfully curated menu. From claypot octopus rice to Spanish paella, Supra is the embodiment of the notion that the very best things come in the smallest, most sumptuous of packages.