Brunch by the beach

Spruce Goose began life as an airport terminal building. After more than 50 years as the home of the Wellington Aero Club, it’s now a popular seaside café, bar, and restaurant. It boasts sweeping views of Lyall Bay and Wellington Airport. Being at the ‘surfing’ end of Lyall Bay beach you can spend many hours over your coffee watching surfers tackle waves. This laidback and colourful eatery has a well-stocked food cabinet and the menu provides hearty brunches. The waffles with maple bacon are perfect for a sweet hit, and Kiwi classic mince on toast will give you the energy for a beach walk afterwards.

Scorch-O-Rama is a prime example of a spot where you’ll sit back and say to yourself, “You really can’t beat Wellington on a good day.” It’s a bright and bustling café on the shoreline of Scorching Bay, a popular sandy beach on the Miramar Peninsula.

Scorch-O-Rama has a fantastic brunch and kids’ menu, and its coffee is from a classic Wellington roastery, Havana. Sit inside the café or opt to be seated across the road with the sea lapping the shore beside you. There’s a specially placed pedestrian crossing to keep the staff safe as they deliver your coffee across the road. A true ‘only in Wellington’ experience.

Housed in a historic rowing club with commanding views of the Petone foreshore, Seashore Cabaret is a prime spot for a café. The café’s name is a nod to the site’s previous use as a dance hall. The fitout combines retired merry-go-round horses, carnival kitsch, pinball machines, and colourful custom-made furniture. It’s a one-of-a-kind dining experience.

The menu gives a new twist on the café classics with plenty of vegetarian and vegan-friendly dishes. The coffee is the roasted in-house brand Good Fortune. There’s plenty of dining space indoors, plus some tables on the deck overlooking Wellington Harbour and the city for sunny brunching.

On the top floor of Maranui Surf Life Saving Club, Maranui Café is a quintessential Wellington experience. On most weekends, you’ll find an array of surfers, families, students and couples winding their way down the sandy stairs in waiting for a table.

The friendly team serve up a mix of unforgettable fare. Enjoy tasty and wholesome salads, fresh baking, hot food from the kitchen, and the longest, thickest milkshakes in town. There’s an outdoor deck area while inside, it’s all about the seaside. The stair handrail is an oar, as are wall partitions, and decorative fish hang from the walls. The vibe is retro vintage, which is fitting, as the club building has been there since 1911. 

A slice of retro beach paradise by Wellington’s golden sand beach, Oriental Bay. Specialising in casual food, Beach Babylon is a relaxed eatery perfect for a lazy brunch. Brunch is served from 8am to 4pm so there’s time to sit back in the sun and enjoy a locally roasted Peoples Coffee and peruse the menu. There’s a four-cheese fondue that is popular with locals and a delectable selection of cheesecakes. With Oriental Parade out front and the beach just over the road, there is a constant stream of Wellington life passing by. As the afternoon progresses, there are plenty of Wellington craft beers and wine on the drinks menu, too.

Sunny Waikanae on Kāpiti Coast is home to a welcoming eatery that acts as a mini community hub. Long Beach Tavern was established by locals who are as passionate about the area as they are about food. There’s an onsite garden that’s entirely organic. The staff manage the garden and use it as inspiration for new additions to the menu depending on what’s growing. There’s an outside area with a fire, a sunny atrium, and plenty of nooks to settle down with a drink. The food offers classics along with delicious surprises — the chocolate custard porridge should be on any brunch wish list. Sample something from the excellent wine list, and if you turn up on Sunday afternoons you’ll find a live music programme.

Eight converted shipping containers on the edge of Porirua Harbour create a great café destination. Not only can you get a great brunch and coffee fix, but you can get your bike fixed, too. Get Fixed Bicycle Café has a focus on community and sustainability. Pull up a beanbag and sit with a view of Porirua’s sparkling harbour, grab a menu and order some food. The coffee is from a locally owned Ripe roastery and is fair trade and organic. The menu has all the usual dietary options catered to, plus kombucha on tap. It’s also fully licenced. There are also community workshops, bike repairs and servicing.