The Straits Times: Wellington Food Travelogue

Client: The Straits Times, Bon Voyage section

Date: Oct 2019

About: A food travelogue to Wellington, New Zealand's country’s tiny and underrated capital.

The city deserves a longer stay than a typical two-night stopover. On a recent six-day trip in Welly (as locals affectionately call it), I spent most of my time checking out its buzzy dining scene that is fuelled by copious amounts of caffeine, craft beers and a melting pot of cuisines.

According to Restaurant Association of New Zealand, Wellington has more than 1,900 cafes, restaurants and bars in 2018. Wellington, which has a population of half a million, boasts a higher number of eateries per capita than New York City, according to the New York Times.

Wellington has a tight and compact city centre, where most of the eateries and drinking holes congregate around Lambton Quay and lifestyle enclaves Cuba Street and Hannahs Laneway, and nightlife district Courtney Place.With eateries, shops, theatres and galleries within a 10-minute walking radius, I ditched the bus and walked and explored the labyrinth of laneways and streets.

The full article can be read here.