Who's open in Wellington these holidays?

What businesses are open in Wellington these holidays?

Are you staying in Wellington for a stay-cation?  Or, are you visiting Wellington and want to know where to go and what to do over the holidays?

Here is a sample of who is open and when in Wellington.

Please refer to the websites for these businesses for more info.

24th Dec Xmas Day 26th Dec 27th Dec 28th Dec 29th Dec Central Library open closed closed closed open open Dairies open open open open open open Petrol stations open open open open open open Rubbish & Recycling collection - normal collection days continue throughout the holidays Southern Landfil open closed open open open open Staglands open closed open open open open Supermarkets open closed open open open open Swimming pools open closed open open open open Te Papa open open open open open open The Embassy Theatre open closed open open open open Video hire stores open open open open open open Zoo open closed open open open open Ancestral open closed closed closed open open Bangalore Polo Club     open closed open open open open Big Dog on Blair open closed Dinner Dinner Dinner open Boulcott St Bistro closed closed closed open open open Bull & Bear pub open closed closed closed open open Café Polo, Miramar closed closed closed closed closed closed Caffe L'affare closed closed closed closed closed closed Celcius Café, Petone    closed closed closed closed closed closed Cosa Nostra closed closed closed closed closed closed CQ Wellington open open open open open open Dockside open Lunch open open open open Floriditas closed closed closed open open open Fork & Brewer open closed closed closed open open Foxglove open closed open open open open French Kiss Café closed closed closed closed closed closed Gamboni's Deli, Karori open closed closed closed closed closed Green Man Pub closed closed closed closed closed closed Hells Pizza, Northland open closed closed open open open Kirkcaldie & Stains open closed closed open open open La Boca Loca closed closed closed closed closed closed Le Canard open closed closed closed closed closed Logan Brown Dinner Dinner closed Dinner Dinner Dinner MariLuca Ristoro open closed closed closed Dinner Dinner Martin Bosley's closed closed closed closed closed closed Matterhorn open closed closed open open open Memphis Belle open closed closed closed closed closed Mojo café -Wgtn airport open open open open open open Moore Wilsons open closed closed open open open Nikau Café open closed closed closed open open Osteria Del Toro Dinner Lunch closed closed Dinner Dinner Social Cooking closed closed closed closed closed closed

30th Dec

31st Dec

1st Jan

2nd Jan

3rd Jan

4th Jan

Central Library

open

open

closed

closed

closed

open

Dairies

open

open

open

open

open

open

Petrol stations

open

open

open

open

open

open

Rubbish & Recycling collection - normal collection days continue throughout the holidays

Southern Landfil

open

open

closed

open

open

open

Staglands

open

open

open

open

open

open

Supermarkets

open

open

open

open

open

open

Swimming pools

open

open

open

open

open

open

Te Papa

open

open

open

open

open

open

The Embassy Theatre

open

open

Video hire stores

open

open

open

open

open

open

Zoo

open

open

open

open

open

open

Ancestral

open

open

closed

closed

closed

open

Bangalore Polo Club

open

open

open

open

open

open

Big Dog on Blair

open

open

Dinner

open

open

open

Boulcott St Bistro

open

open

closed

closed

Bull & Bear pub

open

closed

closed

closed

closed

open

Café Polo, Miramar

closed

closed

closed

closed

closed

closed

Caffe L'affare

closed

closed

closed

closed

closed

open

Celcius Café, Petone

closed

closed

closed

closed

closed

closed

Cosa Nostra

closed

closed

closed

closed

closed

closed

CQ Wellington

open

open

open

open

open

open

Dockside

open

open

Lunch

open

open

open

Floriditas

open

open

closed

closed

open

open

Fork & Brewer

open

open

Foxglove

open

open

open

open

open

open

French Kiss Café

closed

closed

closed

closed

closed

closed

Gamboni's Deli, Karori

closed

closed

closed

closed

closed

closed

Green Man Pub

closed

closed

closed

closed

closed

open

Hells Pizza, Northland

open

open

open

open

open

open

Kirkcaldie & Stains

open

open

closed

closed

open

open

La Boca Loca

closed

closed

closed

closed

closed

closed

Le Canard

closed

closed

closed

closed

closed

closed

Logan Brown

Dinner

Dinner

closed

closed

closed

closed

MariLuca Ristoro

Dinner

Dinner

closed

closed

closed

closed

Martin Bosley's

closed

closed

closed

closed

Matterhorn

open

open

closed

closed

open

open

Memphis Belle

closed

closed

closed

closed

Mojo café -Wgtn airport

open

open

open

open

open

open

Moore Wilsons

open

open

open

open

open

open

Nikau Café

open

open

closed

closed

closed

open

Osteria Del Toro

Dinner

Dinner

closed

closed

Dinner

Dinner

Social Cooking

closed

closed

closed

closed

closed

closed

The Embassy Theatre will be showing the Adventures of Tintin on Boxing Day
The Bangalore Polo Club are open on Boxing Day from noon
The Bull & Bear pub resumes normal hours from 4th January

Cafe Polo, Miramar re-opens on 24th January

Celcius Cafe, Petone re-opens on 9th January
Cosa Nostra re-opens on 9th January
Floriditas does not charge any holiday surcharge
The French Kiss Cafe re-opens on 16th January
Gamboni's Deli, Karori re-opens on 9th January
The Green Man pub re-opens on 10th January
La Boca Loca, Miramar resumes normal hours on 9th January
Le Canard resumes normal hours on 16th January
Logan Brown re-opens for dinner on 6th January
MariLuca Ristoro re-opens for dinner on 12th January
Osteria Del Toro resumes normal hours on 13th January
Social Cooking resumes with 'When in Rome' on 9th January.

please let us know if you'd like some information updated.

Merry Christmas to you all

Soho Brown's

We were rather sad to see the Magnetix magazine store closed down.  So were interested to see what Soho Brown's was all about and what they would do with the space.

Today we went to Soho's for lunch to find it almost full at 12.30pm on their sixth day of opening.  The place had been well fitted out with plenty of tables that were well spaced to allow for plenty of diners. It seems there is still a market for a sandwich, lamington and a cup of tea or coffee.  It certainly will be a welcome sight for the type of clientele who get a little confused by all the talk of focaccia and macchiatos.

We weren't completely sold on the books wallpaper.  Preferring to see the real thing, as they had done on one pillar.

I suspect some of the staff had been enjoying a little too much of the staff coffee.  The manager was rather entertaining to watch as she literally ran from table to counter.  I'm not sure how long she will be able to keep that up for, but I suspect it will take her wages in coffee to keep going past the first few weeks.  I'm never really bothered by how long it takes to receive my coffee as long as it's good when it arrives.  And it was.

My salmon sandwich was delicious and very good value with the amount of salmon in the sandwich, but the bread had started to dry out, as the sandwiches weren't wrapped or covered to prevent drying out.  I also enjoyed the pea and ham soup, which was thick and full of flavour with plenty of ham.

The DH ordered a smoked chicken and cranberry on turkish bread and a berry tart.  The turkish bread was very fresh and again, full of filling and all very well balanced.  The tart went down very well, but might have benefited from a little natural yoghurt on the side.  Also popular were the single shots of smoothie pre-made - great idea.

We debated whether it was better to have the start of the queue for ordering food as you enter the premises.  Or, if it was more advantageous to walk past all the counter food available to begin filling your tray before making your choices.  This way, you don't get to the end of the queue and wish you had chosen something a little more substantial before you got to the sweets.

I'm sure they will iron out some wrinkles over the next few weeks.  It's not an easy thing to run a cafe.  Soho's is in a fantastic location and will enjoy a busy time with the summer months coming, as there will be hordes of sun worshippers flocking to Midland Park to enjoy their lunchtime.

Maranui Café

This morning’s trip out to Maranui Café was a compensatory visit.  Not for the hungry hordes whom happily ate there.  But for the DH (Darling Husband) who wanted a surrogate Father’s Day celebration, as last weekend was spent away from home with my family.  Fair enough, we’re not complaining.

Soon after we get seated at Maranui, a group of cyclists came in, “table for 10?”  Ha ha, good one!

Now, a word of warning.  If you want to experience the best-run café with a brilliant atmosphere and food and in the weekend, get up early.  Even if you do manage to get up, dressed and out to Lyall Bay before 9am, be prepared for a wait, for a table and food.  This is well known, which is why nobody really minds waiting and will happily queue up the stairs.  You do occasionally find people who like to have everything just perfect.  These frustrating people want loads of space and pronto service, and will keep table swapping until they find the perfect table.  Forget that; eat at home if that’s what you want.  You come to a café to enjoy the people watching, get served on and eat food that you wouldn’t whip up yourself on an early Sunday morning.  Stop fluffing, relax and enjoy.

The buzz at Maranui Café is exactly what drew me to cafes in the first place.  As a student in Dunedin was my first café experience.  Not a tearoom – they’re entirely different.  But a proper café, that served fresh espresso, huge savoury muffins and salads.

The best thing at Maranui, apart from the view and the food, is watching the staff working expertly together.  There is very little verbal communication between the staff.  A humorous bike hooter is used instead of “SERVICE”, a raise in music volume is used to rev staff up when the place is packed and queued out the door, and a smile is used when new staff look overwhelmed.   Then the barista staff break into song along with Amy Winehouse “I told ya I was trouble, you know that I’m no good”. 

Maranui doesn’t need the good press.  Never has.  Ironically, that is another reason people go there.  It’s a fickle thing, getting the right mix in running a café.  Maranui have it in truckloads.  I go and sit there in the weekday afternoons with a coffee and watch the planes coming into land.  It’s very therapeutic.

There is usually pulling power on the celebrity front too.  Not that we’re bov’erd.  We’d rather gaze at the surfers paddling out to catch the next wave, or watch the planes battling the gusts of wind to level out just in time.  I believe that’s where the clapping started, by the way, when you’re on a plane coming into land and the pilot has masterly glided the plane in during a northerly, now that deserves an applause.

Today we were all very hungry, as I was saying.  The junior Locals love the Maranui kids Pixie pancakes and thick shakes.  Part of the appeal of the thick shakes for the juniors is that they are delivered in the original metal milkshake containers.  How is the thick shake then Noisy Local?  “It is FANTASTIC and has two straws!” Can I try? “NO”.  Fine, I sneak some later.  I very rarely can go past the adults version of the pancakes that are organic buttermilk with crispy bacon and banana.  The DH chose the eggs benedict with dense ham off the bone, crusty sourdough toast and obligatory hollandaise sauce.  He was very happy, felt treated and content.

www.maranuicafe.co.nz

Sunny Sunday Mornings & Floriditas scones

Nothing is better than enjoying a sunny day off.  No rushing around, nor having to be dressed, ready and out the door too early for everyone.

No.  Sundays for me are all about recuperating, basking in the sun and maybe a spot of baking.

My favourite spot on a sunny day is to sit with my back to the sun to soak up all its brilliance.  This positioning helps avoid the sun highlighting just how badly the windows need a clean.

Before too long everyone is hungry and needs second or third breakfast, depending on how long they have been up.

Today is a perfect day for Floriditas Cheddar & Rocket Scones.  These, by far, are The Locals most favoured scones.

The recipe can be found on Floriditas website, in their fabulous Morning, Noon and Night  cookbook or see below:

CHEDDAR & ROCKET SCONES    

Cheesy and delicious these scones can be made with other strong cheese and whatever herbs you like. The trick is to be gentle and have the mix not to dry or wet – no pressure now! 

450gm flour

4 .5 teaspoons baking powder

¾ teaspoon salt

¾ teaspoon pepper

Small pinch cayenne pepper

115gm cold butter diced

300mls milk

2 ¼ cups grated tasty cheese plus ¼ cup for topping

40gm rocket roughly chopped (I used spinach and added more cayenne pepper)

1/8 cup of milk for glazing

·      Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and pepper 

·      Rub the butter into flour, either by hand or in a standing mixer with the K  beater attachment fitted. (I used a kitchen whizz)

·      Add the grated tasty cheese & chopped rocket.

·      Mix a little until the cheese and rocket are lightly coated in flour.

·      Add milk mix and allow the dough to just come together.

·      Remove from the bowl or mixer and turn out onto a lightly floured bench. Gently and lightly bring the lumpy mix together.

·      Roll out into an oblong pushing the dough at the sides to get the oblong the same thickness all over.

·      Roll out into a large rectangle just larger than a Swiss roll tin and cut 3 by 8

·      Brush with milk  for glazing and sprinkle lightly with cheese

·      Bake at 190 until cooked 15 -20 minutes

                Cut into 3 by 8 Rectangles

POINTS TO NOTE

Use cold butter and milk and mix lightly

The mix needs to be wet but not sloppy

The oven hot 

Of course, sometimes food tastes a whole lot better when someone else has made it for you.  If you'd rather leave it to the experts, then Floriditas have plenty of sunny spots to sit in and have someone bring you a cheese scone, or anything else that takes your fancy.

www.floriditas.co.nz

Zoo & Zealandia August specials

Just when you think we couldn't squeeze more into this month, wait, there is more.
Wellington Zoo (The best little Zoo in the World)

Wellington Zoo are doing $5 entry for Wednesdays in August.

If you get hooked and think you just might need to go back on other days, and why wouldn't you, you can join up on an annual pass.

We found the Zoo Crew Membership brilliant for our littlies. We bought the Kereru $90 (One Child and any One Adult) for unlimited entry to the zoo for one year. Under three year olds are free. You just need to decided which adult gets to stay behind to enjoy the 10% discount at the shop and Mojo cafe.

The Zoo also have a great options for birthday parties.  You can arrange sleepovers.  Experience a close encounter with the Cheetah, Big Cats, Giraffe or Red Panda.  Or have a zoo member give your party a guided tour.  This was very popular with all ages, and the adults learnt a lot too.

The Emperor penguin found at Peka Peka beach is currently being treated at The Nest - Te Kohanga at Wellington Zoo.

You can also view a live stream of the Happy Feet the penguin here.

Visitors are advised that the penguin will not be on display apart from during procedures at The Nest.

There are plenty of exciting things for visitors to see at The Nest – Te Kōhanga.

Each of the facility’s main surgical rooms features a viewing gallery, offering you a unique first-hand glimpse of the veterinary team delivering first-class animal care using state-of-the-art equipment.

All animal check-ups and operations between 10am–4pm each day will be on display, and the Zoo team will provide expert step-by-step commentary on live procedures twice daily. Children can also enjoy playing on a brand new sculpture at the site created by Wellington’s Weta Workshop.

www.wellingtonzoo.com

Zealandia - the Karori Sanctuary Experience

Big Screen. Big Moa. Big Story.

A must for every New Zealander. Have you seen ZEALANDIA: The Exhibition yet? Discover 80 million years of New Zealand’s remarkable natural history told through film, interactive displays and the inspiring true stories of key conservationists. Understand why and how we aim to turn the tide on mass species extinction and ecosystem collapse. The perfect wet weather option when combined with coffee and a treat at our very own Rata Café!

For only $10 any day in August come to ZEALANDIA: The Exhibition. 

FREE every Tuesday at 10:30AM in Rata Café during August:
Looking for something to do with the little ones on these cold winter mornings? Storyteller Anna Burns will be reading stories in Rata Café every Tuesday morning from 10:30 AM. The sessions will be playful, capturing the wonder of fantasy and storytelling, and will be most enjoyed by children between the ages of two and five. So bring your under 5's and let Anna captivate them for 40 minutes while you relax with a coffee! 

No need to book, just turn up! FREE storytelling. A delicious range of café treats available for sale.

Want something else to do with the littlies? Check out Buggies Go Bush on Wednesdays.

www.visitzealandia.com

Stay tuned to The Locals to find out what the locals do in the Coolest Little City in the World

Ciocco Coco Café

Speaking of upper Willis Street (see my earlier post about Woodstock on Willis) and all its marvelous shopping, you will need to take a load off and reflect on your shopping buys.   A divine place to do this is Ciocco (pronounced 'Choco') Coco Café , who easily server the best mochaccino (or mocha, as The Locals call it) I’ve ever had.  My personal favourite is to have it made with chilli chocolate – which will give you a caffeine, chocolate and chilli kick.  Marvellous.  This will recharge your batteries and ensure you are ready for whatever the rest of the day has in stall for you.

For the uninitiated, Ciocco’s mocha is served in a 300ml cup with a 50ml double espresso shot, a big chocolate chunk of your choice of flavour (try the chilli) and 250ml of lightly textured hot milk.  The mocha also is served with a metal straw and spoon in one, so you can stir, slurp and scoop to your hearts content.

The chocolate used by Ciocco is Schoc chocolate, which is loving made in Greytown.

 Pure pleasure

 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ciocco/101252019950765?sk=wall

Chocolate Dayz Cafe, Days Bay

Enjoy a meal inside or out, or takeaway to enjoy the most of the beach at Days Bay.

The Cafe is expertly run by owners/Chef, and offers mouth watering counter food and made to order food from the menu.

They are open 8am to 5pm on weekends, 7.30am to 4pm weekdays.

www.chocolatedayzcafe.co.nz

Days Bay has plenty on offer for the stones, sand and water quotient.  The Ferry can take you there from Queens Wharf, Wellington waterfront across to Days Bay, stopping at Matiu Somes Island.

Williams Park is opposite the Days Bay Wharf, which offers a flat green area perfect for frisbees, an ice cream parlour and a pond with ducks and swans.

Cafe artwork

Eggs & Bacon

Chocolate Dayz Cafe

Days Bay Wharf

Duck pond behind Ice Cream Parlour, Williams Park

Lady Norwood Rose Garden

Fellowship rose

The Lady Norwood Rose Garden is at the top of the Botanical Gardens through the Centennial Entrance, opposite the Chinese Embassy, Glenmore Road, Thorndon.  

strawberries & cream rose

The beautifully tendered rose garden is a delight to visit any time of year.  Even in the middle of winter, it is still a tranquil setting for all.  

Water Fountain, Peace Flame Garden in background
As well as the magnetic pond in the middle of the rose garden, there is also the Peace Pond with its ducks to feed, waterfall and protected seating. 

Lily pads, Lily House

 If it all gets too cold and blustery, venture into the cosy warmth of the Begonia House to sit and watch the lily pads and fishes feeding.

Kate Sheppard roses with Picnic Cafe in background

Picnic Cafe, Lady Norwood Rose Garden
Our favourites from the cafe are the fruit & marshmallow kebab sticks, the savoury scones and panini's.
Time your run to the cafe whilst there are no tour buses parked in the vicinity, or you could have a long wait for your order.
The cafe is open daily from 8.30am to 4pm.
www.picniccafe.co.nz

follow the pink pathway flowers

Tui singing happily

Lily Pads

The Dell behind the Begonia House and Picnic Cafe is a great spot if you take your own picnic.

Stones, Water & Cafes

How to keep everyone happy over the school holidays?

STONES, WATER & CAFES


The school holidays are upon us.
Enthusiasm and energies are high, and the weather is conducive to being outside.
So, where to go and what to do to keep everyone happy?  ASK THE LOCALS.

Wellington boasts stunning and accessible coastlines with enough going for them to keep everyone happy.

Our favourites of such spots any time of year are:

Maranui Cafe, Lyall Bay

The menu is consistently fresh and delicious.

Which is why there is often a queue out the door and down the stairs.  Never fear, the queue moves quickly, but will be busiest around lunchtime.
They are open from 7am to 5pm, so get there early to avoid disappointment.
www.maranuicafe.co.nz

The Maranui Surf Life Saving Club patrols the beach along Lyall Parade, Lyall Bay.  This is very popular with surfers, swimmers, walkers and all those drawn to sand, stones, water and great coffee.

Chocolate Dayz Cafe, Days Bay

Enjoy a meal inside or out, or takeaway to enjoy the most of the beach at Days Bay.
The Cafe is expertly run by owners/Chef, and offers mouth watering counter food and made to order food from the menu.
They are open 8am to 5pm on weekends, 7.30am to 4pm weekdays.
www.chocolatedayzcafe.co.nz

Days Bay has plenty on offer for the stones, sand and water quotient.  The Ferry can take you there from Queens Wharf, Wellington waterfront across to Days Bay, stopping at Matiu Somes Island.
Williams Park is opposite the Days Bay Wharf, which offers a flat green area perfect for frisbees, an ice cream parlour and a pond with ducks and swans.

Makara Beach

Has it all.  With steep stony beach with crashing waves, perfect for throwing stones into.  Or you can take the walk around to the left of the beach to the rock pools for an explore and climb and rest bite from the wind.
Then when everyone is tired and hungry, venture into the Cafe Makara, Makara Road.
Our favourites there are milkshakes, ice cream cones (with hand scooped ice cream), and toasted sandwiches.
Be warned the road from either Karori or Johnsonville to Makara is narrow and windy at times.  Take it slow, there are often cyclists cycling that loop.  See how many pukeko birds you can spot.  We were delighted to see a pukeko flying last time.

Lady Norwood Rose Garden

At the top of the Botanical Gardens with free parking access up the lane opposite the Chinese Embassy, Glenmore Road, Thorndon.  The beautifully tendered rose garden is a delight to visit any time of year.  Even in the middle of winter, it is still a tranquil setting for all.  As well as the magnetic pond in the middle of the rose garden, there is also the Peace Pond with its ducks to feed, waterfall and protected seating.  If it all gets too cold and blustery, venture into the cosy warmth of the Begonia House to sit and watch the lily pads and fishes feeding.

The Dell behind the Begonia House and Picnic Cafe is a great spot if you take your own picnic.

Picnic Cafe, Lady Norwood Rose Garden

Our favourites from the cafe are the fruit & marshmallow kebab sticks, the savoury scones and panini's.
Time your run to the cafe whilst there are no tour buses parked in the vicinity, or you could have a long wait for your order.
The cafe is open daily from 8.30am to 4pm.
www.picniccafe.co.nz

Scorching Bay, Karaka Bay Road

The drive either from Seatoun or around Shelly Bay, Miramar Peninsula is very picturesque and another drive to be taken slowly to enjoy the scenery.  The Scorching Bay Domain has great facilities with a play area, grassed picnic area, toilets, showers and changing rooms, gentle sandy beach and rock pools.

Scorch-O-Rama Cafe

Enjoy the indoor seating or the tables across the road from the cafe. Don't worry, the waiters wear high visibility vests whilst bringing your order across the road.
All the food and coffee is good and they are licensed, so you can enjoy wine or beer by the glass.
The cafe and milk bar is open weekends 8am to 6pm and weekdays 8.30am to 5pm.  Open longer hours during the summer nights.
www.scorchorama.co.nz

Enjoy the outdoors, where ever you go, and stay tuned for more things to do in Wellington.