Where to Celebrate a Milestone With a Long Lunch in Wellington

Whether it's an upcoming birthday, anniversary or work-related milestone, celebrate in style with a long lunch at one of Wellington's many delicious eateries. Surprise your partner for an anniversary Italian feast or seafood platter with a view, impress your colleagues with an incredible yum cha spread or multi-course menu at one of the city's most high-end spots. With something to suit every budget and taste, these spots will sort you right with an extended lunch to remember.

LOGAN BROWN, TE ARO

For those with a generous budget and a hankering for some high-end drinks and drops, Logan Brown is the ultimate spot for your long lunch. Perfect for an anniversary or significant milestone, the overall ambience in Logan Brown is enough to set the mood for an incredibly special experience. Catering for the masses, Logan Brown offers a group menu for parties larger than eight. For an exquisite three-course set menu, the Bistro Menu is a great option for your occasion. Begin your experience with a jerusalem artichoke tart, followed by your choice of market fish, butternut and amaretto agnolotti or wagyu bavette. Don't forget to save room for dessert, with a hibiscus panna cotta or quince cobbler on offer. Or, delve into the five-course Chef's Choice tasting menu, with each dish matched to wines selected by the sommelier.

COCO AT THE ROXY, MIRAMAR

If lunch and a movie sounds like the best way to celebrate your special occasion, The Roxy Cinema has you sorted. Found inside the incredible art deco theatre, Coco at The Roxy offers a range of tasty lunch items, as well as desserts and a variety of fresh-made counter food. Sit back and admire the incredible ambience and decor, with retro movie posters, plush red curtains and deco light fittings a-plenty. Try the chicken tikka taco with spiced yoghurt and pickles, or roast mushrooms with spiced shallot, grilled coconut rice and red bean dressing. Extend that lunch break with a midday screening of the latest flick while you're there.

LORETTA, TE ARO

Sitting proudly in the heart of Cuba Street, Loretta is the perfect spot for a slightly more casual lunch date. With an incredible fit-out that complements the old features of the 1910 building, Loretta has a contemporary yet classy atmosphere. The ideal spot for a business lunch or birthday celebration, Loretta has several different zones and spaces with larger tables for groups or more intimate settings for two. The lunch menu is extensive, to say the least, with everything from sandwiches, wood-fired pizzas and pastas to salads and a plethora of pies. Dig into any number of lunch dishes, big enough to share, and wash them down with the range of cocktails, beer and wine. Known for its tasty cooked chooks, Loretta is the best place to find a hearty chicken lunch for two. Settle down for a (very) long lunch with the whole wood-fired chook, marinated in lime, chilli, garlic and lemon.

LA BELLA ITALIA, PETONE

Just a short drive out of Wellington city, La Bella Italia in Petone is any Italian foodie's dream. Named one of the 70 Best Pizzeria Restaurants in The World, you'll find the perfect menu for your celebratory lunch here. For those who prefer a more laid-back setting, surrounded by sharing platters and plenty of wine, the atmosphere in this restaurant is perfect for larger groups or families. Begin your Italian feast with antipasto, breads and deli snacks to share. Then dive into the incredible pasta menu — whether you're a lasagne lover or fettuccine fanatic there's bound to be something that tickles your fancy. Of course, no Italian long lunch would be complete without a range of delicious, freshly made pizzas. Keep it simple with the class margherita or mix it up with artichoke, pork sausage or marinated salmon. Booking a table in advance is recommended, especially for groups larger than eight.

SHED 5 RESTAURANT AND BAR, QUEENS WHARF

The ultimate Wellington waterfront staple, Shed 5 is the ideal spot for a long lunch with a view. With tables overlooking the beautiful waterfront and an effortless sophisticated ambience, the delicious menu is simply a bonus. In keeping with the surroundings, Shed 5 serves a large range of seafood dishes, anything from risotto and market fish to fresh oysters and octopus carpaccio. Shed 5 is a great location for an anniversary lunch with your significant other or a meal with friends, who love fresh and tasty kai moana. For those in the mood for something a little less fishy, Shed 5 also offers a vegetarian menu, with the choice of a roasted vine tomato salad, black truffle spaghetti, roasted beetroot salad or roasted portobello mushrooms.

MAJESTIC CUISINE, TE ARO

If your idea of the perfect long lunch consists of lazy susan tables, fresh servings of pork buns, steaming hot dumplings and bottomless Chinese tea, then head over to Majestic Cuisine. With a range of different lunch time sessions available, Majestic offers the best yum cha menu in town. Simply sit back and watch as plates of fresh dim sum are delivered to your table. Indulge in sticky rice, prawn dumplings, spring rolls and mochi until you're full to absolute bursting point. Then wash it all down with several cups of delicious Chinese tea. With enormous lazy susan tables, Majestic Cuisine is perfect for larger groups, especially those who don't mind sharing or simply want to try a little bit of everything.

CAPITOL RESTAURANT, MOUNT VICTORIA

With an intimate setting perfect for smaller groups or a table for two, paired with a delicious and ever-changing lunch menu, Capitol is one of Wellington's finest. Sitting proudly in the central location of Kent Terrace, lunch at Capitol could be followed by a film at The Embassy Theatre next door or a scenic walk around Wellington's waterfront. Capitol's lunch menu is ideal for sharing plates, especially for more intimate groups of three or four. Start your lunch with grilled ciabatta, broccoli and feta bruschetta or antipasto. Followed by any one of their decadent main course meals, such as Capitol's fried chicken with shredded cabbage slaw or scampi fritter with tartare sauce. The restaurant space has limited seating, so booking is recommended.

CHOW, TE ARO

Not every celebratory lunch needs to cost a fortune and Chow on Tory Street is the perfect example of this. Its menu is extensive and full of pan Asian eats and treats to share, as well as larger dishes and main meals too. The relaxed and cosy atmosphere is perfect for a work-related milestone lunch or colleague's birthday party, with larger tables for big parties. Fill up on any number of their smaller sharing plates, including roast pork bao, broccoli and kale dumplings and banana leaf wrapped fish. Or, explore the menu of larger dishes, with a plethora of curries, noodle soups and fried vegetables to indulge in. Chow's menu can also fully cater to vegan or vegetarian diets, as well as any allergy-related requirements.