Next to Civic Square and a stroll away from the Library, Nikau is a restaurant with tonnes of culture and a classic foodie sensibility. The ever changing menu reflects the season and availability of produce, so you know you're only eating the freshest of ingredients.
While the vibe is Gallery-lite (it shares walls with Wellington City Gallery, after all) that only serves as a blank canvas for un-distracted food appreciation. The courtyard is a smashing place to eat too.
Try the rabbit rillettes, Kegiree with house smoked fish, or hand made pasta with pinenuts - there's something new and inviting every time you pop in. The prices are a little steep, but then you will get what you pay for, and that will be a treat for the taste buds.
Unlike a lot of more run of the mill lunch and early dinner venues, Nikau has a hearty wine cellar with a good range of choices on offer. It even includes an Astrolabe Wrekin Chenin Blanc 11, which this non-drinker has on good authority is an "impressive" little tipple.
Nikau routinely pops up in Wellingtonian's conversation as a favourite, so expect a glimpse of the capital's food lovers in their natural habitat.